Time now to celebrate with our favorite July 4th video history lesson:
We haven’t seen a script for this, but just between us, wethinks that at least some of this was written.
Month: July 2014
How TV Series Die
Another reason so many writer-producers hate TV network executives:
by Ken Levine
As a peek behind the curtain in television, I thought I’d share with you the backstory to th[e] whole sordid concept change [and demise of the TV series ALMOST PERFECT].
ALMOST PERFECT was created in 1995 by Robin Schiff, David Isaacs, and myself. The premise very quickly: A young single woman in her 30s is struggling in her career and love life. And then on the day she gets the job of her life she meets the guy of her life, and both are fulltime jobs. How does she juggle both?
Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 7/4/14
Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman
- Lodge Kerrigan & Amy Seimetz (newbies who scored big at Sundance this year) are writing and directing the Starz adaptation of a little sex type film directed by Steven Soderburgh called THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE. (Which is often referred to as “Steven Soderbergh’s THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE even though that film was written by David Levien & Brian Koppleman. Hollywood credits! How can we ever be sure who is or was responsible for what?)
- Reuben Fleischer (GANGSTER SQUAD) has an overall deal with Universal TV to develop both dramas and comedies. (The big thing about this big deal is that Reuben was first noticed as a writer-director of various Funny or Die.Com videos, once again proving – “Start on the web, young man/woman, by all means start on the web.”)
- Matt Nix (BURN NOTICE, baby!) has yet another new overall deal at Fox TV, this time to develop cable and broadcast series. (No snark here. Matt’s a bud. We love seeing his success. Have at the sons of bitches, dood!
- Jim Sharp is the new Executive Vice President of Original Programming & Development at Comedy Central. (And even though he isn’t a writer and therefore doesn’t have his name bolded, we’re rooting for him cuz, well, it’s always nice to cozy up to development head, don’tcha think? In the words of Yer Friendly Neighborhood Munchman, “Hey, ya never know when you’ll find yourself in the croc’s mouth so wouldn’t it be cool to know his name?”
- As long as I’m munching about network executives (AKA The Enemy), Ken Segna has continued his 4 year climb over at Starz, going from executive assistant to Vice Prez of Original Programming. (munchie lurves a good success story, but here’s the question: Will Ken really be able to give us something “original?” What is “original programming” in the eyes of those in the executive suites anyway?)
DOCTOR WHO Series 8 Starts August 23rd
Thought we’d help get the word out. Cuz the way we see it, TV science fiction doesn’t get any better than the Doctor. (And actors don’t get any better than Peter Capaldi.)
Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie
Chapter 65 – Does Online Popularity Translate into the Real World?
by Leesa Dean
Hmmmm. This week a few big YouTube and Vine personalities failed spectacularly as live-streamed red carpet hosts of the Daytime Emmys. I watched videos of it and their “hosting” skills were embarrassing. They made dumb, seriously distasteful racist and rape jokes, admitted on camera that they never heard of any of the people they were interviewing (who were nominated for awards) although they had time to prep, told awful stale jokes mostly mugged for the camera and, just in general, sucked the big one. Worse, a number of them tweeted after and were bitter, unapologetic and unprofessional. One of them even wrote: “Your opinion < my dog’s left nut.” Way to be classy!
Apparently, a few weeks before the ceremony the NATAS (the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) issued a casting call for social media mavens to host and, specifically, the organizers wanted millennials between the ages of 18-35 who have a very strong social media following (300,000 followers minimum). The organizers, stupidly, thought, a big social media following will translate into more viewers and publicity.
Boy were they wrong.