Looks like things are about to get real busy, real fast. A flurry of emails today, a few phone conversations, some decisions made and many more to come. We’ll be flying out next week for a few days to crunch some numbers, clarify positions, and, of course, have dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants. And after that? Well, I’d like to say “smooooooth sailing”, but let’s be realistic. It’s going to be a challenging few months of spinning, breaking and writing – and then an even more challenging six months (or so) of production, but I am ready to roll. Fully charged cell phone? Check? 13 episode first season outline? Check? Lucky coin and chain mail undergarments? Check!
No, I didn’t finish that pilot script I said I was going to finish today. But thanks for asking. Every time I would sit down and start reviewing, someone would call or I’d receive an urgent email or happen across a hilarious video online:
But I mean it. I’m going to finish up this blog entry and get right back to work. And, when I do, I’ll have a magical solution to all those clunky beats I’ve been agonizing over for the last week and a half.
Wish me luck!
P.S. Rumor has it that our British friends eat french fry sandwiches. It’s one of those things that sound too bizarre not to be true. Can anyone confirm/deny? And perhaps explain why?
Thanks in advance.
Good luck, Joe!! We’re 100% behind you! (That way we don’t catch any of the flack! 🙂 )
Re: the PS, I did find this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_butty
There is a hole in your mind… Oops.. wrong TV series.. http://youtu.be/yXbKKhEZVVk (And After we are done with trek in four months time I highly suggest B5, as it is probably the best science fiction show ever made without the word star in the title. And I would dare say its better than any of the Treks. )
Go Joe!!! Can’t wait to hear all your news when you are ready to share.
gforce’s article – may be the proof you need.
I can tell you I’ve known people who would put fries into the sandwich – hamburger, bbq pork, etc., so that they would NOT have to get the fries separately. Doesn’t make much sense, but different strokes for different folks.
shhhhh, I did the burger fry thing once. It was ok not spectacular. I like fries separate – nothing to interfere with the wonderful palate sensation of good French fries.
@ Joey – Here’s wishing you fair winds and a following sea! 😉
@ Sparrowhawk – Don’t say I’ve never given you anything…
http://jaredsadalecki.co.vu/post/89312073087/the-kind-you-save
Enjoy!
das
Good luck!
In and Out Burger does one with fries on it. I don’t eat potatoes, or at InandOut, so dunno if it is tasty or not. I do like onion rings on a burger, or caramelized onions, but never raw onions. People are weird. I had friends who would dip their fries in their milkshakes. Uh, okay.
Hey, great news! I can’t wait to hear more about this project.
And safe travels! Looks like our flights may pass each other.
By the way, how do you get through the airport security with chain mail underwear? On second thought, I don’t think I want to know…it’s probably better that way. 😉
On the Chip-Bap, I never saw any in the West Country (Bristol, Bath, etc), and from what I can tell it’s mostly a northern England and Scotland affair.
Perhaps Line Noise can chime in and tell us if he’s seen any in Bath.
I once had a Fat Sandwich.. It had to be close to a billion calories.. Chicken Strips, Mozzarella Sticks, and French Fries.. It was awesome but certainly not something I would want every day.
@maggiemayday I Would dip my fries in my frosty, It was something I picked up from my parents in childhood.. I have found it needs the strength of the large cut fry Wendy’s has.. I couldn’t imagine trying it with McDonalds or In-N-Out fries.. (Though in all honesty it’s been years since I went to In-N-Out I don’t remember just how thick they are..) I bet Five Guys fries would do well, they just need to be crisper..
A chip sandwich or butty – yum. Needs decent crispy chips not soggy french fries. Don’t knock it until you try it. Add sauce if you wish (HP SAUCE is my favourite). I was born in the English Midlands but have lived in Australia for most of my life. Good luck with the new project.
Well let’s go Joe. We’re ready. Where are we flying to?
@maggiemayday – Oh my goodness! I haven’t dipped my fries in my milkshake since I was a kid. Totally forgot about doing that. That brings back memories.
Congrats, Joe, and much success!! 🙂
I’ll get two orders of hash browns to make a sandwich out of the sausage at McDonald’s. I’ve never been glutened from McD’s items that don’t contain wheat ingredients so the hash brown sandwich is awesome.
Congratulations joe for finally getting the green light you’ve worked so hard for can’t wait till you can tell us the title and synopsis. Good luck on the long but fruitful road ahead.
Whatever happened to 24 Episode seasons?
I have chip butties all the time… yummy and you have to put butter on the bread that is slightly salted…. you can add sauce if you want… they are great on a cold winters eve. And yes you have to have proper chips not the horrible french fries… 😀
Kriss 🙂
Don’t forget your asbestos-lined jacket. I hear they have flamethrowers…
I was a “second wave” fan of ST:TOS; too young to stay up late to watch the first season or two, so really got into Trek during early syndication (1969–1971).
Any suggestions on where to inexpensively view the eps online?
Wonder if my local library has DVDs or the James Blish anthologies?
Good luck Joe!
chip butty’s are awesome, and no, no idea why…..but better yet, WHY NOT!?
As a brit i can indeed confirm the humble chip butty exists.
Fish and chips are our national dish.
It is great news you are getting back to work.
Good luck Joe! When can you tell us the name of the project?
So, I made this last night. It IS just as amazing as it looks. It’s a lot of work, but so worth it!
http://www.sogoodblog.com/2014/04/24/pizza-cake-recipe-birthday/
My creation:
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10417691_745200975503443_847766316980374387_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/10382463_745201738836700_6376099575923016736_n.jpg
Yay! Break a leg? That sounds wrong for a mom to say… I’ll stick with Yay! Safe travels and happy trails.
We call a french fry sandwich a chip butty and it’s lovely! You have to get the chips and buttered roll (butty) from a fish and chip shop though and put salt and vinegar on the chips. Making me hungry just thinking about it! Not bizarre at all Joe – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! Of course, you’d have to come to the UK for them though…
JeffW – you can get a chip butty anywhere in the UK in a proper fish and chip shop
Mmmmm, Chip Butties.. With Warbie’s bread, and loads of butter..
Better yet, Chip Barms! Mmmmm…
French fry sandwiches? I have no idea. I do know that the hidden McDonald’s in Rome had really tasty mini calzones. Yes McDonald’s is horrible. But you take 5 year old Erin to Europe for two weeks and see how long you last without hitting up a McDonald’s.
Mega luck Joe! Being crazy busy is good! Yay!
Fries dipped in milkshake is delish! Also fries with mayo and sriracha. Yeah boy!
@Whatever happened to 24 Episode seasons?
It makes sense to give a show an initial 13 episode order, if you’re a network like CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox etc. If a show fails, you don’t want to be stuck with having to burn off a dozen or more episodes, especially if you pull it from the schedule. Depending on the show, you usually get a back 9 order if you do well enough. It’s not a case of a network having no confidence, no one wants to throw money away on a failed project if they can help it.
However with cable, the main reason will be budget. 12/13 episodes work best for cable.
Congrats though Joe, looking forward to the set pictures in the future, assuming you’re in the same position to do so like you did with Stargate lol
Is your project the one Brain Smith has been talking about?
If you need to postpone your Star Trek TOS, no problem from me.
@ Jane Woollestone:
And that may be the issue. My first experience with a “proper fish & chip shoppe” was in city centre Bristol at 10pm on a Friday. Everything was so greasy that it turned the newsprint transparent. Unfortunately, it all came back up about 3am that morning, and I’ve avoided the stand-alone fish & chip’s ever since figuring that I just didn’t have the stomach for it.
I’ve also spent more of my time in pubs and Indian take-aways. 🙂
I’ll be back in the UK in July, so I may have to see what I can find in Bath/Bristol then.
to baterista9:
Any suggestions on where to inexpensively view the eps online?
cbs.com has them (don’t know if it will work for those outside the US)
http://www.cbs.com/shows/star_trek/season/1/
they also have the other trek series, if anyone is interested.
Thanks, archersangel! Wonder how it is that CBS has the online rights? Did CBS buy Paramount somewhere along the line?
I can confirm the existence of chip butties. My girlfriend introduced them to me (it’s not a thing in Australia) and they’re OK if you want to carbo-load. You must use fat chips (at least 1cm (1/4-1/2 an inch) thick), not the thin French fries. My girlfriend has also been known to put crisps (AKA chips in the US. The stuff you get in a bag.) into bread. That’s just weird.
@JeffW: I will locate a source of chip butties for you. I find the fish in UK fish and chips very greasy so, if in doubt, just pull off the batter and eat the fish.
I just got back from playing boules in the annual Bath Boules Competition. You may know it as petanque or bocce. We got to the quarter finals this year (one better than last year) but it was an exhausting day. The team in action. I’m the one standing in the shade in front with the tree trunk.
Enjoy the process Joe! Must be nice to be back in series mode. I’m hoping I find a teaching job for this year. How are the dogs doing? Madoka just finished puppy training classes and our trainer told us we can purchase her “service dog in training” vest and can start to introduce her to stores, school, and other places but not for long periods of time. 🙂 Bethany has 6 days of summer school left and then she is off for the summer. Well, keep us posted.
Do you have to move to Toronto again!?! We all know how that turned out last time. 🙂
bread and butter Chips sandwiches are lovely, especially with proper english chips not french fries and a dollop of ketchup. Chip shops across the UK will do one if you ask them to.
You should try it Joe.
I also like walkers cheese and onions crisps (guest that would be chips to you Americans and Canadians) in a sandwich as well.
Hope it smooth sailing for here on out for your new show. Looking forward to hearing more details about it.
baterista9 – CBS own the TV rights to Star Trek, Paramount owns the movie rights to Star Trek.
That video was great. I don’t eat at McDonalds in the US; now I will never eat at the McDonalds in England.
Good luck with the project Joe.
@Baterista9
A few years ago CBS and Viacom merged then split after a while, and Trek ended up on the CBS side. You can also find most of the episodes at: http://www.startrek.com/videos/star-trek-the-original-series
Congratulations on your new project, about time 🙂
And yes, chip butties are real and specially beloved by drunks at the end of boozy nights ( but not exclusively 🙂 )
Yeah, not French Fries. It’s a Chip Butty…made with Chips…proper Chips…not American Chips…although a Crisp Butty is also acceptable…British Crisps that is.
See also: Fish Finger Butty, and the much rarer Fried Egg (and Sausage) Butty.
Oh yes, I would love a Babylon 5 watch!
This video was funny. I’ll keep reading to see how the project works out…..