Another 5-Saturday month has ended and along with it another 5-part short story here on my blog. This was a fun one to write and if it felt a little sitcom-y there is a good reason. I used my vast expertise and many years of sitcom watching to cultivate it. One sitcom in particular inspired its origins.
This post starts like nearly all of my other Story Behind the Post entries start. I had no idea what to write about in the 11th hour. My last story was clear back in November and instead of using the three months in between and coming up with a story I kept putting it off. Because that’s how I roll.
Also during this time, my winter binge watch consisted of an old sitcom I just discovered called Raising Hope (2010-2014). It’s cute and quirky and certainly doesn’t take itself too seriously. My overall review of it is it is quite silly and has some funny bits.
Season 1, episode 5 has an episode called Happy Halloween in which the plot consists of two of the leads sharing their first kiss at a Halloween party. Similar to my story, the woman was so drunk she couldn’t remember it afterward. A few episodes later, in Cheaters, it is brought up again. Spoiler alert, in season 2 episode 14, Jimmy’s Fake Girlfriend they share another kiss – this time neither one drunk and both remember it.
A few years ago, I learned about fan fiction. Stories based on characters from shows and such written by fans. I have never participated in it but I have always thought up stories of some television or movie characters on my own. I have never written them down or shared them. I just think of extra adventures or I correct story lines that I didn’t like.
I have also known enough couples to know that kids ask their parents questions about how they met or their first date or even their first kiss. Now, what if one of them can’t remember the first kiss? I thought it might be kind of funny to have not only two different versions but two different kisses entirely.
While I was writing the story, I was reminded of a similar plot line (I told you my expertise is vast on the subject) in The Big Bang Theory. In season 12, episode 6, The Imitation Perturbation, Penny and Leonard face a similar issue. Although Penny could actually remember the kiss she admits that she doesn’t like to consider it their first kiss because of how it came about. The fact that this is also a Halloween episode is entirely coincidental.
So, I needed a story for March and having this continuation of Raising Hope’s characters in mind, I figured why not? This is not fan fiction but new characters named Gus, Kristina, and Ginny. Although Ginny is a nod to the series since there is a character on it named Virginia.
Since it came about because of the series, there are some similarities. Namely, the over-exaggerated, Hollywoodized ex boyfriend. I mean, c’mon, could Carson be any more of a stereotypical TV bad boyfriend? Not really a well developed character there but this is only a short story. The sitcom generalization mold fit well.
Also, the double date premise I borrowed from Jimmy’s Fake Girlfriend. I also had my two characters meet and work at a store. That was an accident but by the time I realized the similarity, the story had already started so I went with it.
In short, while it is an original story, it has some common elements with the creative work that gave me the idea.
Hopefully, it was an enjoyable read. The next 5-part short story will be in May. Maybe I should start working on it now.
Nah, that’s not my style.
ck's days 