We know this works. Glen Larson created 30+ successful shows using a variation of this very same method:
The 25 Magic Words Of American Television – by Linda Holmes (NPR Blogs)
Tonight, two new fall shows premiere: Mob Doctor, which is about a doctor who works for the mob, and Revolution, which is about a devastating global power outage and — more than that — a revolution.
Neither of these shows particularly requires your attention, but taken together, they emphasize that essentially, all you need to make a show is the right combination of title-friendly words. In fact, if you take the correct 25 words, you can combine them (often in either order!) to create all the television we will see in the next ten years. These 25 words hold the key to American commercial television. These are the only 25 words you need. Any combination of two — any combination of two — would make an entirely plausible, fairly easily imaginable broadcast or cable series. Don’t believe me? Try out the 25 Magic Television Words for yourself.
MOB
DOCTOR
LAW
JUSTICE
CUPCAKE
CHICAGO
FORCE
911
STORM
REVOLUTION
HEAT
FOREVER
TEAM
PETS
AMERICA
CELEBRITY
ALASKA
TRUCKER
LOVE
MYSTERY
WARS
COUNTRY
REAL
DINER
FASHION
If you don’t believe me, try the exercise. Any two of those words can become, together, the title of a new show. Very often, combinations are reversible — Trucker Love is clearly a dating show, while Love Trucker would be a Hallmark movie about a man who transports candy hearts for Valentine’s Day and gets stuck in a small town where the adorable local mechanic who happens to be a single mom has to get him back on the road in time to deliver his candy for the big day. See how easy? (DO NOT RIP OFF LOVE TRUCKER. You know who you are.)
Try it yourself. These 25 words are all you need.
Linda Holmes is a genius! This article could well be the most helpful thing we’ve ever read on the subject of saleable TV series. Thank you so much, Linda! When we hit the jackpot with 911 FOREVER and DOCTOR WARS we’ll be sure to cut you in forget we ever heard of you um, never mind.