Re: Television Series

pointe wrote:Mitch, you scripted a pilot a few years ago involving a newspaper reporter and news anchor. There's a current TV series, "Castle," about a mystery writer consulting with a NYPD precinct detective. I think your stories would be as interesting.
It's interesting you asked that. I did write a TV pilot for CBS with Gary David Goldberg (who created "Spin City" and "Family Ties") a few years ago. Everyone told us at CBS that it was a no brainer, that it would be picked up for at least a season, but in the end, as often happens in TV, some executive changed his mind at the last minute and it never got to the air. This is a frustration that is common in the TV and movie business. It is one reason that I only dabble occasionally in those fields but don't invest too much of my time or effort as the "pickup" is totally out of your control. Unlike writing a column for the newspaper, which I know will come out the next day, or publishing a book which I know will be printed and distributed, you can put a lot of time and effort into a TV pilot or movie script and have it wind up on a shelf somewhere - even if you get paid for it. That said, I have been nudged constantly by my agents in LA to create a series and have toyed with basing one on my radio years and the colorful characters that come through that world. This is a year - in between books - that I will be exploring that, so stay tuned. Hey, I just thought of how funny that was. Stay tuned. You see, it's that kind of sparkling wit that makes for great TV shows. Thanks for your question.