An idea for a new reality show – “Bandits” !

[Grinner Hester]

love it. I get to shoot and drive!

[Mike Cohen]

I am amazed at how many niche reality shows exist. There is a show about custom fish tanks. A show about Vanilla Ice flipping houses. A show about Pete Rose doing whatever a guy like him does. But they all follow the same formula:

Setup the problem
Gather the team
Make a plan
Start the project
Tease some unexpected challenge before the first break
After the break realize the challenge was no big deal
Make progress
Tease some interpersonal conflict before second break
After break learn it was just a misunderstanding
Get close to the deadline and just barely make it
Customer is happy
End on some funny note or a team high five or whatever
Throw in a few catch phrases and a memorable character who is a little out of place in the group
Of course the challenges and conflicts are part of the writing for the show because those need to happen every episode

Apply a particular subject such as Hot Wheels collectors or taxidermists or morticians to the stars or horse clothing tailors or circus elephant trainers or corn maze designers or trans am enthusiasts or Burt Reynolds chest hair collectors or 1970’s Pan Am first class salt and pepper shaker hunters or Creative Cow forum hosts – and you MAY have a TV show.

Mike Cohen