# Table Read Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-read-question/577600>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 7, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-read-question/577600 "2011-04-07T23:30:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-read-question/577600/1 "2011-04-07T23:30:32Z")

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What is the primary purpose of a table read, for say, a weekly sitcom? Is it so the writers/producers can see what works and what doesn’t? Is it so the talent can walk-through the script together? Or for some other reason? And does the production meeting usually happen before or after the table read?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-read-question/577600/2 "2011-04-07T23:48:42Z")

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All of the above. You often do the same thing for a play (though the author is not involved): in the first rehearsal actors read all their lines at a table so everyone gets a feel for the character. For a sitcom, the actors can get an idea of the lines and for possible business with the other actors, and, in TV, the writers/producers can more easily judge what doesn’t work and try to improve it.

Not sure about when the production meeting is held, but I suspect it would be both before and after.