Jose Canseco Pitches

We are out shopping the concept! First couple have gone very well and I am proud of our team! I am late to a pitch so more on how it goes later!

Honest Credit - I'm on Page Six with Jose Canseco

As you know I am out pitching a show with Jose Canseco & Heidi Northcott and we made Page Six of the New York Post today...here it is.

From the The New York Post and Page Six:

HONEST CREDIT

February 11, 2009 --

WITH Alex Rodriguez finally admitting his steroid use, and Barry Bonds facing trial for denying it under oath, Jose Canseco (above) is starting to look better. Canseco admitted he was juicing during his home run-hitting years in the bigs, and titled his memoir "Juiced." After a pathetic attempt at a boxing career, he hit rock bottom. But now he and a producer, Nicole Dunn, are said to be pitching a reality series that will feature himself. One insider wonders, "Do you think Americans are ready to forgive him?"

Do Your Research Before You Pitch

I felt compelled to write this blog today. As a Creative Producer, I hear pitches all the time. At least once a day someone pitches me an idea. I have to be honest very few are good original ideas. And I would say almost 90% of them, the person has not done research about the idea or if the concept has been done or pitched before.

Oftentimes, the concept has been pitched, optioned, purchased and shot! If you are going to pitch a Producer something, see if it has been on TV before you pitch your idea! And if it has been done before and you feel compelled to pitch it, you better have some sort of amazing twist or turn that's gonna rock whomevers world your pitching. Yours needs to have the big guns twist that so-and-so's didn't have. Most often, people outside of the reality genre are pitching me, because they think they have a GREAT idea, and they just may think so in their world. I get embarrassed telling the person that there were 3 shows like it already out on the air! So here are some suggestions for those of you who want to pitch or think you have a good idea:

1. Once you think of an idea - hit GOOGLE to see if it's been done before!
2. If it hasn't, how is your idea going to stand out from everything else on TV?
3. Have your logline ready for your pitch. You should be able to tell me what your idea is about in under three sentences. If I don't get what your logline is, I probably won't get your idea. So work it out before you attempt to take up some one's time.
4. IF you have done 1-3 then have a one sheet ready to be able to send to someone who wants to read more than your logline. If they are interested in your logline, and ask for more they will want a one sheet or a meeting.

Be prepared, do your homework! Because... you may just pitch someone... like me, Nicole Dunn a creative producer that will partner up with you and get your idea out in the marketplace!

Shows of Interest

I am loving the following shows; and they all happen to be on VH1:

Rock of Love Bus - This VH1 chain of shows is a GEM. And by Gem I mean MONEY. The girls are complete train wrecks and its really fun to watch each week the railroad of events going down while Bret's on tour. Pure entertainment. We all know he is never going to settle down with any of them, but it makes for great TV. I have friends all over the US who love, love, love this show. I can't wait for episode 5 next Sunday. I give this show 4 thumbs up!

Confessions of a Teen Idol - This is another brilliant idea that I think has helped to revive washed up teen star Scott Baio's status as a TV Producer. Since he's obviously not 45 and Single anymore (do we really care?) not to mention that two part series was a bore - This however is a GEM. Not like the Rock of Love Bus Gem, but its a great combination of reality that shows real washed up former "Teen Idols" going through the perils of reinventing themselves to make some sort of a comeback or non comeback into show biz. I love this show, and its not for the love of Scott Baio, but I do give him props for Producing the GEM. I give this show three thumbs up!

(P.S. Did girls really think that Scott was hot?? Too many women, too many parties, it shows on his face...but love the show!)


Sober House - What a great show to give those of us who have never gotten into drugs a birds eye view of some very messed up folks - way to see that your own life is a breeze compared to that of a drug user...Steven Adler is so messed up and pretty brave for going on the show to try and combat his 25+ years of heroin use, how messed up he is - is so scary. Who the hell would ever want to end up like that or looking like Amy Winehouse is beyond me...she needs to be on that show or have her own train wreck of a show, now there's a reality show. I give this show 3 thumbs up!

The Before and After of Amy: what a terrible waste of talent. I hope that she gets herself onto Sober House. Now, that would be worth tuning in for, especially after all of the bad gossip all over the world about her...poor thing.

Canseco - Bonaduce Fight

I thought for sure that Jose was going to whip Danny's butt. Even though I pictured Danny to be a dirty fighter. From what Jose said, Danny trained hard for the fight. I think that Jose was holding back and didn't really give it his all knocking Danny out. Maybe they had some sort of arrangement so that neither of them got knocked out?!

As Sports Illustrated wrote, "The 6-foor-4 Canseco jolted the 5-6 Bonaduce a couple of times in round 1 and a couple more in round 3. Bonaduce, who played Danny Partridge on the "The Partridge Family," never went down. Bonaduce predicted he would be knocked out, only to hang in there and land a few body blows on the hulking Canseco. There were few big blasts and most of the crowd of 1,500 at a suburban Philadelphia ice rink started to leave before a decision was announced."

"He hit me harder than I've ever been hit my entire life," Bonaduce said. To Read the full article click on the link in the main header of my post. Maybe this is the start of some GOOD publicity in a good light for Jose, as fans didn't boo him...I am rooting for him 100% - for more reasons than just the fact that I like him, we want to sell our show. He deserves a second chance.

First Pitch of the Year - Go Team!

This week team Canseco had its first pitch! I felt that the pitch went well. I like the fact that this production company was genuinely interested in talking over the possibility of combining forces to develop our idea further. I am not thinking past anything more though, good meeting and I am leaving it to the Universe to deliver. They have done some really impressive shows over the years and have been in business for more than 20 years. This is the type of company that our team would love to join forces with! Someone that has a great reputation, doesn't do a bunch of crap options with a bunch of projects just to have tons of projects on the boards and to get it off the marketplace - but does a deal because they believe in it and that it will go to a series. So, on to the next pitch on Tuesday! This time different pitch, different celeb.

The 2009 Pitching Season Begins!

For starters "Happy New Year!" May 2009 be your money magnet! Or may you be a money magnet in 2009! I have not had time to update my blog. In fact I had become quite lazy about the whole updating my blog thing. I have been working on my next six concepts, in between working out at the gym and getting in the best shape of my life. Now, I just need to lose the small belly I acquired during the last six months! No problem right?


I am starting the new year off with my first pitch meeting at a production company with Jose Canseco. I came up with a solid concept that I am sure will get some attention as well as solid interest. I truly believe he is ready for America to forgive him, and to jump start his career path again.


My second pitch out next week will be with my other talent and partner Eli Davidson. We had a solid pitch record in 2008, with all kinds of interest. We actually passed at one major company for an offer they made (although we loved the woman who believed in us). I know we can do better. We like them, working within production companies deserve a decent paycheck. They are getting paid, and we need to be paid too. We have mortgages just like they do. Its only a matter of time and we will have a deal.


My third project which will soon have the attention of ESPN and MTV is a reality series based with the brand "Girl Powder." Its an amazing snow clothing brand that launched in 2002 and we are creating a competition series with some of the youngest and brightest boarders and skiers in the country. We are having a fun time with all of the casting videos at this point!

My fourth project which really should be my first, is finding my next producing job. Last year I took the year to focus on pitching and making contact with some major Hollywood players. This year I will also focus on the pitches and selling something, but also keeping my skills up and gaining a paycheck on someone else's show! So, I am available for hire!! :)