My Idea... (The Walls)

[NotMyNewsChannel3]

First off, let me say from what I've seen, the networks should be coming to us for script ideas.

Here's my concept: (All titles are tentative, and all synopses are far from complete):

TITLE (tentative): The Walls
TYPE: Situation Comedy
THEME: "Living on the Bright Side" by Bryan Duncan
SETTING: Contemporary Pittsburgh, PA
NETWORK: ABC
SEASON 1
EPISODE LIST (Save as separate document)

NOTE: Parentheses indicate primary character(s) featured in plot and may also include summaries as time goes on.

1. First Hand (None/Intro)

PRIMARY STORY: The Walls family adjusts after a job transfer sends them from L.A. to Pittsburgh.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: First Hand (among other things) is the title of CCM artist Steven Curtis Chapman's 1987 debut album.

2. Popular Crowd Politics (Meg)

PRIMARY STORY: Meg runs into pressure from some of the "popularazzi".
SECONDARY STORY: Andy and Ricky take a dare from a star senior.
REFERENCES: Refers to the song "Powder Room Politics" on the 1984 album "Dancing with Danger" by former CCM singer Leslie (a.k.a. Sam) Phillips.
RECURRING CHARACTER: AnnaSophia Robb as Kirsten Anderson

3. Reporting from Pittsburgh (Danielle)

PRIMARY STORY: A 4th grade class trip to a local TV station goes awry.
SECONDARY STORY: Meg collides with a rival for class President.
REFERENCES: Ed Carter is the WPIT news anchor and father of Mikey. He is named after Edison Carter, the human alter-ego of pseudo-CGI chatterbox and Coke pitchman Max Headroom.
RECURRING CHARACTER: Matt Frewer as Ed Carter, Unknown as Julie Stallworth, Unknown as Mikey Carter, AnnaSophia Robb as Kirsten Anderson

4. Leading Me on (Kimberly)

PRIMARY STORY: A new guy draws Kimberly's interest...and Meg's suspicions.
SECONDARY STORY: A test comes up at the most inconvenient time for Randy.
MISCELLANEOUS: Reference to (among other things) Amy Grant’s 1988 album.
GUEST: Mitchel Musso as Matt Kaufman (the guy in question).

5. This is a Test of the Meg Walls System (Meg/Kimberly)

PRIMARY STORY: Meg and Kimberly prepare a voice-over tape, or try to, anyway.
SECONDARY STORY: Phil drafts one of the guys to run some errands…and chaos ensues.
REFERENCES: Refers to the first line of the infamous Emergency Broadcast/Alert System tests. Also, the debut of "Meg MPEG" (a parody of Max Headroom)

6. Fire and Ice (Meg/Jeff)

PRIMARY STORY: Andy & Meg try to figure out if a star player is using steroids.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: Among other things, it refers to CCM veteran Steve Camp's 1983 release, "Fire and Ice".
MISCELLANEOUS: Semi-"very special" episode

7. Monday Night Madness (Phil/Craig/Michele/Diane May)

PRIMARY STORY: A Cleveland/Pittsburgh Monday Night game, and Michele and Diane take full advantage of their husbands being glued to the TV.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: The setting takes place during a Monday Night Football game.

8. After Further Review... (Andy)

PRIMARY STORY: A critical game for the Knights comes down to a controversial call.
SECONDARY STORY: None
GUEST: Real-life NFL referee Ed Hochuli as the "idiot ref"

9. Our Very First Spy Show (Cindy/Andy/Lisa)

PRIMARY STORY: Andy dreams he is on a '60s spy show.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: Refers to the 1987-95 ABC sitcom Full House, which had many episodes with some variation of the title, "Our Very First...". The show in question could be patterned after Get Smart or I Spy.
MISCELLANEOUS: First episode with a dream sequence, which will be used occasionally

10. Christmas (not Holiday) Show (Tom/Bill)

PRIMARY STORY: Tensions flare between Phil and Michele's fathers.
SECONDARY STORY: Meg can't find a specific present for her parents.

11. Skala, Walls, and Skala (Jenna/Randy/Benny)

PRIMARY STORY: The Skalas make a deal with Randy.
SECONDARY STORY: Cindy wonders why she is still single at 30.

12. The (Not-So) Great Adventure (Phil/Meg/Ricky)

PRIMARY STORY: Ricky gets his license and offers to take his friends out to celebrate.
SECONDARY STORY: A testy voice actor gets on Phil's nerves.
REFERENCES: Refers to Steven Curtis Chapman's 1992/93 album, "The Great Adventure".
RECURRING CHARACTER: Unknown as Ricky Neece, Unknown as Jeff Wilson
GUEST: Dave Coulier as voice actor in question

13. Let's All Be Here (Andy/Ricky/Jeff)

PRIMARY STORY: Jeff invites former rivals Andy and Ricky to his 18th birthday celebration.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: Refers to the famous 1984-86 NBC slogan, "Let's All Be There".
MISCELLANEOUS: Meg MPEG returns in a sequence for the closing credits.

14. Family Tied (Michele)

PRIMARY STORY: Michele dreams her family is on a (Twenty-One/Family Feud hybrid) game show.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: Refers to the 1982-89 NBC sitcom "Family Ties". Also a reference to the longtime game show "Family Feud".
MISCELLANEOUS: 2nd and only other episode revolving around a dream sequence this season.
GUEST: Host to be played by either Charlie Schlatter or (if his health holds up) Michael J. Fox

15. How full is Too Full a House? (Meg)

PRIMARY STORY: Desperate for cash, Meg takes a babysitting job only to confront a bratty 5-year old.
SECONDARY STORY: None
REFERENCES: Refers to Full House

16. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Randy)

PRIMARY STORY: Randy makes the baseball team...as a batboy.
SECONDARY STORY: Michele handles Phil being out of town.
REFERENCES: Refers to the classic baseball anthem
MISCELLANEOUS: Kirk Cameron does not appear in this episode.

17. An Anniversary to Forget (Meg/Phil/Michele)

PRIMARY STORY: The kids scramble to put something together for their parents' anniversary.
SECONDARY STORY: None
MISCELLANEOUS: Could have a music sequence in it.

18. Class of '88 Reunion Blues (Phil)

PRIMARY STORY: It's high-school reunion time, and Phil is somewhat self-conscious about running into a more successful classmate.
SECONDARY STORY: None
GUEST: Classmate in question could be played by either of the following: J.P. Manoux, Jason Bateman or Emmitt Smith

19. Phil's Presentation (1) (Phil/Kenneth/Natalie)

PRIMARY STORY: Phil makes a demonstration of a new short cartoon he had been working on.
SECONDARY STORY: None
MISCELLANEOUS: Kids do not appear.

20. Phil's Presentation (2) (Phil/Kenneth/Natalie)

PRIMARY STORY: Phil's cartoon is reviewed by the board and by the CEO.
SECONDARY STORY: None
MISCELLANEOUS: Kids do not appear.

21. This One’s for Jeff (Jeff/Meg/Andy)

PRIMARY STORY: Star QB Jeff graduates (as valedictorian), but not before getting a bit of revenge on Andy and Meg for an earlier stunt (see Fire and Ice).
SECONDARY STORY: None
MISCELLANEOUS: Clips from the "Fire and Ice" episode are sprinkled in.


CAST (Partial, will edit to add on later):
Kirk Cameron as Phil Walls
Chelsea Noble as Michele Walls
(Unknown) as Andy Walls
(Unknown) as Meg Walls (twin sister of Andy)
(Unknown) as Randy Walls
(Unknown) as Danielle Walls
(Unknown) as Bill Walls (Phil's dad)
(Unknown) as Mary Walls (Phil's mom)
(Unknown) as Craig Walls (Phil's brother)
(Unknown) as Diane May Walls (Craig's wife)
(Unknown) as Alex Walls (Craig & Diane's 5-year old son)
Candace Cameron-Bure as Cindy Walls (Phil's sister)
Richard Thomas as Tom Kreig (Michele's dad)
(Unknown) as Susan Kreig (Michele's mom)


Let me know what you think so far. I will edit this as I get more ideas for story and/or cast.

[NotMyNewsChannel3]

EPISODE #: 1
THEME: "Livin' on the Bright Side" (Bryan Duncan)
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, PA
SETTING: Contemporary
OPENING BACKDROP: Photography Studio
EPISODE TITLE: "First Hand"

FUTURE EPISODES WILL HAVE A CATEGORY NAMED "FEATURED CHARACTER(s)".

NOTE: Many of these titles will have a connection to a song or album name.

Zoom in on 3-bed, 2-bathroom home in Pittsburgh, as the alarm in the shared bedrooms of Andy & Randy Walls

ANDY
Five more minutes.

MEG
Come on. First day, new school.

NARRATOR (Meg doubles as narrator in these early scenes.)
If you're curious, I'm Meg Walls, age 14. Mr. Sleepyhead here is my twin brother, Andy.

RANDY
I'm already ready to go. (No response) Come on, Andy? It's 7:15? Do you want to be late on your first day of school? (He pushes Andy off the bed.)

ANDY
All right, wise guy. I'll deal with you later.

NARRATOR
Randy, the middle child, is starting junior-high. He's 2 years younger than Andy and myself, and is something of a prankster.

(Living room, 7:30 a.m.)

ANDY
(Harshly) Okay, I'm up!!!

MEG
(Checking her watch) I don't know if you'll have enough time to get toast.

DANIELE
Someone stole my pencils!

NARRATOR
That is the family's other genius, Daniele. She's only 9, but, as far as I know, hasn't even averaged worse than a B.

(Kitchen/Dining Room)

PHIL
Thanks a lot. (Stretches) Boy, that was a good breakfast.

MICHELE
Why, thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

MEG
So, what are we leaving in?

PHIL
I'll drive the Dodge. (A 1998 Grand Caravan LE)

MICHELE
Oh-okay.

NARRATOR
Finally, my parents. My dad is the Script Department head of the Pittsburgh Warner Bros. Animation Studio (which is why we moved here from L.A.). He met my mom and proposed the day before they graduated. Speaking of my mom, she's laid so much down as far as career plans and acting to stay here and help raise us. I am so grateful that she did that.

(This statement overall, but the last part especially, is the thing that, if eliminated, would be an absolute deal-breaker.)


THREE RIVERS ACHIEVERS* SCHOOL
(*: not definitive name for this private school)

(Lisa Henkle & Kimberly Robertson ad-lib conversation and end up colliding with Meg.)

MEG (sheepishly)
Oh, are you all right?

KIMBERLY (talking slower than normal)
Yeah. Listen, I'm sorry. I should have?Are you new here?

MEG
Yeah. My name's Meg.

KIMBERLY (speech speeds up)
I'm Kimberly. This is my cousin, Lisa.

LISA
Hello. I... (Bell rings) I'll see you at lunch.

MEG
Okay.

AUDITORIUM

PRINCIPAL LAMBERT
And let us begin our announcements by giving an official, 3 Rivers Achievers* School welcome to our new students. (Applause) Also, our cheerleading and football tryouts begin this afternoon.

WB ANIMATION STUDIOS-PITTSBURGH

KENNETH
Phil, I guess it's time to introduce you to some of your co-workers.

PHIL (sheepishly)
Okay, Mr. Maxwell.

KENNETH
These are some of your co-workers. As Script Department head, some will answer to you. Others are in different departments. Everyone, this is Phil Walls.

ALL CO-WORKERS
Hi, Phil. (At this point, some employees introduce themselves personally.)

TRACY
Tracy Perry, Script Department.

BOB
Bob Grant, Layout Department.

NATALIE
Natalie Norman, Assistant Layout... (Frown on Bob's head) Director.

CHRIS
Chris Perry III, Ink and Paint Department Head.

MELANIE
Melanie Gamble, Director of Editing Department.

PHIL
Nice to meet you.


THREE RIVERS* (Football Tryouts)
If listed as starter in a position, they back up elsewhere.

ELVIN LOTT (sophomore, MLB)
Who's that?

JEFF WILSON (senior, QB)
Never seen him before in my life.

COACH GREEN
Attention, team! We have two new players trying out. We lost some players to graduation and relocation.

RICKY (sophomore, first year trying out)
The guy that you see that looks like a beachcomber is Jeff Wilson. He's a senior, star QB with an ego problem deluxe. By the way, where are you trying out?

ANDY
Quarterback. Why?

REGGIE PAGE (junior, DE)
I don't know, man. Every college in the country is trying to sign this guy up.

ANDY
Meaning...

REGGIE (honestly trying to cheer Andy up)
Look on the bright side. The spot will be wide open next year.

ANDY (growing upset)
Oh, we'll see about that.

LATER...

COACH GREEN
All right. We'll try some new plays. (His offensive and defensive schemes were similar to the NFL.)

LISA (next to Randy as well as Benny Skala)
Who's the guy on the bench?

RANDY
That's my brother, Andy. (Pause) You can blink now.

30 MINUTES LATER...

COACH GREEN
All right, hit the showers.

(Back at Home)

ANDY (frustrated)
Can you believe it?

RANDY
Believe what?

ANDY
It's the first week of school, and I already have a test coming up.

(Meg enters in.)

MEG
You just HAD to bring that up.

ANDY
I know. Randy, what are you doing?

RANDY (playing a Madden game)
5 seconds left, and there's the snap...

PHIL (across the hall)
Do your homework, Randy!

ANDY (brief pause)
Well, you heard him. Do your homework.

RANDY
Come on. It's just 5 seconds.


PHIL (entering in)
Wouldn't it make more sense to do your homework BEFORE you played the game? (Phil exits.)

ANDY
Makes sense to me.

DANIELE
How about doing at least part of your homework at school whenever you have some free time?

MICHELE
Meg, you said you were going to prepare part of the meal earlier.

MEG
Coming, Mom.

(At the dinner table)

PHIL
So, how did the tryouts go?

ANDY
Coach Green has suggested having me start on the special teams for the first couple of games.

PHIL (showing the football expert in him)
Lots of players that are great athletes started on special teams. Bill Bates...

ANDY
Dad, how many of them are quarterbacks? (The position he is trying out for)

PHIL
Uh...Cody Pickett?

ANDY
Backup. Bad team.

DANIELE
Ok, why so upset?


ANDY
Nothing, except I was hoping to start at quarterback.


MEG (normally not a sports enthusiast)
How many pro QB's started every game their rookie year? (Silence) I'm no football fan, but I would guess not many of them did.

ANDY
This is supposed to cheer me up how?

MICHELE
You're kind of like a rookie, son.

ANDY (Reluctantly)
True.

PHIL
And, that would be like some rookie trying to take the starting job away from Tom Brady.

ANDY
Okay. Why him?

PHIL
Ben Roethlisberger?

(Thursday--Lunch Break)

RICKY (counting his money)
3, 4, 5...$11.

ANDY
I'll be over here if you need me.

KIMBERLY (unaware Andy was trying out)
Good luck. How are you going to get on the football team's table?

RICKY
No offense, but...ARE YOU NUTS?

ANDY
No. But I was talking to Dad last night and he suggested that, since Jeff won't be here next year, I try to pick up some tips from him.

(Meanwhile)

KIMBERLY
Well, here's what I brought with me. (She pulls out a sandwich in which the meat had been more or less torched.)


MEG
Uh...interesting. What is it?

LISA
It's a...a...Good question.

KIMBERLY
This is a Kimmy's Special Edition Triple Roast Chicken Sandwich.

MEG
What does that mean?

LISA
It means she burned the chicken breast.

(Later)

COACH GREEN
Look. We've got 1 week before the start of the season. Unfortunately, for some of you that means you'll have to come try out next year. We have 33 positions; 11 offensive starters who back up on defense, 11 defensive guys who do the opposite, 2 kickers, and the rest are emergency players. As of right now, we have 55 guys here. Any questions before I become the bearer of bad news? (No one dares to raise their hand.)

(That night)

PHIL
Michele, I'll be up a little later than I planned. I've got about 7 plot-lines to examine so I can determine a plot for this cartoon project coming up.

MICHELE
Why examine tonight?

PHIL
I need to have a decision made no later than Monday.

MICHELE[/B]
Why not ask the kids after they get here tomorrow?

PHIL
Well, I can make sure that I get the chance. It's 11:30 and I've got an early meeting at 8:30. I'm ready.