I never heard of the term "immersion journalist" until I discovered A.J. Jacobs and "The Year of Living Biblically," in which Jacobs decided to immerse himself in literal observance of the Old Testament for a calendar year. Then I got it.
Now the rest of y'all are going to experience the immersion journalist on the small screen... the Hollywood Reporter reports that Jacobs and writer David Katz, who both hail editorially from Esquire magazine, are doing a TV project called "Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30," which sounds pretty self-explanatory, and as HR notes, quite Barney Stinsonesque:
"The show is about a guy working at men's magazine who is reluctant
to embrace adulthood and his friend who is an immersion
journalist," said Katz, who is penning "Things" with Jacobs, an
immersion journalist.
Why should you like it? Well, Barry Sonnenfeld does.
In addition to executive producing, Sonnenfeld -- hot off his Emmy
win for helming the pilot of ABC's "Pushing Daisies" -- is on board
to direct the potential pilot.
"I thought it was a great idea for a show about modern-day men and
women dating and trying to grow up and commit while at the same
time surrounded by many reasons why not to grow up," Sonnenfeld
said.
From the comedic opportunities of the immersion journalist's life to the 30somethings not committing, there's certainly enough material there. Will the concept of "living Biblically" enter the plot of any upcoming episodes? I guess we'll see. But the more I talk to people out here in LA, the more I understand that being hired to create a TV project and actually managing to get that product on-air are two different things. So here's wishing Jacobs and Katz good luck.