Just a follow-up on THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF THE MONOGAMOUS DUCK. I read the latest draft and passed on my glowing praise to the writer, who was appreciative of my thoughts but quick to point out that the production team has taken the script to another level with their suggestions. I can’t wait until the movie sees a release.
No sooner had I taken down the entry for THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF THE MONOGAMOUS DUCK than the writer emailed me a newer version that he was happier to have out in circulation. Whilst it’s undated, I’ve been informed that it’s April 2009. I can’t wait to read the updated draft.
Neeraj Katyal: Hey, can you do me a favor? Can you either drop my script from your site, or at least provide an updated version? It’s embarrassing that the version you have is floating around the Internet.
Frantic Monkey: It’s not actually available to download, I’m just listing what I have. But I’ll take it off the list.
Neeraj Katyal: Thanks. I just meant I don’t want the shitty version traded in general, I guess. I really appreciate it.
Frantic Monkey: Yeah, no that’s fine. After all, it is your work. If I had a newer version I’d replace it on my list as you said.
Neeraj Katyal: There you go.
Frantic Monkey: WOW. Thank you so much. I didn’t mean to hint for you to give me an updated one, but thank you so much for doing so. Do you have a draft date for it? That way it can be differentiated from the older one you wanted me to take down. Thanks once again. I’m actually kinda in shock.
Neeraj Katyal: Just put April 09. Don’t mention it. Read it, tell me what you think. Or not.
Frantic Monkey: Can I interview you?
Neeraj Katyal: Haha. No. It’s flattering that you ask; don’t get me wrong.
Frantic Monkey: Any reason why?
Neeraj Katyal: Lots of reasons. One, I have some small measure of self-awareness, and the last thing America needs right now is another self-absorbed sociopath who’s had everything handed to them, endlessly complaining about their perfect little fantasy life. It’s unseemly, if not obnoxious. (Especially when teh limits of that person’s talent are visible to even the most casual of observers.) Two, this is a movie we’re talking about… it’s a big deal, but it’s not a big deal. Three, I’d like to believe that the fact that I wrote a screenplay is the least interesting thing about me. Consenting to another interview request would advance the possibility that it’s the *only* interesting thing about me.
Frantic Monkey: That’s hysterical.
Neeraj Katyal: I don’t know if I’d go that far, but thanks. I was trying as hard as I could.
Jason Biggs
According to Nikke Finke, this is the younger-skewing sitcom written by Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely, and starring Jason Biggs, that CBS thinks could do well paired with The Big Bang Theory. “The network is happy with the way it came in.” Good thing, too, because this is CBS’ biggest commitment and there’s a giant penalty. Five scripts are already in.
I’m not gonna bother with a full review of the script because frankly it was pretty terrible. Call me a stickler, but I think a sitcom should actually be funny, and this one isn’t.
Chevy Chase
First of all a little background. NBC’s “Must See TV” branding first entered into usage during the 1982-83 TV schedule when the programming included Fame, Cheers, Taxi and Hill Street Blues, a lineup that whilst I was not an actual viewer (I was 4 years old at the time), I would consider to be “Must See TV”. Skip forward 26 years and the lineup on Thursday nights may not necessarily have the historical significance that it did back in 1982, but save for a couple of exceptions, it certainly has an abundance of quality.
NBC’s current Thursday schedule is My Name is Earl, Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock, and Southland. I soured on Earl a long time ago and I’ve yet to watch Southland, but the middle pack of shows are fantastic and only promise to get better. So, whilst NBC may no longer use the “Must See TV” moniker, instead settling on “Comedy Night Done Right”, I think that the current Thursday schedule is the closest that NBC has come to “Must See TV” since 1996-97 when the schedule consisted of Friends, The Single Guy, Seinfeld, Suddenly Susan, and ER.
Added GRAND THEFT AUTO by Jason Dean Hall (06/06/08). I assume it’s based on one, some, or all of the Grand Theft Auto videogames, and seen as how I love those games I figured it might be a good read. Hopefully when I’m done reading some of my Eszterhas scripts I’ll find time for this one.
Just got another one, this time it’s THE DETAILS by Jacob Aaron Estes (06/12/08). According to joblo.com the film is about a couple who find a raccoon infestation in their backyard, and disagree about how to deal with the problem, which in turn creates more problems. Elizabeth Banks, James McAvoy, Laura Linney, and Anna Friel are set to star.
If anyone’s reading this and has a suggestion on how I should make posts regarding new scripts so that they aren’t just one sentence posts, let me know. If no-one cares, I’ll probably just stick to the format I’ve used in this headline so that people can differentiate between the various posts for new scripts.
Just got DEATH NOTE (04/07/2009) by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides in. I don’t know anything about it, but it’s nice to add stuff to my collection.
Who's the leader?
Only next weeks double episode to go, and then no more Lost until January 2010. That’s a hell of a wait, so these remaining 3 hours had better be good.
With that in mind, I hate to say it, but I’m actually disappointed after an episode of Lost. That’s not to say that this episode was particularly bad, just not what I expected it to be.
I just got back from seeing STAR TREK and I loved it. Now, I’m no Trekkie, or Trekker, or whatever is politically correct to call diehard Trek fans, but I have seen some of the previous films, and in my mind the new reboot blows them all away. Each of the new actors playing the central roles fits perfectly, but I thought that Chris Pine as Kirk and Simon Pegg as Scotty were the two main standouts.
I went into the film knowing next to nothing about the plot, so I’m not going to give too much away here in case anyone’s actually reading my blog, but I will highlight some of my personal pros and cons of the film.
Pros:
Cons:
Final Grade: A-
Just got the script for Kristen Bell’s upcoming Disney flick, YOU AGAIN.
Apparently it’s about a girl (Bell) who discovers that her brother is marrying a girl who bullied her in high school. Sounds like a gender reversal of Mr Woodcock. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt because of my genuine love for Kristen Bell, but I’m not expecting much.
