Sound Familiar?

Remember how I told that story about how Team Handleman said I shouldn't write a script because "Ben Stiller might be doing something like that"? Well, that kind of thing has happened to me several times and it's really annoying. I shouldn't have to be responsible for things that haven't actually been made yet. But apparently I do.

And yet, no one else besides me seems at all concerned with who might already be doing what, or what has already been done successfully in the same exact way.

This was in today's Variety:

Arrested Development creator/executive producer Mitch Hurwitz, co-star Will Arnett and co-executive producer Jim Vallely together are penning the script about a wealthy, pompous Beverly Hills guy who falls in love with a philanthropic, nature-loving woman who doesn't like his lifestyle or values.

Maybe they can get Jenna Elfman to star in it!

Seriously, how the fuck do you have the nerve to go pitch that? That's like going in and pitching "a plane crashes on a mysterious island and we flashback to show the passengers lives before they got there". How dare you. Have an original idea. Oh, but wait, it's in LA and not New York. It's totally different.

This brings me to another annoying thing: Mitch Hurwitz. This guy created "Arrested Development". Okay, that's awesome. But ever since that show was cancelled he's been selling every "idea" that pops in his head. Only one problem: everything he's done besides "Arrested Development" sucks balls.

Let's go through the list:

"The Thick of It" 2007. Pilot didn't get picked up. Do you know how bad this piece of shit was? It was adapted from the BBC (Hollywood loves that) and was directed by Christopher Guest...and it still didn't get picked up.

"Buddies" 2007. Cop show set in the '80's, also set in the network trash heap. It was not picked up.

"Lost in the '80's" 2008. This guy loves the '80's. Never happened.

"My World and Welcome to It" 2008. Never happened.

"Sit Down, Shut Up" 2009. Had a (voice) cast of Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Will Forte, Kristen Chenowith, Cheri Oteri, Keenan Thompson...and no one has ever heard of it. Lasted 4 episodes.

"Happiness Isn't Everything" 2009. Such a great script that they got Jason Biggs to do it. But also, Richard Dreyfuss and Mary Steenburgen. Not picked up.

"Waiting to Die" 2009. Dead.

"Untitled Family Pilot" 2009. Never got to see a title.

"Brothers" 2009. This one is coming out in this fall. It stars Michael Strahan. You know, the famous comedic actor. Oh, and the guy who holds the all time NFL single season sack record. I'm sure it's gonna be great.

"Ab Fab" 2009. Revived again, a show that has worked in various countries, and this version was directed by James Burrows - who only directs pilots he knows are getting on the schedule...Hurwitz guided it to a non-pickup.

"Let It Go" 2009. Coming this fall, Holly Robinson Peete makes her triumphant comeback!

"Bless This Mess" 2009. Nope.

Look, I'm not trying to hate on Hurwitz here, good for him for being successful. However, if you haven't noticed, sitcoms are dead and there must be a reason for it. Maybe they keep giving sitcom deals to people who suck at doing sitcoms. I don't fault him for it...but now he's pitching shows that have already happened, and even worse, sitcoms that we didn't like in the first place.