My colleague was recently doing some historical research and came across a very interesting entry in the Canadian Law List from 1900. Personally, I am very excited by his discovery, and it has given me inspiration to create a new TV show. First have a look for yourself:
That’s right! Blackadder a lawyer, in Halifax, circa 1900. I’m not too concerned with spelling, I mean really, would Blackadder get stuck on spelling (especially the first incarnation). And let me assure you that Halifax, especially Halifax in 1900, would be a treasure trove of plot ideas and misadventures for Blackadder and Baldrick. The series was not too concerned with the timeline so we could even propel Blackader the lawyer into the infamous rum running days. So I’m hoping some of my fellow Slaw-ers can help me come up with some script ideas and we can pitch the idea to the CBC or maybe the BBC. The possibilities are endless……
Mark,
Here’s a site that’ll provide a wealth of ideas as to how to write the scripts without including anything that might offend the sensibilities of certain CBC types, mandarins and, of course, innocent children. It might even provide some ideas for scripts.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/censor.html
For example it tells about a pair of famous writers who wrote: “In this new edition we have carefully removed every expression inappropriate for children. — Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, preface to the 1819 edition of their Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Household Tales).
Mark, you forgot to title the post… Shall we have a contest to name the show? :-)
How about ‘Edmund Bluenoser – Rum Runner Profiteer’?
Good idea Steve, I left it blank when I was writing it delaying the creation of a witty title related to Blackadder and forgot about it. Have at it!
Of course, the older one among us remember that Blackadder’s own lawyer in the Somme Court Martial was Lieutenant George, played by Hugh Laurie – yes that Hugh Laurie.
And even the not-so-older among us. ;-)