Now Matty Johns has a try at writing television sitcom
* By RICHARD CLUNE
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* December 26, 2010 12:00AM
FORMER league star Matty Johns wants to move away from on-screen funny man to become a TV scriptwriter - and has already penned two sitcoms he hopes to sell to the major networks.
And Johns, who teamed up with adman John Singleton last year to produce his self-titled footy program, has enlisted promoter Glenn Wheatley to help flog the new shows.
Johns is also in the middle of a wrangle with Seven over what time his footy show will air next year. Seven wants to push the program back to 10.30pm after a disappointing first year, but the Johns camp is strongly resisting the later Thursday night slot.
Meantime, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Wheatley, who has been revived by Singleton after spending 10 months in jail on tax fraud, has been shopping the Johns sitcoms to the other networks.
Johns, who developed a number of popular comic characters for his footy show, said he wants to "phase out" his on-camera appearances to concentrate on writing.
"People raise an eyebrow when they hear about a footballer writing, but I've always thought about moving on and I'm not ruling anything out.
"I've played footy since I was five and I love it; I watch every game still. Maybe I've got one or two years in the game, I dunno mate, and then see what else is out there."
Jack Thompson and Frontline actor Tiriel Mora have already signalled their interest in one Johns script, which explores the inner workings of a television network.
Johns said some characters would be recognisable. "You can see some of the characters of the industry, the Packers and all that, in it.
Johns, a former Newcastle Knights player, formed a TV production company with advertising mogul Singleton last year to produce The Matty Johns Show.
With Wheatley's help, the 39-year-old hopes the new show will air by 2012.
He confirmed negotiations were ongoing about Seven's desire to move the Johns footy show to the later 10.30pm slot next year.
A production source said the proposed move had "annoyed" Singleton and that it "would not be happening".
