Ben Blacker
@benblacker.bsky.social
The Writers Panel // Cut+Run: http://bit.ly/CutRunAudible // Hex Wives: http://bit.ly/HWtrade // Thrilling Adventure Hour // Dead Pilots Society
Re:Writing: benblacker.substack.com
Re:Writing: benblacker.substack.com
A good one in today's Writers Panel pod. PONIES creators @davidiserson.bsky.social & Susanna Fogel on going from The Spy Who Dumped Me eight years ago to Ponies, comedy with stakes, American culture through a funhouse mirror, why pitching is a scam + more.
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/ponies
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/ponies
January 20, 2026 at 6:36 PM
A good one in today's Writers Panel pod. PONIES creators @davidiserson.bsky.social & Susanna Fogel on going from The Spy Who Dumped Me eight years ago to Ponies, comedy with stakes, American culture through a funhouse mirror, why pitching is a scam + more.
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/ponies
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/ponies
Reposted by Ben Blacker
You have to block them immediately. The full nuclear. They are only here to make folks angry, and that can’t happen if we lock them out.
✅ @icegov.bsky.social has been verified by @bsky.app.
January 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM
You have to block them immediately. The full nuclear. They are only here to make folks angry, and that can’t happen if we lock them out.
In today's Writers Panel pod, I talk to PLURIBUS writer/director/EP Gordon Smith about the origins of the show, what gives it legs, story as algorithm, a non-mystery mystery, parsing notes, getting sand in your eyes + lots more.
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/gordon-smi...
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/gordon-smi...
January 13, 2026 at 6:39 PM
In today's Writers Panel pod, I talk to PLURIBUS writer/director/EP Gordon Smith about the origins of the show, what gives it legs, story as algorithm, a non-mystery mystery, parsing notes, getting sand in your eyes + lots more.
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/gordon-smi...
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/gordon-smi...
In today's Re:Writing newsletter, I wrote a post about goals (for your characters, but maybe they apply to you too?). Used three of my 2025 favorites by way of example, and there's some good advice in here too from David Goyer, @malcolmspellman.bsky.social + more.
benblacker.substack.com/p/goal-post
benblacker.substack.com/p/goal-post
January 8, 2026 at 6:28 PM
In today's Re:Writing newsletter, I wrote a post about goals (for your characters, but maybe they apply to you too?). Used three of my 2025 favorites by way of example, and there's some good advice in here too from David Goyer, @malcolmspellman.bsky.social + more.
benblacker.substack.com/p/goal-post
benblacker.substack.com/p/goal-post
Reposted by Ben Blacker
It’s one of my favorite days of the year! Here are my 50 Wonderful Things From 2025.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
50 wonderful things from 2025
Each year, critic Linda Holmes looks back on the year and compiles a list of the things that brought her joy.
www.npr.org
December 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
It’s one of my favorite days of the year! Here are my 50 Wonderful Things From 2025.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I met R2D2 on the street and he was not gracious at all. C3PO had to apologize for him like, he hasn’t had his crystals today. The crystals that he eats. He has to eat these it’s like cereal to him. He offered to take a pic w/me but I was like lol you are like the Ringo of this. You are below Wicket
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I met R2D2 on the street and he was not gracious at all. C3PO had to apologize for him like, he hasn’t had his crystals today. The crystals that he eats. He has to eat these it’s like cereal to him. He offered to take a pic w/me but I was like lol you are like the Ringo of this. You are below Wicket
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I wonder if the fall of Rome was this goddamn stupid. Were Romans just walking around, gesturing wildly, 'can you believe this?'
December 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I wonder if the fall of Rome was this goddamn stupid. Were Romans just walking around, gesturing wildly, 'can you believe this?'
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Just a few days until the new year begins and movie releases suddenly collapse into the official two genres of January: “Horror” and “Whoops”.
December 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Just a few days until the new year begins and movie releases suddenly collapse into the official two genres of January: “Horror” and “Whoops”.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
To me, my X-Mas!
December 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
To me, my X-Mas!
Reposted by Ben Blacker
A Proposal for All Parents Worldwide
Santa Opens It Up
YouTube video by Varietopia with Paul F. Tompkins
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 12:23 AM
A Proposal for All Parents Worldwide
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Once when we wanted to show the ineffectual dithering of The Good Place Committee, we had one of them say, "There are rules, procedures. This is The Good Place -- we can't just *do stuff.*" We almost didn't include it, because we thought it was a little on the nose.
WELKER: Massie and Khanna say they are looking at options including impeachment and contempt for DOJ officials. Would you support those steps?
KAINE: I think that's premature
KAINE: I think that's premature
December 21, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Once when we wanted to show the ineffectual dithering of The Good Place Committee, we had one of them say, "There are rules, procedures. This is The Good Place -- we can't just *do stuff.*" We almost didn't include it, because we thought it was a little on the nose.
Last Writers Panel of the year is a great one. Writer/director CRAIG BREWER (Song Sung Blue; Hustle & Flow) on dreamers, making a narrative out of a documentary, non-musical musicals, the beauty of “Save As,” the Faustian bargain of making art + lots more
benblacker.substack.com/p/craig-brew...
benblacker.substack.com/p/craig-brew...
December 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Last Writers Panel of the year is a great one. Writer/director CRAIG BREWER (Song Sung Blue; Hustle & Flow) on dreamers, making a narrative out of a documentary, non-musical musicals, the beauty of “Save As,” the Faustian bargain of making art + lots more
benblacker.substack.com/p/craig-brew...
benblacker.substack.com/p/craig-brew...
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Virginia Heffernan wrote this shortly after the 2016 election and it still holds true
December 16, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Virginia Heffernan wrote this shortly after the 2016 election and it still holds true
Linda Holmes sums up so much of what we loved about Reiner and his films, an enormous part of which is the enormous amount of love in them.
For me it was When Harry Met Sally… which I saw too young and which defined “adult relationships” for me for good and for… misguided.
It’s perfect.
For me it was When Harry Met Sally… which I saw too young and which defined “adult relationships” for me for good and for… misguided.
It’s perfect.
December 16, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Linda Holmes sums up so much of what we loved about Reiner and his films, an enormous part of which is the enormous amount of love in them.
For me it was When Harry Met Sally… which I saw too young and which defined “adult relationships” for me for good and for… misguided.
It’s perfect.
For me it was When Harry Met Sally… which I saw too young and which defined “adult relationships” for me for good and for… misguided.
It’s perfect.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I wonder if calculators had only been invented 3 years ago, we'd be seeing a lot of statements along the line of "these computers can both understand and speak in math, the universal language! They're thinking about math, they're really thinking about it!"
December 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I wonder if calculators had only been invented 3 years ago, we'd be seeing a lot of statements along the line of "these computers can both understand and speak in math, the universal language! They're thinking about math, they're really thinking about it!"
Reposted by Ben Blacker
The horrific tragedy at Brown University is the 389th mass shooting this year and the 230th gun incident on school grounds so far this year.
This is not normal and we don't have to live this way.
bradyunited.org
@bradyunited.org
This is not normal and we don't have to live this way.
bradyunited.org
@bradyunited.org
December 14, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The horrific tragedy at Brown University is the 389th mass shooting this year and the 230th gun incident on school grounds so far this year.
This is not normal and we don't have to live this way.
bradyunited.org
@bradyunited.org
This is not normal and we don't have to live this way.
bradyunited.org
@bradyunited.org
Reposted by Ben Blacker
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
December 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Put in the work building relationships. Asking for advice is a good start. Work hard, be kind, be nice, demonstrate your abilities, and you can ask for more. If you have a big ask, think about the cost to the person you’re asking. And remember: you only get a few asks, so use them wisely!
🧵17
🧵17
December 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Put in the work building relationships. Asking for advice is a good start. Work hard, be kind, be nice, demonstrate your abilities, and you can ask for more. If you have a big ask, think about the cost to the person you’re asking. And remember: you only get a few asks, so use them wisely!
🧵17
🧵17
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Someone in a tv show just ran a BLENDER and then said “I’m so sorry, did I wake you??” Yeah dude you turned on a fruit lawnmower.
December 13, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Someone in a tv show just ran a BLENDER and then said “I’m so sorry, did I wake you??” Yeah dude you turned on a fruit lawnmower.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Hey, I know time’s are tough, so it’s all there for free, but if you’re looking to spend a few dollars on #bandcampfriday, I can always use the support!
tedleo.bandcamp.com
tedleo.bandcamp.com
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
tedleo.bandcamp.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Hey, I know time’s are tough, so it’s all there for free, but if you’re looking to spend a few dollars on #bandcampfriday, I can always use the support!
tedleo.bandcamp.com
tedleo.bandcamp.com
A great chat w @iambennydrama7.bsky.social for today's Writers Panel about the fun and horny OVERCOMPENSATING, creating an authentic coming-out story, translating his stand up to a TV pilot, gray areas, inhabiting characters, the state of TV comedy + more.
benblacker.substack.com/p/benito-ski...
benblacker.substack.com/p/benito-ski...
December 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM
A great chat w @iambennydrama7.bsky.social for today's Writers Panel about the fun and horny OVERCOMPENSATING, creating an authentic coming-out story, translating his stand up to a TV pilot, gray areas, inhabiting characters, the state of TV comedy + more.
benblacker.substack.com/p/benito-ski...
benblacker.substack.com/p/benito-ski...
Reposted by Ben Blacker
"oh, don't forget to highlight, in bright red, the two-letter word in the tagline! the two letter word that's kind of the whole point of this clever ad campaign! the two letter word that links this show to the horror movie of the same name!"
"no problem boss. i'm on it"
"no problem boss. i'm on it"
November 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"oh, don't forget to highlight, in bright red, the two-letter word in the tagline! the two letter word that's kind of the whole point of this clever ad campaign! the two letter word that links this show to the horror movie of the same name!"
"no problem boss. i'm on it"
"no problem boss. i'm on it"