10/5/05
Let me tell you a little something about television, or more succinctly, how TV shows are chosen. This is the very quick, scaled-down version so you don't have to buy that book "How TV Shows are Picked For Dummies." I'm not implying you're a dummy, by the way. I hate how those books make that subtle implication. Except for Divorce for Dummies, which really is for dummies.
Anyway, each network hears about 4.3 billion pitches during "development season" for dramas, which lasts roughly from "after the 4th of July" to "just after Labor Day." Some years the development season goes on much longer for a variety of reasons (like this year), and some networks don't like the concept of seasons and will develop when they please (Fox does it occasionally because of Major League Baseball, and networks like HBO and Showtime play by their own rules).
Somehow you have to get a meeting with one of the networks in order to be one of these 4.3 billion pitches, and if they like the idea - or they like you - they will buy your pitch. Each network will purchase about sixty script ideas this way each development season. Stop me if I'm getting any of this wrong, Jen.
Ladies and gentlemen, Jen Chambers!
Anyway, these sixty scripts are usually written by people who already had deals with the network, or already have a show on the air, or are some kind of newbie with a hot idea. Out of these sixty, about 7-10 are chosen to be shot as pilots. You know pilots as their better name, the "season premiere," but there are plenty of shot pilots that don't go anywhere. In fact, there are festivals dedicated to them.
Perhaps three or four pilots make it to the airwaves: in the last few weeks, you might have seen "Prison Break," "Surface" or "Commander in Chief." If the pilot and subsequent 2-3 episodes do well in the ratings, the network orders more (which just happened to "Everybody Hates Chris"). If it doesn't, it is cancelled (like "Head Cases") and one of the other un-aired pilots might get a shot at mid-season. "Grey's Anatomy" was introduced at mid-season last year and became a hit.
You remember the career cliffhanger I was mentioning last week? Well, I can't reveal any details, but I can say that something wonderful happened to us today, something deep in the long list above. What could be better than to tell stories for a living?
Posted by Ian Williams at October 5, 2005 11:59 PMHOT!!!
congrats dude. must confess, am a fan. love your writing on this blog. discovered it quite by accident one day early last spring, and since got hooked -- spent the better part of a day combing the archives, read it pretty regularly now. anyway, all the best to you and tessa (and lucy and chopin of course.) if what I think happened actually did, hopefully some of that same insight and passion and wonderfully critical (humane) worldview will find its way onto the proverbial airwaves.
now. don't go losing your edge. the events and the words must remain compelling. and above all else, entertaining to all comers, even (the real) badbob and matt. (right, gents???)
props,
CP
Congrats on whatever wonderful thing happened! I can't wait to find out more!
Congrats and good luck with the next step!
Yay and congratulations! Anxiously awaiting all the cool details...
bravo! brava! bravi! THIS is why we endure mediocrity . . bring on the delicious details!!
Bravo! Congrats! Spill the details asap!
Congratulations!
5 words to remember:
Guest spot for Just Andrew.
Congrats, whatever it is.
The heartwarming story of a self-fabulist and his tall tales of his own non-existant exploits on the basketball court, I assume?
My relationship with W wasn't quite good enough for a job with the Supremes, so I hope that cronyism will pay off with you guys.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
You both are clearly very talented and DESERVE this wonderful thing, especially with your hard work and near-misses over the years.
Can't wait to see the product.
But - sniff - don't forget your pumpkin patch.
You can't just say something like that and SIGN OFF! Tell us more more more!
I'm with lee!
Dude, that's good news. Very happy for you. However, I have one request. I'm a big West Wing watcher and Aaron Sorkin's "back story" for Sam Seaborn was that he went to dook. I don't know or care what your Honda "Pilot" is about. I just want one or more of the characters to be from a small college town called Chapel Hill and I wouldn't mind seeing an authentic UNC diploma on the walls of their apartment/office--clearly visible when they leave the apartment to go down to the coffee shop. And, if you can work it so that one of the characters wears one of those old IM shirts or a Carolina hat, you'll be a cult figure in my world. And see about working Elisabeth Shue into a guest spot on one of the episodes.
Congrats!
Elisabeth Shue?! Dude, she peaked at Karate Kid (OK, maybe Cocktail.)
well done you too! i'm SO curious; keep revealing what you can...by the way, i liked the word "motherflubbers" in yesterday's entry.
Congrats.. great perseverence by you two. You deserve it. k
i meant you "two." i'm a bit sleep deprived today.
YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
Will you need a music supervisor or advisor? ::Cough Cough::
Congratulations.
Like everyone else, I'm just guessing what this is about.
I don't watch much TV, but I *am* aware that there's this invention called "television" and that on this invention they show "shows"?
And I *believe* the way they pick the shows on TV is they make one show, and that's called a "pilot"?
And they show that one show to the people who pick the shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they want to make more shows? Some get accepted and become TV programs, and some don't, and become nothing, right?
May y'all's become *something*.
(why do I want a Hawaiian burger all of a sudden?)
Rock on!
Sam Seaborn? That hooker-dating robotic glamorboy wonk wouldn't be anything to brag about.
Hurray!!!! I love a good success story.
got my fingers crossed for further exciting breaking news on your good fortune!! must be that the execs with whom you met are smarter than average to recognize your talent...your typical vocab far outstrips the mono-syllables used by most suits in this town. but, every once in a while, some great d-girl or boy takes a chance on brilliance. i hope yours makes it to the small screen. woohoo!
ohhhhhh yes, and on these so called "pilots" there are people who speak lines, know to the masses as "actors." Some of these "actors," I suppose, might come from diverse backgrounds before being chosen for the "pilot." Some of these "actors" might even have been real estate investment bankers in Philadelphia before their big break in a "pilot" for example.....hmmmmmm, its all very interesting.
Thanks, guys! Wow, such a great thing to wake up to. That sentence ended with a preposition, I know.
I wish I could say more, but it's good to keep the news vague for now, and while psyched, we know there's a long road ahead.
To satisfy one request, however, Carolina will be mentioned somewhere. I don't know how, but as God is my witness, it'll happen.
Damn...that's amazing. Nice work! I look forward to updates.
My Miramax days came to an end last week (by choice) and I'm heading back to LA next weekend. If things work out and you need a coffee bitch, I mean PA or something, let me know. Or if there's a part for a balding, 30-something white guy...
:-)
So good to see good people doing good things.
Sean M., do you mind bleaching your hair, perhaps?
Perhaps...
Whatever it takes my friend, whatever it takes...
:-P
Congrats, and keep me up to date on any casting calls. I have been thinking of getting into a bit of acting. 25, 6'5", 225, blue eyes, dark brown hair . . . need anyone like this? I don't even want to get paid, I just want to see if I can do it.
Oh great, now I have that goddamn Billy Joel song stuck in my head.
Mucho congratulations & best o' luck!
Awesome news! I'm guessing your script will be shot as a pilot. Congrats and I can't wait to hear all the titillating details.
As for all the casting suggestions... I'm nothing special to look at, but I have 3 cute kids! Need redheads? I've got 2 - one who's 4 and a 15 month old. And we even live just down the 5 in the OC, so I can make it up to LA quite easily. Have your agent call my kids' agent... just kidding!