Hollywood
It appears that I'm about the only person in America who likes Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I don't love it, but I like it. I've read a lot of the criticisms about the show, and they basically boil down to two problems: 1) The sketches aren't funny; and 2) No one cares about the concerns and problems of Network Television.
I agree, the sketches aren't particularly funny, but I'm ok with that for the most part because, oddly enough, those aren't the point of the show. They could basically do the whole show without showing a single sketch (although I also approve of the sketch montage they employed a couple of episodes ago). As to the second part, I don't know how to solve that. It's true, unlike what goes on in the White House, it is hard for the regular person to get that worked up about the problems facing a giant television network, such as whether they get a show about the U.N. over another crappy reality tv derivative, or whether Studio 60 can hold 90% of the audience from the previous week. People have bigger things to worry about, and that makes it hard to relate to the show.
That point aside, though, I am pretty fascinated by the whole behind-the-scene aspect of television. In fact, because of Studio 60, I'm seriously considering moving to Hollywood and becoming a writer. I've got this great idea for a new show (copyright), which I will now share with you (so that I can later prove this is my idea, not yours, you bloodsucking ass):
The Premise: Basically "A Civil Action" for the small screen. The show will be about some mass tort, whatever's "sexy" at the time. Right now I'm thinking Vioxx. Anyway, a team of young lawyers will get the chance of a lifetime to represent the class, but they don't really know how to go about it, right? Because they're so freaking young and hot. So they start looking for someone who can help them, and that's when they find an old, washed-up, drunk lawyer, who used to be awesome, but decades of class action litigation has taken its toll. Don Johnson would be great for the part. Anyway, the washed-up lawyer wants nothing to do with it at first, figuring that he's already screwed up too many lives and let too many people down, but then realizes this is a chance to redeem himself. This is one last chance to restore his honor. (Yeah, this show has some of The Verdict in it too.)
The Hook: As you know, every show these days has to have a hook. Here's mine: The show is in real time. It is a cross between Law & Order and 24. You'll start off with the kids getting the case, doing their preliminary investigations, working out their contingency fee agreement with the clients. Then you'll see them start up on discovery. One of my favorite episode ideas is watching an associate draft interrogatories. That will last 6 episodes. My vision is that each case will run 4-6 seasons before a final jury verdict. (Of course, if I ever get tired of a particular case, I can always DV it at some point and start the whole thing over.
The Name: I'm thinking "The Class" (even though there is already a show called that, but they are totally not related). I could also go with "Certifiable," although that makes it sound more like a comedy (obviously there will be humor, how can there not be in a mass tort, but like Studio 60, that's not the point). Or maybe just "Rule 23." I haven't really decided yet.
Just a reminder, all this shit is copyrighted, by me. If I see this show on ABC's spring lineup, I am going totally litigious on your ass.
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