Supergroup TV Pilot Concept: It's America vs. England - the two countries that have contributed the most to Rock/Pop music. This is a Reality-based TV show featuring famous talented musicians forming a fantasy rock dream team in a music studio for a week or more to see what kind of album they can produce.
Obviously, to get these stars would require money, but here's the deal. Both Supergroups make and release albums and they share in the profits of their albums. Whichever group sells the most albums in a certain amount of time wins. The winning supergroup will get a million dollars each to donate to their favorite charity, plus a % of the album sales can go to charity as well. Also, the stars would receive an appearance payment commensurate with the profitability of the show.
Why this would work: Personally I haven't watched any reality shows so far because I don't care to see non-famous people eat worms (Fear Factor, Survivor) or date other desperate for fame people (dating shows, Bachelor). But shows like "Behind the Scenes" on VH1 intrigue people and there's no doubt that you put this many talented people with strong personalities in a studio together that there's going to be interesting conversation and conflicts. Plus we get to hear virtuoso musicians and genius songwriters craft their work and create songs that may be instant classics.
Will we be able to get everyone? No, but this concept will work with younger musicians also - members of the band Pearl Jam, Goo Goo Dolls, Dave Matthews, etc., for America, and members of Oasis, ColdPlay and U2 for the UK. The reason I want USA vs. UK is the fervor over the Ryder Cup is intense in Golf - even more so than the Olympics. Americans love the old UK bands like Beatles, Stones, Who, Clapton - so they would just as likely purchase the UK Supergroup album as they would the USA Supergroup album. Remember - the winner is decided by how many albums are bought - not by inaccurate voting on the Internet - or by judges with questionable opinions (American Idol). To host the show, I would like to get someone like Sheryl Crow.
In subsequent years, it doesn't have to be USA vs. UK - instead it can be men vs. women. A women supergroup consisting of Sheryl Crow on bass guitar, Bonnie Raitt on lead guitar, the drummer from The Corr's, Sarah McLachlan on piano, Melissa Etheridge on rhythm guitar. And then get a men Supergroup with popular artists from today. It definitely has to be that Supergroup concept where you take musicians that have made it on their own - but when join together into a Supergroup - magic can happen - or disaster - either way we're there to catch it on film.
The best thing about this TV show is that after you watch - you won't feel like you wasted your time. I can't tell you how many people have said they watched a reality show and afterwards felt like it was the biggest waste of time. With this show, if the musicians are in the same studio for 2 weeks and cameras roll continuously, I estimate that each day could be edited into one weekly episode. I think an hour show - the first half hour for England studio footage and the second half hour for USA studio footage. Fans will like the music, the personalities, the conflicts, the competition and the fact that it's benefiting charities.