Ideas

I saw a bumper sticker today that read: Average thinkers think about people, good thinkers think about events, great thinkers think about ideas.

The whole affair could have benefitted from some italics on that last word. Either way, I wasn't into it. It's kind of a silly sentiment and not one I particularly agree with. And as someone who thinks about ideas a lot, I feel like I can have a pretty strong opinion on the subject.

Alan Moore's* "Ideas are bulletproof" runs closer to how I feel about ideas.

Anyway, none of this is super relevant. Today's idea is for a TV show, or rather a kind of TV show. No specific plot or anything. The idea is to have a show that runs a full 52 weeks. The only thing that comes close to this is professional wrestling, and it kind of sucks now.

You'd need a big team of writers and an ensemble cast to pull this off. You'd also need to have realistic goals for ratings. People are going to have trouble hanging with a show every week. There are birthdays and holidays and such to deal with. So it definitely would need to be offered for free online. And maybe re-aired a couple of times throughout the week.

I mean, set it where and whenever you want. Old west, future, now. Space, Chicago, Portland. Doesn't matter. With 52 hours of programming you could have a really sprawling epic with lots of characters and plots, etc. You'd want to take a wide approach to the subject matter and try not to focus on one character. I promise I won't mention the show that did this well.

I think, initially, people would be interested in the novelty of such a huge story. And something they could count on to entertain them for 52 straight weeks. AFter that, the show better deliver. Like with most things, if it sucks, it won't work.

Poignant, no?

*A lot of folks who've posted plot reviews over at IMDB credited David Lloyd with writing V for Vendetta. I'm usually not a nitpicker, but how do you get that wrong? Alan Moore wrote it, Lloyd drew it. Even if you glanced at the cover of the comic book there'd probably be two names. I mean, wouldn't you list them both? Or dig a little deepet?