Episodes

Episodes is a comedy about just how ludicrous the television industry has become. It is about the process of developing and producing a situational comedy from the writing to the finished product. Mostly it is about the outlandish characters that work in television and the utterly ridiculous situations they put themselves in.

The story revolves around a couple from England, Sean and Beverly, who have come to Los Angeles to write and produce an American version of their very successful British show. Unfortunately, once they arrive, they find that the Network is not really interested in the original concept of the show or the characters that were in it. In fact, by the time the American version of the show reaches the air the only thing that really remains from the original are the title and the names of most of the characters.

While trying to come to terms with the drastic changes being made to their show the writers find themselves surrounded by actors and network executives that seem to have lost any ability to tell the truth or make sensible decisions. In the presence of so many inflated egos they usually find it impossible to make their opinions heard and the result is that they end up producing a show that they are embarrassed to put their names to.

The executives who are making the decisions either are not aware, or simply do not care, that they have, in the eyes of the Beverly and Sean, ruined the show. They are only interested in the ratings and as long as they stay high everything is great as far as they are concerned. However, when the numbers begin to fall the network panics and more craziness ensues.

The actors in the fictional show, chosen by the network not the writers, are a host of self absorbed misfits. With one exception, none of them have been able to land a long running series and are desperate to make this one work. The one successful character, Matt LeBlanc, plays in himself in a strange convergence of fact and fiction that really gives the series a unique spin.

Episodes is a very funny spoof of what goes on behind the scenes in television. The characters are larger than life and out of touch with reality but still very believable. After all, isn't that what Hollywood is all about?