I was thinking about what sort of cool concepts could exist for a television show, in a similar vein to shows like Lost, Heroes, and things of the like. Epic character driven dramas set to a back drop that is larger than them, and picked away at piece by piece.

I came up with the idea for a television drama about a series of survivors from some sort of apocalyptic attack on the mainland United States and Canada. It would be a scenario that would start in several small towns, as people try to congregate towards larger city centres for various reasons, to discover the root of the attacks and the fate of the country (as well as the world).

The histories of many of the characters would remain obscure for some time (as I had chosen not to employ the flashback-style exposition evident in Lost, lest it seem ripped off). As such, characters would seek to fulfill minor goals (protecting the well-being of their children, looking to find a spouse who may or may not have survived the attack) before congregating in a group who was seeking to escape the desolate wastes of the country. They’d encounter obstacles like a local militant group of survivors who seek to restore balance in the chaos, but with slightly violent methods. Religious groups too stubborn to evacuate areas in their quest to save and preserve as many survivors as possible.

Things like that.

Then, while watching Battlestar Galactica in our lounge Saturday night at 9:00, a resident of my house, Ian, informs me of a television program called Jericho, which was extremely interesting.

After researching it, I’ve just discovered that the basic premise of my show idea is essentially the same as Jericho, in such a way as to make writing my show almost blatant plagiarism. I don’t know why I seem to have this ability to think of concepts for television shows or movies or books that already exist. This happened with Secret Window as well, essentially taking away my initial idea for Man in the Mirror from so many years ago.

I must not seek out all the writers in television and film…and kill them to preserve any potential writing position I might one day hope to ascend to.