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We came upon the “story checklist†that Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories†office hands out to scripters so they’ll know what to write and how. We won’t bore you with all the details. But the story editors look for . . .
A GOAL WE CARE ABOUT--Whatever drives the protagonist should be meaningful to us.
FAMILY ORIENTED--Are the incidents in the story appropriate for the “family hour�
UPBEAT--Is the story upbeat? Does it have a happy ending?
AMAZING--Is there something that makes the story truly “amazing,†not merely interesting?
EARLY MAGIC--Is the “amazing element†introduced quickly, at least by the end of Act I?
A “DROP†OF FANTASY--Is there only one element of magic, and everything else played as close to reality as possible?
The ratings still aren’t amazing. Its ballyhooed hourlong episode directed by Robert Zemeckis tied for 52nd place (along with Chapter 4 of “Fresno†and “Gimme a Breakâ€). Usually a Monday night show, it had a Friday slot for the occasion (leading into “Miami Viceâ€), where it came in third place in its slot (after “Scarecrow and Mrs. King†and the back-to-back “Webster†and “Mr. Belvedereâ€).
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