For all the fans of "The O.C.," "The West Wing," and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," welcome to The IO.  To Aaron Sorkin, here's the pitch to a new series direct from 5618 Star Lane.  Overlooking the lone star strip outside the Houston loop, you wouldn't believe the bustling activities happening inside AMIGOS headquarters.  There's drama, comedy, action, and maybe a little romance behind every nook and cranny.  There's heroism and sadly enough, tragedy.  Especially when it comes to anything remotely connected to IT or our copy machine, which has overstayed its welcome.

It might be a little challenging for cameras to weave in and out of hallways and follow characters' dialogues that flow in and out of each other.  First of all, there are no hallways.  And secondly, our morning ritual sets the tone for the day:  We walk through the front door in the morning (this of course only happens when we remember our office keys and spend five minutes cursing the new locking system), we put our bag lunches in the overpacked refrigerator (seriously, when are we going to get rid of that 10 week old guacamole?), pour a cup of Café AMIGOS coffee (that is, if we're lucky to be the ones not having to make it -- order online at cafeamigos.org), and scatter to our respective offices, never to speak to each other in person for the rest of the day (except at lunch where we talk about dogs, food, and Continental Airlines).  I'm just kidding.  A flurry of activity occurs after we check the inbox.  Every form of communication is used:  speaker phone, regular phone, IM, e-mail, text messages on cell phones, skype Internet phone, even mental telepathy. 

Plenty of life happens outside The IO, where staffers frequent the local pubs for a rousing game of darts, play intense games of racquetball at the local Y, or kickbox and spin through an hour of sweat.  And when we're in a good mood, maybe we'll throw some hot dogs on the grill, break open a piñata, and kick a soccerball around in the middle of the street.  Good time, really.  There are twists and turns every weekend, including the occasional salsa romps and the always engaging game of cherades or Cranium.

But it's the characters, storylines, and thrills that makes The IO worth its Thursday night time slot, in between "Grey's Anatomy" and "ER" of course.  When your job is to give 600 teenagers the summer of their lives, you're always going to be running with scissors.  Just wait until the summer, when the series comes to its thrilling climax:  we find out who the real heroes and villains are, who has been having secret relationships, and who stole Glenn's stapler. 

You just gotta be creative in this business.  That's why this show will have intrigue and charisma.  There's never a dull moment in our imaginary big glass building in downtown Houston.  Come see for yourself.       

Visit here to see some photos:  http://community.amigoslink.org/photos/mcloster/default.aspx