Premise

The idea of the show is to examine and explore everyday systems that surround our everyday lives. The show follows the basic idea of systems theory:

Systems theory is an interdisciplinary field of science and the study of the nature of complex systems in nature, society, and science. More specifically, it is a framework by which one can analyze and/or describe any group of objects that work in concert to produce some result. This could be a single organism, any organization or society, or any electro-mechanical or informational artifact.

The field of system theory has many competing and opposing schools of thought. We have reduced and simplified these into a formula that we think will work for a show.

Systems Theory

Systems theory is a fascinating view of our world, and can be applied to almost any subject. Once people are exposed to the idea, they should find it eye-opening.

A very simplified example of this is this graphic that shows the basic system of the economy.

Systems theory breaks down complex systems into core parts, and shows their interaction as part of the whole.

On a much smaller scale, another example would be a pecan tree. The tree is a system of roots that supply water and nutrients to a system of branches, which support a system of leaves, which provide energy for the other components through photosynthesis. The entire purpose of the tree as a system is to produce a pecan nut to perpetuate the system.

Systems also interact with each other. While a pecan tree is a system in-and-of-itself, it is also a part of many concurrent larger systems. It is also:

Part of the system of oxygen production

Part of the system of fruit cake production

Part of the system of commerce

Part of the system of landscaping

There are also smaller systems within the system of the pecan tree. The pecan nut itself is an entire system capable of regenerating the initial system that created it.

The Show

The idea of the show is to look at everyday systems. The pilot episode is looking at a 24hr. restaurant. Other possible episodes include a newspaper, an airport, and automobile, etc.

The goal of the show is to explain these fairly complex ideas in a way that would engage the audience and be informational while entertaining. While I have never seen a similar show, it is probably most closely related to shows such as Mythbusters, The Secret Life of Machines, Connections.

The show would probably have a host to introduce sections and for some voiceover, but most of the time would be devoted to showing the system in operation, with some interviews possible to play up the human interest a little.

Show structure

The following chart is what we are playing around with for the structure of each show. This structure is not broken down yet by commercial breaks with hooks or re-caps.