Difference between satire and homage

[justathought555]

I know that it is legally acceptable to use copyrighted material for the purpose of satire, but what about homage?

Would it be OK to write a story (probably humorous) that was inspired by what I (and many others) consider to be the funniest single episode in sitcom history? The characters would be changed (don't plan on writing any celeb stories) but the non-sex activities would definitely draw from the ep in question.

Yes, I was bored at work tonight, and decided that TV (and Literotica) needs to ditch most current sitcoms, and start airing sexcoms.

OK, I was really bored tonight.

 

[BlackSnake]

How would anyone know that you took the idea from the citcom?

 

[justathought555]

How would anyone know that you took the idea from the citcom?

There are certain sitcom episodes that are classics (at least if you are a certain age ).

The ep I was thinking about (still haven't thought of a way to plausibly work it into a Lit story) was "Turkeys Away" from WKRP in Cincinnati.

 

[GrammarGoddess]

The WKRP things sounds like a great idea!

What you're describing sounds a lot like fanfiction. I don't know a lot about it, but I think it's technically not legal, but also not something anyone really gets upset about if you're not profiting from it.

Again, I don't know a lot about this.

 

[Captain Midnight]

Good point

I have a similar problem ... I saw a television series episode where a guest character wasn't the villain, but was so fanatical that I was sure he would eventually go psycho.

I've been planning a follow-up story for years, and now have a forum (using a Literotica character from another story series -- with the author's permission -- in the leading role). Wish I could buy all rights to the TV series and settle the matter once and for all, but it would cost a lot of money I don't have.

This is a homage to the series, but an acknowledgment that it slips up. It's hard to put this one in "Celebrities" because the character made a one-time appearance and was probably created as a spoof in his own right (of the leading character of another, better-known series from the same producer at the same time). I'm not naming names here, but it sure looked like the producer (who wrote for both shows) intentionally ripped off himself.

Any ideas would be most welcome. I could always change the guest character's name, but he gives a number of speeches referring to the case he worked on in the series episode, and those are pivotal to the plot.