Mom & Pop Culture

more on "the sitcom room"

I made the paper! The Star-Ledger's TV critic, Alan Sepinwall, wrote about Ken Levine's "The Sitcom Room" seminar that I participated in back in July. I was one of four participants that Alan interviewed (and whew, I don't sound like a complete idiot!).

The story ran in today's Sunday Ledger, and you can read it online.

i'm nobody! who the hell are you?

So, I'm trying to find a manager or agent and am sending out queries to get someone to read my stuff. As I do so, my insecurities are flaring. I hate the asking and the rejection that comes with it. It makes me feel like a nobody. And I'm reminded of this poem by Emily Dickinson:

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd advertise - you know!

How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

Like, Emily,  I would find it "dreary" to be famous -- to have to live under public scrutiny. I have no desire to ever achieve notoriety in that way.

motherhood is everywhere

Motherhood is everywhere. On TV, Tales from the Underbelly became one of the few shows renewed for another season. Jennifer Garner just pitched a talk show about motherhood. There are several plays dealing with motherhood. And every month I receive another book, like this one or this one, to review about the topic. What the heck is going on?

When I first started blogging and writing about motherhood, I did so (like many) out of need to reach out to other moms and share my experiences and feel part of a community. As a writer and filmmaker, I began to complain loudly about the way motherhood was "invisible" in TV, and movies, and even books -- except in obvious, boring or dismissive ways.

Motherhood was once deemed unentertaining -- a topic that nobody was interested in.

what's going on

Turns out I finished as a 4th Runner-Up in TVwriter.com's People Pilot's Competition. So, I'm wondering if the six people before me can't fulfill their duties, does that make me Ms People's Pilot Spring 2007? Shouldn't I get a consolation prize, like a box of Rice-a-roni?

I'm still blogging about American Idol for TV Squad, but have this week off because my son had his tonsils removed on Monday. This week I'm in full-blown "MOM MODE" catering to the boy's every need as his scarred throat repairs itself. He told me the other night, "You're the best mommy in the whole wide world."  Awesome.

I'm heading to L.A. in July to take part in Ken Levine's "Sitcom Room." Ken has written for many sitcoms (Frasier, MASH, Wings, The Simpsons) and he's a blogger too. How cool is that? I can't wait to spend two days in the same room with him, soaking up his knowledge.

contest results

I've been getting the results of several writing contests I entered.

My treatment for Cayce Place (an original TV show about psychic kids) was named a finalist in The People's Pilot Competition. The winners will be announced next week, so I'm still in the running.

My spec script for My Name is Earl has has the following results so far:

Finalist -- Acclaim TV (Fall 2006)
Semifinalist -- The AAA Screenwriting Comp. (Spring 2007)
Semifinalist -- Writesafe's Present-a-Thon Competition (Fall 2006

writing light and dark

As a writer, I can't really claim one topic or style. I've written serious essays about motherhood, politics, and women's health. And I've also written witty essays on motherhood, TV, and pop culture.

Last summer I was hired to write for Discovery's Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye series. It looks like the program is just about finished and will be available on DVD in March. I wrote the "Communication" episode and part of the "House and Home" episode, but sadly never got to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy.

my stuff

I've updated my personal website with links to all the stuff I'm working on (or have worked on).

Check it out.

my muse is back in town

I woke up  a couple of days ago from a very vivid dream that basically has dropped my next script in my lap.  This was like one of those gifts from the universe -- a ready-made script with interesting characters, dialogue, conflict, backstory, and plot already in place.  And the best part is that the story is not a hard-to-sell indie flick, but a high concept romantic comedy that would be great for Jennifer Garner or Drew Barrymore or Reese Witherspoon.

i have a tv writing job!

It's true!  Last week I was offered (and accepted) a full-time (temporary) freelance writing job for a series that is going to run on the Discovery Channel.  I was hired by a local television company, Tapestry International, that works out of Sea Bright, New Jersey.  I am going to be one of the segment writers for an 8 hour program called "Great Inventions with Bill Nye."

greetings from iowa

I'm back home from my whirlwind tour of Iowa, my first time ever to the Midwest.  It was definitely an eye-opener for me, and an interesting journey into America's heartland.  We went to Iowa on official business, busily researching The Grotto of the Redemption and the man who built it, Father Dobberstein.