New comedy show pilot!!
Picture this, my pitch for a new comedy show, it would have to be at least as good as 2 and a half men.
Working Title: The Braintrust
Three main charactors, The first is a well to do radio personality, he espouses personal responsibility and family values while at the same time being an overweight drug-addicted whoremonger with an outsize ego(Think John Goodman mixed with Dennis Ferina). The second is a middle aged milf from the country who grossly overplays a downhome image while at the same time loathing the hicks around her. She also has enough kids to fill a trailer park with one trailer just for the meth lab. (Think Rosanne Barr crossed with the weather girl from your local tv station circa 1992). The last is presumedly the all american guy. He is a blue collar guy, and a business owner. Except he isn't. He speaks for the little guy, but doesn't know what he is saying. He agrees with whatever the crowd is saying at any given time. (Think Larry the cable guy mixed with Kojack)
The plot is that these three misfits have to come together to shape and define a political party that has lost it's way. Lots of common animosity, not a lot of common sense. Can they expand beyond the mindless trolls who believe whatever they hear? Can they take back the political process they used to control?
Lots of interesting walkon characters, Like Mike, the landlord, he is a black guy who acts like what a mid-80 black comedian portraying a white guy as acting like. He is always just one step ahead of the cops who are on his trail for his many misdemenors and his crazy family. Or Glenn, Another radio guy who is kind of friends with the main character but kind of creeps everyone out, (think Reverend Jim from Taxi crossed with the banjo kid from deliverence). Then there is Ann, an anorexic tranny with anger issues who probably just needs a hug but instead goes for guns and cigarettes (think Iggy Pop and a long blond wig). Michelle, the cute asian girl who is outraged by everything. She even drowned her kids guinea pigs because they were not american enough, (think Squeeky Frome mixed with Kianna from bodyshaping). Then there is Billy K, the smartest guy in the show, but then again that is like being the most moral girl in a whorehouse. He is an Ivy league trust funder who thinks the biggest problem with the country is elitists. Always condecending he is the foil for many of the barbs thown about (think Woody Allen crossed with Smegel)
What do you think?
Clever premise, but it'll never sell. Too unbelievable, and it has no heart.
Reminds me of a friend of mine who took an option on a book about Simone DeBeauvoir with the intent of making it into a movie. Since I work for him, I agreed to write an outline, only to come to the realization, (after reading the book), that the movie would never be made. Why? Because all the main characters were unlikeable s**ts or, at best, unappealing asshats. There was no one in the cast of characters that the audience could either identify with, or feel empathy for. How do you root for anyone in that story? They were all miserable and self-absorbed. The source book remains a nicely written, well-researched portrait, but the movie? Feh. It'd be two hours of hammering nails into the side of your head ... and who needs that? I felt similarly towards your idea for the pilot. Funny and clever writing by you, but, if actually produced, it would come with a box of nails and a hammer, and I have enough problems dealing the holes that are already there.
March 5, 2009 7:36 AM | Reply | Permalink