So we stumbled across an entertaining show on streaming, The Artful Dodger. I had heard nothing about this series from 2023. Not a peep. It was very good. But it triggered a memory from 1987. It was one of the first times I got involved with a aspiring producer who was looking to break into the business.
I forget how I came upon him, probably an ad in one of the trade papers or the Village Voice. He had people coming up for interviews to a rehearsal hall. He said he had been working on Broadway and touring shows. One of the shows was Oliver! It was during this time he thought of the idea of a sequel. It would be about Fagin and his life after the events of Oliver Twist. And it would be a television series.
I forget how I came upon him, probably an ad in one of the trade papers or the Village Voice. He had people coming up for interviews to a rehearsal hall. He said he had been working on Broadway and touring shows. One of the shows was Oliver! It was during this time he thought of the idea of a sequel. It would be about Fagin and his life after the events of Oliver Twist. And it would be a television series.
I wasn't knocked out by the idea, but I was always looking for my big break, so I said I would have a crack at it.
I wouldn't get a handle on it until I did a "cold open" kinda mocking the entire idea of the show...which was this: Fagin is arrested for his crimes. He's about to be sentenced when a lawyer enters representing Mr. Brownlow, the guardian of Oliver Twist. Oliver has gotten Brownlow to promise to help the less fortunate, show he's establishing a home for wayward boys. And the plan is to get Fagin to oversee the home. The Artful Dodger comes along as well.
I wouldn't get a handle on it until I did a "cold open" kinda mocking the entire idea of the show...which was this: Fagin is arrested for his crimes. He's about to be sentenced when a lawyer enters representing Mr. Brownlow, the guardian of Oliver Twist. Oliver has gotten Brownlow to promise to help the less fortunate, show he's establishing a home for wayward boys. And the plan is to get Fagin to oversee the home. The Artful Dodger comes along as well.
Re-reading the script for this blog, outside of my opening scene (and only a few lines of that), I remember none of it. I had forgotten the premise, the characters, everything.
As for that opening part, there are two minor characters in court, awaiting the judge's arrival. They bemoan the bowdlerized production of “MacBeth” they saw recently. They lament that people shouldn't mess about with "the classics." This was my entry into the script. When the aspiring producer pitched the idea to me, internally I was rolling my eyes. A TV series as a spin-off to Oliver Twist seemed like a dodgy idea (pun intended). This opening dialogue was me hanging a hat on the issue. There were people always messing about with the classics and here’s me doing it, too. Frankly, it freed me up to turn out a 45 page script.
Rereading it, I can’t tell if it’s bad or not. I kinda recognize my voice here and there. But I don’t have any notes or break-downs of characters or plots. The whole thing is out of my wheelhouse yet it is mine. I have no recollection of who gave me the plot, or synopsis. Was I following an outline? Cast of characters? A bible of any kind? Don't know. This is the pilot, and there are nods to Oliver Twist, his uncle Mr. Brownlow. Mr. & Mrs. Bumble are introduced as foils for Fagin. Bett from the bar is there. And, in a cliff hanger episode closing scene, Hank “Blood” Sikes (Bill’s evil twin, as I called him) appears.
Again, I have no notes on this. What was going to happen next? Beats me.
In two different scenes during the first half, Fagin breaks into lyrics. Was I writing songs for this? Was it expected? Was it going to be a musical? Did I have a tune to scan for them? ‘tis a mystery. This was all done on my first word processor, AtariWriter, which is all packed away.
With the script, I found a letter from the High Step’n Talent Agency confirming the receipt of the script and copies of release forms. I haven’t come across my signed copy. I vaguely remember communication with them over time, but can’t remember when it all fell through. In those days, maybe it didn’t fall through, it probably just faded away from lack of interest. That’s one of my big faults, is letting things slide away. If no one is contacting me about my work, I rarely have the nerve to contact them. And if they don’t contact me, they tend to fade from my memory.
Now here’s the thing…I don’t know if I’m combining memories here, but I think the same producer wanted to try something else as well, a “update” of Bye, Bye, Birdie.
Which, needless to say, I did as well. But that's a story for another day.
As for that opening part, there are two minor characters in court, awaiting the judge's arrival. They bemoan the bowdlerized production of “MacBeth” they saw recently. They lament that people shouldn't mess about with "the classics." This was my entry into the script. When the aspiring producer pitched the idea to me, internally I was rolling my eyes. A TV series as a spin-off to Oliver Twist seemed like a dodgy idea (pun intended). This opening dialogue was me hanging a hat on the issue. There were people always messing about with the classics and here’s me doing it, too. Frankly, it freed me up to turn out a 45 page script.
Rereading it, I can’t tell if it’s bad or not. I kinda recognize my voice here and there. But I don’t have any notes or break-downs of characters or plots. The whole thing is out of my wheelhouse yet it is mine. I have no recollection of who gave me the plot, or synopsis. Was I following an outline? Cast of characters? A bible of any kind? Don't know. This is the pilot, and there are nods to Oliver Twist, his uncle Mr. Brownlow. Mr. & Mrs. Bumble are introduced as foils for Fagin. Bett from the bar is there. And, in a cliff hanger episode closing scene, Hank “Blood” Sikes (Bill’s evil twin, as I called him) appears.
Again, I have no notes on this. What was going to happen next? Beats me.
In two different scenes during the first half, Fagin breaks into lyrics. Was I writing songs for this? Was it expected? Was it going to be a musical? Did I have a tune to scan for them? ‘tis a mystery. This was all done on my first word processor, AtariWriter, which is all packed away.
With the script, I found a letter from the High Step’n Talent Agency confirming the receipt of the script and copies of release forms. I haven’t come across my signed copy. I vaguely remember communication with them over time, but can’t remember when it all fell through. In those days, maybe it didn’t fall through, it probably just faded away from lack of interest. That’s one of my big faults, is letting things slide away. If no one is contacting me about my work, I rarely have the nerve to contact them. And if they don’t contact me, they tend to fade from my memory.
Now here’s the thing…I don’t know if I’m combining memories here, but I think the same producer wanted to try something else as well, a “update” of Bye, Bye, Birdie.
Which, needless to say, I did as well. But that's a story for another day.
