Last week Josh posted a clip
from the new show, Missing, starring
Ashley Judd. His perspective on the show: nobody needs this program and the
developers of the show have failed.
It got me thinking. Wouldn’t
you like to be a fly on the wall in some of those development meetings? Ideas are flying
around the room, creativity is flowing, Yes Men are agreeing with whatever
their boss seems to think, egos are ballooning…I think I would watch a TV show
about people developing TV shows! And if they were clearly misguided ideas? Why,
I think that would be even more
entertaining.
For example, I would love to have
watched that auspicious network meeting over 30 years ago when they were
brainstorming for a new, brilliant small-screen phenomenon…
VP of CBS Development (Played in my mind by Charlton Heston):
Gentlemen, we need a show for the 8 o’clock time slot. Something that will
appeal to men who spend gobs of money and happen to currently be stuck in arrested
development. Bruce, whatta ya got?
Bruce: Yeah, how about a
private investigator?
VP: Nice. All men wish they
could be dangerous. What else? Hal?
Hal: Well, we could film it
in Hawaii?
VP: Perfect. Every man wishes
he lived in Hawaii. Nick?
Nick: How is a private
investigator going to afford living in Hawaii?
Hal: We could have him live
for free on an estate. That way he has no real adult responsibilities. Not even
a mortgage.
VP: I likey. Nick, you’re
fired, unless you get with the program.
Nick: We could have the owner
of the estate give him a Ferrari to use at his leisure?
VP: Nick, you’re a beautiful
man. That’s genius. Now I want a
Ferrari.
Hal: Also, he should have a
mini-fridge that is endlessly full of cold beer.
Bruce: Also, this guy is
going to be able to get any woman he wants. A new one every week, since he
won’t ever really be involved in any kind of relationship that requires
maturity, sacrifice, compromise, or formal wear.
VP: Of course he is. He’s got
an estate, a Ferrari, the coolest job…and what else?
Nick: A mustache?
VP: Bingo. I smell a hit,
gentlemen. Nick, go pick me out a Ferrari.
Magnum, P.I.
