MOLINE, Ill. — For a few days, Hollywood came to the Quad Cities!
At WQAD, we’re no strangers to television. But in early February, we got a double dose as a TV crew from Chicago took over our building to film the pilot episode to a new sitcom called “Bettendorf Talks.”
The show follows a formerly well-known television talk show that’s making a comeback after a 10-year hiatus.
Guests of all sorts make an appearance (including a band that we heard all the way in our newsroom during the filming process) as the hosts work navigate working around regular news broadcasts, filming between shows, at night and on the weekends.
“It’s called ‘Bettendorf Talks’ but we think the Quad Cities – all five of them – are a great setting for this kind of show,” said David Pasquesi, the sitcom’s co-creator, co-writer and co-star. “It’s funny and there’s also some sadness – which we find hilarious!”
At the moment, the crew doesn’t know who might be willing to pick up the new show. They’re hoping to have the first episode edited by early summer, to enter the pilot into tv film festivals.
“Anything that allows us a little more latitude with language and content would be a little helpful,” said TJ Jagodowski, co-creator, co-writer and co-star. You might recognize him from his work on Sonic Drive-In commercials. “So streaming would be great, but we wouldn’t turn down a network!”