Last Laugh
GM Class is the first major studio comedy built around the Ghost in the Machine of the Europan events. Hollywood brought Jay Baker a big budget to make a family-friendly culture-clash romp. Baker brought IP rights, CGM’s young, built-in audience, and a worldwide theater network. He insisted on co-directing and producing the movie he thought audiences wanted to see.
That was not the movie Hollywood thought it was buying. The GM Class premise was still intact, a Hogan's Heroes meets Bewitched take on the Europans living at the Internment Lagoon. Commander Klunk tries to keep one step ahead of his ingenious and unruly prisoners, usually without success, while GM occasionally bails everyone out. But Baker's version was becoming obscene and irreverent. His GM is more Loki than Jehovah: a lovable scoundrel.
The above image is a production still from the scene that finally exhausted the studio's patience. GM and a beautiful Europan are relaxing in the TV lounge and definitely not watching Buckaroo Banzai. After enjoying some literature together, they share considerably more. The scene is funny, sexy, and well beyond the PG rating the producers had agreed to deliver.
After seeing the rushes, the studio suspended further financing unless Baker agreed to step down. He declined. Enough of the film was already in the can, and Baker had enough money, rights, theater relationships, and wealthy friends to finish it without them. His first call was to CFO Danny Rosen.
“How do I buy a studio?” Baker asked.
He didn't need to. GM Class opened to one of the largest theatrical launches in movie history, while Baker's participating theaters turned it into an event by pairing it with The Halvah from Outer Space. The same qualities that frightened the studio proved to be much of the appeal.
Hollywood came back. Baker did too. There was more money to be made together. Baker signed a five-year deal to develop GM-related streaming entertainment. The first project is a family friendly streamer based on GM Class. Bluey better watch his ass tushy, Kutya's coming.
