:: Earl Green - Freelance Television Writer / Producer ::

I’ve always wanted to do this! A follow-the-bouncing-ball spot with the text of the script on-screen. Add to this an excellent read from Megan McHale, and you have an instant classic. Here’s the script - which was actually written in about ten minutes as a joke. I didn’t expect it to get approval - but it passed with no revisions.

It’s a month before Christmas, and parents fill the stores.
Looking for the latest toys, and spending more and more.
I’m Megan McHale on the Consumer Beat,
And for you parents we have a real treat:
A toy-buying guide to help fill in the blanks,
To make your kids happy without breaking the bank.
From this year’s hot toys, to things that help them learn,
We’ve got some advice on where you can turn.
We’ll show you the coolest toys of their kind,
On the Consumer Beat, Sunday at ten on 40/29.

An interesting little story about those fake diplomas - you know, for entertainment purposes only! - which can be found on the ‘net. Local college representatives and the Attorney General of the state of Arkansas were interviewed, and it was the latter which provided a source of great frustration for me. (Not for any personal or political reason - I actually like the guy.) But our photog interviewed him standing in front of a huge sign reading CRAWFORD COUNTY DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS, which I had to find some way to deal with, since we were in election season and it could be misconstrued as a political spot. I ended up blurring the hell out of half the screen, starting just to the right of his face. You can still tell what the sign says, but at least we demonstrated a good-faith effort to avoid letting a “free product placement” slip through the cracks.