We open on two nerdy guys sitting in armchairs, and talking directly to the camera. Kind of like Andrew did in Storyteller, except without the word "vampyres." (M: That basically changes everything.) (K: TRUE.) It's Ed and Harry from season 1's Hell House. They talk about how this is an unsolicited pilot intended for the hands of a network executive who's been struck by the writer's strike and is looking for alternative content.
Aaaah, yes. The writer's strike of 2008. That was a dark time. At least it gave us Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog?
Shrine o' Spielberg. We're treated to like 20 seconds of Casablanca, which is clearly the best 20 seconds of this entire show, and then Dawson's moping over having to write a final essay comparing his own life to Casablanca. Um...
He starts writing about how Hollywood Sabbatical is clearly evil and his archnemesis, then deletes it all because that won't get him a good grade. He asks Joey why he still wants to please Hollywood Sabbatical, and she's all "IDEK". (D: Uh, because she's your teacher? For a class that's actually important to your hopeful career path?) She suggests he interview someone. He decides he'll present his final on camera because that way he'll get bonus points for thinking outside the box.
He starts writing about how Hollywood Sabbatical is clearly evil and his archnemesis, then deletes it all because that won't get him a good grade. He asks Joey why he still wants to please Hollywood Sabbatical, and she's all "IDEK". (D: Uh, because she's your teacher? For a class that's actually important to your hopeful career path?) She suggests he interview someone. He decides he'll present his final on camera because that way he'll get bonus points for thinking outside the box.