The TV Set

Synopsis: A television network is making a pilot of Mike's quirky comedy based on the aftermath of his brother's suicide. As the network suits ask for change after change, and as Mike struggles with compromise, there are strains on families, execs who show rushes to their children, leads who feel each other out, and assistants who put a smile on everything. Can an honest show get made in the world of reality TV chasing an audience of teen-aged boys?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Director(s): Jake Kasdan
Production: ThinkFilm
  1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
6.6
Metacritic:
65
Rotten Tomatoes:
65%
R
Year:
2006
88 min
$34,531
Website
127 Views


All right.

You're gonna park in A-106.

- Okay.

- So at the stop sign, make a right.

Another right at the panda.

It's on your left.

Okay. Thank you.

Tell me about it.

Remember Coach Roberts;

I have this recurring dream

about the guy.

I'm ninety years old

and I have dentures.

Except I'm in my high school

gym class.

Everybody's the regular high school age.

I'm the only one who's ninety.

And Coach is yelling at me

I'm going...

"Dad, get off my back.

I'm friggin' ninety, okay;"

Coach is yelling at me

and I'm going, "Give me a break".

Give me a break! Give me a break!

Give me a break!

"Give me a break!

I'm friggin' ninety!"

- Hi.

- Name;

Zach Harper.

- ID;

- Oh, yeah. Sorry.

This is my first

network session.

I'm kinda nervous.

"Give me a break!" What is with that

line; Give me a break. "Give me a break. "

"Give me a break.

I'm friggin' ninety years old!"

"I'm friggin' ninety years old,

okay homes;"

No, don't improvise.

They hate that.

"I'm friggin' ninety years old,

okay;"

Yeah, touch the hair.

Grab the hair.

"Okay;"

This is kinda counterintuitive,

you know;

It always feels wrong

to bring two guys...

when you know there's only one

that's right for the part.

You have to bring in another guy,

otherwise, they resent it.

Yeah, I know and I'm doing it...

But you know, maybe I should just

that I prefer TJ beforehand.

- I wouldn't.

- Why not;

Because I think they'd resent it.

They wanna feel like

the decision is theirs...

and at the end of the day it is.

But they're not stupid.

Richard, especially, has great taste.

That's why we brought

the project here.

If TJ is the guy,

they'll clearly see it.

What do you mean "if"; I thought

you said you agreed with me.

I do. I think TJ's great.

I'm just worried he might be

a little too hip for the room.

Too hip for the room; What does that

mean; Where did you learn that;

- In Manager School.

- What does that mean; Like too Jewish;

I think TJ's great.

I think Zach is good, too.

Zach is not even

in the same universe as TJ.

Zach would have to apply

for a visa...

- Zach! My man!

- What's up, man;

- How are you;

- Hi. Alice. We met...

- Yes.

- Oh, Alice, my manager.

- You met yesterday at the studio session;

- Yes. Nice to see you again.

- You, too. Again.

- Right, right.

- I'm nervous.

- Just try to relax, man.

- You'll be great.

- Thanks.

I don't know, any last thoughts

for me before we go in there;

Just try to keep it simple.

You know;

- Simple;

- Yeah. That's the main thing.

You don't have to do a lot

to get your thing across.

Totally.

- You understand what I'm saying;

- Yeah. Totally. Simple;

Okay. Thanks, Mike.

- All right.

- Thank you.

Yeah, it's such a great part...

I feel like I really get the guy,

you know;

- We'll see you in there.

- See you.

- Okay.

- Bye, guys. See you soon.

- This is so f***ed.

- He's a sweet kid.

- Yes! That's why this is so f***ed.

- I know.

Don't worry,

everything's gonna be okay.

Is your back acting up again;

- A little bit.

- You should try yoga.

You know what I'm gonna do;

I'm gonna bring TJ in first.

He sets the standard.

And then I bring Zach in.

Now they're comparing him to TJ.

Clearly not as good.

- They go for TJ.

- Totally.

- Could we get Lucy Lawless;

- You mean...

Zena the Warrior Princess.

I love her.

Thanks, Jen.

I'm not terribly familiar

with her work.

But I think Michelle sees

this character as herself...

and she imagines someone a little less

conspicuously glamorous.

Who does she want;

She was thinking more of

a Hope Davis.

Who;

Hope Davis. American Splendor.

The Secret Lives of Dentists.

Wonderful actress.

- Has she done any TV;

- Lenny.

You have your session

in five minutes.

- Which show;

- Wexler Chronicles.

Terrible title. Great script.

It's a terrible title.

I'll get you some tape

on Hope Davis.

I think she's a very interesting choice

for this.

Well, I take that seriously, Richard.

That's why we brought you here.

We need some of

your class thing.

But I also need

a half-hour show...

to go up against the second half

of CSl:
New York...

and everyone always wonders,

can Zena be funny;

And I'm the person who's saying:

F*** yes! Let's do it!

I've always believed that Lucy Lawless

has a great half-hour comedy in her.

You okay;

F***ing acid reflux.

Puts me in a terrible mood.

I'm just seriously questioning

whether this beard was a good decision.

Oh, the beard; I like the beard.

I know. But I mean, do they ever give

the lead to the guy with the beard;

Yeah! I mean, I think facial hair is

really cutting edge. It's good.

You're gonna be great. Now, I just

want you to relax. All right;

Yeah, you might be a little biased

because you have a beard and so...

- I just think that, you know...

- Look, just relax.

You're gonna be great.

You look like a lawyer.

You look real.

I look like Serpico.

You do, a little bit.

Break a leg.

All right, all right, all right.

It's great to be back

in the fourth floor conference room.

Yeah well, it's been a busy week

over at The Wexler Chronicles.

A whole lot of casting

going on and...

So today I thought maybe

we'd kick it off by looking at...

two lovely actress

who represent...

two very different

but equally exciting alternatives...

for the role of Amanda and...

then we're gonna look at a couple

of potential Rob Wexlers.

- So it's all very exciting stuff.

- Right.

Yeah, I can feel the electricity

in the room.

Anyway, without any further ado,

let's get this party started, okay;

Please, a warm fourth-floor

conference-room welcome...

for the lovely Jessie Filmore.

Jessie.

- Thank you.

- There she is.

- Whenever you're ready.

- Okay. Thank you.

Is that you, Rob Wexler;

Amanda, hi.

Hi, neighbor. Wow!

God, it's be

a really long time.

You look so... grown up.

You look terrific.

Ladies and gentlemen,

put your hands together for the...

beautiful and talented

Laurel Simon.

Stop. Stop. Thank you.

Well, what can we say,

we're psyched to see you.

I'm psyched to see you.

I'm psyched to see all of you.

How you doing;

I'm great, Mike. Oh, my God.

Is that Rob Wexler;

Amanda, hi.

Hey, neighbor.

Wow, it's been a really long time.

God, you look... so grown-up.

You look terrific.

Thanks.

So when did you get back

into town;

Just this morning.

- Oh, oh, did you finish law school;

- Yeah. Three years ago.

Three years; No way!

So, you're, like, a lawyer now;

I know. We're getting old.

Speak for yourself, mister. Okay;

You're the one who's a lawyer.

And now please welcome the one,

the only, TJ Goldman.

Whoa. There's a lot of you.

Don't even bother trying to escape.

We have you outnumbered.

No, I won't put up a fight. Not going

anywhere, unless you want me to.

Whenever you're ready,

man, just...

- We had so many terrible teachers.

- That's the truth.

Remember Mrs. Beetlemeyer;

She was the worst.

Do you remember Coach Roberts;

How could I forget Coach Roberts;

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Jake Kasdan

Jacob "Jake" Kasdan (born October 28, 1974) is an American film and television director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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    "The TV Set" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_tv_set_21526>.

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