Your description of the receptionist made me smile. I trained as a medical secretary and spent some work placements as a GP receptionist and then years later wrote a sitcom for radio called 'Receptionists'. I sent it to a comedy producer and he said, 'It didn't make me laugh on the first page and if it doesn't make me laugh on the first page, there's no deal.' Brutal! But he was right. Also, regarding Adolescence, I was so tempted to renew my Netflix account just to watch that but so many people have said how depressing it is and now you've confirmed it. I think I've seen enough clips of it on Instagram to have got the drift anyway. Sorry for long comment!! Not quite a novella, but ...
They say a good sit-com is one about being trapped together - ‘Steptoe and Son’, ‘Fawlty Towers’ - so one about a doctors’ receptionist and the patients, either trapped in a never-ending circle of being in a phone queue or trapped waiting to see a doctor having got past the dragons at the desk seems appropriate.
I've been thinking about this and about how much my unfinished sitcom - started years ago - would have to be adapted. Certainly, our own GP surgery is doing its best at the moment to make sure there is as little human interaction as possible between receptionists, patients and doctors and that was where most of my (attempted) comedy was coming from. Maybe I'll rename it 'Online Triage' but it doesn't have the same pull!
I’m pleased that those times we sang ‘Especially for You’ in your car have come in useful 🎤
Happy days! Xx
Your description of the receptionist made me smile. I trained as a medical secretary and spent some work placements as a GP receptionist and then years later wrote a sitcom for radio called 'Receptionists'. I sent it to a comedy producer and he said, 'It didn't make me laugh on the first page and if it doesn't make me laugh on the first page, there's no deal.' Brutal! But he was right. Also, regarding Adolescence, I was so tempted to renew my Netflix account just to watch that but so many people have said how depressing it is and now you've confirmed it. I think I've seen enough clips of it on Instagram to have got the drift anyway. Sorry for long comment!! Not quite a novella, but ...
Thanks Fran. A sitcom about receptionists would be fantastic, especially one that you’ve written. Any chance of you returning to it?
Don’t bother renewing Netflix just for Adolescence. It’s not an easy watch.
They say a good sit-com is one about being trapped together - ‘Steptoe and Son’, ‘Fawlty Towers’ - so one about a doctors’ receptionist and the patients, either trapped in a never-ending circle of being in a phone queue or trapped waiting to see a doctor having got past the dragons at the desk seems appropriate.
Agree and everyone can relate to it. Mark, have you read any of Fran’s work? She is really funny. I recommend.
Thank you, Liz!
I haven’t. But I will now.
I've been thinking about this and about how much my unfinished sitcom - started years ago - would have to be adapted. Certainly, our own GP surgery is doing its best at the moment to make sure there is as little human interaction as possible between receptionists, patients and doctors and that was where most of my (attempted) comedy was coming from. Maybe I'll rename it 'Online Triage' but it doesn't have the same pull!
I always love your pieces, Liz. They are real, there is definitely a human on the other end. AI wouldn't have been dreaming about DT.
Thanks so much, Yvonne. No, probably just me dreaming of DT.