Lately whenever I find myself hard-pressed to explain something to someone who’s unfamiliar with it, whether it be a person or a fast-food chain, I find myself thinking of two things it’s most similar to and saying something like, “Oh, you’ve never been to Fire House Subs? Ok, well if Quizno’s got together with Subway and they had a baby: voila, Fire House.”
As I mentioned in a post last week, I’ve been watching a lot of Ally McBeal lately, which has reminded me how much I like David E. Kelley, which made me think, "do l like him more than Joss Whedon?" And I was hungry while thinking this, so I was like, "hum… Fire House," mix well and stir and you get, "I wonder what a child between David E. Kelley and Joss Whendon would look like?"
Now before you get all, Liz the movie Junior was total science fiction, check yourself and relax. I’m not talking about an actual human child baby, I’m talking about a TV show baby. What would a Kelley/Whedon series look like exactly?
To answer this question, we must first look at our potential parents and see what each one brings to the table. David E. Kelley is a lawyer turned screenwriter/TV genius who’s brought you Emmy Award winning shows like L.A. Law, Doogie Howser, Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal and the NBC’s new show Harry’s Law. He also happens to be married to Michelle Pfeiffer, which should not be overlooked.
What Kelley brings to the table:
- Typically procedural show backgrounds (i.e. crime, legal or medical shows) with very strong lead characters and usually a pretty unique pool of supporting characters. Not afraid of a good ensemble.
- Universal themes like love, morality, justice and love (he’s big on the love) coupled with strong political views that are related to whatever’s going on at the moment.
- Really well-written monologues on just about every episode.
- Female characters who’re really good at their jobs, but are lowsly with their personal lives and have a miniscule shot of finding true love.
- Insane people, who when you think about it, are the only one who really get it.
- Overarching story of the series is like a merry-go-round of emotion bringing his characters up and down in a continuously evolving pattern.
What Whedon brings to the table:
- Strong female lead characters who can easily take you in a fist fight.
- Leading men with a bit of an edge who don’t mind getting their hands dirty to make the world a better place.
- Star crossed lovers. (vampire and vampire slayer, morally uptight do-gooder and prostitute)
- An element of science fiction.
- Episodes chock full of action and adventure.
- Witty banter and a sense of irony.
- Overarching story of the series is the hero’s epic journey.
When we mix all this together, we get….
WHITFIELD
“WHITFIELD” is a one hour drama set in present day Chicago. The show chronicles the life of one Dorothy Lewis, an over-worked, underpaid clinical psychologist who works in the Whitfield State Hospital for the Mentally Ill. In the pilot episode, Dorothy discovers the personal journal of Mike Wisniewski, a nineteenth century millionaire and activist who worked in the same building over a hundred years ago.
Through Mike's journal we are introduced to Chicago as it was during the height of the Industrial Revolution and see how he takes on greedy businessmen and rival gangs to fight for better pay and better working conditions for Chicago’s factory workers. Dorothy reads Mike’s stories aloud during group therapy session with a group of criminally insane patients as a way to connect and teach them about morality. It doesn’t take long for Dorothy to feel a strange connection between herself and Mike, and she eventually falls head over heels in love with him.
Our characters include the brilliant Dr. Dorothy Lewis, who is a bit of a basket case herself; Mike Wisniewski, our fearless crusader and his British butler, Bruce; Nell, the pretty and perky Nurse/receptionist; Craig, an Orderly and lovable buffoon; and a whole slew of crazy people.
And you know what they say, if it turns out you don’t like your firstborn, you can always have more…
D. T. EDWARDS, Esq.
“D. T. EDWARDS, Esq.” also a one-hour drama is set in futuristic Boston, Mass and follows the struggles of a young lawyer named Davis T. Edwards as he fights for the civil rights of zombies, werewolves, and vampires.
I think both summaries illustrate my point that a love child between Kelley and Whedon would be a critically acclaimed, award winning hit with a ferociously devoted following. Somebody get their agents on the phone so we can work this thing out.
