Was the idea for Prison Break stolen?
by Bob Sassone, posted Oct 25th 2006 9:32AM
Two Missouri brothers are suing FOX and Prison Break creator Paul Sheuring, saying they stole the idea for the hit show.Robert Hughes was sent to prison in the 1960s for a crime he didn't commit, and older brother Donald helped him escape. On the surface this may not seem like much, but add on to the fact that they had their agent send FOX a script in 2001 about their experiences. The network wasn't interested, but then Prison Break debuted in 2005.
Robert Hughes makes an interesting point that, if they were to try and sell their story now, it would look like they were copying the show.
Whatever the outcome, their story actually sounds really interesting. They were on the run for four years, working various jobs around the country and staying one step ahead of the police.
Comments
by edd, posted Oct 25th 2006
intriguing.
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by David, posted Oct 25th 2006
The same thing happened with Lost. Some guy came out and said it was his idea. If he really did send the idea to Fox and they said no he really should get some money. How long can this show be on the air through? I don't see it lasting for more than a couple more seasons.
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by Vito, posted Oct 25th 2006
Although someone said they had the idea for Lost, it was pretty laughable. First of all, it was commissioned by Sid & Marty Krofft, the guys who did H.R. Pufnstuf. Secondly, it was in 1977. So unless the smoke monster turns out to be a guy in a furry costume, I think Lost reached its own territory extremely quickly.
This one seems like it has a bit more merit, but the big difference is that it doesn't sound from the article like he got himself INTO the prison to break his brother out. Which (aside from the tattoo) is arguably the only really innovative part of the Prison Break story.
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by Big News, posted Oct 25th 2006
This doesn't account for the fact that Prison Break wasn't directly bought by FOX. It was an idea by Paul Scheurring bought by the production company Original Television and licensed to FOX Broadcasting Channel. This would mean that in order for this to be true... FBC would have had to bring this idea to Paul Scheurring, and tell Original Television behind closed doors and off the record, that Original Television should buy this from Paul Scheurring because they will license it.
The reality is that there just isn't that many unique ideas out there. This won't hold water.
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by Dwayne Conyers, posted Oct 26th 2006
Art Buchwald successfully sued Eddie Murphy for "Living in America."
It seems that the best way to get your film or television show produced is to have it stolen.
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dwacon
http://dwacon.blogspot.com
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by Danny Cohen, posted Oct 25th 2006
I think that it is a lot of phooey. Secondly, the show will go on as long it keeps having good ratings, as most shows do. As long as the main dude, Michael, is alive, he can still be sought after. I imagine they would not try to solve up the whole conspiracy thing until the last season.
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by Danny Cohen, posted Oct 25th 2006
Also, I find it ridiculous that people who say their stuff is stolen always come out only once the show is POPULAR and they can get money from it. I would think that if these people were really concerned they would have sued Fox when there was first note of the show before it aired.
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by Tweaq, posted Oct 26th 2006
I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens in Prison Break, the real guys were exonerated; sooo maybe a spoiler?
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