tv

 Apathy kills, but I don't care - Hank Moody

USA Network is a true success story using a formula that seems to serve them well - unique characters in semi-comedic situations with some drama bits tossed in to keep things interesting - a true TV salad.

“Necessary Roughness” uses this same formula to good effect. Like predecessors “Burn Notice,” “Monk,” “Psyche,” and “In Plain Sight,” etc. NR works on many levels as long as you don’t take it too seriously.

The funny and sexy Callie Thorne plays Danielle (Dani) Santino who is a psychotherapist undergoing a life-changing moment when she discovers that her husband of fiftteen years (Craig Bierko) is cheating on her - again (“Six women in thirteen years isn’t a mistake, it’s a life style”.) She throws him out (the requisite tossing-clothing-out-of-the-bedroom- window scene - that’s how you know she’s serious,) begins a painful divorce and expands her practice through a series of (wink-wink) events that find her in bed with a trainer for a professional football team.

• Glee's hot Cheerios cheerleader to Jacob Ben Israel, school video blogger (after her breast implant surgery)
    SANTANA: "Hey! My eyes are up here, Jew fro. "
• SUE SYLVESTER: "That was the most offensive thing I’ve seen in 20 years of teaching — and that includes an elementary school production of Hair."
• Mr. Schue: ''Who can tell me what a ballad is?''
    Brittany: ''A male duck.''
• Brittany: ''Did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?... Yeah.''

Too easy. It's too easy to say: "The Good Guys...isn't," uh, good. So I won't. But it isn't - not really. Maybe if you only had a choice between "Murder She Wrote" reruns or this you'd be excused for sitting through this odd (not in a good way) and uneven one hour comedy.

The premise - is there one? Two mismatched cops who do small-time property crime investigations (that always lead to real big cases) are partners.

I was complaining to a friend of mine at my martial arts dojo one time about this business. After listening to my whining for a few minutes he looked at me and said "No one forced you to become a screenwriter." A bit harsh perhaps but he was right. My life, my choices.

My mistake was trying to express my frustration to someone who doesn't understand and work in this business. Had I complained about taking countless breakfalls or sore wrists or two separated shoulders and many dislocated joints from years of doing martial arts, I'm sure I would have gotten a more sympathetic response and then, of course, his list of injuries.
 

This is something I wrote for my blog journalistbynite, but as I progress in this crazy dream of mine...I figure I should start posting some stuff here.  All comments are welcome.

Well first off, if you have no idea what a steampunk story is I have to say shame on you. Where were you through the 1980's to the 1990's. To help those of you to remember the past or just to get an idea of what exactly is behind a steampunk story, check out the link to the wikipedia article on what is steampunk.       

So enough with the refresher course. Just recently I've been watching a new webisode on the internet called Riese. Located at (http://www.riesetheseries.com). It started out last year on the Chapter 1 story and then was just getting started on Chapter 2 toward the end of the year. Each chapter has at least 5-6 episodes in them which are at least 5-10 minutes long. In and of itself, that would not sound that impressive. But the cool thing about the webisode was that it was done

I'm a first time blogger here (that should serve as my warning). As a writer, I'm on the more self deprecating side of things. I know a lot of writers that are cocky and confident, but I just can't quite get there, but I'm beginning to accept the idea that someone else might be interested in what I have to say. I'd like to think that it's due to my wonderful prose and clever wit, but I'm sure it's more along the lines of a rubber-necker looking at a horrible crash. I'm hoping you can learn from this crash.

Mitchell: Just the emerald city at the end of my yellow brick road
Cameron: Wow you did it
Mitchell: What?
Cameron: You made figure skating sound even gayer. 

The pilot of “V” was like watching a compilation reel of bits of a 2 hour movie compressed into 44 minutes. Although one review I read about the way the narrative threads were complied to introduce the aliens and set up the show complimented the technique, I found the introduction of the aliens and the way the world responded to be less than engaging - like eating a sandwich made of air.

 Yeah, I know - it’s an old story - especially since this is a remake of the 1983 series - but who remembers that storyline?  We do, I guess since we're only really given the thumbnails of this current story: Aliens come to Earth, offer miracles of technology, and like some old-timey hippie gurus with interstellar VW busses, promise nothing but love and prosperity for all mankind. And we for the most part buy into it.

On September 19,2009 Producer Steve Eccelsine provided our membership with insight both sobering and joyous about the business of Hollywood.  Steve read one of my favorite essays from his excellent book "So You Want To Be A Producer" called "All That Glitters."  It shows a producer passionate and heartfelt but with an eye cocked askance on this silly business of making movies.

He has generously allowed us to post it here.  

First, my bona fides. I’ve been in a classroom either as a teacher or a student for the greater part of 23 years. I’m a professional writer now (with 18 produced films) and a teacher. This is just to tell you that I’ve seen my share of critiques, story meetings and spitballing sessions under many different circumstances.

 'Arrested Development' script in works

21 hours ago | HollywoodReporter.com | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news » 

Narrator: Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything ... and just may get some of it back.

Two new comedies on ABC - I sampled them both recently.  The verdict - they're both good for different reasons with my fav being "Modern Family."

MF reminds me of "Arrested Development" that brilliant, quirky comedy that has outlived its cancellation.  The gang in MF aren't quite as dysfunctional but they are definitely dysfunctional with the same funny results.  

Upcoming September event.

In Brief...

Mega-Producer Steve Eccelsine will speak about the business and his 700+ produced films and television episodes.  His book "So You Want To Be A Producer" is being used by a dozen film schools.

Results of the "Make It Reel Script to Screen" contest.

Prize giveways.

Networking before and after event.

More!

Free event.  

Networking, giveaways, Q&A with Hollywood producer, contest winners...more.

Saturday, September 19th, 10:00-12:30pm, Regency South Coast Theater.

Newsletter: http://www.ocscreenwriters.com/newsletter/newsletter_20090919.html

 I’ve seen this headline before: Death of the Story - true? Hyperbole? How about a bit of both.

Welcome to the Mashup Page - why Mashup?  A Mashup is various sources mashed up together to provide a new experience.  With Art, any art absorbed is art returned.   

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Welcome to the inside of the iTV Fest for those of you who were not able to attend in person or via live stream from Stickam.com July 31-August 6 at Laemmle’s Sunset 5.