TV series ideas*

A couple of weeks ago Ben was telling me about his idea for a TV series. It would be about academics dealing with students. The idea came from a discussion we had about this blog. He asked me how many of my students read it and I said I think about two (David and Carlo, and I'm not even sure about Carlo). He thought that was weird and that he thought more students would want to see what their professors were up to. I told him probably the reverse was true—most students would expect me to be reading their blogs. So I guess this series would be about the weird relationships between students and professors.

We just got back from Seaworld and it occurred to me that a marine park would make a great setting for a TV series. I got the idea from seeing the trainers at the Shamu show. They were good performers, young, poised, articulate plus they were all wearing skin tight wet suits. We have the typical Aaron Sorkin setup here—a show within a show, professionals at work & sex appeal.

Here are some story ideas I came up with while watching the Shamu "Believe" show—

Pilot: Superman
Kyle, a trainer with a Superman tatoo is the new kid on the block. As a trainer he has it all—great swimmer, great performer and great with the animals. It's no surprise that quiet, long-haired Katie develops a crush on him. They date a while and seem to be serious. But then they run into a big problem—Takara, the killer whale. "You're jealous of a killer whale?" says Katie in amazement. Inter-species romance jokes follow. After some arguments and the b story wrap up we reach the conclusion—Katie really does love Takara more than Kyle as dramatized in a scene in which she elegantly swims with the whale in slow motion. In the last shot we see Katie at the tattoo parlor having the name "Lois Lane" tatooed on her shoulder.

Episode 2:
A trainer loses his nerve for performing after hearing about a killer whale's attack on a trainer at another park.

Episode 3:
A trainer's love of the spotlight causes the other trainers to question her commitment to the animals.

Episode 4:
The trainers struggle to learn a new show created by a young, hot-shot producer.

Episode 5:
The trainers face an ethical dilemma when they discover that the show's corporate parent is responsible for the deaths of dozens of dolphins.

*See the following post for an exciting contest!