Before I say (write?) anything else, I'd like to extend my thanks publicly to Jaci and Dorothy for allowing me to be part of their crazy little gathering. Yes, folks, I actually survived an online conversation with those two. Though I have to say my participation was mainly limited to laughing hysterically at their antics--more, in fact, than I believe I've done in a long time.

Second, it wouldn't be your ragtime gal's blog without a story idea that'll likely go nowhere, so here it is:

Imagine if you will a TV sitcom, one in which the ratings reach near "Seinfeld" or "Friends" levels. Imagine further what happens when the show's breakout star comes out as transgender. Oh, and did I mention it happens on a special live May sweeps broadcast? And that it...um...wasn't exactly planned?

Our soon-to-be in over his head protagonist is none other than Kevin Charles "K.C." Mathieson, age nine, merchandising juggernaut and the most well-known face in the country. He plays the show's resident hellion K.C. Conroy on the ironically-titled "Family Values." Ironic because it features a fictional family that's anything but traditional: K.C.'s sitcom parents are a gay couple, and the woman who acted as surrogate mom for them rents the rooms upstairs. And supposedly, hilarity ensues.

But nobody's laughing as young K.C., in response to the oft-repeated line, "Promise me you'll be a good boy," screams--live, on-air--"I'm NOT a good boy! I'm not a BOY at all! I'm a GIRL, damn it!" He then runs off-set to the only place in the studio he feels remotely safe. Namely, a forgotten prop room where he, during whatever scant stretches of time he can manage to scrounge, becomes Kaitlin Charlotte--"Kaycee."

Meanwhile, the stunned cast, the child's agent and his mother are left in the midst of what appears to be the smoldering ruin of young K.C.'s career. And by extension, theirs.

Of course, not only does video of the outburst go viral, bloggers, Facebook and Twitter practically explode as everybody debates its meaning. Was he serious? Was it part of the script? Or was it just a ratings stunt? .
The warmup comedian for the show, who happens to be dating the kid's mother, suggests that K.C. lay low for awhile in the comedian's hometown in Arizona. As Kaycee.

She would finally be able to give being a girl a try--a dry run, as it were.

This may well be the one that I decide to take further, because I immensely enjoy reading about the inner workings of the TV industry, and know people in the business who might be able to help me with the technical things I don't know. So research at least won't be a nightmare.

I know I post a lot of these plot synopses here, and I hope they don't frustrate all of you. For me, you see, they serve a dual purpose--the blog is a good place to store ideas so they're not clogging my computer, and I can gauge public reaction to see if a given idea will go over. So I do hope you'll permit me this indulgence.

And before I go, just one more thing. Jaci, you're a girl! (Wheels like mad for the nearest bunker).