TV Pilot
The Academy
You know when you’re in a place where you absolutely CANNOT laugh, and that makes everything so much funnier? That’s The Academy.
It’s like laughing in church.
The One Page Pitch
The fast paced wit and magical realism of Community with aesthetics of Dead Poets’ Society.
In this respect, the show uses its unique setting of an all boys catholic highschool to its advantage. Just as great art often comes from constraints, so too the silliest shenanigans some from the strictest rules. There is no joy in rebellion, unless there is a stuffy headmaster to rebel against. The Academy finds a certain charm in prep school boys circumventing the rules and traditions set upon them. Moreover, The Academy heightens these shenanigans to a surreal level which reflects the wonder and melodrama of highschool.
The setting also allows the show to explore a narrow slice of life to reveal greater perspectives. What is it like to exist in a turbulent jungle of testosterone, versus the everyday experience of a teenage girl? What is it like to wrestle with religion as a highschooler? What calamities arise when niche bubbles collide?
Most importantly, it’s a show about highschoolers actually for highschoolers, and not what a board room thinks a young audience wants. Looking back, having to write your history essay before Friday doesn’t really matter - who cares? It’s only highschool. There are bigger problems to worry about like taxes or whatever. But actually, having to write an essay is a huge problem. And not being able to talk to girls is the most monumental task one can face. Because it is to these people. The stakes are real to real kids, and that’s how this show treats them. Both its characters and the young people it speaks to are real people.
Our Characters
Jack Weston
Jack is our protagonist. He thinks he’s Ferris Buehler, but everyone else is pretty sure he’s just Jack. Confident, self assured, even when he probably shouldn’t be. Up to this point he’s been able to get through life on his natural, 6/10 talents and a few witty quips. So far, he’s always gotten what he’s wanted - because if he didn’t get it, he didn’t really want it anymore. But he’s getting older, and you can only fly by the seat of your pants so long before you crash. (And you definitely can’t get the girl)
Thane Calloway
A true staple of the Academy, Thad’s family has been instrumental to the Academy since its founding, giving his name a long, weighty legacy. Miraculously, he hasn’t ruined it yet. He’s Jack’s best friend who is always there for him unless it’s boring or a little too confusing. Thad knows how to have a good time, and cares little for what is being taught in class. But there are important lessons to be learned in and out of the classroom, and maybe this year he’ll find something more to life than partying.
Kyle Dudley
On the other extreme of Academy men, we have Kyle, who is a deeply terrified little boy. An overachiever by nature, Kyle represents a side of the student body that’s more comfortable with number 2 pencils than they are with pencil skirts. They say he’s a pleasure to have in class, and nowhere else. Early in his highschool career he’s been able to fly under the radar, but the gravitational pull of his more charismatic classmates might launch him into an orbit he’s not quite ready for. He’ll have to learn how to loosen his top button, while still keeping his head on his shoulders.
Sophie Benson
Many would say Sophie is a promising young woman! Highly intelligent, deeply motivated, and broadly talented. These facts do not make her altogether likable. She of course does not attend The Academy, but she would have made one hell of an Academy Man. Instead, she attends the local public school. Sophie’s dad owns “The Burger Shop” situated between the two schools, where her, Jack, and Kyle all work. Her headstrong nature often causes her to butt heads with those around her - and although she’s usually right, she also usually loses somehow. It’s hard to tell whether her condescending snark hides some true emotion, or if she just can’t help herself. Either way, she can’t keep up the charade forever, let alone for another whole school year.
Kimmy Gupply
Sophie’s best friend, and a true ride or die who is always there to say “yes and”. Kimmy is right by Sophie’s side, whether she likes it or not. Or whether she knows it or not. Sometimes it feels like Kimmy can just appear out of thin air. She’s largely a ditz, but in an endearing way, and for better or worse, she escalates every situation she’s in. She likely won’t learn much this year, but it’s hard to predict much about someone so full of surprises.
Neal Fischer
Another crony of Jack’s friend group, Neal is the smartest of the bunch. They say the left brain handles logic and calculations and the right brainhandles creativity, emotions, and empathy. In this sense, Neal is not alright - and in fact is all left. In a school that can emotionally rip you to shreds, he’ll have to find a shred of emotion.
Bobby Childs
Highschool is an interesting time of transition. Among sex drugs and rock and roll, many will fight a battle to keep their inner child alive - bobby will need to fight to find his outer adult. Although his wide eyed enthusiasm is envious, at some point he is a danger to himself and others. This year he might find a reason to grow up, just a bit.
Mr. Jefferson
Teachers can be difficult, and they can assign immense amounts of work to their students in a process that turns their lives into a living hell. For some, this torture is ultimately to mold the young minds of students so they reach their full potential. For Jefferson, this torture is simply for the love of the game. He has an eccentric, Doc Brown sort of charm to him. The first one to hear about students' problems, and the last one to help - most episodes will start in Jefferson’s classroom, where he is (attempting) to teach the kids about something relevant to their lives and the journey they are about to embark on. He is also somewhat of a mythical figure in the school. Many tales of his infinite knowledge and eclectic life experiences are whispered through the halls of the Academy. Legend has it he was even on the last plane out of Saigon in 1973. The students pretend not to respect him, but this is largely because he’s closer to one of them than he is to a real teacher and authority figure.
Ensemble
The Academy is a school fully of characters - a circus such as this couldn’t help but be full of clowns. As such, there are many characters that appear for one or two offs. You may have a friend group in highschool of people that you usually associate with, but it is also a time of great social density. There is always an ensemble of people there to interest your life and bring an extra flavor to it that you will rarely find later in life. We’ll see a wild pack of frat bros, functioning alcoholic teachers, and even a wise guy 1920s street rat type, among many others.
Here’s a few of those real people! (and one of their teachers)
The boys are welcomed to the beginning of their junior year. Mr. Jefferson encourages Jack to run for student council president, and while his friends pitch increasingly ridiculous campaign ideas to him, he employs Kyle to write a speech for him. Kyle explores the school to find inspiration for the speech.
1. Pilot
The Stories We'll See
2. Gang Aft Agley
3. Marathon
4. Henry The VIII
6. Dodgeball
5. Grimke
7. Prisoner's Dilemma
8. Sermon on the Mount
9. 1780: A Winter's Ball
Thane is desperate to find plans for Friday night. He finds unlikely help from Kyle, who will have to figure out how to fit in at a fratty highschool house party. Jack asks Sophie out on a date, but she suckers him into babysitting her little brother while she goes out with her boyfriend. She comes from her date surprisingly distraught.
Neal keeps receiving strange pictures from his teammates on the track team, and has to find a way to put a stop to it without becoming a social pariah. Thane helps Jack confront his girl problems.
Jack has to babysit for Sophie again, and finds a surprising bond with the young boy as he tries to court the girl that lives next door. Thane seeks Kyle’s help in chemistry class, and the two begin to actually form a friendship.
The boys learn about historical feminists in class. The story flips between Jack and Sophie, who are experiencing parallel days highlighting the differences between being a teenage boy in an all boys school and being a teenage girl anywhere.
The annual dodgeball tournament has come once again. Neal can’t play because of his track team obligations, but the rest of the boys spend the day training in their own ways. Jack, above it all, tries to attend class normally. Kyle hits the weight room. Bobby tries to watch old kung fu movies from the library, and asks Neal to help him find enlightenment. Thane tries to read, but ends up finding a dodgeball mentor in the gym teacher.
Sophie helps Kimmy study for a test, but Kimmy is not entirely receptive. Ultimately Kimmy has to beg Sophie to let her cheat off her. Neal laughs in class, and their teacher asks Bobby to snitch on him in exchange for two points on his final grade. Bobby uses this leverage to blackmail Neal into doing his bidding.
In a two part epic, Thane accidentally farts in Mass, and the faulty think it was on purpose as a prank. Jack is fed up with the tiny portion size of the cafeteria pizza, and leads an uprising against the school staff. He becomes a Christ figure in this mission, fighting for more pizza, and sacrificing himself to get the faculty to forget about Thane. Kyle goes on a genuine soul searching journey about his belief in God after learning that no one in the school actually cares about religion.
It’s time for the winter dance at The Academy! Jack can’t attend unfortunately - Sophie has called in another favor and needs him to pretend to be her boyfriend for her family dinner. Kyle is head of the dance’s planning committee and needs everything to go perfectly. Thane’s fratty friends pressure him into bringing strippers to the school dance.
