Back in the Executive Suite at UPN

Executive: I thought this new Sentinel story was about two gay men. These scripts are about solving murders, terrorist plots, kidnappings, drug smuggling and international hit men.

Producer: The Sentinel is still one of the best detectives in the country. His enhanced senses ...

Executive: Where are the gay rights issues?

Producer: We have a target audience, sir. We are trying to reach adult women. They want to see men acting like reasonable adults, doing their jobs, albeit with the mystical edge of a Sentinel/Guide relationship, having a mature, loving relationship. They aren't interested in "issues" except seeing the villain that dares touch Sandburg pay with his life. They also want us to stop casting women as guest stars.

Executive: You mean we've got a good cop show with two guys who are lovers.

Producer: Exactly.

Executive: Isn't this the same show we had before except now the Sandburg character doesn't have his own room? Less explosions more lovemaking?

Producer: Basically. And we did have to do some clean up from that idiotic final episode of the previous version to get Sandburg's reputation back. We had to decide whether to make him a cop or let him go back to academia. Our target audience is split about that so we decided to give him his PhD and make him a paid consultant at the PD with an adjunct professorship at Rainier. I love the script about the lawsuit Sandburg brings against Rainier and Berkshire Publishing with the help of a lawyer Ellison's father hires for him.

Executive: Tell me more about this target audience. Adult women, huh? What a novel concept.

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