I'd like some feedback about the following sitcom pilot idea, which I hope could work as a series for BBC Radio 7's "7th Dimension" slot, which broadcasts sci-fi shows, including some comedies.

Doors is a sitcom about four people who travel across various dimensions. Each episode would take place in a different dimension, meaning you can have an almost infinite range of ideas. One episode could be set in a dimension in which Hitler won the war. The next could be one where the world is one massive reality TV show.

Each of the dimensions is linked by a single, ordinary looking wooden door with a brass knob in the middle of it. The doors lead to "The Corridor", a infinite space with an infinite amount of doors leading to an infinite number of dimensions.

The four main characters each come from an alternative dimension, none of which is ours. The main character, Professor Rebecca N. Jacqueline, is a botanist who comes from a dimension which is vastly different geologically. In her dimension, gold and diamonds are in abundance while other materials such as aluminium or iron are rare and thus of great value. Most people in Rebecca's dimension live underground and so she is one of the few people who regularly visits the surface.

While outside, Rebecca discovers her dimension's door to The Corridor. While looking around and examing what is behind the other doors, she encounters the second of the main characters - Sir Rover of Goldfields.

Sir Rover is a dog-like creature who was a soldier in his dimension. During his time in the army, he was injured in various ways resulting in having several artifical body parts including a gun for a paw. However, nearly all of his body parts are steam powered. As a result, he feeds on a diet of coal, resulting in steam and smoke bodily emissions. Despite this range of differences, the main defining factor in Sir Rover's dimension is that water is coloured indigo.

He is in The Corridor because he deserted from the army - which is punishable by death. He is now highly suspicious of everyone he meets for fear they might be spies from his dimension. Once he believes Rebecca that she is safe, Sir Rover takes him to see the man he most trusts, who is the show's third main character: Shinji Sasahara.

In Shinji's dimension, people have vastly superior eyesight. Shinji therefore wears special glasses as his eyes look different to those of most people and he does not want to put people off him. However, his entire dress-scene and behaviour is questionable: he is very flamboyant and is described by Rebecca as looking, "like a gay pimp". Shinji works as a surveyor for the Corridor Council, an organisation dedicated to cataloging all of The Corridor's dimensions. He is very proud of his work and finds almost anything interesting. However, his curiosity can be his downfall.

Shinji explains to Rebecca everything about Corridor: how it came into existance, the importance of dimension's helping each other and being careful to make sure to protect people from dangerous dimension's. Shinji offers Rebecca the oppotunity to work alongside him and Sir Rover in helping fill up the catalogue, an offer she accepts. Shinji therefore suggests that she should hook-up with a friend of his in order to help. This friend, the last of the main characters, is Knicki.

Knicki, or to give her her full name, Mistress Knickers Crack, is a half-cat/half-woman from a dimension which is pornocratic - everything in her dimension is sexual to the point that not mating is a crime. Knicki is friends with Shinji because her dimension is technology advanced. She claims to work as a guitarist, but it is in fact a cover. She is actually a spy working for her government, which unbeknown to her "friends" is planning on invading and conquering all the others. Knicki sees Rebecca's world as a good target because of the amount of wealth on it.

While the pilot would introduce the audience to the world of Doors, episodes in the series would involve the quartet traveling to various other dimensions, with each character with their own objective. Shinji to explore and learn more, Rover to protect himself, Knicki to provide information for her bosses, and Rebecca just for the fun of it.

This does semm like a good idea, a dimension jump sitcom. Had a sci fi comedy idea myself, but never got beyond the bullet-point stage. Be interested to see more, I think.

Thanks Balf.

Sounds interesting. Like Sliders, only on the radio. Although I think like Sliders you need more of a hook for why their travelling, otherwise it risks being a bit aimless. Possibly play up the Knicki element more?

Forget it mate, this has been done before.

Quote: DIKTURNIP @ May 22 2009, 10:05 AM BST

Forget it mate, this has been done before.

View original

So had The Office and Peep Show. If you can come up with a new slant, or invest a project with your own unique brand of humour, then you can regularly re-invent the wheel.

I liked the sound of this - particularly the Sir Rover character. Wonderfully imaginative creation.

I can see what the previous poster is saying about it being done before, the title and the content would seem to be very close to the recent "The Wrong Door". I'm also not very keen on the guru type character - seems a bit too close to Naboo from The Mighty Boosh. But then I also agree with the response, if you can find a new angle you should go with it.

I also wonder about Rebecca - I don't think it's ever very interesting when characters do things "just for fun". I think you need to find a stronger motivation for why she needs to travel - of course with Knicki's plans to invade her dimension you might be providing her with a motive further along in the series - she has to travel to save her world. But I think what sets her off has to be something more than idle curiousity. Something related to her work as a botanist, perhaps? Or a threat to her family?

Schnubbs

To chipolata:

I would play up Knicki more - after all, she is the villain of the piece. The main thing is that no-one else knows about it except the listeners.

To Griff:

You are right. I do need to flesh out the characters more. What I've written is the basics and now I need to make them more three-dimensional and work out the relationships between the quartet. This is something I need to do first before I write out the full script.

To DIKTURNIP:

As chip has said, several ideas for shows are used again. I know of at least two sitcoms concerning alternative dimensions and parallel universes such as Married on Radio 4 and another Radio 7 sitcom, Undone. Radio 7 also has a sci-fi drama called Planet B, set in a "Second Life" style virtual world which contains elements I plan to parody.

However, whereas these comedies concern themselves with only one or two dimensions, this would feature a much wider variety.

Also, what shows are you referring to?

Quote: Schnubbs @ May 22 2009, 11:12 AM BST

I liked the sound of this - particularly the Sir Rover character. Wonderfully imaginative creation.

I can see what the previous poster is saying about it being done before, the title and the content would seem to be very close to the recent "The Wrong Door". I'm also not very keen on the guru type character - seems a bit too close to Naboo from The Mighty Boosh. But then I also agree with the response, if you can find a new angle you should go with it.

I also wonder about Rebecca - I don't think it's ever very interesting when characters do things "just for fun". I think you need to find a stronger motivation for why she needs to travel - of course with Knicki's plans to invade her dimension you might be providing her with a motive further along in the series - she has to travel to save her world. But I think what sets her off has to be something more than idle curiousity. Something related to her work as a botanist, perhaps? Or a threat to her family?

Schnubbs

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I was thinking that as everyone in her world lives underground, there might be some kind of natural disaster like an earthquake which destroys her hometown, meaning she has to move. Then again, the idea might be a bit too Arthur Dent.

Generally a good idea for the slot you mention.

However, the character name (not the character!) 'Mistress Knickers Crack' - tee-f**kin-hee. Cheap, schoolboyish, unimaginative, Sunday Sport/Nuts/Catholic Times readers stuff. Change the name to something erotic - fetish-ish even - but not plain daft! If the idea were to land on a right-on PC script-reader's desk, they probably wouldn't read any further - straight to Planet Shredder.

Quote: Morrace @ May 22 2009, 12:30 PM BST

Generally a good idea for the slot you mention.

However, the character name (not the character!) 'Mistress Knickers Crack' - tee-f**kin-hee. Cheap, schoolboyish, unimaginative, Sunday Sport/Nuts/Catholic Times readers stuff. Change the name to something erotic - fetish-ish even - but not plain daft! If the idea were to land on a right-on PC script-reader's desk, they probably wouldn't read any further - straight to Planet Shredder.

View original

Yes, you are probably right. I'll think of a better name.

Following Morrace's advice, I've changed Knicki's name.

I've now come up with "Dominique Beauchamp". This I think is a muhc better name because:

a) It's French-sounding. Anything sounds more erotic when it's French-sounding.

b) "Dominique" sounds like "Dominatrix".

c) "Beauchamp" is taken from an Bianca Beauchamp, an actual fetish model.

Is this name better?

Quote: Ian Wolf @ May 22 2009, 1:40 PM BST

Following Morrace's advice, I've changed Knicki's name.

I've now come up with "Dominique Beauchamp". This I think is a muhc better name because:

a) It's French-sounding. Anything sounds more erotic when it's French-sounding.

b) "Dominique" sounds like "Dominatrix".

c) "Beauchamp" is taken from an Bianca Beauchamp, an actual fetish model.

Is this name better?

View original

Much much better name. Suggestive without being obvious. Nice.

Thanks very much. I've now tried to develop the relationships a bit more. Here is a list of them and how they work.

Rebecca -> Shinji: Sees Shinji as her guide. As he knows the most about dimensions, he is the person she turns to in crisis.

Rebecca -> Sir Rover: First friend she meets in The Corridor. Has a connection because he too cannot return home. (I've decided the she has to come with them because her home is destroyed.)

Rebecca -> Dominique: Only female friend. Sees some of her kinks as odd but they get along, especially when mocking the boys. She is unaware of Dominique's plans.

Shinji -> Rebecca: A student learning about The Corridor, dimensions and other related subjects. Finds Rebecca interesting in her own right because of her background and love of plants.

Shinji -> Sir Rover: While friends, Shinji sometimes finds Rover tiresome because he is constantly suspecting the worst in others, while he finds the best.

Shinji -> Dominique: Finds her useful because of her use of technology. Because he always finds the good in everything, he is oblivious to Dominique's schemes.

Sir Rover -> Rebecca: At first he is suspicious of her, but grows to trust her after learning she is in no way connected to his dimension. Decides it better to make her a friend rather than an enemy.

Sir Rover -> Shinji: While friends, Sir Rover gets annoyed at Shinji for trusting everyone. While most of the time he is just being paranoid, he does help in sensing danger before the others.

Sir Rover -> Dominique: Out of the three, Sir Rover distrusts Dominique the most and lets her know it. He often finds Dominique acting strangely and will challenge her. While usually excepting of her excuses, he expects foul play.

Dominique -> Rebecca: Becomes close friends with her (too close in Rebecca's eyes at times), but only so that she can get gold and wealth out of her. She tries to learn as much about Rebecca's dimension as she can to help with the invasion plans.

Dominique -> Shinji: Dominique learns everything about new dimensions and targets from him. She sees him as a fool too caught up in discovering things to notice her plans.

Dominique -> Sir Rover: She dislikes him as he is the closest to finding her true identity. She has to constantly defend herself against his accusations. Would happily like to see him killed.

Quote: Ian Wolf @ May 22 2009, 1:40 PM BST

Following Morrace's advice, I've changed Knicki's name.

I've now come up with "Dominique Beauchamp".
"Beauchamp" is taken from an Bianca Beauchamp, an actual fetish model.

Is this name better?

View original

I much prefer Bianca Beauchamp - but obviously you can't use that.

How about Bianca Bellechamp? If not, well alright, leave it at Dominique Beauchamp!

I don't think I could make the reference too deliberate. Also, as I have Shinji Sasahara, two characters with alliterative names might be taking it too far.