TV Article Due; TV Pitch

In the article on Star Trek you read as homework, you will note that it includes a discussion of the cultural and social relevance of the show, while also providing the reader with history of the show, and reasons why it was popular with viewers. It references important episodes, actors, characters, and Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the series. This article should serve as a model for your own article.

Choose any one of the following TV shows (note: I have not picked anything too current on purpose. The older the show, the more research online you can do...recent shows may not have as much information...)

• Scooby Doo, Where Are You? (1969-1970)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• M.A.S.H. (1972-1983)
• All in the Family (1971-1979)
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
• The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• The Muppet Show (1976-1981)...
• Lost (2004-2010)
• South Park (1997-present)
• Family Guy (1999-present)
• The Big Bang Theory (2007-present)

For full list of your options, check out the previous post!

1. Research the television show online. [You should have done this already during your Feb. break]
2. Gather notes about what made this show "popular", whether or not it spun off a sequel (or several sequels), know the history of the show (when did it air-when was it canceled, who wrote/directed/starred in it, how many seasons did it run, etc.), and its impact (are there other shows today just like it? Do people quip a line from the show? Has it crossed to other forms of media or products?)
3. Watch an episode or two if you can to get your own opinion of the show. What makes it work as a TV show? Who is its target audience? What genre or message does it send to a viewer?
4. How does the show influence or affect our American culture? (examine the cultural and social impact of the show...)

Using your notes, write an article between 500-1,000 words on the tv show answering those 4 points above. Remember, as an article, you want a good hook, to cite and attribute your sources, and use critical reviews of the show to support your own opinions about the TV program. You may use footnotes in your document. To learn how to do this in Google Docs, check the link.

If you complete your article (turn in today), please begin working on your TV Pitch idea:

TV Pitch: (not due today!)

1. Title. Create an interesting title that touches on the main theme of the story, or the dramatic tension faced by your character. For example: Lost, Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons, etc.

2. Logline/Premise. A punchy yet impactful summation of the story concept or premise. No more than two sentences, ideally one. A logline for a narrative series will usually delve into the particular circumstances and conflict that drives the plot forward. For our purposes, your Logline/Premise should be 1-2 sentences for the idea of the show.

• ex. The Haunting of Hill House: Logline: The series explores a group of siblings who, as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country. Now adults, and forced back together in the face of tragedy, the family must finally confront the ghosts of their past, some of which still lurk in their minds while others may actually be stalking the shadows of Hill House.
• ex. Breaking Bad: Logline: When chemistry teacher Walter White is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given only two years to live, he decides he has nothing to lose. He lives with his teenage son, who has cerebral palsy, and his wife, in New Mexico. Determined to ensure that his family will have a secure future, Walt embarks on a career of drugs and crime.
• ex. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Logline: Set in the twenty-fourth century and seven to eight decades after the adventures of the original crew of the starship Enterprise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew travel to distant planets to seek out new life and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

3. Synopsis. A broad overview of the series, making clear the world it’s set in and the dynamics between the characters. This is of particular importance from a commercial perspective to a network, because you’re highlighting the most compelling thematic facets of the series. This could be accomplished in a few paragraphs, or a number of pages so long as the writing itself is polished and reads at a nice clip. For our purposes, your synopsis for the season arc should include a few ideas (premises) for episodes. Each premise should be a sentence or two (see above).

• Ex. See Big Bang Theory (look at the description section of the chart/graphic... this is a story synopsis. Taken together is the season ARC. 

4. Season outline. A step-by-step breakdown of the pilot episode, running through the arc of the plot.
Future episodes. A list of six to ten descriptions of potential future episodes—something akin to a logline for each one.

• Ex. Bob's Burgers (scroll down to see the season outline)

5. Characters. Describe your protagonist and other key players in the show. Speak to their backgrounds as well as their current lifestyle in a paragraph or so. Explain the way in which they view the world; how they see themselves and how they relate to other people. Find their flaws, their quirks, and the unique personality traits that make them tick.

• Ex. Empire (scroll down to see sample descriptions of characters)

All of these elements (#: 1-5) should be written in a document that can be printed out. Put together, #1-5 should broadly address the following:

• What is your premise?
• How are your primary characters and your characters’ world unique?
• What makes the audience care about these characters?
• What are their complexities and their flaws?
• What drives them to make the choices they do?
• Why do you as a writer feel the need to tell this particular story?
• What do you want the audience to take away from it?
• What is the overall tone of the show?
• If possible, compare it to a combination of other, existing programs or movies.
• Track the character arcs over the course of the entire season, to show how the characters evolve throughout it.
• A broad, “big picture” look at the story of the first season, which outlines its major beats and movements.
• What makes this show stand out from the pack? Why should they green-light your vision over any number of similar, competing ones?

In your description in the COMMENT section for next class, please answer some of these bullet points when "pitching" your show idea. The class will vote on the ideas--with the top 3 potentially given "life" for our TV script unit project.

HOMEWORK: None. If you did not start your TV pitch, brainstorm ideas and bring them to class next time. If you did not complete your article, please do so (and turn in late for partial credit).