Film and Television

Unsold Animated LOST IN SPACE Pilot from 1973

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Hanna-Barbera made this unsold, Saturday-morning pilot back in the early 1970s, perhaps hoping to capitalize on the success of the animated STAR TREK. Supposedly, Fred Freiberger…the writer/producer responsible for the awful third season of STAR TREK and the loathed second season of SPACE 1999, had a hand in this “reimagining” of LOST IN SPACE. The only cast member from the original series who participated was Jonathan Harris, reprising his role as Dr. Smith (now a Biology professor!).

WGA Crime Scene Rally

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On Tuesday December 18th , the Writers Guild of America is holding a bicoastal “Scene of the Crime” Rally for writers of crime and cop shows. Writers
and stars of over 35 current and past crime/cop/law shows will be in
attendance in Los Angeles and New York.

This is a great opportunity for
fans of TV crime dramas to show their support for the writers who bring them shows like CSI, MONK, LAW AND ORDER, DEXTER and many more.

 
And here’s the best part – in Los Angeles, we’re holding the rally at the headquarters of the AMPTP. The Death Star itself.
 
In New York, the rally will be held at historic Foley Square downtown, in full view of the Federal and State Courthouses. Here are the details: 
Los Angeles: December 18th, 10 am to 12 pm PST
AMPTP HQ, 15503 Ventura Blvd., Encino, a few blocks
west of the 405 at the corner of Firmament.
 
New York: December 18th, 12 pm to 2 pm EST
Foley Square, Downtown NYC
 
I’m in Munich right now, but I am rushing back to be in Encino in time for the rally. I’ll be the Pierce Brosnan look-alike with the picket sign and the bloodshot eyes, staggering around in a jet-lagged haze… 

A Subtle Clue

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Here’s a true story from the writers room. We were helping a freelancer, a first-timer to crime shows, plot her story. We needed a subtle clue to link two killings that previously seemed unrelated.

"I’ve got it," the freelancer said. "What if there is a tiny hole in the victim’s head and we
discover his brain has been drained out of his skull and replaced with dog shit."

"I don’t think that’s subtle enough," I said.

"Why not?" she said. "It’s a small hole."

Needless to say, she ended up backing out of the assignment.