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Rick and Morty Writer: Ryan Ridley

From Y Combinator · Published Jul 22, 2017 · Watch on YouTube

TL;DR

Ryan Ridley, a writer for Rick and Morty, describes his path from a directionless student and stand-up comedian in Chicago to joining the show via the collaborative Channel 101 community. He explains the show’s writing process: combining sci-fi tropes, references, and original twists while avoiding direct spoofs, and emphasizes that the key to success is making content for an audience of one witho

Key insights

  • Ridley’s epiphany to pursue stand-up came from growing up around his father’s comedy club, where he saw Jim Carrey, Gary Shandling, and others.
  • He wanted to write an animated sci-fi comedy show before Futurama existed; Rick and Morty is exactly the show he fantasized about at age 20.
  • Channel 101 was founded by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab after failed pilot sales; it operated as a democratic film festival where audience votes determined which shows stayed or were cancelled, forcing c

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