The Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition 2009

Thursday, July 23
Chicago Cultural Center Theater
78 E. Washington Street

A unique event that showcases comedy TV pilots made by Chicagoans!

The Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition, now in its third year, represents a partnership between the comedy shorts festival and The Chicago Film Office. One of the first TV pilot competitions in the country, and unique in that it is restricted to comedy, this event is designed to showcase sitcoms based on original ideas by Chicagoans. The jury includes TV executives from ABC, CBS and Fox in Hollywood, Comedy Central in New York, and also representatives of some of Hollywood’s top talent agencies. A $5,000 cash prize will be awarded to the jury’s top-rated pilot by the Chicago-based Alberto-Culver Company. The pilots feature a number of well-known Chicago actors and improvisors, including: Dan Aho, Allison Bosma, Neal Dandade, Noah Gregoropoulous, Howie Kremer, and Andy St. Clair (in Ruby’s Rules); Leah Gotcsik (in Today’s Special); Justin Cholewa and Katie Korby (in The Kari Files); and Brennan Buhl, Sue Gillan, T.J. Jagodowski, and Niki Lingren (in Lowering the Bar).

Shows at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. – Admission price is $10 per show (See bottom of page for details)

7:00 P.M. SHOW

Ruby’s Rules, Sasquatch Shorts, 25 min.
Rubes in the Windy City.
Two young brothers, Derrick and Henry, from a small town in the Show Me State, have a father who’s shown them what to do in every aspect of their lives, all their lives. Sent to Chicago to carry out some business for him, they decide to go rogue, and get jobs of their own in the big city. Their father is far from pleased, but the brothers are very pleased – with all the new people, sights and fun they’re experiencing. If only they could overcome their fear of crossing city streets!

Today’s Special, Leah Gotcsik, 20 min.
The bickering behind the bargains.
Who are these women who hawk bargains on TV? Their on-camera personas may be based on the digits “.99” (prefaced by “only”), but in real life, what are they like? Today’s Special introduces us to rival shop-at-home TV show hosts Connie and Marlene. Despite their similar jobs, they couldn’t be more different as individuals, and they have different ways of balancing their work and private lives. Still, they do have two things in common: 1) they loathe each other, and 2) when money talks, they are always listening!

The Kari Files, Greg Grabianski and Kari Keillor, 25 min.
How to be sublime and ridiculous.
There’s one in every crowd. The one who says the wrong thing at the wrong time; does the wrong thing in the wrong place; wears the wrong thing on the wrong occasion. Unfortunately for Kari, it happens to be her. This poor high school kid so longs to be just right, and to get some attention – or even a smile – from the guy who’s the Mr. Right of her dreams. But her best efforts always fail, and fail again. Is she dreaming her life away?

9:00 P.M. SHOW

In Between, Justin Allen, 23 min.
Adventures in entry level living.
Four recent college grads – Justin, Brian, Todd and Claire – are forced by necessity to move in together, to a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago. Between their uninspiring jobs and their claustrophobic abode, they are realizing that post-college life isn’t as easy, or as fun, as they thought it would be. Still, living in the City has its moments of adventure…

Lowering the Bar, Kenneth Yoder, 22 min.
Striving…striving…to achieve third rate.
In Apple-Birch, a for-profit school for at-risk youth, the idealistic new teacher, Mr. Klein, has more than a few surprises in store for him on his first day in this unique and terrifying environment. It’s a toss up as to who’s the most alarming to him – the students or the other teachers! Can he adjust his expectations to the reality? Well, if he’s going to survive, he’d better throw out his video of Goodbye Mr. Chips and buy Fort Apache The Bronx!

Domestically Challenged, Ben Olson, 20 min.
And now for something completely different…
As Sherlock Holmes said, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Young Harris is convinced he has deduced THE TRUTH about the strange pair of pants that has suddenly appeared in the apartment he shares with his friend Shelton. Can the roommates convince their skeptical landlord that they’re handling the pants problem in the right way? Will this incident end up changing the young men’s lives?!

The Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition is produced by Marion Sours, (312) 642-2156, in association with The Chicago Film Office, (312) 744-6415.

Partnering sponsors:

Tickets for both shows available at The Chicago Cultural Center Theater, 78 E. Washington, on the day of the festival only (box office opens at 3 p.m. on that day). The box office is located at the door of the Theater on the second floor of the Center. Cash sales only. Phone reservations accepted at: (312) 458-9643. Parking: Grant Park North Garage (enter from Michigan Ave. between Washington and Madison) or Millennium Park Garage (enter from Columbus Drive).

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Wits' End Productions, 1640 N. North Park
Chicago, IL 60614; (312) 642-2156
Contact us: msours@witsendshorts.com