The TV Series

Positive & inspirational

“Who Says I Can’t” is a new television show I am creating that tells the story of brave and determined men and women as they overcome disabilities and become athletes. The program will feature the “up close and personal” style of Olympic features combined with the heart-warming community elements of “Extreme Makeover” and mix them with the excitement of “The Amazing Race.”

“Who Says I Can’t” will be hosted by Jothy Rosenberg, a cancer survivor, entrepreneur, and extreme athlete. Jothy lost a leg and then a lung to cancer as a teenager. With an experimental treatment, he beat the odds and survived to become an avid swimmer and biker. He also earned a PhD in computer science and has started various high tech companies. Jothy is a true renaissance man.

In each hour episode Jothy will introduce three different characters on location and tell their story using interviews with them, family members and doctors. Family photos and videos will help tell the story. Jothy will then participate with the subject in whatever athletic endeavor they are undertaking. Whether it’s climbing a mountain, open water swimming or mountain biking, Jothy will say “Who Says I Can’t” and give it his best shot.

Along the way Jothy will relate his own experiences while encouraging the subjects. He was a 16-year-old high school student when diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumor that usually develops during adolescence.  He had an above knee amputation. Three years later, while in college, the cancer metastasized and part of his lungs had to be removed. A doctor told Jothy no one had previously survived this type of cancer once it spreads to the lungs.

So, Jothy headed to the Rocky Mountains. His plan – “Ski till I die.” Well, spring came, the snow melted and he was still alive. He lived because of an experimental treatment. Jothy went on to get a PhD in computer science and become a successful tech entrepreneur and never stopped skiing, swimming, riding, rafting and trying new things every time he was challenged. He’s swum the Alcatraz Sharkfest event 16 times, rode the 192-mile Pan Mass Challenge Bike-a-thon 7 times and works out just about every day.

Profiles in Attitude

One person we hope to profile on the show is Oksana Masters. She was born in the Ukraine with multiple births defects; her left leg was longer than her right leg and she had practically no tibia. She was adopted by a single mother when she was 7 years old and brought to the U.S. After a series of operations both legs were eventually amputated.

Oksana loved sports and tried her hand at, believe it or not, ice skating. She moved on to horseback riding and then played volleyball eventually being invited to try out for the U.S. Paralympic team. In the summer of 2002 she was recruited to try rowing and came to realize this sport was perfect for her abilities. Oksana is currently training to compete in her first international competition, the 2010 World Rowing Championship in New Zealand.

For this episode, Jothy will try his hand at competitive rowing, something he has never done before.

Other people profiled will include a gentleman who found himself over weight and unable to do anything athletic. He lost more than 60 pounds and now, in his late 40s, is an extreme biker specializing in climbing mountain roads. Hugh Herr is another story to tell. He lost both knees from frostbite while climbing Mt. Washington. Herr became a full professor at MIT focusing on robotics. He’s developed and patented special microprocessors for knee and ankle prosthetics. He also runs a camp in Florida for disabled kids.

“Who Says I Can’t” will also feature special editions focusing on injured returning vets as they fight to fit back into society after their sacrifice. Soldiers like Luke Murphy who joined the Army while still in high school and returned from one tour in Iraq without a scratch. Just 20 days before an honorable discharge, he got orders to go back to Iraq. Eight months into his second tour Luke was in Sadr City after midnight in April 2006 when his Humvee got hit by an IED. He lost both legs but has become an avid skier.

“Who Say I Can’t” will be a show to encourage, to cheer, to laugh and to cry with. It will be about men and women with character who reach down deep inside themselves and pull out of their disability. The show will celebrate their strength and courage and inspire and teach all of us how to never give up.

The program will be a positive vehicle in a marketplace full of negativity. For a sponsor it means being associated with program promoting self determination and beating the odds. It’s a timely concept and one that will create a positive glow for any sponsor.

Status

We have a small scrappy production company. We have created the 5 minute “sizzle reel” we need to sell the concept. A first network of huge import has asked to be the first to view it in October. A major sports company has expressed interest once a network commits. This is real and it is going to happen. If this interests you one thing you could do to help is send me contact info on people you think we need to include. In all something like 39 people will get profiled.

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