The TV Set Page #2

Talk about delusions of grandeur.

I have this recurring dream

about that guy.

I'm like ninety years old

and I have dentures...

got them in my

high school gym class.

Everybody else is regular high school

age. I'm the only one who's ninety.

And Coach is yelling at me,

and I'm going...

"Give me a break. I'm ninety

friggin' years old, okay;"

And now, last but not least

Mr. Zach Harper.

Hi.

Zach Harper.

Whenever you're ready.

I'm just gonna jump in if that's...

- 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;

Talk about delusions of grandeur.

I have this recurring dream

about that guy.

I'm like ninety years old

and I have dentures...

except I'm in my high school

gym class.

And everybody's the regular

high school age.

I'm the only one who's ninety.

And Coach is yelling at me

I'm going...

"Give me a break! I'm ninety

friggin' years old, homes!

Okay;"

- How'd it go, man;

- I don't know. All right, I guess.

- All right.

- Thanks.

Dude, whatever happens...

I just think it's rad we got to know

each other these last two days.

Yeah. I guess.

Now I'm really screwed.

'Cause you were all awesome.

- Mike. Thank you.

- You guys were great, Laurel.

I mean, four great auditions.

You guys can go to sleep tonight

and know that...

you really f***ing brought it.

All of you.

TJ.

Zach.

- You know when we'll know anything;

- Probably not till tomorrow.

I gotta get back in there.

So I just wanna thank you because

you all made me look good.

All right. All right.

Great stuff, Mike.

Really, good session.

- They're good. They're good.

- They have great material.

Oh, thanks.

No, really. I think the scenes played

beautifully. It's very exciting.

I was telling Lenny

as we walked in here...

that this is my favorite pilot

we have this season.

- Mine, too.

- Mine, too.

So, we should talk about

what we just saw...

and then we can talk for a minute about

the last few remaining script issues.

That sounds good. Let's do it.

All right. If nobody objects,

I'll just jump in.

First of all, let's talk about

the role of Amanda. Laurel and Jessie.

Now I thought they both

gave very good readings.

My instinct is that Laurel

is a superb comedienne...

whereas Jessie is an actress playing

comedy, if that makes any sense.

It does.

And I think you're gonna want a real

comedienne in that role.

Now, they're both quite good,

quite funny, quite attractive...

If I could just cut in here...

It's true, they're both attractive...

but Laurel is also really cute.

And I think that's a good thing.

She doesn't let her cuteness

get in the way of her hotness...

and that's really special to me.

Also, I think that Jessie

has fake breasts.

And I believe that over the life

of a series the audience can feel that.

I feel very good about Laurel as

Amanda. I think she'd be terrific.

- Then let's do it.

- Let's do it. Let's do it.

Next! Come on!

Well, now for the role of Rob.

Zach and TJ.

Well, I think we all know

it's clearly Zach.

- Really;

- Clearly.

No doubt in my mind.

I mean, am I crazy here;

- No.

- No.

I must admit,

I know you like TJ, Mike but...

I thought that Za

was really terrific.

- The kid's a star.

- Very funny.

Where'd this guy come from;

Well, he, yeah...

he's been around. I just...

I'm concerned that he's...

a little broad.

What's wrong with broad;

I like broad.

To me, the broad is the funny.

Yeah, but...

I've been thinking about the lead

character a little differently lately...

because the dialogue

is so naturalistic...

which is what I think

we all love about it.

And we experience everything

through the main character's eyes.

I've been thinking of a more subtle

kind of acting style...

for the lead character...

which allows everybody else,

all the other characters around him...

to go bigger.

But not like that other guy.

That... what was his name; JT;

TJ. See, it's funny.

I like TJ. I like him.

To me, he was a dead fish.

If you'd like to keep looking,

I'm sure nobody would object.

Better be quick.

You start shooting in a week.

Yeah,

I've read a lot of guys...

and I think I've seen a lot of

what's out there.

Yeah, you have.

Honestly, Mike, I love this project.

Love it. I really do.

I think you've found your guy.

I think he brings us in,

which is so important.

And he's funny,

and my daughter will love him.

Mine, too.

She'll love him.

It's just not quite what

I'd envisioned when I wrote it.

Well, the process changes things.

Let me tell you, you've seen a million

auditions. We're coming at this fresh.

I think with this kid Zach, and your

script, you really have something here.

Without him...

I don't know what you have.

And, frankly, without him...

I'm a little worried.

Why don't you sleep on it;

Take a look at the tapes,

see how you feel in the morning.

- Yeah.

- All right. Okay, good.

Shall we talk about the script;

Yeah.

There's a feeling

among some of us...

Is it absolutely necessary

that the brother commit suicide;

- Sorry;

- It's just so sad.

Yeah, I never saw th

as a "suicide" show.

I see it more like a "a guy" comes home,

the town needs him kind of show.

A little Northern Exposure,

a little Ed.

You see...

it's very personal to me because

my brother killed himself.

That's where all this came from.

And...

you know the suicide, to me...

has always been kind of the premise

for everything that happens.

I know, but let's just think about it

for a second.

What if it weren't;

It's just that my instinct is always

to support the writer's vision.

You and me both. But we can't do

this show with that other guy.

You can't hang a series on a f***ing

theater actor with bad hair and a beard.

Not in this country.

Right.

In Britain the audience has a greater

tolerance for unusual hair, I suppose.

You're telling me. Look, you've got to

get him to go with Zach.

It's a deal breaker.

You have to convey that.

As for the other thing, the suicide,

I don't know. It's a f***ing downer.

I think he makes it work, though.

I really do.

It's bold,

and that intrigues me.

Just remember, we're thinking of

this show for Monday at eight.

So you gotta keep that in mind.

How much of a downer do you wanna be,

given the competition;

This is the new script

for Pole Position.

- How is it;

- About the same...

just a few more jokes

in the second act.

And these are tapes

of Jonathan Silverman.

Call me later, kiddo.

"It's no suicide show. "

What the f*** does that even mean,

a suicide show;

"Northern Exposure and Ed. "

What's it got to do with f***ing Ed;

It's my Rob. I said I would choose

my Rob and now you're not letting me.

If it's your favorite f***ing pilot

then, maybe you shouldn't f*** with it.

- What happened;

- Oh, they love Zach. Love him.

- "That kid's a star!"

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