Crazy but true: Twitter to get its own TV Show (updated)

I had to double check my calendar to make sure it wasn’t April the 1st before posting about this.

According to the AP, Twitter is working with Reveille and Brillstein Entertainment to develop an unscripted series based on the site. The series will invite brief, 140 character postings from members the world over.

The show will “harness Twitter to put players on the trail of celebrities in a competitive format” – whatever that means.

The producers aim to bring the live interaction of Twitter onto the TV screen.

The series concept was apparently created by novelist/screenwriter Amy Ephron. Reveille and Brillstein aren’t revealing any further details on when the show might air or exactly how it will all work.

The startup is also officially backing a book of Twitter witticisms to be published by HarperCollins in the Fall.

Update

On a side note, it will be interesting to see whether  Twitter and Leo Laporte’s TWiT work on resolving trademark issues. Leo apparently holds trademarks related to streaming video/TV content and up until now there hasn’t been an issue but with this move – that’s likely to change. (thanks Ken Sheppardson)

Update from Leo Laporte himself:
“My trademark is in ALL video, not just streaming. We’ve been negotiating mainstream TV deals, as well. A Twitter TV show might well quash any broadcast deals I might make due to the confusion.”

Laporte has also posted the question to his Friendfeed subscribers, click here for the full discussion.

Update 2

I’d be tuning in if Twitter TV was anything like this: (thanks Jarret Myer)