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CNN Live Today
Teen Creates New Show
Aired May 29, 2003 - 10:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The kids are taking over showbiz, or at least they're trying to these days. This is just a quick little snippet of a new show billed as the first to be produced, directed, written entirely by teenagers. It is called "The Brendan Leonard Show." Nineteen-year-old Brendan Leonard is the creator. You see him there. And he is the star of the show. He joins us now from Chicago.
And Brendan, I've read the blurbs about this show and I see why you have a hard time describing what in the world this show is all about. Looks like it's a lot of fun, though. For those who are just tuning in and getting the first look at this, how would you describe this kind of show? Is it like the "Real World," or "Jackass" or what?
BRENDAN LEONARD, "THE BRENDAN LEONARD SHOW": I think it's more along the lines of seeing life through the eyes of 19-year-old boys, and the kind of "Jackass" parts of it are more along the lines of being adolescent, immature 19-year-old guys who wrestle and punch each other. But it's good, family fun.
HARRIS: This has been on local cable, on cable access in the Chicago area, right? And from I'm hearing, it's been a big hit there for some time. Where did you come up with the idea in the first place?
LEONARD: I was going into high school, and I decided to quit hockey because it was too time consuming, and I wanted to do something to fill my time, and for some reason, I suggested, why not get my own cable access show. It seemed like a good idea, and I was shocked how easy it was to get one, and I'm pretty glad I got one right about now.
HARRIS: Now got you got the network show working. How will it be different, or will it be different from cable now that you have a lot of money to play with?
LEONARD: Well, that's the one difference, is that we now have a budget, but everything else is pretty much the same. ABC Family gave us total creative control, which is unprecedented, and maybe a little misdirected, but I appreciate it.
HARRIS: Now this is you and six of your high school buddies together. This will be the same cast we will see throughout the entire season, right?
LEONARD: That is correct.
HARRIS: And you guys are in different colleges across the country? That's got to be pretty fun? LEONARD: Yes, that was the hard part, is when we were still in college, is trying to come up with some ideas to do. But now that we're all home, it's a lot easier.
HARRIS: Hey, listen, Brendan, we're going to keep an eye on this. We got to get you come back when we have more time to talk to you, because I want folks to get a chance to see the show, get an idea to see what the heck it is you are bringing to the table every single week, man.
LEONARD: I would love to.
HARRIS: And then you can come back so we can sit down and talk about it some more, all right?
LEONARD: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: Good luck. Brendan Leonard. The show is on Fridays on ABC Family. Good luck, not that you need it, because you are doing great so far.
LEONARD: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 29, 2003 - 10:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The kids are taking over showbiz, or at least they're trying to these days. This is just a quick little snippet of a new show billed as the first to be produced, directed, written entirely by teenagers. It is called "The Brendan Leonard Show." Nineteen-year-old Brendan Leonard is the creator. You see him there. And he is the star of the show. He joins us now from Chicago.
And Brendan, I've read the blurbs about this show and I see why you have a hard time describing what in the world this show is all about. Looks like it's a lot of fun, though. For those who are just tuning in and getting the first look at this, how would you describe this kind of show? Is it like the "Real World," or "Jackass" or what?
BRENDAN LEONARD, "THE BRENDAN LEONARD SHOW": I think it's more along the lines of seeing life through the eyes of 19-year-old boys, and the kind of "Jackass" parts of it are more along the lines of being adolescent, immature 19-year-old guys who wrestle and punch each other. But it's good, family fun.
HARRIS: This has been on local cable, on cable access in the Chicago area, right? And from I'm hearing, it's been a big hit there for some time. Where did you come up with the idea in the first place?
LEONARD: I was going into high school, and I decided to quit hockey because it was too time consuming, and I wanted to do something to fill my time, and for some reason, I suggested, why not get my own cable access show. It seemed like a good idea, and I was shocked how easy it was to get one, and I'm pretty glad I got one right about now.
HARRIS: Now got you got the network show working. How will it be different, or will it be different from cable now that you have a lot of money to play with?
LEONARD: Well, that's the one difference, is that we now have a budget, but everything else is pretty much the same. ABC Family gave us total creative control, which is unprecedented, and maybe a little misdirected, but I appreciate it.
HARRIS: Now this is you and six of your high school buddies together. This will be the same cast we will see throughout the entire season, right?
LEONARD: That is correct.
HARRIS: And you guys are in different colleges across the country? That's got to be pretty fun? LEONARD: Yes, that was the hard part, is when we were still in college, is trying to come up with some ideas to do. But now that we're all home, it's a lot easier.
HARRIS: Hey, listen, Brendan, we're going to keep an eye on this. We got to get you come back when we have more time to talk to you, because I want folks to get a chance to see the show, get an idea to see what the heck it is you are bringing to the table every single week, man.
LEONARD: I would love to.
HARRIS: And then you can come back so we can sit down and talk about it some more, all right?
LEONARD: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: Good luck. Brendan Leonard. The show is on Fridays on ABC Family. Good luck, not that you need it, because you are doing great so far.
LEONARD: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
