VPN-TV (New Sitcom)

[Jack Malone]

STARRING
Michael Rosenbaum
Josh Radnor
with Greg Grunberg
Busy Phillips
Jennifer Carpenter
and Brett Claywell as Jonathan.

WELCOME TO THE LIVES OF CHRIS DAVIS & JACK MALONE - Building up their new Network, the VPN (Virtual Productions Network), roomates Chris (Michael Rosenbaum) and Jack (Josh Radnor) pick up Brian Melanson’s (Greg Grunberg) pitch VAMP, on default, and find themselves facing dire consequences as it airs its first season. But their lives outside of work prove to be going even worse, when Chris decides to date his best friend Kelly (Busy Phillips); and Jack has to take up a part time job when her sister Alana (recurring guest star Mercedes McNab), moves in without any money to help with rent! Also stars Jennifer Carpenter and Brett Claywell.


THE NETWORK PICKS UP ITS FIRST SHOW - Picking up their first show out of frustration, Chris (Michael Rosenbaum) and Jack (Josh Radnor) struggle to see this new series bringing their network up to the big leagues. And when hearing the ideas in the writers room, all their doubts come rushing back. Meanwhile, Chris’s parents come to celebrate their first show’s premiere, but seems to make his night that much worse.


AUDITIONS FOR THE NETWORKS NEW SHOW BEGINS - When casting begins for Brian's (Greg Grunberg) new show, VAMP, the network turns into a mad house filled with amatuer actors that wouldn't know the right side of a camera if it came up and bit them. Meanwhile, Jack (Josh Radnor) is sent on a blind date; and Chris (Michael Rosenbaum) goes to an afterparty to make some new connections.


THE NETWORK'S NEW SHOW FINALLY AIRS - Having finally finished filming the first three episodes of the VPN's new show, an official air date has been set. Excited for his show, Brian (Greg Grunberg) hosts a premiere party at his house, inviting the Head Executives Chris (Michael Rosenbaum) and Jack (Josh Radnor); but hanging out in the basement of his parent's house all night isn't all that its cracked up to be! Meanwhile, Sam (Jennifer Carpenter) and Kelly (Busy Phillips) try to prove to Jonathan (Brett Claywell) that they can be sophisticated women, by going to memorabilia auction that goes terribly wrong!

NOTES FROM THE AUTHORS
This is a series loosely based on the events taking place in the first year of the VPN's creation. Chris Davis and Jack Malone are Co-Presidents of a new network, where newcomer Brian Melanson comes alone with a pitch of his VAMP. There will be 22-24 episodes planned in the first season, and it will be written in official SITCOM format. Jokes will flow through all scenes, and hopefully be laugh out loud funny.

[meganlizford]

It looks nice. I thoughts a sitcom based around VPN was interested but before I fully comment, I wanna see character biographies so I shall return when you have it up.

[xsylviamoonx]

Looks really cool, love the graphics ^^

[Brian Melanson]

Um it looks cool but me living in my parents basement? NOT ME! lol I would at least like to have an apartment lol but looks cool

[Matthew James]

HA looks interestingly weird can't wait to read the pilot for it!!!

[Jack Malone]

Jan 1, 2010 14:56:14 GMT -6 Brian Melanson said:

Um it looks cool but me living in my parents basement? NOT ME! lol I would at least like to have an apartment lol but looks cool

Unfortuantely, for you, and not the show, you'll be in the basement of your parents house. Not only do we have some good stories planned for the character, but its a starting point for his development. XD

[Jamison]

LOL. This was going to be a really cool sitcom. I hope we can start it back up again. One of these days.

[Amin]

I've never read a virtual series sitcom, so I can't even imagine what it's like. This show has an interesting premise... and I think I'll give it a try, and see how a virtual sitcom is like.

[Daniel]

I don't get it? Is it a sitcom about two guys running a real television network or a sitcom about two guys running a VS network.

If it's the second, it doesn't sound particularly interesting. If it's the first, then the plot doesn't sound realistic at all!? If your planning the first option, then you need to do some proper research because a network doesn't just pick a show at a time, they run a huge array of pilots and pick up a few to begin a network. They are also likely to air reruns of old shows or merge with an already running network.

The only way I can see you playing out this scenario is for the characters to set up a production company instead of a network. The logistics of setting up a television network is too complicated.

[Jamison]

Yes, it will be a real television network. Other shows would have been picked up, but for this season we are only focusing on one. The others would be mentioned and have a role in the series but we wanted the plot to surround "VAMP".

[Daniel]

It's the premise doesn't really make sense. I can't see you pulling off something on such a large scale, which you frankly know little about. I admit, I don't either. But a VS show about a real life industry which is so complicated - I can't see it going well.

No offense, I just don't think your ready for such a project.

[Jamison]

Sorry, can you give me specific details about what in the premise is confusing you? I'd like to know so if I see a problem, we can work it out cause right now I'm feeling kind of lost about what you're saying...

[Daniel]

Do you know how a real television network works? I doubt it. That's my problem. If you don't know your subject well enough, you can't expect to write a good series with the whole idea as your premise.

It's like me writing a series about Star Wars. I don't know anything about it, never seen more than thirty minutes of one of the movies, so if I was to write a series about Star Wars it would be a disaster.

I might be wrong, maybe you work for the CW but without inside knowledge, your making it extremely difficult to write a series about the industry, about creating a network etc...two guys can't just decide one day, lets create our own TV network - it just doesn't happen like that!

[Jack Malone]

As much as I understand your argument here, Joss Whedon writes about a Vampire Slayer, and I don't see him out slaying vampires. Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson run a show about a man with superhuman abilities out saving his city of Metropolis, but they can't do that either. With shows, you do research if little or a lot, whatever need be, and with television you have to have a level of unrealism otherwise there's no point watching it.

A vampire with a soul. A woman who helps ghosts cross over. Two brothers who fight the apocalypse. Its everywhere. No matter what genre, even sitcom's and comedies -- there is always a sense of unrealism. We're not writing a documentary, and as much as I do understand your argument here, I don't see the point.

[Krysla]

But I would assume the readers are not knowledgeable about the inner workings of networks either, so I don't see how it would that big of a deal for Jack and Chris to take a little creative license at times. There are several series/movies that have dealt with advertising firms, television studios, modeling agencies, etc that aren't entirely true to life, but you know what...people still watch because it's about more than just the nitty gritty details. If the stories are diverse and the readers connect with the characters I think this series would do just fine.

[Daniel]

Okay Krysla, name those shows or movies! I bet they have researched the topic they have wrote about in considerable detail. I agree, a viewer should be able to susbend their disbelief but there is only so far that suspension can go!

The impossible - sci-fi, supernatural and fantasy etc...we are expected to suspend our disbelief so we can enjoy the universe that the fiction is created with in. As a viewer, those worlds are impossible fairytales and as normal humans, we know those places don't exist. But sitcom, creating a network...those are real things. How do you expect me to susbend my belief when I have the knowledge that those things are real, that their are rules are logical ways of going about things.

We aren't talking about spaceships, aliens or superheroes. We are talking actors, television shows and the TV industry. I know those things exist! I know how they work...granted I have a limited knowledge about how they work but I feel as though I know more than you. You claim two guys can just one day say..."Hey! Let's create our own TV network!" That doesn't happen! That is real life.

[Jamison]

When and where did we say "two guys can just one day say..."Hey! Let's create our own TV network!" ? It wasn't a thing they started in a moments notice. We know it takes years to get a network started, that and a whole lot of money, sponsoring, ect. Just because we haven't mentioned it here, doesn't mean we haven't done our research. The premise gives you a condensed idea of the overall arc of a series/season. It's not meant to go into how they came about creating the network. That would be left up to the background info, which we haven't given, I know. (maybe we should have to clear up things like this) But I'd like to think that you would at least ask questions and seek answers before jumping to the conclusion that we have no idea what we're writing about.

[Daniel]

Jun 19, 2010 22:16:59 GMT -6 Jamison said:

But I'd like to think that you would at least ask questions and seek answers before jumping to the conclusion that we have no idea what we're writing about.

This isn't an assumation - you can't read!

I quite clearly said that maybe I was mistaken, perhaps you did know everything about running a business in an extremely complex industry. And I did ask questions, I did ask you to explain but you didn't seem to understand my question.

Not that I'm anymore convinced, you didn't really explain anything to me, you just stated that you knew everything and that you'd done research. Not sure how exactly, unless one of you is currently working for a network...maybe you are. If you are, sorry. I take everything back.