Going From Stale To Fresh...

In one quick, easy, lesson.

Ha.

So, I caught a new drama on the FX channel last night called The Riches. As I watched, I thought about how much more I appreciated its quality now that I know a tiny bit about crafting a story. Much like I guess I’d appreciate the Mona Lisa more if I knew the first damn thing about art.

Anyway, in a nutshell, The Riches is a fish-out-of-water story—the old plotline in which characters are tossed into a totally foreign situation (think Private Benjamin or The Beverly Hillbillies, for instance). But if that’s all it was, we wouldn’t be watching it at 10:00 on Monday nights. Like the publishing industry, TV execs demand a twist, a hook. A new take on an old storyline. (How many times have we heard publishing professionals tell us they’re looking for something fresh?)

So, here’s how I picture the brainstorming session that resulted in The Riches.

It starts off with the aforementioned fish-out-of-water story…in this case, a poor Southern family is suddenly thrust into country-club living. Fine. Lots of fodder for what happens next.

But how did they suddenly become rich? Did they hit the lotto?

Nope. Too pedestrian.

Did they inherit from a long-lost relative?

Done a million times. But how about this: what if they assumed the identity of the rich people?

Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. But how could they do that? They couldn't just waltz in and take over two strangers' lives.

What if they were involved with the strangers’ deaths?

Euw. We’d hate them, wouldn’t we?

What if it was an accident…like a car accident, maybe. And our hero and heroine tried to save their lives, but failed.

Okay, but is it realistic to believe a man and woman could then step into another couple’s shoes? After all, most people wouldn’t know the first thing about assuming someone else’s identity.

Let’s make them con artists. People comfortable with pulling scams.

Hold on. Con artists aren’t sympathetic characters. If we’re gonna watch a TV show about these people week after week, we have to care about them, don’t we?

Okay, we'll give them a family…say…three kids.

KIDS? How’re you gonna incorporate kids into the scheme of things? Won’t the kids blow their country club cover?

Not if we make them Irish Travelers.

Ah…Irish Travelers…fascinating. Still…the viewing public’s not gonna go for a family of thieves, is it?

What if we make them defect from the clan?

Why would they do that?

Because the clan leader is trying to force their daughter into an arranged marriage with someone they detest.

Okay. That works. But what about ongoing conflict? You gotta give me more than watching this family learn the difference between a salad fork and a dessert fork.

How about, when they defect from the clan, they take all its money?

Ah…so people are after them. Sounds good. What else?

How about if the wife’s just been released from prison so when they run away, she’s violated her parole?

Even better. Anything else? What kind of relationship do the husband and wife have?

What if she’s bitter because she took the rap for her husband? So bitter, she's incurred a heroin addiction in prison? And, what if her loyalties still lie with the clan, even though her husband's don't?

Ah. You got me.

Hooked that is.