There’s something for everyone on television – everything from drama to horror and comedy to sci-fi. And for writers, there’s never been a better time to learn from the best. Whatever your favorite genre might be, we’ve collected scripts from some of the most successful television shows from the last five years.
ANIMATION
With an original airing from 1999 – 2002, the series was brought back in 2005 after significant DVD sales and has since brought a mix of raunchy comedy, hot political takes, and silly jokes to viewers ever since. While “Family Guy” may not be for everyone, writers can see and learn more how to test the boundaries of comedy while working within a traditional network context.
COMEDY
The White Lotus (HBO)
With three successful seasons under its belt, “The White Lotus” has brought viewers to three different hotel locations, following in each season a different ensemble cast with separate, yet intertwining storylines. This script is from Season 2, set in Italy, where actors like Aubrey Plaza, Meghann Faherty, and Will Sharpe elucidate the dysfunctional in everyday life.
Starring “Schitt’s Creek” alum Annie Murphy, “Kevin Can F*ck Himself” seamlessly blends the dark comedy and drama genres as the protagonist transverses between being a character on the set of a comedy show and living the nightmare of her life in private.
DRAMA
The Morning Show(Apple TV)
Based on the book “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV”, this 2021 hit show follows the staff of a morning show after allegations of sexual assault rock their current line-up. With contemporary issues and themes like the pandemic, power, and the movement for women’s rights, “The Morning Show” has been nominated for a host of awards, including for writing from the Writers Guild of America. For those looking to learn more about writing contemporary, workplace-based dramas, “The Morning Show” is a great first stop.
Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Lauded by critics and audiences alike for its intensity and authenticity, “Baby Reindeer” follows a young, wayward man who crosses paths with a mentally-ill woman. The script offers a deep dive on exploring mature themes while building characters that evoke empathy, frustration, and outright shock.
The Pitt(HBO)
Another workplace drama, this time starring veteran performer Noah Wylie, “The Pitt” brings a fast-paced approach to writing and delivering scene after scene of emotional highs and lows. For writers looking to emulate workplace dramas that create consistent high-intensity moments, “The Pitt” is a great place to start.
Adolescence(Netflix)
Netflix’s surprise hit this year, this show blends mystery and drama as it explores a teenage boy who has been arrested for murdering a classmate. A stripped-down story that at its core focuses on deep emotional traumas and the challenges parents face as they raise children in modern-day life, “Adolescence” provides a skillful display of writing that is both enrapturing and unnerving at the same time.
HISTORICAL
Bridgerton (Netflix)
From the world of ShondaLand, “Bridgerton” seamlessly weaves comedy and drama through a historical context, exploring high society in 19th century London. Witty dialogue abounds in this period piece, updated for modern-day audiences.
Queen Charlotte(Netflix)
The prequel to “Bridgerton”, this show focuses on the title character, who served as Monarch in England with King George III. Loosely based on Queen Charlotte’s life, this script demonstrates how to effortlessly introduce audiences to a well-known and loved character in a different time and context, without losing the tone and approach of the original show,
HORROR
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)
The original story in Ryan Murphy’s now successful franchise chronicling the lives of killers (the second installment focused on the Menendez Brothers), “Monster” skillfully introduces its protagonist, sharing details that were unlikely to be known to mass audiences, while staying true to the facts of the case.oring high society in 19th century London. Witty dialogue abounds in this period piece, updated for modern-day audiences.
Lovecraft Country(HBO)
A supernatural horror set in the Jim Crow South of the 1950s, “Lovecraft Country” follows a young black man as he travels across the south in search of his missing father. Based on the book by the same name, this script deftly demonstrates how to successfully translate the pages of a novel into the pages of a screenplay.
SCI-FI
Night Sky(Amazon)
Acting powerhouses Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons play a couple who, years earlier, stumbled across a chamber in their backyard that acts as a portal to a far-away deserted planet. “Night Sky” successfully toes the line between writing that is true to its sci-fi genre without being overly burdened by the science behind the story.
Kindred(FX)
Another television show based on a book, “Kindred” blends both a historical framework with the sci-fi genre, focusing on a young black woman who finds herself being transported back and forth in time between present-day Los Angeles and a 19th century plantation in Maryland. While this script belongs in the sci-fi genre, it demonstrates how sci-fi shows can also have significant dramatic elements without losing its footing.
THRILLER
Zero Day (Netflix)
Starring the inimitable Robert DeNiro, “Zero Day” is a political thriller centered around a former president who returns from retirement to help solve the mystery of a cyberterrorist attack. While political thrillers can often feel a bit formulaic, “Zero Day” adds a fresh spin to the genre by creating a protagonist who, in seeking the truth, questions if he can trust his own aging mind.
True Detective: Night Country (HBO)
The fourth season of this series focuses on two detectives who must solve the mystery of eight missing people from a research station during a period of perennial darkness in Alaska. This script is an excellent demonstration of how a franchise can both stay true to its roots while introducing new and compelling approaches to its new storyline.
