Assorted Afflatuses

Much to my surprise, Inspector Foyle returned to the airwaves on Sunday night, as a part of PBS's rechristened Masterpiece Mystery block. For those who missed the first four series of Foyle's War, the series features DCS Christopher Foyle, played by one Michael Kitchen, who unravels the assorted misdoings of criminals in World War II England. While I object ever so slightly to the soap opera-esque move to bring DCS Foyle out of retirement, I enjoyed watching the first episode of the latest series.

But, as the credits began to roll, I asked myself why all historical television series -- or at least all historical television series worth watching -- are dramas. Humor, to the best of my knowledge, existed in the 1940's. As I continued to think, an idea popped into my head, call it "The Bourgeois Next Door": one part "Desperate Housewives," one part "Rome," one part "Arrested Development."

The plot would center around some 18th century nobleman in Europe, say an Earl named Earl, who discovers one day that he has not a farthing to his name. Unable to extort enough money quickly enough from the serfs in his earldom to pay his creditors, Lord Earl sells the bulk of his land to the wealthy bourgeois on the adjoining estate.

Then, faced with the prospect of maintaing his and his family's lavish lifestyle and maintaing his standing at Court, Lord Earl uses his standing as a respectable gentleman to obtain a loan to start a highly profitable mercantile enterprise of some sort.

Of course, all that sounds rather dull and historical -- the perfect denouement for some sappy 17th century love story where the wealthy son of the Lord Earl can marry the beautiful girl from the village. But there is a twist.

As strange as it sounds, many people -- especially members of the titled aristocracy -- looked down upon the sort of "self-made man" or entrepreneur that most of the world, especially Americans love so much. To actually work for money was the ultimate faux pas for a 17th century noble.

So, "The Bourgeois Next Door" would be colored with the hilarious exploits of Lord Earl as he tries to hide his massive, wildly successful mercantile exchange enterprise from his family, his friends and the rest of the nation.

Just a thought. I highly doubt I will write the pilot script in the near future.