Do get some established comedy writers/performers to develop your show. In this case half of the six man Farce Majeure group: writer Fred Benavente and writers/directors Jan Fillekers & Henk van der Horst. Don't have them play themselves in an episode entirely devoted to getting new members for the NCRV on account of their anniversary (episode 2.3).
Do come up with a catchy title, but don't have the main character Joris Huisman using it as a catchphrase every week (as well as during the opening credits). Also, though the theme tune has no lyrics, the main tune is obviously inspired by the words 'Prettig Geregeld', making you want to sing the title along with the tune anyway (whether you want to or not).
Do have an original set up for your sitcom family. Mr and Mrs Huisman share their teaching job: one of them goes to work at school for one year while the other does the household. The next year they switch around again (Huisman = Houseman, get it). Don't forget about this arrangement and keep Hanna at school and Joris at home for four seasons in a row.
Do have an original cultural (and politically correct) co-star in the form of Marrocan Hassan Gnaoui as the Huisman's lodger. This leads to some interesting (sub)plots and social commentary. Don't forget to subtitle the scenes that only feature Marrocan dialog.
Do use the nosy and slightly annoying neighbor character Trees (Mieke Verstraete) as a counterpoint to the other three characters. Don't unceremoniously replace her with another actress and different name (Molly, as played by Lies de Wind) when the original performer passes away. Or course I realize that a lot of the season four scripts had already been written when she passed, but to have someone else step into the role and play her exactly the same while pretending to be a different character (in this case Hanna's cousin) makes no sense. In this case it would have been better to pretend she's the same character instead of never mentioning the original neighbour again.
Do include interesting and unusual guest stars from the world of politics and television playing themselves. Although it quickly becomes far fetched that Hannah keeps inviting all these famous people to speak at her school, the first season in particular boasts an impressive list of guest stars. Don't have the actress who plays Hanna (Anne-Wil Blankers) appear as the actress Anne-Wil Blankers (at the end of the first season no less!). And certainly don't have Hanna mention she kind of fancies actor Peter Faber to her husband Joris (Peter Faber) at the end of the same episode.
Finally, don't, please don't end the series with a cute wink to the camera in which the company director of the NCRV comes round at the 'Prettig Geregeld' household with a bunch of flowers to thank Hanna/Anne-Wil and Jors/Peter for four years of fun. That just about ruins everything that's gone before in one fell stroke.
7 out of 10
Do come up with a catchy title, but don't have the main character Joris Huisman using it as a catchphrase every week (as well as during the opening credits). Also, though the theme tune has no lyrics, the main tune is obviously inspired by the words 'Prettig Geregeld', making you want to sing the title along with the tune anyway (whether you want to or not).
Do have an original set up for your sitcom family. Mr and Mrs Huisman share their teaching job: one of them goes to work at school for one year while the other does the household. The next year they switch around again (Huisman = Houseman, get it). Don't forget about this arrangement and keep Hanna at school and Joris at home for four seasons in a row.
Do have an original cultural (and politically correct) co-star in the form of Marrocan Hassan Gnaoui as the Huisman's lodger. This leads to some interesting (sub)plots and social commentary. Don't forget to subtitle the scenes that only feature Marrocan dialog.
Do use the nosy and slightly annoying neighbor character Trees (Mieke Verstraete) as a counterpoint to the other three characters. Don't unceremoniously replace her with another actress and different name (Molly, as played by Lies de Wind) when the original performer passes away. Or course I realize that a lot of the season four scripts had already been written when she passed, but to have someone else step into the role and play her exactly the same while pretending to be a different character (in this case Hanna's cousin) makes no sense. In this case it would have been better to pretend she's the same character instead of never mentioning the original neighbour again.
Do include interesting and unusual guest stars from the world of politics and television playing themselves. Although it quickly becomes far fetched that Hannah keeps inviting all these famous people to speak at her school, the first season in particular boasts an impressive list of guest stars. Don't have the actress who plays Hanna (Anne-Wil Blankers) appear as the actress Anne-Wil Blankers (at the end of the first season no less!). And certainly don't have Hanna mention she kind of fancies actor Peter Faber to her husband Joris (Peter Faber) at the end of the same episode.
Finally, don't, please don't end the series with a cute wink to the camera in which the company director of the NCRV comes round at the 'Prettig Geregeld' household with a bunch of flowers to thank Hanna/Anne-Wil and Jors/Peter for four years of fun. That just about ruins everything that's gone before in one fell stroke.
7 out of 10
