By Jink Yees
According to sources at a major television studio located in Los Angeles, the day-to-day activities of Santa Monica City Council are going to be adapted for a weekly situation comedy series.
Early reports state that Santa Monica resident and star of hit comedy shows Married... with Children and Modern Family, Ed O'Neill, has expressed an interest in playing Mayor Bill Prook. Moreover, Academy Award nominated star of Maestro, Bradley Cooper, has been tapped to voice Councilmember Oskar Torry’s mustache.
It is believed that the studio involved is looking for a minimum two-season run, each with 18 episodes with Century City-based Minted Media overseeing the production.
“We’re very excited,” said a spokesperson for Santa Monica City Council. “The fact that a major TV studio has seen the potential here, with such a rich selection of characters to dive into, we think it’s going to be extremely entertaining for the entire country to see the regular farce that is local government put on the screen even if they have to actually tone down the insanity because no one would actually believe this stuff happens.”
Saul Goldstone, CEO of Minted Media, confirmed to the Daily Press that all current members of City Council would act as technical advisors on the show and will receive PGA-certified executive producer credits and make them feel important, which for many, is the entire goal of being on Council to start with.
According to Goldstone, Emmy-Award-winning comedy legend H. Jon Benjamin is set to take on the role of City Manager Dave White while another sitcom superstar, Patrick Warburton will portray City Attorney Doug Sloane. Kathryn Hahn, star of WandaVision is playing an as-yet unconfirmed part, as is Rhea Perlman, arguably best known for her role in Cheers along with Iain Armitage, best known for playing the title role in Young Sheldon.
The plot will focus in turn on each member of council along with most of the city staff, exploring different plot threads and storylines each week. The actual council meetings will also be portrayed along with the legendary shenanigans that take place in closed session.
“There was this one story that we heard about, that we’ll see in the season one premiere episode, after everyone disappears and the live video feed pauses, when a Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed party breaks out without warning,” laughs Goldstone, adding, “Unbeknownst to anyone sitting chambers, the council all had their costumes on underneath their day wear.”
The production is able to save money on writers by just accurately recreating things that have really happened in Council chambers such as the time a topless woman rode a skateboard around the lobby to protest the City Hall water fountain claiming the seagulls she regularly talks to didn’t like it or the time council took ten identical votes apparently unable to understand that repetition doesn’t equal progress.
Editor's Note: Don't believe everything you read online today. It is April 1, otherwise known as April Fool's Day.
