FR: Bud Williamson, Creative Director
TO: Everyone In Story Development
RE: Finalizing the Proposal
Guys, all of you, Charlie, Hal, Jay, Everett, Larry and Alex, you all need to read this ASAP. Things are going to start moving real fast, real soon.
I think ABC has changed the programming paradigm by giving the green light to the Cavemen TV series. I'm now convinced we can get our own hit with a different commercial icon, but the window of opportunity won't stay open very long. I just got off the phone with my contact at one of the other networks and they want a meeting with us next Friday. Bingo!
I've looked over the ideas you came up, all of which were great by the way, absolutely inspired, and I've narrowed it down. Here's my short list of what I think we should run with. Prepare your own feedback and let's have a final brainstorm session tomorrow in the conference room to finalize the best pitch for each one. This is for all the marbles. Our motto should be "Forget about Cavemen, make way for--"
TWINS: Plenty of flexibility with the plot here because those Doublemint ads were always so vague. Everyone just wandered around chewing. Definitely see this as youth-oriented, suburban setting. Characters enjoy pleasure, also want to double their pleasure, and their fun. Heavy on the visuals, plenty of scenes by the pool, or at the beach. Sensual and sophisticated. I'm thinking Melrose Place with lots and lots of gum.
MAYTAG MAN: We need to make a decision -- is this guy all about action or intellect? I know you guys love the 24 approach, but I'm not sure "Jack
Bauer meets home appliances" can hold an audience. I'm thinking a "Kung-Fu" approach is better. Remember Kwai Chang Caine, walking the Earth, seeking enlightenment while confronting injustice? Re-invent him in the 21st century, on a quest, sharing the emotional turmoil of a different laundry-challenged family each week. Think flashbacks -- his youth, the early obsession with technology, years of training at washer repair school, and always this question: Why? What deep secret fuels his unending desire to fix what is wrong in the lives of everyday Americans?
FRUITS: Very risky. Could be a bomb or blockbuster. No need to antagonize the lawyers at Fruit of the Loom so forget about any crude underwear jokes. Might even want to create a new back story for the team. Could be super heroes like the X-Men, or aliens, but each of them has a special power. To me this is science fiction all the way. With a light touch. I would not object to a laugh track. Also, the title -- could be dicey. What about Loomies or Loomsters? You get my drift, right?
SCRUBBING BUBBLES: Animated? "The Simpsons in an aerosol can?" No way,
guys. This has to be live action. Real actors, real faces the viewers will care about. It can work, trust me. Yes, I know they're traveling around on bathroom tiles, and inside scummy drain pipes. No worries. I've talked to the special effects people from the Matrix films and they said "piece of
cake." Casting will be crucial. Get John Goodman or Brad Garrett as the lead bubble, and we can name our time slot.
One other possibility -- I'm kind of intrigued by Mr. Clean and Bazooka Joe if we could put them together. The buddy theme. I'm just not sold on Joe because of the eye patch. Is that a bad eye, or is it missing? I could never figure that out when I was a kid, and my gut tells me it could be a problem. And Mort -- he had some issues, too. In the old days he wore that weird red turtleneck pulled up so it covered his mouth. Something wasn't on the level with him. But that can all wait for later. I feel great about the final four on this list. Starting right now we have to focus on maintaining peak performance. The team needs everyone at full strength, physically and creatively. Eat right, stay away from sick relatives, and don't get hit by a bus. I want us all standing on the podium together when they hand over the Emmy.