Bummed and Powerless

It's 84 degrees and sunny and you know what that means, it's Fall! Ah, Global Warming, just one more thing to make us all feel simultaneusly bummed and powerless. Speaking of bummed and powerless, what's going on with Men's Soccer? Seems like the program has lost the plot. A word of advice from this former player to the young men on Walton: shut out all distractions (coach included) and play the beautiful game with joy and passion. Good things may follow.

Things have been a bit slow on the television front. Spending a lot of time trying to develop non-fiction series for cable. Basically I sit around calling friends and surfing the net looking for the next Ice Road Truckers or The Deadliest Catch. Development taste is notoriously ephemeral and fickle. These days if you can find a bunch of rednecks freezing their tootsies off while in imminent danger of losing limbs or life you've got television gold. A few years ago everyone was looking for the next Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I'm still a little bitter about my "Soul Eye for the White Guy" pitch being shot down, but you can't win them all.


What's sad is that all the networks want shows similar to proven shows. Trying something new or something that hasn't worked in the past takes guts, and most network television executives are unlikely to go out on a limb for your crazy idea. It's tough to blame them though, it's not easy to find a sweet gig with benefits where you get to watch lots of TV.

I remember pitching a History Channel Exec on a show about the Fire Department of New York. they balked saying, you know, I just don't think the American people are interested in Fire Fighters. Did I mention this was just two years after September 11? HELLO!!

Whew, I could sit around and spit out stupid executive stories all day long, but I should probably get some work done before some executive gets wind that I'm avoiding work to tap at you all.

Peas and Carrots,

David

P.S. Go Fords!! Or, is it the Red Wave? Why not Communist Hordes? I kind of liked the idea of Black Squirrels, but some short-sighted executive squashed it.