It sounds like sort of what happened with Fear and Loathing. I can't remember how that turned out except that Gilliam made a little short in the style of a 50's newsreel about it.

Nip/Tuck started out as a murder mystery?

Plastic surgeons by day, bad plastic surgeons by night.

So, if I sign a contract for "Vineyard" when it's a murder mystery, I have no recourses if the producers turn it into an in-depth story of plastic surgery and pornography?

I guess it would depend on the wording in the contract.

So I just went and looked it up. The WGA rules state that you get the credit if you created the format of the series or received a "Written by" or "Story by" credit on the pilot. Neither of these really apply here to the Kesslers.

unfortunately they have those credits on the origional pilot. I'm fairly sure thats the one that ends up counting, regardless of whether it airs or not, remember Tim has a writer credit on the train job, but only Joss 'created' Firefly as he wrote Serenity.

I think all creator credits go to mandatory arbiration, finacially its worth a lot, and the WGA need to prevent studio execs claiming undue credit.

So, if I sign a contract for "Vineyard" when it's a murder mystery, I have no recourses if the producers turn it into an in-depth story of plastic surgery and pornography?

Not really, though plenty of stars have exited contracts, despite producers wishes (eg Charlies Angels). though contracts can and do specify no skin, or how much can be shown.

Poor other guys. Lucky us!

unfortunately they have those credits on the origional pilot. I'm fairly sure thats the one that ends up counting, regardless of whether it airs or not, remember Tim has a writer credit on the train job, but only Joss 'created' Firefly as he wrote Serenity.

Yes but they didn't throw out Serenity pilot and write a new pilot that completely alters every single aspect of the show.

Like, if ABC, had decided they didn't like the pilot for Lost. And they smoked a lot of crack and decided they were going to hire me to rewrite it. So I keep Matthew Fox because I used to have a crush on him and I keep the LotR dude because he brings in the big fanbase but I decide that, instead of a show about people stranded on a desert island after a plane crash, I'm going to make a show about some guy who runs the Lost and Found desk at one of those Swim with the Dolphins places.

I think that the arbitrators would find that I had altered the framework, setting, theme, premise, central characters and tone of the show significantly enough to get me a created credit.

Like, if ABC, had decided they didn't like the pilot for Lost. And they smoked a lot of crack and decided they were going to hire me to rewrite it. So I keep Matthew Fox because I used to have a crush on him and I keep the LotR dude because he brings in the big fanbase but I decide that, instead of a show about people stranded on a desert island after a plane crash, I'm going to make a show about some guy who runs the Lost and Found desk at one of those Swim with the Dolphins places.

Finally, a new show for Nick Brendon!!! (You know, we were just discussing Xander in a Speedo. Wet. on another thread (meaning that I was obsessing over this a wee bit.).)

Hilarious pic of Rachel Nichols with the OC's woobieboy.

Hilarious.

::snickers::

Bwah!