NEW REPORT: WRITING JOBS HARD TO COME BY FOR WOMEN IN TELEVISION COMEDY

LOS ANGELES, CA – Although women make up slightly more than half of the U.S. population, they accounted for less than 25 percent of employed Hollywood writers in 2004-2005, the time period studied by a new report commissioned by the Writers Guild of America, west. According to the "2005 Hollywood Writers Report," the traditional employment-share advantage male writers have enjoyed relative to their female counterparts has shown few signs of eroding since the previous report was issued in 2000.

Landing a coveted television staff position is difficult for any writer given the fact that the number of these jobs has declined by over 17% in the past five years. This is due to the rise of reality series that have no unionized writers as well as efforts to cut production costs by using fewer writers on traditional scripted programs. Nonetheless, the situation is worse for women given that approximately 10% of all television shows have no women writers on staff at all.

For funny women, the challenge is even greater because the top shows for women staff writers are more likely to be dramas. "There’s definitely a myth that women aren’t funny," says three-time Writers Guild Award-winning sitcom writer Sarit Catz. "And of course that’s absurd because every woman who lives with a man or takes care of kids has to have a sense of humor. Or medication."

Catz, a recognized comedy expert, has written hit shows like "Full House," "Coach," "Soul Man" and other series. When she and her husband decided to have children, Sarit took a hiatus from Hollywood and turned her attention to stand-up comedy, making the rounds of New York and New Jersey’s top comedy clubs. "I’ve run across so many funny women in the clubs, it’s… it’s not even funny."

Now that her kids are in school, Catz is waging the uphill battle to return to television. She is currently competing in Nick@Nite’s "Funniest Mom in America" contest and is the Head Writer of the "Bob Gonzo Show," an upcoming sketch/variety show being produced independently. Sarit has also written a pilot for fellow Garden State comedian Mike Marino which the pair hopes will find a place on the fall 2006 schedule. "If we sell the show, I’m going to pack the staff with women," Catz promises. "We’ll have a token guy, though, so we won’t be accused of being sexist. I’m kidding. I think."

About Sarit Catz:

A recognized comedy expert, Sarit Catz began her comedy career in radio, creating, writing and producing three award-winning comedy services for ABC Radio Networks and other nationally syndicated services bringing her jokes, voices, song-parodies, and other bits to every market in the nation, from New York’s WPLJ to LA’s KLOS. Sarit went on to become a television writer/producer with credits that include "Coach," "Full House," "Soul Man," "Talk to Me," "The Crew," "Café Americain," and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." In the feature film arena, Sarit wrote and sold options on two original screenplays currently being marketed to studios by producers. She has won three (3) Writers’ Guild of America Awards and been named a semi-finalist in the ScriptapaloozaTV screenwriting contest. When Sarit’s children were born, so was her stand-up comedy career. Not only do the kids drive Sarit crazy enough to run screaming from the house and into the clubs, they also provide her with plenty of material. She has played numerous comedy clubs including The Comic Strip, Stand-Up New York, Gotham Comedy Club, Comedy Cellar, New York Comedy Club, Boston Comedy Club, Rascals Montclair and West Orange, Jenkinson’s, Uncle Floyd’s, and many more. She is currently the Head Writer for the "Bob Gonzo Show," a sketch/variety show appearing on RipeTV, the new on-demand network, and in syndication. For more information, visit www.princessofcomedy.com.