The Hollywood Quad: One Man Attempts to Re-Invent the Landscape on Television

If you think that Hollywood never creates anything original, that doesn't mean that someone in Hollywood isn't creating something you have never seen before.

Jim Troesh is an actor, writer, producer and director who is taking his story to television. He's currently in production on a half hour pilot for TV called "The Hollywood Quad." It's based on seven short hilarious podcasts he's produced currently running on www.YouTube.com and accessed through his website www.HollywoodQuad.com.

"After the writers' strike, I plan to offer the show to networks and production companies," Troesh said.

Troesh became a quadriplegic at the age of 14.

"I was into electronics and I was putting an antenna on a friend's roof. I never had a fear of anything. I was five feet from the high voltage lines on top of a telephone pole when a big spark of electricity arced off and hit me. It knocked me off the roof and they estimate I was hit with 40,000 volts of electricity. The fall caused my paralysis," Troesh explained. "I was in the hospital for almost a year. When I returned to high school, I didn't like it. I was stared at and made fun of. One of my teachers wheeled me back to my homeroom everyday and he'd talk with me. He became the reason I stayed in school. I took him for a writing class and dictated my assignments to him. He started putting A's on them. Writing was something I could actually do. I fell in love with writing."

Nevertheless, after graduating high school, Troesh wanted a break and spent two years smoking marijuana and watching cartoons.

"I moved in with some friends who were bikers and hookers. I got a lot of worldiness and learned a lot about people, bikers and hookers. But, I had smoked so much I couldn't remember what I had just said. I went back to college so I could focus on something, but took easy classes so I could still get high. I took film and music classes. In film class, we'd watch movies and write reviews. I consistently got good scores and my teachers encouraged me to take entertainment classes. When I slowed down on smoking pot, my grades got even better," Troesh said with a laugh. "In radio production, my teachers liked my commercials. Another teacher encouraged me to take acting classes to enhance my on-air talent. I decided acting was my thing. My big break came when I auditioned for Michael Landon and 'Highway to Heaven.'"

In fact, Troesh landed what was to have been only one episode involving four days of work. But, the successful producer, director and writer Michael Landon knew a good story when he saw it.

"Michael was happy with what I was doing. He expanded my role to a two-parter. I didn't understand the scope of the opportunity then. While I was there, they suggested I write a story for the show. I wrote a story around me. My character married the cousin of Victor French's character. Michael Landon told me, 'This is my cup of tea.' It wasn't a pity job; instead it was a good story. I was on the Today Show and did interviews for a ton of magazines. I played a recurring character over the next three years and we were in the top ten seen all over the world. I became a celebrity and traveled often on private jets and mingled with famous people."

Troesh didn't realize he needed to keep the ball rolling and something shifted in the late 80's. The work slowed down.

"Over the decades, it has changed for performers of color. People don't pay attention to color now, but when a disabled character is seen on screen viewers ask, 'Whoa! Is that a guy in a wheelchair in the background?' The public accepts some disabilities more than others and there were shows that obviously had characters who were disabled," Troesh said. "I got involved. I started writing pieces with me in them. I got into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences because I worked on 'Highway to Heaven.' I was President for a time of the Media Access Office and I got involved with SAG, AFTRA, and Equity and was the national chair of the Performers with Disabilities committee for AFTRA."

Troesh became familiar with all of the disability issues.

"It's a perception problem, really. Michael Landon was the exception. He didn't see my disability. It was a wonderful thing. If he didn't see a good story, he wouldn't have done it. The door was open then. I tend to think we were 'the issue of the month' in the 80's. Now, there are a few regulars on TV shows that are performers with disabilities, but you can count them on one or two hands," Troesh said. "Creating my own shows was my way back into the business. I put myself in the producer seat. I created my podcasts because I like to make people laugh. Industry executives love them. 'Sex and the Single Quad' has received nearly 100,000 views."

Troesh has also written and sold movie scripts such as the 2006 "Color of the Cross," focusing on a black Jesus.

"Who better to write about black Jesus than a white quad?" Troesh asked.

Troesh spent years studying and learning. From his research, he is the only quadriplegic improviser in the entertainment business. He trained with Avery Schreiber, Theatersports, Off the Wall, and wrote, produced, and performed with The Moving Targets.

"I used all of my experience for 'The Hollywood Quad.' I love to be funny and if people laugh, that's great. They immediately become more comfortable around my disability. I hired a lot of my improv friends and Bryan Cranston who plays Malcolm's dad on 'Malcolm in the Middle.' Bless his heart; Brian gave me a full day. I learned from Michael Landon. I surround myself with good actors," Troesh said.

Of course, Troesh realizes Michael Landon was a rarity in the industry.

"He was comfortable enough in his own ability. I learned directing on the set from Michael. Working with actors and how to shoot it. I'm getting positive feedback on the website and YouTube. My goal is to star in and executive produce 'The Hollywood Quad.' When it comes to vision, I hope this show can be used to sway public opinion and prove that it can be done," Troesh expressed. "I want to give people with disabilities a renewed hope to see people like themselves on television."

It does bother Troesh when able-bodied actors receive awards for playing people with disabilities.

"But, I do have my favorite films such as 'Coming Home,' with Jon Voight. He did a really good job. My biggest favorite is 'Whose Life is it Anyway?' starring Richard Dreyfuss because it's most similar to what I went through at the beginning," Troesh added. "The message to the able-bodied world is simply to open your eyes and don't be freaked out by people who are different than you. When I met with an executive producer recently, he looked at my chair more than me. I was like a girl with big boobs. I had to say, 'Up here mister.' When they forget I'm disabled, that's when they treat me normal. If I can use comedy in 'The Hollywood Quad' to get people laughing and help open eyes, that is my goal."

For more information on "The Hollywood Quad" visit www.HollywoodQuad.com.

Pictured: Jim Troesh directing "The Hollywood Quad" with his producer Tasha Hardy.