PREMISE
In 1971, Shep Gordon relocates the soon-to-be-famous Alice Cooper Band from a Detroit farmhouse to a haunted, mob-owned estate nested in a wealthy Connecticut enclave. Their presence shakes up the neighborhood and shows the young boy next door that fitting in isn't all that matters. It's shock rock meets high society in this coming-of-age story meets rock biopic.
“It’s shock rock meets high society in this coming-of-age story meets rock biopic. ”
THE SERIES
A one hour dark comedy that follows the lives of manager Shep Gordon and The Alice Cooper Band, as they move into the blue-blooded world of Greenwich Connecticut in early 1971. Before Vincent Furnier becomes "Alice" and Shep becomes “Supermensch”, they are just a group of outcasts who want to take over the world. Shep has a vision to help them accomplish this, and he moves them into an old haunted estate as the first step on their path to stardom. Next door to them lives Paul Gilliam, a snarky 13-year-old who feels like an outcast himself, and this new family's arrival – and eventual cultural disruption – becomes his saving grace.
"If I do my job perfectly, I will probably kill you..." – Shep Gordon
(Cont’d)
Inspired by true events, “Billion Dollar Babies” is a unique coming-of-age story that occurs in the middle of a critical crossroads in American culture. It is also a rock biopic about the early formative days of the iconic Alice Cooper Band, arguably the greatest theatrical rock act of all time, inspiring future artists from KISS and Marilyn Manson to even Lady Gaga.
In this origin story, all the tracks the band creates and records in the episodes are actual Alice Cooper songs from the time when they lived and recorded at the grand estate, “Quiet Corner”. A dazzling remnant of the gilded age of Greenwich, the estate will act as an interesting visual character throughout the show – the center of this magical world of Victorian wealth with its 80-foot ballroom, its own chapel, and a network of secret tunnels.
( Cont’d)
“Quiet Corner” even has its own ghost, the manor’s former owner (and builder) Clyde Fitch, who a century earlier conquered American Broadway theatre and now haunts the ballroom. Clyde’s untimely death 80 years prior was during the peak of his fame, and his path of acceptance remains unfulfilled. Clyde reveals himself to Alice (and eventually Paul), providing sage advice on stagecraft to Alice, helping the band refine their act.
Outside the front gates is a world of old money families that sees these rockers as the poster boys of all that is wrong with America, and struggles to understand how this gang of degenerates could possibly afford to live next door. It follows the course of acceptance, who is accepted, and the culture of success and how it's defined.
Paul gains access to the world next door through the tunnels that lead to the estate, as an escape from troubles both at home and at school. The band and their eventual acceptance of him inspires Paul to find his own artistic voice, giving him confidence as he struggles with his family's expectations.
“I would rather be misunderstood than lose my independence.” – Clyde Fitch
(Cont’d)
From within the estate's walls, Shep crafts brilliant strategies to make superstars of the band, by any means necessary. The guys have no idea how he managed to get them into this new place – which is owned by the mob – as he deftly avoids certain death with each new plan. Shep knows that the band needs to always embody their dangerous public persona in order to sell records, and – as determined and cunning as any of the wealthy neighbors – he gets himself and his “family” a chunk of the American dream.
But, as Shep famously says, “…if I do my job perfectly, I will probably kill you…”
Shep’s family is the band, a group of school friends striving for success. The insecure lead singer is Vincent (who will later become “Alice“), and with fame comes a nearly fatal drinking problem. Guitarist Michael Bruce and drummer Neal Smith are the “jocks”. Dennis Dunaway, the bassist, is the most reserved and the closest to Vincent. Dennis’ girlfriend Cindy is the band’s costume designer, and she is also drummer Neal Smith’s little sister. Then there is Glen Buxton – the brilliant lead guitarist and mercurial outlaw – who manages to spiral out of control every few weeks. Inside their home (living behind a wall in one of the hallways) is Charlie Carnel, the man responsible for creating the guillotines and lights in his makeshift laboratory in the cavernous basement.
"There goes our beloved, civilized society." – Mr. Nelson “Jasper” Cross III (neighbor and responsible citizen )
(Cont’d)
The reluctant mother hen is Jean, the caretaker of the mansion who works for its owner, Mr. Galano, in a job she could not refuse. She maintains order within the estate for what she sees as a family of misfits. It is her good nature and her generosity that allows the young Paul access to this magical world next door to him.
Paul first encounters the band while peering through a wall into the ballroom, which was the band's main rehearsal space. This room is accessible via the labyrinth of tunnels Paul discovers near an entrance to the garden. As Alice tries to read lyrics from a small piece of paper for what will become the song “Looney Tune”, Charlie discovers Paul’s hideaway and catches him. As Charlie drags Paul into the ballroom, the band all look over and laugh at Charlie’s prank. Paul ends up sitting on an amp in the corner of the room and watches them rehearse – and for a brief moment, he feels like he is part of the band.
"Don’t tar the walls, boys! ” – Jean, in response to the band’s new “soundproofing " idea for the ballroom.
(Cont’d)
The show is about fear of change, the bonds of friendship, the pursuit of success, and the price of fame – all set on a foundation based on the power of music, and the ability of art to change lives.
A show of conflicts and contradictions, that is quirky, bizarre and funny – much like the band's public persona, which is directly at odds with who they really are as people. As Paul finds out early on, these misunderstood neighbors who are viewed as “villains” may actually be the most “normal”.
In the exotic estate gardens, the band is watching Charlie test out a new guillotine for their stage show. Perched upon a wall, Paul sees that this new family of outcasts is actually closer and more functional than his own family, and the rest of this eccentric and wealthy neighborhood.
"Just take care of my estate ”" – Mr. G
THE WORLD
“Billion Dollar Babies” is set to the soundtrack of timeless Alice Cooper music that still influences pop culture to this day. It’s an eclectic world of blue-blooded families mixed with the heady atmosphere of the early 70s music scene of New York (think CBGB, Max’s Kansas City, NY Dolls, etc).
It is a time of cultural revolution, with guillotines and snakes, mobsters, Wasps, a flamboyant gay ghost, an American audience about to be shocked like they have never been shocked before, and “Supermensch” Shep Gordon – the mastermind whose brilliant strategies make superstars of these outcast kids from Phoenix. Their move to “Quiet Corner”, and its proximity to NYC, are the catalysts which inspire the band to new levels of success across the globe.
Having just arrived in this gilded world of Greenwich, the landscape of sprawling estates and tight-knit culture presents a conflict to Paul and his artistic sensibilities. Paul’s interaction with the band inspires him to be himself, rather than what others might mold him into.
The show's music also reflects a romantic and timeless moment – a time in America that is gone, but not forgotten. One listen to the song “Mary Ann” on Billion Dollar Babies, with the echo of the Quiet Corner ballroom and its old piano, says it all.
TONE
A visually compelling dramedy with a backdrop of the band’s music, a mysterious manor that becomes almost a “live” presence alongside the opulent old world beauty of Greenwich CT, and the grit of early 1970’s New York City.
The show follows our heroes Shep and Paul through the band’s rock and roll history, a ghost from a bygone era (also using flashbacks), and the eccentric neighbors in this elite enclave.
The appeal of the show crosses generational boundaries while still having a fresh feel, with characters and stories that our parents and even our grandparents can relate to. All set in a time when music doesn’t just influence pop culture – music defines pop culture.
The connective tissue of the story is the idea that everyone is learning the concept of acceptance and desire. The bed they make, and the world they want and get – or don’t get.
There is always a sense of dark humor coupled with sweet moments, showing that somehow they are all connected. The strong visual style of the world, infused with the inherent warmth and sincerity of its characters, combines to create a truly unique series.
THE PILOT
It’s do-or-die for the Alice Cooper Band, who are floundering in Detroit. Their quick-witted manager Shep Gordon somehow manages to rent a sprawling manor from a suave gangster in Connecticut in order to house the band nearer to NYC, the epicenter of the music scene in 1971. This new move may provide the band some much-needed inspiration and publicity, but also implies that the stakes are much higher than the guys realize.
Paul Gilliam, the misfit teen next door, is trying to fit into his new neighborhood while receiving weekly beatings from the neighborhood bullies. He has to learn how to navigate this new environment, yet his older brother and sister somehow seem to fit right in. Prompted by a lifesaving encounter with Jean, the estate’s caretaker, Paul will be rewarded with an introduction to the band's new world.
The wealthy neighbors conspire to blame the band for the "decline of the American civilization", even before they have moved in. The first day in their new home is a wake-up call that things will be different from now on – especially for young Paul.
The show is about fear of change, the bonds of friendship, the pursuit of success, and the price of fame – all set on a foundation based on the power of music, and the ability of art to change lives.
"“When we get together and rehearse, which is always living with each other, we always talk about what would make it better, what would mean more, what would say more. So we're always improving and growing.”
– Alice Cooper
“It’s like the Alice Cooper band in 1971…bizarre & cool.”
- Shep Gordon, May 2019 referring to the show concept.