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My manager had reached out and said asketch-comedy showon a major cable channel was looking to hire Latino writers.
I had made the list of people they wanted to submit.
I had been doing sketch comedy for years.
I had also written and performed in several of my own sketch shows.
I had submitted to late-night shows before, but something felt different about this.
Ilovedthe pilot, and an entire episode basically exploded out of me.
A few days later I got an email that made me jump out of my chair.
I just needed to send a resume.
Maybe this is just my moderately sized circle of friends, butnobodyI knew had a resume.
They all told me they got hired on shows off their packets or interviews.
So I just took my work resume and replaced all of my IT experience with comedy experience.
They all said you basically just hang out and they see if youre cool.
That one was hard, they explained, but I made something up.
Unfortunately the interviewers were all in L.A., but they said we could Skype.
So, in August, I had to close my window and turn off my rickety air conditioner.
Regretfully I also decided to wear a tie, white shirt, and blue suit jacket.
We introduced ourselves and everybody was very friendly.
Im also part of the hiring committee at my IT job, and Ive conducted hundreds of interviews.
We were off to an unbelievable start.
I cant believe I am about to be hired on a writing staff,I told myself.
Then the star of the show asked, Okay, Alexis, are you ready?
Im ready, I said with a big smile.
So I began talking about my IFC web series.
It wasnt totally irrelevant because IFC had even aired those sketches on TV.
They even laughed at a few of the premises.
But a few sentences in, I was interrupted.
Wait, isnt Comedy Crib a web series?
Uh, yes, it was on the web, but also on TV.
Okay, forget about that.
What TV series have you helped develop?
It was at this point that I realized we were on totally different wavelengths.
That was exactly what I was looking at.
Finally the showrunner put his hands up.
We cant hire you.
What a gut punch.
Oh, you … Wow, why is that?
I said with the feigned cheeriness of a kidnapping victim pretending there isnt a gun to his back.
I cant hire a person whos never written on TV.
I need people who can write every day and know what its like to be in an office.
Im an IT supervisor.
They were now staring at me like I interrupted their lunch.
Well, we have to move on, but we loved your packet and hope you keep on working.
And they ended the call.
I no longer cared that I was sitting in a rice cooker.
I wanted to burn.
Now, youre probably wondering why I torpedoed my own comedy career by sharing this story.
Two reasons: First, I want to help make a change for the next person.
I understand that every spot on TV is valuable, but an acute emphasis on TV experience is lazy.
I wish I could write a telegram full of jokes.
You need three guys to work the camera jib, Jimmy?!
The second reason I shared this story is that it is so stupid it makes me laugh.
I am, at the end of the day, an optimist.
I am hopeful that things will change for future writers and performers.
