Son of the Beach Volume 1 (2000) |
BUY THE DVD!! - 
Release Information:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment Edition Details:
- Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries.) |
Son of the Beach Volume 1 (2000) |
BUY THE DVD!! -
Release Information:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment Edition Details:
- Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries.) |
from themanroom.com
By Steve Tomassetti on 04-07-2003
From The Howard Stern Production Company comes 21 episodes of the beach-show spoof that seemingly can do no wrong. Son of the Beach: Volume 1 is highlights from the show's first 2 seasons and is brought to us in a 3 disc set with a bunch of unrated extras. How can you go wrong in acquiring a DVD set in which its lead actresses are in bikinis for almost the entire series?
Movie
For those of you who don't know him, Notch Johnson (Timothy Stack) is the world's greatest lifeguard commanding the world's greatest lifeguard squad. Together they patrol the shores of Malibu Adjacent, to not only teach water safety, but to save the world. You'll find that in every case, they do just that.
Howard Stern is a genius. While shows like Baywatch try to pass themselves off as serious entertainment, Son of the Beach is put out there and sold for exactly what it is... a parade of T&A. Even though you'll rarely find a scene without a scantily-clad hottie, the series is actually pretty hilarious. Usually I'll watch a series box set like this one over the course of a few days. I couldn't stop watching Son of the Beach once I started.
If you had to pick 2 women to be half-naked throughout an entire series, I think you couldn't do any better than casting Jamie Bergman and Leila Arcieri. Those bodies were destined to be in those little yellow bikinis. The odd combination is that they are great in their roles and are actually quite funny. Having a "sexy montage" in each episode brought their stock up even more each time. Hopefully we'll see these 2 in something regular now that SOTB's run has ended on FX.
Audio
In the first minute of the first episode on the very first disk, there is a scene with a beached whale. The whale makes its typical "whale song" and the bass tone was very unexpected, but much appreciated. The music is fantastic as well, along with the beach ambiance sounds. Overall, very impressive for only a 2.0 track.
Video
95% of the series is shot on a beach... does it get any better than that? Nice bright scenes that display some pretty colorful swimwear. Since its a TV series, its entirely in a fullscreen presentation. The menus look great as well.
Extras
There seems to be alot here, but most of the featurettes are very short in length. To make up for it, look to disc 2 where they've included 3 entirely new "I wonder what that would be like" montages starring the usual extras on the show. Also on that same disc is a montage of all those sexy montages from each episode starring Jamie, Leila, or a special guest. Could the sexy montage be the greatest manroom extra ever? Quite possibly! 2 words, baby oil!
Also included are commentaries on select episodes over all 3 discs , 3 short behind-the-scenes featurettes, a TV spot, and an outtake reel that is pretty funny. There's something about outtakes involving hot chicks that make them oh so entertaining. Notch Johnson himself introduces each disc, similar to his sign-off on each episode.
Add to ManRoom?
If you are a huge fan of the show, absolutely add this to your collection. If you haven't watched Son of the Beach before, I urge you to give it a rent. It works on so many levels, Its a good comedy plus you get hotties parading around in skimpy garb throughout. You really can't find a more prefect manroom combination... well, maybe if they blew stuff up. After watching the first episode, its hard to not advance to the next, if not for the entertainment of the show, for the fact that you simply will not be able to get enough of Jamie Bergman. A quality 3-disc set of a quality TV show.
from the NY Daily News
September 16, 2002
Richard Huff
By Melissa Grego
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - FX will not renew "Son of the Beach," the "Baywatch" spoof shepherded by Howard Stern.
FX declined to comment on the cancellation. Insiders said the decision was based primarily on the fact that FX is trying to move its brand in a different direction from where it was when "SOB" debuted in March 2000 as its first original scripted series.
The Tuesday night comedy, which stars co-creator Tim Stack as a flabby lifeguard aided by a bevy of comely ladies, will conclude its run on FX after three seasons with a three-part finale set to run on Sept. 17, Sept. 24 and Oct. 1.
The finale on FX, however, may not necessarily mark the end of the show. The producers of "SOB" already are fielding interest from other basic cable channels to take on the show. FX technically has until Saturday to make a formal decision on a fourth season of "Son of the Beach."
Stack co-created the show with David Morgasen and James R. Stein, who along with Stern serve as the show's executive producers. Shot in Los Angeles, the production costs about $750,000 per episode.
Ratings for "SOB" have been consistent across its three seasons. During its first season (March-September 2000), the show earned an average 1.46 rating among FX homes (963,000 viewers); season two (March-July 2001) averaged a 1.05 (875,000 viewers); and season three, which got under way in June, is averaging a .90 (983,000 viewers).
Each ratings point represents more total viewers today than it did on FX when "SOB" premiered because the network's distribution has grown. The network was available in 47 million homes in March 2000 and is now seen in more than 78 million homes.
FX has been busy developing several new comedy projects, including John Corbett starrer "Lucky," in hopes of continuing the momentum on the comedy side that it built with this year's drama series "The Shield."
from allaccess.com
NET NEWS as of FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2001
Cable network FX renews the HOWARD STERN PRODUCTION COMPANY's sitcom SON OF THE BEACH for a third season.
from the LA Times
March 13, 2001
Almost exactly one year ago today, Howard Stern--shock jock, relentless inquisitor of celebrities about their sex lives, self-proclaimed King of All Media, worshiper of strippers--was worried sick.
The confrontational Stern was about to launch the first series from his production company. "Son of the Beach" was to be a "Baywatch"-inspired spoof crammed with bikinis, bathroom humor, bikinis, crude sexual innuendo, an irreverent slapstick spirit reminiscent of shows like "F Troop" and "Gilligan's Island"--and more bikinis.
The personality who regularly bashes everyone ranging from family members and his colleagues to movie stars andtop politicians was braced to receive some bashing himself.
"I really was concerned," Stern recalled last week during a phone interview from his New York offices. "I knew since this had my name on it, there would just be a whole lot of attention on the show. I tend to over-worry, I feel like my whole life is on the line when I do something like this. It's so important for me not to feel embarrassed and humiliated."
Fast-forward one year, and Stern is enjoying his day in the sun. No more worries--at least about "Son of the Beach."
The series not only survived its first season, it received several positive reviews and has become the cornerstone series for FX, Fox's flagship general-entertainment basic-cable network that is in 60 million households. As the comedy returns tonight for its second season, the alternately brooding and outlandish Stern is downright celebratory--and a lot more relaxed than he was last season.
"I couldn't be more pleased," Stern said. "I have loved this show from the day I got the pitch from [series co-creator] Tim [Stack]. Now we're seeing the best scripts we've ever had."
Moreover, Stern, who is an executive producer of the series along with Stack and his fellow creators David Morgasen and James R. Stein, has had free rein with the show's formula, which includes scantily clad females, a continuous onslaught of sex jokes and double-entendres teetering on the edge of bad taste and an adults-only rating.
"Son of the Beach" revolves around the world's greatest lifeguard, Notch Johnson (Stack), as he battles crime and other nemeses of the free world with his lifeguard unit, which includes buxom dumber-than-dumb blond B.J. Cummings (Jaime Bergman), ebonics-spouting Jamaica St. Croix (Leila Arcieri), muscular Arnold Schwarzenegger clone Chip Rommel (Roland Kickinger), lustful Mayor Anita Massengil (Lisa Banes) and strait-laced Kimberlee Clark (Kimberly Oja).
The nature of the humor is reflected in the titles of the episodes, which include "Remember Her Titans," "Booger Nights," "It's a Nude, Nude, Nude, Nude World" and "The Sexorcist."
Jokes and innuendo about sex and bodily functions fill the season opener, which starts out with a cast production number. Johnson experiences what Stack calls "premature orgasms." An Asian American villainess is called Rucy Riu. An oil-wrestling match between B.J. and Jamaica helps round out the shenanigans.
Even with jokes and suggestive humor that push the envelope, Stern says the series is not nearly as outrageous as his radio show, heard locally on KLSX-FM (97.1) weekday mornings from 3 to about 11. "The TV show is less crude," he said. "When I say things on the radio, I just blurt it out, saying what most people think. On 'Son of the Beach,' we think of how we can accomplish the humor without hitting people over the head."
He also believes that the standards of taste and sensibilities have been loosened, thanks in no small part to his radio program.
"I've seen a definite shift in the last few years about how we communicate," said Stern. "I think 'Son of the Beach' benefits from that relaxation of standards."
Stack added, "We pride ourselves on developing the pun and the innuendo. We like to think of it as being rather clever. There are people who may argue with us, but there isn't anything [else] like this on TV. We want the jokes to be character-generated. The head of the network told us, 'Just go for it. We'll let you know if it goes too far.' And they never spoke up."
He said the jokes on the show are less extreme than those on the animated "South Park": "We all seem to be in sync with where to draw the line. It's boys locker room humor. I think it's appropriate for teens."
Peter Liguori, president of FX and Fox Movie Channel, said he is proud of the series: "Every network hopes to find a show like 'Son of the Beach,' which raises its profile. It's filled with belly laughs, and the audience clearly identifies with its good-natured humor. The show is an equal-opportunity offender. We wouldn't put it on the air if we thought it went too far." He added that he has not received any complaints about content from viewers.
"We put this on at 10 p.m., and we clearly advertise this in a way that the audience is exactly sure what they're getting," Liguori said.
Stern may clash with his bosses on the radio, but Liguori said working with Stern on the series has been smooth and conflict-free.
"Howard's a perfectionist, and he is justified in being that way because he knows his audience better than anyone else," he said. "Working on this with him has been a lot less stressful than other projects I've worked on."
Stack is the main point person on the series, along with his partners, writing and overseeing the episodes. Stern goes over each script, watches all the dailies, gives his thoughts on casting and directors. He also serves as the comedy's biggest cheerleader, continually plugging the series on his radio program.
He said that although he was on the phone with Stack almost every day in the beginning last season, his involvement has become a lot less intense: "The guys really have it down to a science. Everything is so well-developed, my role is collaborative more than anything. I am a fan of theirs, and I am into the team process."
However, don't expect Stern to show up on the sand any time soon as a guest star. He instead wants to focus more on some of the other projects being developed by his production company. One of them, "Doomsday," an animated series about a futuristic family, has been in development at UPN for two years after encountering creative obstacles. [Some Doomsday info is here.]
"We were all set to go based on scripts, but I didn't like them," he said. "When you're spending a million bucks a week for an animation series, I just thought it was best to go back to the drawing board. Now we have a pilot script that is really good. UPN has not given me a timetable, and I want to make sure that it's right."
Audiences would presumably see a softer and less outrageous side of Stern in the animation project. He is pushing for the family in "Doomsday" to be "warmer and more relatable. I'm pushing for reality."
Other projects include a few films and another TV show. He said he really enjoys the pitching and business side of development.
"I know if you believe in something, it will take a lot of time to do it right, so you really have to find a piece of material you love," he said.
Dealing with "Son of the Beach" has given Stern a new appreciation for the rigors of developing and running a TV series: "It's easy to criticize others on TV. But the fact of the matter is, it's such a hard process just to get on TV. I have a newfound admiration for those who can do it."
Even with new projects on the horizon, Stern knows he will worry, no matter what.
Said Stern: "I always put myself under an inordinate amount of pressure." With a chuckle, he added, "I'm just a neurotic mess. I should lighten up."
* "Son of the Beach" can be seen tonight at 10 on FX. The network has rated it TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children younger than 14).
from the NY Daily News
March 13, 2001
Fox' multimillion-dollar investment in the rights to carry NASCAR stock-car races hit a bit too close to home for the folks putting together FX' comedy "Son of the Beach."
Indeed, at the urging of executives of the Fox-owned cable network -- which is also airing NASCAR events -- "Son of the Beach" producers cut out a story line built around a race-car-driving creep who kills another driver.
The story line was fine until racing legend Dale Earnhardt was killed in a last-lap crash during February's Daytona 500.
"All our villains are ultra-villains," said star and executive producer Tim Stack. "We wrote it two months ago, before this whole Dale Earnhardt thing happened."
Stack said that after the script was sent to FX executives, show producers got a call asking them to lose the race-car bit. Cutting out the segment wasn't that big a deal for Stack & Co., because network executives have essentially let every double entendre and frat-boy sex joke on the air.
"Son of the Beach," is a "Baywatch" spoof starring Stack as Notch Johnson, a pasty lifeguard who oversees a bevy of beautiful people guarding the beach near Malibu, Calif. The show is produced by Howard Stern's production company and begins a run of 15 new episodes tonight at 10 p.m.
For Stack, who is best known to viewers as the faux talk-show host on "Night Stand With Dick Dietrick," starring in "Son of the Beach" has elevated his status as a comedy writer and actor.
"When the show hit, we got all kinds of calls to rewrite movies," he said. "All of these 'American Pie' road-trip movies do so well. We understand that kind of humor."
Fact is, "Son of the Beach" is loaded with jokes about genitals, homosexuals and sex that are aimed squarely at the crowd who turned out for "American Pie."
Stern was heavily involved in the first round of episodes and oversaw the casting, but hasn't been as involved in this latest series, Stack said.
"I think he's able to enjoy it a little more," Stack said. "This was the first thing that he wasn't on camera in. He just sits back and laughs and enjoys it."
Based on the success of "Son of the Beach," and films like "American Pie," it should come as no surprise that other shows could follow. Already, folks are after the "Son of the Beach" team for more projects.
"I've kinda gone up a notch in people's perception," he said. "The WB called us in and said, 'Please bring [your next project] to us first.' Now there's a perception that these guys have been able to find an audience with that all-elusive [young male] demographic. CBS is not calling."
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
March 08, 2001
--snips--
"SON" RETURNS: Every TV critic has a guilty pleasure. Mine is FX's "Son of the Beach," a "Baywatch" parody that returns with new episodes at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
With Howard Stern in the credits as an executive producer, you know the show will be raunchy, inappropriate for children and politically incorrect, but it's also sometimes hilarious.
Tuesday's premiere sends lifeguard Notch Johnson (Timothy Stack) and his crew to Hawaii. Notch is particularly excited to drink some Hawaiian Punch, because even though you can buy it on the mainland, "it's not fresh like it is here."
That's one of the few jokes that can be printed in a family newspaper. Mostly, the show plays on sexual innuendo and jargon that's on the junior high level. It's lowbrow humor in the extreme, but it still makes me laugh.
The episode includes one of the worst acting performances of all time from a guest star playing "Rucy Riu," a riff on the name of actress Lucy Liu that's bound to offend some viewers.
And that's just it: "Son of the Beach" is gleefully offensive and stupid, sparing no one. This week it's Asians; next week it's Russians, as a communist military commander (Walter Koenig from "Star Trek") tries to re-ignite the Cold War.
"Son of the Beach" will never be confused with quality programming, but in a post-Mel Brooks, post-Zucker Brothers era, it has the best dirty gags on TV.
--snips--
from Internet Wire
February 27, 2001
from Cable World
November 13, 2000
Son of the Beach grabbed FX Network's highest ratings for an original series.
The first run of 13 episodes earned a 1.46 rating, a 217% jump compared to the same time period last year and delivered 743,000 homes, a 302% increase. The premiere run didn't get sand kicked in its face by its targeted 18-49 demographic either, turning in a 0.99 rating, or 636,000 adult impressions.
FX has ordered 15 more episodes of the Howard Stern-produced lifeguard spoof, with production slated to commence Nov. 13.
"We may, in fact, do even more episodes of Son of the Beach this year to keep the momentum going in that time period," says Kevin Reilly, president-entertainment for FX. The network also plans to run a Son of the Beach marathon, tentatively scheduled for New Year's Day.
Reilly says some "stunt casting" is slated for the second season as well as a cross-promotional NASCAR tie-in.
"We get NASCAR on our air next February, and we're talking about doing some cross-promotion to promote the second season of Son of the Beach," he says. FX ultimately wants Tuesday to be a destination night for their viewers and has a second half-hour original series in the pipeline to couple with Son to premiere sometime in late spring to early summer.
"It will be another comedy we feel caters to the same demographic," says Reilly.
FX original movies also have fared well in the ratings.
The Sight, which premiered last month, earned a 2.4 rating, surpassing the total home reach of Deliberate Intent, FX's first foray into original films.
from Multichannel News (Cable TV Trade publication)
September 25, 2000
FX and Turner Network Television have ordered additional batches of their new original series, the comedy spoof Son of the Beach and the hour-long drama Bull, respectively.
FX gave the green light to a second season of Son of the Beach, with 15 episodes set to premiere late in first-quarter 2001, officials said last week.
TNT ordered another nine episodes of Bull. With that move, TNT has now committed to 22 episodes of the series, about a group of investment bankers who break away from an established Wall Street firm to start their own company. It hopes Bull will be the flagship for its expansion into the original-series genre.
Son of the Beach, produced by The Howard Stern Production Co. in association with Fox Television Studios, has generated FX's highest-ever ratings for an original series. Over its initial 13-episode run, the lifeguard spoof averaged a 1.5 rating, for an increase of 217 percent versus the time period a year ago, according to Nielsen Media Research data supplied by FX.
"Son of the Beach clearly performed at a level that warranted it being renewed," FX president Peter Liguori said. "When you do a series, you hope for the best. It's extremely hard to break a 1.0 in the world of cable with an original series."
Last week, FX began a 12-week cycle of repeats of Son of the Beach's first thirteen episodes, in order, on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
For its part, Bull's first five plays in its 10 p.m. Tuesday slot have averaged a 1.2 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's just 7 percent ahead of the 1.17 rating of the films that aired in time period a year ago - even though TNT has spent a large amount of money advertising and promoting Bull, which was well-received by TV critics.
The average ratings performance for Bull and Son of the Beach are not as strong as some other cable series that premiered this summer. For example, Lifetime Television's Strong Medicine averages a 2.0. Comedy Central's BattleBots was tallying an approximate 2.0 rating over its first few airings.
Year-to-date, Strong Medicine is the No. 1-rated original dramatic series on cable, according to Tim Brooks, senior vice president of research at Lifetime. It is followed by Lifetime's Any Day Now, with a 1.8 rating. USA Network has the next three highest-rated dramas: Cover Me, with a 1.6; and The Huntress and La Femme Nikita, each with a 1.5.
Though Bull's 1.2 rating hasn't been a blockbuster, each episode is aired three times a week. Those three plays reach a cumulative 2 million homes. And Bull's demographics have also been attractive, officials said.
So despite somewhat lukewarm ratings, TNT plans to stick with Bull and continue to aggressively promote it until it finds an audience.
"There is a strong feeling within the network that the show is wonderful," TNT senior vice president of marketing Scot Safon said. "This is something worth nurturing. The ratings in the key demographics are growing."
The nine just-ordered Bull episodes will air in January, and high-level promotional efforts for the show will continue then, Safon said.
One reason Strong Medicine has done well, said Safon, is that viewers now know that they can go to Lifetime for dramatic series, because of shows like Any Day Now. If Bull becomes a success, it can be used as a promotional platform to draw an audience for TNT's future original series as they debut. Viewers will realize that TNT is a venue for such shows, according to Safon.
For FX, Liguori said he'd to have a half-hour companion show to run alongside Son of the Beach. FX is also looking at hour-long dramatic series and more original movies, he added.
FX's telepic The Sight will debut Oct. 29, and could be the basis for a weekly series.
from YAHOO! News
Advertising News - updated 7:56 PM ET Sep 20, 2000
Scheduled to reappear late in the first quarter of 2001, "Son of the Beach," the first original series for FX, averaged a 1.46 household rating and delivered 743,000 homes during its initial 13 episode run earlier this year. On Sept. 19, FX launched a repeat run of the first season with shows airing nightly at 10 p.m. for 13 weeks. The former Fox network drama "Action," acquired by FX earlier this year, follows at 10:30 p.m.
-- Megan Larson
from Reuters/Variety
September 19, 2000
NEW YORK (Variety) - The FX cable network has handed Howard Stern a second 13-episode order of his raunchy half-hour comedy "Son of the Beach."
"Beach" is the highest-rated original series on FX, where the first run (Tuesdays at 10 p.m.) of the original 13 episodes has averaged a 1.46 rating in cable homes, a 217% increase over the 1999 time period. The series has generated a 0.99 rating among adults 18-49.
Production of the new half-hours will begin in December at a cost of about $600,000 an episode, which is relatively high for a cable network. These episodes will premiere on FX late in the first quarter of 2001.
Stern is one of the executive producers of "Beach," which was created by Tim Stack, David Morgasen and James R. Stein. Stack, a character actor who refers to himself as "middle-aged, balding and out-of-shape," is the star of the show, a satire of "Baywatch."
from Salon.com
By Ken Kurson
Aug. 24, 2000 | "Son of the Beach" is the funniest show on television.
Any of a dozen perfect little moments can be displayed as proof:
1) Notch Johnson, Tim Stack's character on his beach-patrol "Baywatch" sendup, posts a flyer during the morning meeting and tells his staff to "keep an eye out for this little troublemaker, Osama bin Laden."
2) Mayor Massengil (Lisa Banes) defeats the casino tycoon Steve Wind and Notch declares that "the mayor has broken wind."
3) Chip Rommel, played by Austrian bodybuilder Roland Kickinger, is concerned that a terrorist threat will disrupt the idyll of Malibu Adjacent, including the public transportation schedule. "The trains must run on time!" he shouts.
If the names of the characters alone don't make you laugh, you don't get it.
But if you do get it, if you sense that the show's not only just plain funny but really smart and sweet relief from the uptight snarky-yuppies-in-an-apartment sets that have dominated sitcoms, then "Son of the Beach" is a perfect little gem: one of those shows you're almost glad no one knows about so you can keep it like a secret. Nevertheless, with Howard Stern backing it as executive producer, a top-notch writing team and can't-look-away cast, it's not going to stay undiscovered for long.
Green talked to star, writer and co-creator Stack about the show, the TV business and money. A week or so after the interview, Green saw Stack at a party for the show's second season. He introduced us to Stern and said, "They're going to write a nice story about the show." Stern said, "You'd better. He'll track you down. With a physique like that, you better be worried."
The premise of the show -- gorgeous young people bouncing on a beach with you intentionally sticking your pasty white stomach out as far as it will go -- is a brilliant platform for both satire and just plain fun.
When we set out to do the show, we wanted there to be nothing redeeming. If we ever did a "special episode," it would be so embarrassing. That's why we do those ridiculous public service announcements at the end of the episodes. The first show I loved was "Sea Hunt" with Lloyd Bridges, my earliest memories of television. He'd be at the back of the boat, he'd give a "Hey, kids, when you're swimming ..." water safety tip. I can't drop a lot of names because my life is so shallow, but the one guy I know is Jeff Bridges, and he hit the floor when he saw the PSA portion of our show.
Do the "Baywatch" people like the show?
Apparently, David Hasselhoff loves it. He did some promos for us. We were trying to get him for the show, but the scheduling wasn't good. He's a big Stern fan. Ironically, when we first got going we got all these legal letters from the company that distributes "Baywatch." And we were like, jeez, it's satire. And then when they realized Hasselhoff was digging it, they stopped sending us letters.
It'd be easy to assume that your costars are only there for their considerable bodies, but I think all of them are surprisingly strong comic actors.
I really think BJ [Jamie Bergman] could be a star. Look at where Marilyn Monroe or Goldie Hawn came from: telling jokes in bathing suits. And Jamie will do anything. It's like, "Great, let's go."
Are you rich from this show?
No one's making any money on this. We're all doing it because FX leaves us alone and lets us do what we want to do. So it's a trade-off: You give up the money you'd make on a network for the freedom to do what you want to do. The production company that does our show is great, but we do this show for a third of what a network would spend. "Action," which is running right after ours and was canceled after like six episodes, cost three times what we'd spend. I'd be making three times what I'm making if a network made "Son of the Beach."
I ask every television person I interview how rich they are and they all cry poverty.
Yeah, I know. My wife is like, "Can I get that?" And I'm like, no, and she's like, but you're on a TV show. And I'm like, it's on FX. We follow the "South Park" guys. They knew that creatively, if they stuck to their guns and developed their ideas in the creative cocoon of Comedy Central, it'd pay off for them. And it has.
How involved are you as a writer?
I think of myself more as a writer-producer than an actor now. I guess because I've been doing it so long, my focus is on the writing even more than the acting. And my writing partners, Jim Stein and Dave Morganson, are in real good synch.
How about Howard Stern? Is he actively involved or just loaning his name and support?
What's great about Howard is he doesn't -- it's not like, can you get that lesbian to shave herself, but it's way more like the network gives notes. Stuff like, "Let's meet the villain before we see Notch."
That sounds neat, but give me a juicier example. I want proof that he's an example of a phrase I just learned, "parking-space producer."
I have a great example for you, one of the smartest observations I've ever had from a producer. We'd come from writing "Night Stand" (Stack's show on E! Entertainment Television), which was "Guest star, then Dick [the host] gets a joke," over and over.
Howard saw the "Son of the Beach" scripts. In sitcoms, there's always an A and a B story and Howard said, "You gotta take Notch OUT of the B story."
We were apprehensive, we hadn't even cast the show yet, and we were nervous whether the bombshells we knew we were going to hire could carry the acting without me in the scene. He said that if we can't find people who can carry their weight we should just shut it down.
He turned out to be absolutely right. He's read another script of mine -- he made it a better script. He should give a tutorial to executives on how to give notes.
Howard hangs out at the set. He was in town a few weeks ago for vacation. We did the table reading; his daughters read a couple of the parts and he was here for the whole week on the set.
Whenever a show gets a laugh out of body-part humor, it's tempting to imagine deeper layers at work, so you feel less guilty. But your show really does have underpinnings beyond the puns.
Well, take stuff like Leila Arcieri's character, Jamaica St. Croix. She is both playing and satirizing the hip-hop lingo. (Jamaica became a lifeguard as a tribute to her brother, who was killed in a swim-by shooting.) And then there's the writers, showing our age, like a reference to "Would You Like to Swing on a Star" by Bing Crosby.
How has your plan to utilize the "South Park" creative petri dish model worked out so far?
What's been happening is we're getting all these offers to write features. Executives see a funny show -- even like "Road Trip," which made a lot of money and wasn't a great movie -- and they realize our ability to write for a younger audience and do those "Animal House" jokes. As far as mainstream television, I'd love to get into it, but they pass on us all the time. They can't see what's not there. That was the great thing about Brandon Tartikoff: He'd try to find something completely different from what was working on other networks. Everything was "Friends," then everything was "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." I'm pontificating. The same way "Seinfeld" got all these New Yorkers-in-an-apartment romance sitcoms going. Tartikoff would see Mr. T and go, "He could be a TV star." He saw MTV and said, "Let's do music video with cops" and there you had "Miami Vice."
Let's hear your Genesis myth.
I made my home at the Groundlings. Pee Wee Herman, Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz, really terrific people. Lisa Kudrow. A breeding ground for "Saturday Night Live." Phil and I were great friends up until the end. Lovitz I talk to all the time. We lived in the same apartment building way back when. When he got his first role, he literally threw up over the balcony.
So how's the show doing?
Well, it's the most work I've ever done. It's really hard. And our numbers would be way higher if we were on in Manhattan. [Sadly, FX is not offered on the Time Warner cable system in New York.] That's where buzz starts.
I think the show has at least some buzz because you seem to be landing ever more impressive guest stars.
Mark Hamill will be guest star in an upcoming episode. He plays an evil cult leader called Divine Rod, and BJ gets involved with him. Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy from "The Sopranos") is on another show playing "Vinnie Fallacio."
There should be an Emmy for character names. Do you invest?
I have a retirement account. My brother worked for Yahoo, so I bought a bunch of that early on. I live a great life -- Santa Barbara [Calif.], wife and two kids. But you think you have a television show and you're rich.
from FX Press Release/Internet Wire
July 28, 2000
Immediately following Son of the Beach, FX will air the first of the five never-before-seen episodes of the comedy series "Action" at 10:30PM ET. In the episode, "Dead Man Floating," Peter Dragon (Jay Mohr) is able to negotiate a return to life when God realizes the world is more interesting with Peter in it.
The following are descriptions of the seven new episodes of Son of The Beach:
August 1-After blowing a save at the beach, a distraught B.J. (Jaime Bergman) joins a retreat only to find out that it's a twenty-four hour sex voyeur cult headed by an villain named "The Divine Rod" (Mark Hamill). Notch Johnson (Tim Stack) and the gang save the day by rescuing B.J. and busting the cult.Leading up to the all-new episodes, on Monday, July 31, 2000, from 8PM-11PM ET/PT, FX will air a Son of the Beach Marathon, eaturing the original six episodes.August 8-A wave ten times the size of any Tsunami (the Miso Honei) threatens Malibu Adjacent. Mayor Anita Massengil (Lisa Banes) wants Notch to surf the wave but he refuses because his father (Corbin Bernsen) died riding the sea wave 20 years ago. The mayor issues a surfing furlough to a satanic prisoner to ride the wave, forcing Notch to ride the wave and make his fans proud.
August 15-Notch returns to the Central American country of Humidor to help his old friend Senor Winces (Erik Estrada) fight off a military coup. The girls follow Notch to help but are imprisoned. The mayor starts a Junior Lifeguard Squad to show off for a reporter from "Perfect Family Magazine" (Maureen McCormick) but her plan backfires.
August 22-China and Africa hold a peace summit at Malibu Adjacent and Notch bumps into an old friend from Vietnam, Captain Entenille (Alan Thicke). Notch finds out that his friend is really an assassin sent to kill the king of Africa.
August 29-While filming a movie on the beach, a starlet is stalked so Notch decides to become her bodyguard. But things turn bad for Notch when he becomes romantically involved with her.
September 5-A fabled sea creature, the cocktapus washes ashore. The mayor captures it for her seaquarium. Notch and the gang must break in and free the cocktapus. Chip (Roland Kickinger) joins a German Techno Polka Band and is wooed by a record executive (Corey Feldman).
September 12-Vincent Pastore (Sopranos) guest stars as the head of a crime family who takes over the rackets in Malibu Adjacent after being kicked out of every major city in America. B.J falls for Chip's sister from Germany, Eva (Victoria Silvstedt), and becomes attracted to BJ.
Son of the Beach, FX's first ever, scripted comedy series, is produced by The Howard Stern Production Company in association with Fox Television Studios. The weekly series stars Tim Stack who, in his role as 'Notch Johnson,' has been dubbed "a real talent and the Leslie Nielsen of the new millennium." His co-stars are Leila Arcieri, Lisa Banes, Jaime Bergman, Roland Kickinger and Kim Oja. The series was created by Stack, David Morgasen and James R. Stein who, along with Howard Stern, also serve as the show's Executive Producers.
FX is a branded general entertainment basic cable network geared toward viewers with a young, savvy mindset. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of fearlessly original programs, daring acquired series, provocative event films, plus marquee sports, including NASCAR. The network launched in 1994 and is seen in more than 53 million homes. For more information go on line at www.FXnetworks.com.
from FX Networks
Son of the Beach, from The Howard Stern Production Company, returns with an encore of the original six episodes, leading up to seven all-new, never-before-seen episodes that premiere August 1. Action joins the FX lineup at 10:30-11PM with all 13 episodes running in episodic order, which include five never-before-seen episodes.
Son of the Beach, FX's first ever scripted original comedy series, premiered March 14 to rave reviews and impressive ratings. During its initial six-week run, Son of the Beach proved to be one of cable's highest rated original series in households and Adults 18-49, and is also the highest rated original in FX history. The series stars Tim Stack, Leila Arcieri, Lisa Banes, Jaime Bergman, Roland Kickinger and Kim Oja. The series was created by Stack, David Morgasen and James R. Stein, who together with Howard Stern, serve as the show's Executive Producers.
Action, executive produced by Chris Thompson (The Larry Sanders Show) and Joel Silver (Matrix, Lethal Weapon), directed by Ted Demme (Life) and starring Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire, Go) and Illeana Douglas (Grace of My Heart, To Die For), is a half-hour satire of Hollywood's cutthroat movie business. The series alternately skewers, roasts and toasts the industry and its players - complete with cameo appearances by today's A-list stars, including Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. The series focuses on a down-on-his-luck, egomaniacal action movie producer, Peter Dragon (Mohr), who needs to find and make his next hit film to stay on top of the Hollywood heap.
FX is a branded general entertainment basic cable network geared toward viewers with a young, savvy mindset. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of fearlessly original programs, daring acquired series, provocative event films, plus marquee sports, including NASCAR. The network launched in 1994 and will be seen in more than 50 million homes by the end of June 2000. For more information go on line at www.FXnetworks.com.
from the NY Daily News
April 13, 2000
--snips--
A week after ratings for the "Baywatch" spoof hit a new low, the series' numbers jumped 25% to average 700,000 homes for the night.
While Tuesday's ratings were down 12% from the show's five-episode average, the audience returns were encouraging to the folks at FX. A week earlier, viewership for the show plunged 30% from the previous outing.
"It shows that the week before was a little hiccup and we're ready to move on," said network spokesman John Solberg.
The series launched last month, drawing 1,097,000 homes in its first outing. Over five episodes it has averaged 800,000 homes tuned in, the largest ever for an original production on the channel.
Last week, FX ordered seven new episodes, which will debut this summer. The last episode of FX' initial order of six airs Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. FX will then rest the show until the new episodes begin.
--Richard Huff
--snips--
from FX Press Release
April 6, 2000
"Son of the Beach has been a strong addition to the FX schedule," said Liguori. "The show has exceeded our expectations and we believe this series will continue to be popular with viewers. The team has worked hard to make each new episode funnier and better. We look forward to the next seven."
Critics have called Son of the Beach "absolutely hysterical," "all laughs, all the time," and "the most daring and irreverent cable comedy since South Park."
"Working alongside the show's writers/producers, we have been able to create a laugh-out-loud, funny and sexy program," said Howard Stern. "We try hard to develop interesting storylines which feature our fabulous ensemble cast. We view each episode as a small feature film - the acting style which is most closely akin to what Stanislavsky achieved at the Moscow Art Theater."
FX placed an initial order for six episodes of Son of the Beach. The sixth original episode airs on Tuesday, April 18 (10:30PM ET/PT), after which the show will go on hiatus until the seven new original episodes begin their first run in late summer. Since its FX debut on March 14, the show has proven to be the most successful original program in the network's history and has been one of cable's outstanding performers in the Tuesday, 10:30PM time period.
Son of the Beach, FX's first ever, scripted comedy series, is produced by The Howard Stern Production Company in association with Fox Television Studios. The weekly series stars Tim Stack who, in his role as 'Notch Johnson,' has been dubbed "a real talent and the Leslie Nielsen of the new millennium." His co-stars are Leila Arcieri, Lisa Banes, Jaime Bergman, Roland Kickinger and Kim Oja. The series was created by Stack, David Morgasen and James R. Stein who, along with Howard Stern, also serve as the show's Executive Producers.
FX is a branded general entertainment basic cable network geared toward viewers with a young, savvy mindset. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of fearlessly original programs, daring acquired series, provocative event films, plus marquee sports, including NASCAR. The network launched in 1994 and is seen in almost 48 million homes. For more information go on line at www.Fxnetworks.com.
from the Hollywood Reporter
April 6, 2000, 9:36:21 PM (PT)
from the Los Angeles Times
March 28, 2000
Revisiting the adage that there are lies, damn lies and statistics, today's class will explore a seemingly simple yet rather confounding question--namely, when does a television program truly qualify as a hit?
As with most issues pertaining to the entertainment industry, the answer is obscured by a smoke screen composed of self-interest, public relations spin and hype. It also doesn't help that those of us who write about TV too often inhale this foul mixture--a lazy alternative to hauling out a big fan and trying to blow some of it away.
--snips--
Consider, to begin with, "Son of the Beach," the new "Baywatch" spoof from Howard Stern's production company, which made its debut March 14 on the FX network. Most publications accurately reported what FX enthusiastically told them: that "Son of the Beach's" premiere ranked as the highest-rated episode of an original show in the cable channel's six-year history.
A slightly closer analysis of Nielsen Media Research data, however, reveals the total audience for that first "Son of the Beach" (a rather puerile "Baywatch" spoof deriving much of its humor from the lead character's name, Notch Johnson) amounted to less than 1.5 million viewers--about 100,000 fewer than tuned in the same half-hour for a 30-year-old rerun of "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" on the Cartoon Network.
Moreover, "Beach" experienced notable erosion last Tuesday, slipping to 1.1 million viewers, meaning more than a fourth of those who saw the first episode weren't inspired to give Notch and his unit a second look. That left the show not only behind Scooby and Shaggy but movin' on down behind "The Jeffersons" on Nickelodeon.
To be fair, FX is available in a little more than 44 million of the nearly 101 million U.S. homes with TV sets, compared to just under 60 million for Cartoon Network. Still, you didn't have Stern going on his radio show and incessantly plugging "Scooby-Doo" to millions of listeners--to the point where even a dedicated fan might be tempted to either change channels or throw up--as he did with "Son of the Beach."
Yet Stern's program would hardly be the first cable series hailed as a powerhouse when its raw numbers, presented in a broader context, could be mistaken for the sort of 98-pound weakling who gets sand kicked in his face.
--snips--
Video clips and show highlites of SotB are available here: http://www.breaktv.com/fx/sotb.html
from the NY Daily News
March 23, 2000
Inner Tube/Television column
--snips--
Dots all...
--snips--
Ratings for Howard Stern's "Son of the Beach" lifeguard spoof series on cabler FX took a dip this week. The Tim Stack-led comedy averaged 1.9% of U.S. households on March 21, according to Nielsen, down 19% from its initial 2.3 rating for its March 14 premiere.
from the Washington Post
March 20, 2000
Howard Stern's latest success is relative.
His new TV sitcom, "Son of the Beach," debuted last Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. on cable's FX network and scored the biggest audience for any FX series since that network launched in June 1994, the FX folks say.
That audience was 1.5 million viewers--which is a lot more than the 500,000 FX averaged in the same slot the previous week. On the other hand, FX is available in 47 million homes.
At the same time that "Son of the Beach" was hauling in its gang of 1.48 million, to be exact, over at the Cartoon Network "Scooby Doo" was scooping up 1.49 million viewers, while Nickelodeon's umpteenth rerun of the sitcom "The Jeffersons" collected a crowd of 1.59 million.
See what I mean? It's all relative.
Meanwhile, Chris Carter's canceled series "Harsh Realm" will live on over at FX--at least for nine weeks.
The Fox broadcast network pulled the plug on the Fox-produced sci-fi drama series after just three broadcasts, though "The X-Files" creator had completed nine episodes. So starting this week, Fox cable cousin FX will air all nine on Fridays at 9 p.m., which is when it ran on Fox.
On the broadcast network, "Harsh Realm" debuted to about 7.5 million viewers back in October, but dropped to 3.7 million in its third and final telecast. But remember, it only takes 1.49 million viewers to spell success over at FX.
--snips--
[Ed. - Of course, this is almost the same thing that was said about the E! Show when Howard started on the E! Channel back in 1994!]
from Excite News
March 16, 2000
LIFE ISN'T A BEACH: Howard Stern's Son of the Beach scoring a 2.3 rating, about 1.1 million homes, making it the highest ratings show of any FX series since the network started in June 1994.
from the NY Daily News
March 16, 2000
TV/Inner Tube column
More households watched "Son of the Beach" than have ever tuned in for an episode of any regular or off-broadcast network series that airs on the cabler.
"Considering we're not in Manhattan, Howard's big market, it is really pretty spectacular," said a network spokesman.
The show doubled its lead-in, a rerun of "Married...With Children." For comparison, the debut of Comedy Central's foulmouthed "South Park" averaged 587,999 homes in August 1997.
"Son of the Beach" is a "Baywatch" spoof built around Tim Stack, who plays an out-of-shape lifeguard surrounded by a bevy of buxom, bathing-suit babes. The show airs Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
from FX Networks
FX Channel Press Release
January 20, 2000
"Son of the Beach is an ambitious endeavor which we believe can be a breakout hit," said Liguori. "It is extremely funny and sexy. Howard Stern's commitment to the show, coupled with the other talent involved, made it a must-do for us. This series further demonstrates FX's commitment to develop a full slate of original programs that stand out from the pack."
Son of the Beach follows the action-filled life of loveable idiot "Notch Johnson" (Stack), the world's greatest lifeguard. Each week, Johnson and his sexy "SPF-30" lifeguard unit bumble their way to success on the shores of lovely "Malibu Adjacent" while solving a murder, busting a drug lord, or helping an attractive woman get over her fear of thongs. The series was created by Stack, David Morgasen and James R. Stein, who also serve as the show's Executive Producers.
FX has initially ordered production of six episodes of the half-hour show.
Executive Producer Howard Stern said, "Our agent, Don Buchwald, suggested Tim Stack and I could work well together. When Tim pitched Son of the Beach to our company, I said this is a TV show I could watch. My fans will love it. The collaboration with the guys has been terrific so far. I know we will justify the courage and commitment FX has made in us."
"For this, FX's first foray into the arena of scripted series programming, there is no other partner we could possibly have more exciting than Howard Stern Productions," said Jeremiah Bosgang, FX's Senior Vice President, Development and Production.
The series regulars will include:
Tim Stack - As Notch Johnson, a loveable idiot who also happens to be the world's greatest lifeguard - Originally from outside Philadelphia, PA, Tim Stack has been a familiar face in both films and television. He has written for and starred in numerous television series, including as host "Dick Dietrick" of E! Entertainment Television's Nighstand with Dick Dietrick and Parker's dad in Parker Lewis Can't Lose. He recently completed work in Dreamwork's Castaway, directed by Robert Zemeckis, and has been featured in past films such as Idle Hands, Dear God and It's Pat. Tim is also a Groundlings alumni.
Leila Arcieri - As Jamaica St. Croix, a sassy female lifeguard who joins the unit from the inner-city - Originally from Northern CA, Leila Arcieri has been featured in a number of television series, including Aaron Spelling's Rescu 77 and Nickelodeon's Cousin Skeeter, and films including Beverly Hood and the upcoming The Stoop, with Ice Cube. She also serves as the Coors Lite Beer 2000 Spokesmodel and has her own internet publishing venture at www.exoticspices.net.
Lisa Banes - As Mayor Anita Massengil, Mayor of "Malibu Adjacent" with congressional aspirations. She hates Notch and will do anything to steal attention from him. - Originally from Colorado Springs, CO, Lisa has starred in several films, including Hotel New Hampshire, Young Guns and Cocktail, and television series, including China Beach, Legacy, The Trials of Rosie O'Neill, Providence and Murder One.
Jaime Bergman - As B.J. Cummings, very nice and trustworthy, but she makes Notch look like a Rhodes Scholar - A Salt Lake City, UT native, Jaime Bergman was the January 1999 Playboy Playmate of the Month and has appeared in several Playboy videos, including Playboy's Playmate Pajama Party and her own video centerfold. She has starred in several television series, including Beverly Hills 90210 and Love Boat: The Next Wave, and films, including Daybreak, Armageddon and the upcoming Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicholas Cage.
Roland Kickinger - As Chip Rommel, a native of Germany who hopes to eventually go home because he knows one day Germany will have an ocean - Originally from Austria and a former European National Bodybuilding Contest winner, Roland recently gained national attention hopping across hot sand at the beach in a memorable AT&T 1-800 Collect commercial with Ed O'Neill. Roland has starred in a number of movies, including Lethal Weapon and Boys on the Side, and television series, including Home Improvement and Caroline in the City.
Kim Oja - As Kimberlee Clark, wholesome, all-American and sweet. She's the one in the crew that has the most sense and constantly puts the unit back on the right track - Originally from Los Angeles and raised in Oklahoma, Kim Oja (pronounced OH-yah) has been featured in films, including Switch, and a range of television series and movies, including Time of Your Life, Touched By An Angel, Frasier, and Beverly Hills 90210.
FX is a branded general entertainment basic cable network geared toward viewers with a young, savvy mindset. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of fearlessly original programs, daring acquired series, provocative event films, plus marquee sports. The network launched in 1994 and is seen in 45 million homes. For more information go on line at www.FXnetworks.com.
NEWSDAY --- January 21, 2000
By Diane Werts
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
"Son of the Beach" is so much giddy fun, we'd be eager to write about this series even if Stern's big name wasn't attached to it. We join FX program chief Jeremiah Bosgang, a Malverne native who was "attracted to the merits of the idea. Howard's involvement is phenomenal and great, but this wasn't about 'how can I suck up to Howard Stern?'" he said before yesterday's FX press-tour presentation to TV critics here.
Stern is an active producer, breaking down scripts, faxing back notes and coming west for the first week's filming. But "SOB" seems actor-producer Stack's baby, just as he crafted "Night Stand" around his own dead-on host parody. "Tim has a great sense of that character," says Bosgang, "in the way Don Adams had such a great sense of Maxwell Smart."
Don't get us wrong, "Son of the Beach" (debuting March 16 at 10:30 p.m.) is hardly high-minded satire. Stern's attitude is evident in the slapstick and skimpy attire, caricature characters with names such as Mayor Massengill, close-ups of sensuous slo-mo sunblock application, and prurient puns.
But there's no doubt "Beach" sends up its stereotypes instead of playing into them. And it's stylistically quick-witted. Stack's goofy derring-do is presented with "Police Squad!"-ish solemnity, detailed down to the fervid announcing and earnest public-service advice.
The first pics of "Son of the Beach" are available here!
"Son of the Beach is an ambitious endeavor which we believe can be a breakout hit," said Liguori. "It is an extremely funny and sexy. Howard Stern's commitment to the show, coupled with the other talent involved, made it a must-do for us. This deal further demonstrates FX's commitment to develop a full slate of original programs that stand out from the pack."
Son of the Beach will star Timothy Stack (Nightstand with Dick Dietrick). It was created by Stack, David Morgasen and James R. Stein, who also serve as the show's Executive Producers.
Stern said, "Our agent, Don Buchwald, suggested Tim Stack and I could work well together. When Tim pitched Son of the Beach to our company, I said this is a TV show I would watch. My fans will love it. The collaboration with the guys has been terrific so far. I know we will justify the courage and commitment FX has made in us."
Son of the Beach follows the action-filled life of loveable idiot "Notch Johnson" (Stack), the world's greatest lifeguard. Each week Johnson and his very sexy sidekicks bumble their way to success on the shores of lovely "Malibu Adjacent"-solving a murder, busting a drug lord, or helping an attractive woman get over her fear of thongs.
"For this, FX's first foray into the arena of scripted series programming, there is no other partner we could possibly have more exciting than Howard Stern Productions," said Jeremiah Bosgang, FX's Senior Vice President, Development and Production. "I never laughed so hard as I did during this pitch. And then you throw Howard Stern into the mix. We're so excited to be doing this project."
Three new original series premiered this past summer, including The X Show, a new take on the talk/magazine genre; FX's first ever animation series, the critically acclaimed The Dick and Paula Celebrity Special; and Toughman World Championship Series, FX's highest rated original series ever. Other upcoming FX original programs include reality and drama series, specials and made-for-television movies produced in association with Fox Television Studios.
FX is a branded general entertainment basic cable network geared toward viewers with a young, savvy mindset. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of fearlessly original programs, daring acquired series, provocative event films, plus marquee sports. The network launched in 1994 and is seen in approximately 44 million homes. For more information go online at www.FXnetworks.com.
from: Reuters/Variety
October 10, 1999
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Radio "shock jock" Howard Stern's production company has landed a deal with the FX cable channel for six episodes of a comedy called "Son of the Beach."
Slated to air in the first quarter of 2000, "Son of the Beach" follows the life of an idiot lifeguard named Notch Johnson who joins sexy sidekicks weekly in order to keep the shores of Malibu Adjacent free from trouble.
It will star Timothy Stack ("Nightstand With Dick Dietrick"), who will team with Stern, David Morgasen and James R. Stein as the show's executive producers.
"When Tim pitched 'Son of the Beach' to our company," said Stern, "I said this is a TV show I would watch. My fans will love it... I know we will justify the courage and commitment FX has made in us."
According to Stern's agent, Don Buchwald, the series was an easy sell.
"We presented this idea to a half dozen companies who loved it, but it was FX who loved it the most because it hits the exact target they are striving for," said Buchwald. "Howard will be a true collaborator on the project, examining scripts and working on story outlines," he added.
Howard Stern Prods. recently sealed a deal with Film Roman and UPN for 13 episodes of the cartoon series "Doomsday," to which Stern will lend his voice. The show is slated for a fall 2000 bow. He already has a syndicated Saturday night show and a series at cable's E! on the air.
October 8, 1999
Thanks to Keith for this story...
FX has ordered 6 episodes of the half-hour sitcom "Son of the Beach," a new original series from Howard Stern Productions, in association with FOX Television Studios. The network plans to launch the series in the 1st quarter of 2000. This announcement came from FX president, Peter Liguori and Executive Producer of the show, Howard Stern.
Liguori called "Son of the Beach" "an ambitious endeavor which we believe can be a breakout hit." Liguori also added, "Howard Stern's commitment to the show, coupled with the other talent involved, made it a must-do for us. This deal further demonstrates FX's commitment to develop a full slate of original programs that stand out from the pack."
"Son of the Beach" follows the action-packed adventures of the world's greatest lifeguard, Notch Johnson, an endearing idiot played by Tim Stack (Nightstand with Dick Dietrick). Each week Johnson and his sidekicks bumble their way to success on the shores of picturesque "Malibu Adjacent" solving murders, busting drug lords, even helping an attractive woman get over her fear of thongs.
According to FX Senior Vice President, Development and Production, Jeremiah Bosgang, "For this, FX's first foray into the arena of scripted series programming, there is no other partner we could possibly have more exciting than Howard Stern Productions." Bosgang admitted, "I never laughed so hard as I did during this pitch. And then you throw Howard Stern into the mix."
Thanks to Keith for this story...
from: excite.com
September 23, 1999
"The development process for 'Doomsday' was exciting," said Stern, who will serve as executive producer for the series. "Although there was 3,000 miles between the members of the creative team -- creator Tracy Torme, Film Roman and my own production company -- we worked very well together. I'm looking forward to being part of this extraordinary creative team, and I'm confident this series and our involvement will be a boost to the UPN network."
Don Buchwald, who represents Howard Stern and was instrumental in bringing Stern and series creator Tracy Torme to Film Roman, added, "Film Roman is a great partner and the place to be for high-quality, edgy animation programming. We look to ally Howard with top creatives and in projects that he finds fun and challenging. We hope that 'Doomsday' can be a support for UPN as 'The Simpsons' was for Fox."
Mark Lieber, Film Roman president of television programming, announced the order. Film Roman has also partnered on the production side with ATG to co-produce the show.
Said Lieber: "We are delivering on the promise we made to our shareholders and the entertainment community. We are forging our own destiny by expanding and elevating our development profile, and utilizing our restructured in-house creative team to deliver exciting and appealing entertainment packages. At the same time, we are expanding our financing and co-production horizons with partners at the caliber of ATG."
In discussing the unique development of "Doomsday," Lieber, along with supervising director and three-time Emmy Award winner Eric Radomski, commented: "We worked closely with Tracy, Howard and Don throughout the creative process, developed the pitch, and presented the project to several networks. We are pleased that UPN recognized the appeal and potential of 'Doomsday' and acted so quickly and decisively. We look forward to working with them on the successful launch of the series."
Eric Tannenbaum, ATG's president/CEO, and Ellen Goldsmith, head of animation and family entertainment, commented, "We are excited to be a part of this unique project and look forward to utilizing ATG's resources to help bring 'Doomsday' to life."
Added Tom Nunan, president of entertainment at UPN: "We are thrilled by this project and this opportunity. Film Roman has a stellar reputation for delivering innovative, fresh and engaging animation programming, and we have had a long relationship with the ATG team. 'Doomsday' fits into the direction that we are taking the network, and we believe this series can help bring UPN to the next level."
"Doomsday," an animated science-fiction comedy series, was conceived by writer/producer Tracy Torme ("Sliders," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Saturday Night Live"), follows the Bradley family as they travel in their typical Winnebago motorhome across post-apocalyptic America in search of traditional family values and the white house with a picket fence.
On this ultimate road trip they are met by mutated humans, 50-foot hillbillies and IRS agents (the only branch of the government to survive), and an assortment of funny, edgy, strange characters who have managed to survive destruction: man-eating Shriners, the road's most dangerous creatures; an overweight biker, Chick Sarasota, who fancies himself Peter Fonda and rides point for the Bradleys; and the family dog Orinthal, played by Howard Stern, who appears occasionally and adds his two bits.
"Doomsday" will be produced by Howard Stern Productions, Film Roman and ATG in association with Torme's Cheyenne & Productions. Dode B. Levenson and Jason Glassman helped develop the series with Torme. Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan will also serve as co-executive producers on the show.
The Howard Stern Productions deal was negotiated by Neil Stearns, head of packaging, and Richard Basch, executive business affairs of Don Buchwald & Associates. Torme is represented by Richard Weitz and Shelly Zimmerman at Endeavor and is managed by Howard Klein. Don Buchwald will serve as consultant on the series, with F.M. DeMarco serving as point executive for Howard Stern Productions. ATG was repped by Sandra Stern, and Film Roman was represented in the negotiations by Executive Vice President Jon Vein.
Film Roman continues its long-running production of the mega-hit animation series "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" for 20th Century Fox Television and is also in production on "Downtowners" for the WB Network, and recently completed the Disney Channel's live-action movie "Johnny Tsunami." Additionally, Film Roman is developing a number of live-action and animation television properties, "'Til the Fat Lady Sings," which was created by Norman Lear and John Baskin.
The company's feature film division is currently in development on "My First Mister," starring Albert Brooks and Leelee Sobieski, which will be directed by Christine Lahti from a script written by Jill Franklyn; co-producing Robert Reece's "Asphalt 101" with Destination Film; and developing an animated feature film based on the popular comic book series "The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers."
from: TVGuide
Howard Stern's long-held desire to build his own production company is finally moving forward with an animated series from Sliders co-creator Tracy Torme and a sitcom for the FX cable network starring Tim Stack (Night Stand with Dick Dietrick).
"There's a whole bunch of things happening," the self-proclaimed King of All Media said on his nationally syndicated radio show Wednesday. "I'll let you know more as things unfold."
Stack, 45, is a former member of the Groundlings comedy troupe whose TV credits include writing (Saturday Night Live) and acting (he played the father in Fox's Parker Lewis Can't Lose). His TV talk-show spoof, Night Stand with Dick Dietrick, has long served as a lead-in for Stern's E! program, and he's represented by longtime Stern agent Don Buchwald.
Word that Stern plans to work with Torme shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to his regular listeners. Earlier this week, Stern praised Torme as a "genius" while reading an obituary on his jazz singing dad, Mel. Of course, bad boy Stern couldn't resist also pointing out that Tracy's late father looked like a frog.
Torme's resume includes writing gigs on SCTV and Saturday Night Live and a creative-consultant role on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is also an avid UFO buff who penned Fire in the Sky, a 1993 movie about alien abduction. - Rich Brown
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