COM101 Final Project, A Situational Comedy
Dec 12, 2008 in
COM101 – Mass Communications, Fall 2008 Classes
COM101 Final Project TV Sitcom, Made in America, By Joseph Eulo
A COM101: MASS COMMUNICATION, FALL2008 MADE IN AMERICA FINAL PROJECT: A SITCOM FOR BROADCAST TV By Joseph Eulo 12/12/2008 MADE IN AMERICA CONTENTS General Description …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Overview: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Audience:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Episode 1: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Diversity:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Timeslot: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Backdrop, 2 Locations ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Backdrop: Elizabeth, NJ …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Location 1:The Employment Agency …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 Location 2:The Living Room …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 Location 3:The Bar “Jose’s Catina” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6 Altered Location: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6 Character 1: Michael Mumford …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Personality Traits: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Physical Traits: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Actor: Ryan Stiles……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Character 2: Zora Douglass …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Personality Traits: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Physical Traits: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 Actor: Wanda Sykes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 Character 3: Fred “Domino” Douglass …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 Personality Traits: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 Physical Traits: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9 Actor: David Alan Grier …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 Character 4: Langston Douglass ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Personality Traits: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10 Physical Traits: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Actor: Noah Gray-Cabey ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 Lessons Learned ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11 Overall Lesson One: The True Meaning of Success ……………………………………………………………………………. 11 Overall Lesson Two: Attitude Is More Important Than Fact ……………………………………………………………….. 11 Episode One: “The Downfall of Micahel Mumford”, Choices ……………………………………………………………… 11 Episode Two: “Love is Blind”, Think Things Through …………………………………………………………………………. 11 COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 2 MADE IN AMERICA GENERAL DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW: My sitcom revolves around the life of Michael Mumford, his ex-maid Zora Douglas, and her family. Michael’s riches-to-rags story begins with a cheating spouse, a dishonest accountant, and the subprime mortgage market meltdown. After losing his white-collar job to the collapse of his company, his wife to his best friend, and his 5th Avenue penthouse and all his assets to an investment scandal, Michael struggles to adapt his lifestyle from one of affluence to one belonging to the common American. With no one else to turn to and nowhere else to go Michael and the only remnant he has left from his previous life, his ex-wife’s Pomeranian, move in with his maid, Zora Douglass , her father Fredrick, and her teenage son Langston, in the Elmore section of Elizabeth New Jersey. Zora Douglass is a hardworking single Cuban-American mother in her late 30s. She works for a Manhattan maid service by day and raises her teenage son by night. She shares her home with her obstinate father and makes sure that he takes care of himself. Zora is always on the lookout for love, but seems to attract only weirdoes, misfits, and ex- felons. Her father Fredrick “Domino” Douglass is a retired Jazz musician and is the neighborhood Domino champion. Fred works at the family-owned bodega, and at times, his Cuban temper gets the better of him. He is a sarcastic and witty old fart who is always arguing with someone about something, especially customers. Langston, Zora’s teenage son, is a gifted student and talented piano player. He is extremely shy around the ladies, but tends to exude confidence when it comes to academics and music. Langston loves playing jazz on the piano with his grandfather after school at the family bodega. The conflict in my sitcom arises between Zora’s father’s suspicious and antagonistic attitudes and Michael’s snooty and sarcastic demeanor. Michael has to fend off Zora’s advances, her son’s disapproval, and his ex-wife’s Pomeranians’ consistent habit of using him as a surrogate fire hydrant. In addition, conflict occurs throughout Michael’s attempts to assimilate into a less privileged lifestyle, and his outright refusal to humble himself and accept his fate. The sitcom takes place in three main locations: the employment agency where Michael finds work, the living room of the home he lives in, and the local bar where he meets up with new friends and old foes. AUDIENCE: My Sitcom is aimed toward men and women aged 25 to 40, who are Young professionals, finished college, are starting to work in their field, and have children. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 3 MADE IN AMERICA EPISODE 1: In the first episode we meet Michael Mumford, just waking up to begin his mid-morning ritual. We observe his butler brushing Michael’s teeth, shaving his face, and placing socks on his feet. A look of arrogance is splashed across his face as he looks at himself in the mirror. As we follow Michael out the door we are greeted by Zora Douglass: his doting maid. A look of lust and admiration is displayed across her face as she hands him his briefcase and newspaper. Michael tucks the paper under his arm, attempts to give his superficial wife a kiss, shakes her Pomeranian off his right pant leg, and heads out the door. In the Next scene we see Michael arriving late to work, at noon, at his father-in-laws Wall Street firm. Michael is oblivious to the side way glances and under-the-breath comments as he approaches the bank of elevators. Michael’s cell phone rings as he rides the elevator to his floor, it’s his father-in-law again; the seventh time this morning, he mumbles under his breath and sends the call to voice mail. The elevator opens to sea of people frantically scurrying about. Michael steps out, stops Lisa, a junior associate, and asks “what’s going on?” she sarcastically replies, “What planet are you on? The subprime credit market just crashed! The company is broke! And were all out of a job!” With a mischievous look on her face she asks “Didn’t you get the market report?” and then all the color begins to drain from Michael’s face. As Michael turns toward his office, Lisa shouts “I feel sorry for the poor schmucks who didn’t get out in time!” In his office, Michael picks up the phone and punches the speed dial button for his accountant. On the forth ring the call is answered “Jonah! Please tell me that I’m ok?” In the moments of silence before his accountant speaks Michael’s life changes, “Mike, I’m sorry but…” Michael lets go of the phone, drops to his chair, and comes to the realization that he’s the schmuck that Lisa spoke about. DIVERSITY: The show will exaggerate and poke fun at the differences between the “well-to-do” and the average working class American, their social circles, rituals, and norms. Each week there will be cameo appearances by an “A-list” celebrity who will play either one of Michael’s friends, family, boss, coworker, or foe. Each week Michael has a new job and through the interaction of the characters learns the lessons of the true meaning of success and family. TIMESLOT: My Sitcom will be on from 8:00 to 8:30PM on Wednesdays, because by then dinner is over and it is still early enough in the evening when the whole family can spend time together watching television. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 4 MADE IN AMERICA BACKDROP, 2 LOCATIONS The sitcom takes place in three main locations: the employment agency where Michael finds work, the living room of the home he lives in, and the local bar where he meets up with new friends and old foes. BACKDROP: ELIZABETH, NJ My sitcom takes place in the Elmora section of Elizabeth, New Jersey in predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. The Douglas’s home is located on the corner of a busy street filled with shops catering to the Latin community. The Douglas’s family Bodega is a popular neighborhood store and is in a separate building attached to their home. Elizabeth, NJ has the second largest Cuban population in the United States outside of Miami, and has a strong sense of community and Latin culture. LOCATION 1:THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY The employment agency is where Michael finds his weekly employment, where he is indoctrinated into the life of the habitually unemployed, and where he interacts with a job counselor who sarcastically mocks him by sending him to the worse jobs he can find. The Employment Agency is located on the main floor of a ten story 1940s style brick building off of Broad Street in downtown Elizabeth. The employment agency shares the building with other business and county offices, including a probation office, legal aid office, and Bob’s School of Cosmetology where a transgender support group meets twice a week. The front door to the agency is made of glass and a metal frame, has a black handle, with black painted lettering that declares its hours of operations. A black and orange OPEN sign is tape to the door with thick strips of blue masking tape. The floor has a 1970s style faded lime green tiles, some of which are missing, chipped, or discolored. The walls are faux wood paneling, reminiscent of the early 80s décor, with so many job postings pinned to them you can’t see the wall. The only furniture in the main lobby is a 1950s light grey metal desk sits up against the right wall and has several old yellow rotary phones on top and several rows of pale green stadium style waiting room seats, about 20 or so, which fill the center of the room. Flickering fluorescent lighting showers the room with artificial light. Several of the drop ceiling tiles are missing, exposing rusted water pipes, while others display a yellow tint, and looks as if they will fall at any moment. The wall of bank teller style windows, are covered with inch thick bullet proof glass with signs posted above them that informs the patron the line they are in. To the left of the Teller windows is a hallway that leads back to the job counselor’s cubicle style offices. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 5 MADE IN AMERICA LOCATION 2:THE LIVING ROOM The Living room of the Douglass home is important because it is where all the characters interact; it is where Michael sleeps, where Langston Studies. Where Zora plays the piano and where Fredrick relaxes on his prized possession: his La-Z-boy. The Living room has hardwood floors, with a red, yellow and green southwestern style area rug in front of the couch and under the Dining room table. The walls are covered in a floral pattern type of wall paper and don’t seem to go well with the décor. Every piece of furniture in the living room is covered with Plastic. The old dilapidated light green sofa-bed style couch, where Michael sleeps, seems out of place next to the brand new plush brown la-Z-boy recliner where Fredrick relaxes each evening. There is a 60s style dining room table to the left of the sofa next to the entry to the Kitchen, old rickety seat covered chairs wrapped in plastic covering. Against the stair cases is a 52” upright piano with a light brown lacquer finished with several family picture frames perched on top of it. Next the piano is Langston’s desk where he does his homework, a portrait of his mentor, Barack Obama, hangs on the fall in front of him, surrounded by photos of famous musicians, including his grandfather, and a plethora of awards marking Langston’s academic achievements. LOCATION 3:THE BAR “JOSE’S CATINA” Jose’s Cantina is local dive bar where Michael shares a drink and the events of his day with friends, acquaintances, and rivals. It’s a place where he escapes the realism of his life and where he befriends the bartender who reminds him of his old butler. The bar is sandwiched between a laundry-mat and a dollar store in a row of red brick single story buildings. A TV hangs from the back of the room playing some type of sport. A single pool table with a pick felt top sits to the left of the doorway, and several dart boards align the wall. A dozen wooden western-style tables’ and chairs spread about. A 1950s jukebox sits in the corner next to the doorway to the bathrooms, and plays only one song: La Bamba. The light colored tiled floor is well kept. Several ceiling fans churn the stale smoke-filled air. The bar has a black pleather bumper that wraps around its entire length and several bowls of stale peanuts that dot the its surface. Rows of half empty liquor bottles line the wall behind the counter on shelves in front of a mirror that extends the bars entire length. The stool cushions are worn out from years of overuse and neglect. ALTERED LOCATION: In moments of stress Michael Mumford daydreams he is a bank vault with piles of cash, and bars of gold. This location provides Michaels with an escape and a place to think about what would the old Michael would do in his current situation. The location is inside a vault at a bank, a gigantic metallic round vault door is wide open. Pallets of cash, gold bars, and big white burlap sacks with a black dollar sign printed on them fills piled on the floor. Grey shelving lines the egg shell color walls with more stacks of cash and gold bars, and money bags occupying its shelves. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 6 MADE IN AMERICA CHARACTER 1: MICHAEL MUMFORD PERSONALITY TRAITS: Michael, the protagonist, has lived an affluent and silver spooned life; adopted by a wealthy family at a birth, everything has been provided for him including his job, education, marriage, and lifestyle. He is waited on hand and foot by everyone. His arrogant, dismissive, and comical attitude tends to rub his colleagues, in-laws, wife, and even his dog the wrong way. Zora Douglass, his maid is the only living soul who fancies him. His ineptitude at his profession is tolerated due to his marriage to the boss’s daughter: Jillian. On his way up the corporate ladder he has stepped on the toes of many. He is hated by his subordinates and despised by his colleagues. Many would find joy in his demise. A self proclaimed expert poker player but has no poker face. Michael wears his emotions on his sleeve and at time is easy to manipulate. PHYSICAL TRAITS: Michael Mumford is a tall and lanky fellow of medium build. He has Hazel eyes, short-cropped slicked back light brown hair. Has a slight limp that he received from an unfortunate freak cricket accident. ACTOR: RYAN STILES Ryan Lee Stiles was born in Seattle, Washington on April 22, 1959 to his father, Sonny a fishing plant supervisor and mother Irene, the youngest of five children. When Ryan was ten, his parents moved the family to Richmond, British Columbia. At the age of seventeen, he dropped out of high school to pursue a career in comedy and worked at his father’s fish-processing plant to earn a living while doing stand-up at Punchlines Comedy Club in Vancouver, British Columbia. He performed improv with Vancouver Theatre Sports League until he successfully auditioned for a berth at Toronto’s renowned Second City comedy ensemble in 1986. As an actor, comedian, and director Ryan work is often associated with improvisational comedy. He is best known for his improv and co-production work on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and the role of Lewis Kiniski on The Drew Carey Show and plays Herb Melnick on the CBS comedy Two and a Half Men. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 7 MADE IN AMERICA CHARACTER 2: ZORA DOUGLASS PERSONALITY TRAITS: Zora Douglass, a Cuban/African American, is a hardworking single mother who is always on the lookout for a sugar daddy. She inherited her sharp wit and sense of humor from her father Fred “Domino” Douglass whom she takes care of in her Elizabeth, NJ home. As a meticulous and stubborn extrovert her antics sometime gets her into trouble with her employer at a Manhattan maid service. She is a loving and astute mother to Langston Douglass and places family above everything. She operates a popular neighborhood Bodega with her father out of her home. PHYSICAL TRAITS: Zora Douglass is 5’5”, about 140lbs, and is of Cuban/African ethnicity. ACTOR: WANDA SYKES Wanda Sykes was born March 7, 1964 and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, to an Army colonel father who worked at the Pentagon and a banker mother. She is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia and is a stand-up comedian and actress. She is well known for her blunt observations on current events, the differences between the sexes and races, and life in general, as well as for her roles on The New Adventures of Old Christine as Barb and on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, as herself. Sykes began her stand-up comedy career in 1987 when she entered a Washington D.C.-area talent competition. Although she lost, she discovered a passion for comedy. She continued to hone her talents at local venues while working as a procurement officer at the National Security Agency (NSA). In 1992, she left the NSA and moved to New York. Her first big break came when opening for Chris Rock at Caroline’s Comedy Club. In 1997, she joined the writing team on The Chris Rock Show. The writing team was nominated for four Emmys, one of which they won in 1999. Since that time, she has appeared in several films, cameos, and comedy specials. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 8 MADE IN AMERICA CHARACTER 3: FRED “DOMINO” DOUGLASS PERSONALITY TRAITS: Fredrick “Domino” Douglass is a retired Cuban-American Jazz musician. He is extremely suspicious and antagonistic towards outsiders especially to Michael Mumford. His neuroticism and introverted tendencies is in stark contrast to his daughter’s, extroverted personality. He is the neighborhood domino champion. To pass the time he works the store attached to his home, and provides advices, guidance and support to his grandson. Jack of all trades a master of none Fredrick’s unique perspective on life is both entertaining and comical. He likes to relive the past, and listens to old Cuban jazz records. Stubborn at times, he is always in the middle of a heated discussion with friends, neighbors, and store customers. He is the total opposite to Michael’s views on politics, religion, and life. PHYSICAL TRAITS: Fred Douglass is 5’9” has Grayish hair, and brown eyes. He sports a light Goatee, and is well kept. His slim build fails to reveal his ferocious appetite. He dresses in clothing from his youth and his never without a fedora on his head and owns a cane but doesn’t need one. ACTOR: DAVID ALAN GRIER David Alan Grier was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 30, 1955 to his father William Henry Grier, a writer who co-authored the book Black Rage, and mother Aretas Ruth. He graduated from Detroit’s premier high school, Cass Tech and received a BA from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He is known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color, and currently hosts Chocolate News, a show on Comedy Central. Grier made memorable appearances in the cult films Amazon Women on the Moon and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. Keenan Ivory Wayans cast Grier in his new variety show In Living Color which became a hit and won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series. Grier became a popular cast member through his characters, which ranged from hyperactive children to crotchety old men. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 9 MADE IN AMERICA CHARACTER 4: LANGSTON DOUGLASS PERSONALITY TRAITS: Langston Douglass is a very bright kid; when he is not studying he performs with his grandfather on the piano inside their family owned bodega in the basement. He is a book worm, loves to read, learn, and play music with his grandfather. He has a hard time fitting in with the other kids in the neighborhood and is extremely shy around girls. He is the teacher’s pet, and takes his job as hallway monitor way to seriously. Langston is prepared for every situation, meticulous in his studies, and thrives on order. He pays close attention to the details and completes his chores without being told. He looks up to President Obama as his mentor and wants to be the first Cuban-African American President. PHYSICAL TRAITS: Langston Douglass is 5”, has curly brown hair, and brown eyes. He ACTOR: NOAH GRAY-CABEY Noah Gray-Cabey born in Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 1995 to Whitney Gray and Shawn Cabey is an American television actor and pianist. He is best known for his roles as Franklin Aloyisious Mumford in the ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids and is currently plays Micah Sanders in the NBC science fiction drama Heroes. At a young age Noah started with a toy keyboard and soon decided that he wanted to play a real piano. At age four, he performed in venues throughout New England and Washington. In July 2001, at age five, he became the youngest soloist ever to perform with an orchestra at the Sydney Opera House, the Queensland Conservatory and the International Convention in Brisbane. Noah made his feature film debut as Joey Dury in Lady in the Water. His career in television began in December 2001 and he has appeared on My Wife & Kids playing the role of Franklyn Aloysius Mumford, 48 Hours, Grey’s Anatomy, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 10 MADE IN AMERICA LESSONS LEARNED OVERALL LESSON ONE: THE TRUE MEANING OF SUCCESS As the audience accompanies Michael Mumford on his journey to assimilate into a less unfortunate lifestyle the audiences understand that wealth, privilege, and social status are not the sole measurements of success. The audience comes to learn, through Michael’s relationships with others, the path to success begins with the development of quality mutual relationships with other people. OVERALL LESSON TWO: ATTITUDE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FACT Zora’s witty personality and positive attitude towards life’s up-and-downs, keeps her family anchored, focused, and hopeful. Zora doesn’t let bad news or unfortunate events distort her view of reality or corrupt her attitude. She teaches her son and the audience that life is 10/90 (ten percent of what happens to you and ninety percent of how you react to it). She is always reminding her son, and the audience, to keep it ten-ninety. EPISODE ONE: “THE DOWNFALL OF MICAHEL MUMFORD”, CHOICES In the first episode of Made in America we see that Michael’s greed leads him to make bad decisions which ends in his financial, social, and professional ruin. The audience learns that the choices one makes today will determine where they’ll be tomorrow. EPISODE TWO: “LOVE IS BLIND”, THINK THINGS THROUGH In this episode Langston’s learns that people are not always what they seem to be. A female classmate of his cons him into doing a class project by him and then, during their presentation, claims full credit. He let his feelings for these girls cloud his judgment. His grandfather attempts to teach him how to heed warnings, think his decisions through, and how to learn from his mistakes. COM101: Mass Communication, Prof. Gouveia, Joseph A. Eulo, Fall 2008, Final Project pg. 11
