Imagine the pitch to the networks: "I have this idea about miniseries. It's set on a ship. A really big ship. It's filled with rich people, but there are middle-class people with whom the audience can identify, and colorful ethnic people in the bottom of the ship who can supply the audience with stirring folk music and that honest legitimacy you get from people with Irish accents."
"Go on, we're fascinated."
"Good. Well, the ship sails, and on its maiden voyage it hits an iceberg. Takes a while to sink, so there's time to get some people off, but there aren't enough boats, so a lot of people die."
Sounds like a ripping yarn! What else should we know?
"It's a true story."
"Good Lord! This is incredible. Of course we'll finance it. What do you call it?"
"The working title is 'Titanic.'"
Yes. They're making another. For the 100th anniversary. How many does this make, now? Don't forget the Nazi one.
