This idea for a sitcom sort of randomly popped into my head this morning. Here it is -
It’s called The Discoverers. It’s about these nutty, geeky Canadians who have built a DIY space exploration outfit and are going to explore strange new worlds. In the first episode they’re launched into space, while napping their instruments get screwed up and when they awake they believe they’re millions of light-years from Earth, and then they crash land on a strange alien planet, which just happens to be a small town in rural Alabama.
Every week they explore the exotic aliens and report back to their loopy commander. One person in the crew (I’m imagining Zach Galifianakis in the role) quickly figures out that they’re back on Earth, but his compatriots think the stress of the mission has driven him mad. He shrugs and carries on, eating hot dogs, dating, watching television, etc. He’s also their primary tech guy, and the show is shot cinema verite style, with the crew taking turns recording their adventures in this strange new world.
will they have zany encounters with buxom southern belles?
of course! (and are there any other kind?)
this is a brilliant idea, i'll bring it up at our next meeting to shoot a pilot of this
In my dream version, the opening credits are an homage to the Planet of the Apes (with the date dial spinning out of control), David Cross is a semi-regular as one of the Alabama rednecks, and a besotted Dave Foley plays the loopy commander back at home.
Hmmmm, maybe all the actors should be named Dave… And, it would be written by Dave Eggers!