B"H
In April 2009 my representative sent CBS Sr. VP of Comedy Development, Wendi Trilling (she developed Everybody Loves Raymond, Two and a Half Men, King of Queens, et al) a program proposal for a show I called, TWITS, and pitched it as "America's first TWIT-com"; a Twitter-based sit-com that was going to change the sit-com genre.
After we sent Wendi a video teaser about TWITS (SEE ABOVE) that described the show as a Twitter-based program, Wendi agreed to read the treatment (SEE EMAIL BELOW). Shortly thereafter, Wendi passed on the project (SEE EMAIL BELOW).
From: Diane Archer
Date: April 21, 2009 12:46:09 PM EDT
To: Wendi Trilling
Subject: Follow-Up to Phone Conversation RE: CBS News/Bill Geist Piece
B"H
Wendi:
My client has developed the world's first Twit-com (http://twitcom.blogspot.com/) I'd like to send you the treatment for this groundbreaking, hilarious show.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Diane Archer
Rabinowitz, Cohen & Penelope
From: Wendi Trilling
Subject: RE: Follow-Up to Phone Conversation RE: CBS News/Bill Geist Piece
Date: April 23, 2009 2:05:32 PM EDT
To: Diane Archer
Hi Diane,
Happy to take a look at the treatment.
Best,
Wendi
>> From: Diane Archer
>> Date: May 27, 2009 4:40:26 PM EDT
>> To: "Trilling, Wendi"
>> Subject: Re: Follow-Up to Phone Conversation RE: CBS News/Bill Geist Piece
>>
>> B"H
>>
>> Wendi:
>> Per our correspondence, herewith please find a conceptual synopsis for Twits, the worlds first Twitcom. Because of this revolutionary show's unique take on the sitcom genre, its the type of show thats going to hit you on a gut level; a character-driven AND funny program for the 21st century, with a cast America's going to want invite back into their homes - and into their digital lives - week after week. I've therefore opted to have my client prepare the attached synopsis for your initial perusal rather than a full-blown treatment. Our hope is that you'll find this truly groundbreaking program as rife with potential as we do, and then we can proceed from there with the conventional pitch materials.
>> I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience about this most innovative and entertaining program.
>> Sincerely,
>> Diane Archer
>> Rabinowitz, Cohen & Penelope
>> >>
>>
Begin forwarded message:
From: Diane Archer
> Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 10:56 AM
> To: Trilling, Wendi
> Subject: Follow-Up RE: Requested Material
>
> Hi Wendi:
>
> I just wanted to follow-up for my client re: Twits. I Iook forward to hearing from you.
>
>> Sincerely,
>> Diane Archer
>> Rabinowitz, Cohen & Penelope
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
> From: "Trilling, Wendi"
> Date: June 5, 2009 2:27:44 PM EDT
> To: "Diane Archer"
> Subject: RE: Follow-Up RE: Requested Material
>
> Hi Diane,
> Sorry for the delay in getting back to you on this. After taking a look at the synopsis for TWITS, unfortunately, I don’t see it as a project we would be interested in developing at this point.
> Thanks for letting us consider it.
> Best,
> Wendi
>
>
>
Subsequent to Wendi passing on TWITS, we went about attaching talent to the show to make it that much more irresistible to the networks. Hollywood's biggest talent agents and celebrities lavished accolades on TWITS calling it a "really cool concept," and "a very creative show."
Seven months later, in November 2009, CBS announced it had agreed to develop a Twitter-based sit-com tentatively titled, $#*! My Dad Says, starring William Shatner. CBS President, Nina Tassler, hailed CBS' creativity in its launch of "the first Twitter-based comedy."
WHAT A COINCIDENCE!!! I pitched a Twitter-based sit-com to CBS' VP of Comedy Development! The country's first TWIT-com. But wait a minute... she passed on it... not the type project for CBS, Wendi said. I'm pretty sure that's what she said... it's in her email to us.
So let's review:
April 2009: CBS has no Twitter-based sit-com. NO NETWORK HAS A TWITTER-BASED SIT-COM.
April 2009: We pitch CBS' head of comedy development a Twitter-based sit-com. She agrees to read our program synopsis knowing it's a Twitter-based sit-com based on our video teaser and email pitch... obviously no stack of Twit-coms piled on Wendi's desk at the time.
April 2009: Wendi passes on TWITS. Wendi says in her email to us: "After taking a look at the synopsis for TWITS, unfortunately, I don’t see it as a project we would be interested in developing at this point. Thanks for letting us consider it." (We let you consider it, Wendi, but not to use as inspiration for you to rip us off!)
November 2009: CBS announces it is developing a Twitted-based sit-com tentatively titled, $#*! My Dad Says, starring William Shatner.
CONCLUSION:
For the reasonable man and woman: TWITS was the inspiration for Wendi's (CBS') sudden comedic epiphany to develop the world's first Twitter-based sit-com.
For Those of You with Their Heads in a CBS Orifice: An amazing coincidence. Concept, timing, person pitched, same network... please, a mere coincidence. Or, as one of the great thinkers of our generation has said: "I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything!"
Ah, but dear Wendi and CBS, you did do it and now the whole world saw you do it... and we can prove EVERYTHING!