a Knightly sitcom?

According to ESPN, the New York Times, and a host of other media outlets, CBS is considering a pitch from producer Lindy DeKoven and Paramount Television to turn the life of Robert Montgomery Knight into a situation comedy, or "sitcom." According to Variety Magazine, it is a done deal, as Paramount has been sold on the idea.

More power to them. DeKoven is a media heavyweight, having earlier served as executive vice president of miniseries and movies at NBC Entertainment and NBC Studios. Her most recent project? Developing "Listen Up," a new Fox comedy based on the life of Tony Kornheiser, the Washington Post columnist who co-hosts ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption." (Former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander is to play Kornheiser. The physical similarities are striking).

Knight's trials and tribulations give DeKoven plenty of material. Chances are that the General, "a family friend," will also help her publicize the show, both intentionally, as the show launches, and unintentionally, after an episode or two depicts him in an unflattering manner and he objects.

I imagine several former players and current coaches will have cameos in the sitcom. But will Isiah circa 2004 play Isiah circa 1981? How about Quinn Buckner? Will Kevin Bacon play Neil Reed? Or Ken Harvey? He could probably pull off either...

More important is what material to cover. Does the show begin or focus on Knight's childhood? His playing days at Ohio State? His personal life (marriages and divorce, or the kids)? The Pan Am games? Run-ins with the law? Or his players? And the refs? Much of the drama surrounding Knight takes place in the late 90's. Can the sitcom start chronologically and maintain public interest? Or will it effectively transition through time, covering multiple periods in Knight's life during a single episode?

Most if not all of these questions have yet to be answered, as DeKoven has yet to hire a writer for the show she will executive-produce. Here's looking at me, kid.