"Welcome, Mr. Curtis. Mr. Atkinson," Harry said warmly, rising from his seat as the two men stepped into his office. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you both in person."
The two characters exchanged shocked looks, but nodded politely and sat in front of him, in a deliberate way, the two were careful in their sitting, and in their faces, their expressions were hard to read. They had to work to wrap their heads around this - some stranger chose their script.
"Thanks for choosing our submission," said Richard Curtis, who was older, and the main writer of the script. "We've been trying to get this made for a while now."
Harry smiled. He had read the script twice, and then a third time over coffee. The more he thought about it, and the more he read the script, the more he believed - it was just beyond a show - it was a gold mine.
No words, no complicated set, just one strange man, who appeared to behave normally in a chaotic world.
"If you don't mind," Harry started to the two, "I want to skip the small talk. I have read your work - JTV is fast tracking the series code - so you can expect to release a five-part run for $1 million. If it does well, we will commission more episodes for the season."
Rowan Atkinson, who had not said very much at all, looked over at Harry and lifted his eyebrows - "Are you serious?"
"I am more serious than you think," Harry replied with a twinkle in his eye. "This is the kind of content we want. Original. Timeless. It doesn't have to be expensive or bound by geographical limitations. Comedy like this can break down language barriers. No elaborate sets, no ensemble cast with overpaid stars; just clever writing, physical gags, and one man reacting to the world like a bewildered alien in a human skin suit."
Now the reluctance was fading for Rowan. He had always wanted to see this character realized; a clumsy, rubber-faced, absurdist that almost never said a word, but whose every movement and reaction said everything.
"There is one condition," Richard said cautiously. "We want Rowan as the lead."
Harry didn't even flinch. "Sure. I thought that was the point. He is Mr. Bean; right?"
That answer took them aback. In every incarnation of their previous meetings, they had either literally or figuratively been laughed out. 'You're too weird.' 'You're too childish.' 'No one wants a lead character that has almost no lines.'
But Harry had a different view.
"This is bigger than the show," he said. "This is about the show's potential. If this takes off, we're looking at toys, lunch boxes, cartoons, maybe an animated special, international licensing… We're launching in July. I want this to be our summer show."
Richard and Rowan were both staring blankly at him. Harry was clearly way more excited than either of them were.
_____
JTV had a budget of $1 million - a small sum , and they engage the services of director John Davies, a director with strengths in British sketch comedy, who agreed to direct the first five episodes as a trial. The small budget would be stretched thinly but effectively and with limited props, practical effects, inexpensive locations, among other things. Rowan also gave input on developing the character as the physical comedy was going to be Bean's signature.
Rowan had the character in mind since his days at university and it was largely based on an exaggerated version of himself: socially inept, quietly rebellious, and absurdly chaotic. It contained no political messages, nor more emotional drama. Just comedy distilled to the everyday.
Harry was overseeing the development from on high. He didn't make any strong interventions, but he was keeping himself in the loop. Mr. Bean had to work.
However, he also understood that one show wouldn't be enough.
While Bean was being produced, Harry's mind wandered. He flipped through more rejected scripts. A guy finds an alien in his backyard. People develop strange powers to fight the invaders.
They were all rough. They were all nebulous.
But Harry's mind saw it all locked up inside.
Go Go Power Rangers...
In his original world, the Power Rangers was a multi-trillion dollar franchise, based on Japan's Super Sentai and produced by Toei Company. But in this world—Toei never produced Super Sentai. There were no masked fighters. There were no colorful teams.
And just as important—Hasbro never had rights to Super Sentai.
Which meant... it was his to create.
The name, the theme song, the color-coded heroes, the zords—all of it—was there for the taking by JTV.
It would be expensive. He would need special effects, costume design, original music, choreography. However, if done correctly, it could print money.
Toys, lunch boxes, spin-offs. Just like Bean—except way bigger.
"Lisa," he shouted.
His reliable secretary opened the door slightly.
"Get the writing staff in-house. And I need you to get in George Baker. I want him to begin work on a new series pitch. I want to supervise it to every detail, I will be all over it."
"Another series?" she blinked. "You are not waiting for Bean to see how it does?"
Harry stood up and walked to the window and looked over Manhattan.
"If we wait we lose. If we wait we have no time. Our competition is asleep. We will not be."
Lisa thought for a moment, then said she understood. "And what about the rest of the programming schedule?"
"We will run to assess our library of older dramas in the late-night slots. We will license several indie series from Europe to fill up the time, but everything has to centre on the month of July. That is our moment.
Two Shows. Two Risk.
As Mr. Bean was nearing the pilot stage of production, Harry was in the middle of writing what would be Earth Force Rangers his version of Super Sentai and Power Rangers.
He did not know how the board might respond to it. He did not even know if people would watch it.