Have been meaning to get around to writing about Situation: Comedy.
This is the Bravo reality/docu series that is, if thrown out in a "pitch meeting," best described as a Project Greenlight but for a tv sitcom instead of a movie.
I have caught the first 3 episodes thus far. Over 10,000 scripts were sent in... and in super fast fashion, 10 finalists were narrowed down to 5... and then down to 2 by the end of the second episode. Our Matt Damon/Ben Affleck "sponsors" for Situation: Comedy are Will & Grace's Sean Hayes and his producing partner Todd Milliner (second from the right in the above picture). At least Sean and particularly Todd are a bit more around/involved than A-Listers Matt & Ben.
I am enjoying the series thus far... but I am a sucker for "the process." I like seeing how things get made or even an interview with an author talking about how they go about creating and writing a novel. So this has been interesting... although many of the situations here are similiar to Project Greenlight: tight deadlines, limited budgets, compromising artistic "vision," outsiders not understanding how the "system" works, etc.
And oh... it is gay, gay, gay, gay, gay! Now we don't know for sure (Hayes has never officially come out has he?!) but I am fairly confident that many of the industry people (from the producers to the casting agents) are family members. Who needs LOGO?! And the show even has a good fag hag in executive producer Maxine (rightmost in the above pic)... really enjoy her... just very honest, direct, smart & funny... you know how we love a woman like that!
I guess I should get around to talking about the scripts huh? Well, honestly neither are shows that I ultimately think I would watch or enjoy. "Stephen's Life" is about a cocky little boy (older than his years) who rules over his family, while the "The Sperm Donor" is about a woman who, along with her 13-year old daughter, track down the title character. So, pretty ehh for me.
But as I said, for me this show is about the journey, not the destination. Heck, I have yet to see any of the Project Greenlight films either! It will be interesting to see if the "winner" makes it onto the network... recently I read that NBC was/is scrambling to fast-track a sitcom for the upcoming fall season. So while the sitcom may not dead, it appears to be on life-support these days... and these Situation: Comedy finalists certainly do not seem to improving the prognosis.
Sidenote: I know there has been a bit of a drought in the Fine Wine department of late. I was considering adding S: C's Todd Milliner to the roster, he is actually quite cute on the show... but apparently one of those guys who do not photograph as well. So just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about new additions!
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