4/16/08 Pitch Your Own Show

BuddyDebbie · 04-16-2008, 09:18 AM

I know there are some really creative writers out there who frequent our boards. For today's question, I want you to look inside of you and share with us the stories that you are all dying to tell. If you were in the position to pitch a show to a producer, what kind of show and what kind of story would it be?

Back when I was in college, my best friend and I tried to write a pilot for a single-camera comedy that was sort of a spoof on Felicity. The story centered on a college girl named Serendipity and her merry band of dorm mates. Each character was based on one of our actual friends. Actually, the central character was based on me. Serendipity had the usual run-of-the-mill problems with her parents (she has mommy issues) and she can never decide which boy to be with, so she goes through all of the boys in her friend-group. Some of them turn out to be gay, though, which would occur in a Very Special Episode in which everyone questions their sexual identity. Also, her next door neighbor in the dorm has body-image issues and she and Serendipity get into huge fights about everything.

Okay, looking back on it, it probably doesn't sound like a good show, but we had fun writing it!

TheEditor · 04-16-2008, 09:50 AM

Wow, TMI.

Brainstorming show ideas is my favorite hobby. My favorite one, that is completely impossible to do, was actually based on an idea I came up with that somehow got stolen by that FOX show Reunion. Each episode would take place on a single day, and the next episode would be on one day in the next year, and so on. So it might start on September 21, 1982, then the second episode would take place on October 1, 1983, and so on.

To get edgy, the pilot would take place on September 11, 2001. The two stars are brothers, both in college, one on a basketball scholarship. Their father dies on that day, and over the years we follow their reactions, as the b-ball brother joins the NBA, marries his college sweetheart (who turns into a doctor who will eventually find a cure for cancer), and after retirement, the b-ball star would run for the Senate and eventually, in 2044, become President.

So as you can see, I've already essentially plotted out two complete seasons. After that, the President's daughter would be the first person to walk on Mars. but that goes into the spin-off, which is a sci-fi series about aliens and time travel. I obviously spend too much time thinking about this stuff.

BuddyDebbie · 04-16-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEditor

Wow, TMI.

Haha. Nuh-uh!

BuddyD · 04-17-2008, 10:06 AM

Ok, Debbie's show sounds kind of brilliant. I'd love a well done parody of those introspective teen angst shows. I'm sad that Reunion stole TheEditor's idea, because Reunion was worse than the plague.

I don't really have any ideas for my own show. Though I have always wanted to, say, take a show like Friday Night Lights, which is completely steeped in realism, and then at the end of season 3 just randomly introduce aliens or supernatural monsters. Not in a Jump the Sharky kinda way. Why must such things always be introduced in the pilot episode? Why not have Bigfoot appear on The Wire in the middle of season 4 or something?

Yes, I know it's the worst idea ever, but it makes sense in my head.

Calena · 04-17-2008, 10:15 AM

I'm sadly not creative enough to come up with my own show. I have an idea for a spin-off, though. "Supernatural - The Early Years" (just a working title, it would have to have a way cooler title if it got picked up

). It would cover the time between Mary's death and the point when Sam leaves for Stanford. It would have a lot of litlleSam and littleDean in it, we would learn about Pastor Jim and more about Bobby's and other hunters' past and I saved the best for last: it would have JDM as the lead of his own show, which is long overdue as TPTB should have realized by now.

TheEditor · 04-17-2008, 10:23 AM

Yeah, I know Reunion was awful, but as I've repeatedly told BuddyD in our offices, if I were actually in charge of a show, I'd most likely wind up writing something like One Tree Hill (heck, my idea even has brothers and basketball!).

But Don, you are not alone regarding aliens. I too would LOVE to see that. Because, theoretically, we will one day make first contact, and it will be when everyone is just minding there own business. I've often thought Law and Order would be the perfect show for something crazy like that to happen.

BuddyD · 04-17-2008, 04:50 PM

Exactly John, thank you! I knew my idea wasn't as crazy as it sounded.

That guy who created Reunion is my archnemesis of television. He also created Tru Calling and Big Shots. He has a magnificent knack for taking interesting ideas and hacking them to death with his super hackitude, yet I'm sure he'll still land another gig.

04-16-2008, 09:18 AM	#1
BuddyDebbie Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,028,844	4/16/08 Pitch Your Own Show I know there are some really creative writers out there who frequent our boards. For today's question, I want you to look inside of you and share with us the stories that you are all dying to tell. If you were in the position to pitch a show to a producer, what kind of show and what kind of story would it be? Back when I was in college, my best friend and I tried to write a pilot for a single-camera comedy that was sort of a spoof on Felicity. The story centered on a college girl named Serendipity and her merry band of dorm mates. Each character was based on one of our actual friends. Actually, the central character was based on me. Serendipity had the usual run-of-the-mill problems with her parents (she has mommy issues) and she can never decide which boy to be with, so she goes through all of the boys in her friend-group. Some of them turn out to be gay, though, which would occur in a Very Special Episode in which everyone questions their sexual identity. Also, her next door neighbor in the dorm has body-image issues and she and Serendipity get into huge fights about everything. Okay, looking back on it, it probably doesn't sound like a good show, but we had fun writing it! __________________

04-17-2008, 10:15 AM	#5
Calena Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,135	I'm sadly not creative enough to come up with my own show. I have an idea for a spin-off, though. "Supernatural - The Early Years" (just a working title, it would have to have a way cooler title if it got picked up ). It would cover the time between Mary's death and the point when Sam leaves for Stanford. It would have a lot of litlleSam and littleDean in it, we would learn about Pastor Jim and more about Bobby's and other hunters' past and I saved the best for last: it would have JDM as the lead of his own show, which is long overdue as TPTB should have realized by now. __________________ Thx helps for the sig! "Destiny is a fickle bitch" - Benjamin Linus http://www.richarddawkins.net/ I'd prefer Dean to be my Saviour! Bring K-Man back!!! Pretty please!

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04-16-2008, 09:50 AM	#2
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	Wow, TMI. Brainstorming show ideas is my favorite hobby. My favorite one, that is completely impossible to do, was actually based on an idea I came up with that somehow got stolen by that FOX show Reunion. Each episode would take place on a single day, and the next episode would be on one day in the next year, and so on. So it might start on September 21, 1982, then the second episode would take place on October 1, 1983, and so on. To get edgy, the pilot would take place on September 11, 2001. The two stars are brothers, both in college, one on a basketball scholarship. Their father dies on that day, and over the years we follow their reactions, as the b-ball brother joins the NBA, marries his college sweetheart (who turns into a doctor who will eventually find a cure for cancer), and after retirement, the b-ball star would run for the Senate and eventually, in 2044, become President. So as you can see, I've already essentially plotted out two complete seasons. After that, the President's daughter would be the first person to walk on Mars. but that goes into the spin-off, which is a sci-fi series about aliens and time travel. I obviously spend too much time thinking about this stuff.

04-17-2008, 10:06 AM	#4
BuddyD Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,005	Ok, Debbie's show sounds kind of brilliant. I'd love a well done parody of those introspective teen angst shows. I'm sad that Reunion stole TheEditor's idea, because Reunion was worse than the plague. I don't really have any ideas for my own show. Though I have always wanted to, say, take a show like Friday Night Lights, which is completely steeped in realism, and then at the end of season 3 just randomly introduce aliens or supernatural monsters. Not in a Jump the Sharky kinda way. Why must such things always be introduced in the pilot episode? Why not have Bigfoot appear on The Wire in the middle of season 4 or something? Yes, I know it's the worst idea ever, but it makes sense in my head.

04-17-2008, 10:23 AM	#6
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	Yeah, I know Reunion was awful, but as I've repeatedly told BuddyD in our offices, if I were actually in charge of a show, I'd most likely wind up writing something like One Tree Hill (heck, my idea even has brothers and basketball!). But Don, you are not alone regarding aliens. I too would LOVE to see that. Because, theoretically, we will one day make first contact, and it will be when everyone is just minding there own business. I've often thought Law and Order would be the perfect show for something crazy like that to happen.

04-17-2008, 04:50 PM	#7
BuddyD Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,005	Exactly John, thank you! I knew my idea wasn't as crazy as it sounded. That guy who created Reunion is my archnemesis of television. He also created Tru Calling and Big Shots. He has a magnificent knack for taking interesting ideas and hacking them to death with his super hackitude, yet I'm sure he'll still land another gig.