Actor/bodyguard/boxer and one-time NYC Hells Angel president Chuck Zito filed the suit Tuesday, alleging that in 2004 he pitched the idea for a dramatic series about a "renegade motorcycle club" to FX. The network passed but began developing Sons of Anarchy with Sutter in 2006. Next thing you know it's on the air -- and this year it's in the Emmy hunt.
The timing's not lost on Sutter, who raised that issue -- among many others -- in a blistering rebuke on his personal blog. Seriously, this open-air lashing makes Cory Edwards's Weinstein-bashing this week look like shiatsu massage by comparison:
Before I dissect the claim, let me say that I know guys like Chick. [sic] He tried to file a legal claim a few months back and it was so preposterous that I believe FX legal simply dismissed it. So he's pissed and he's desperate. What we are witnessing now is his "plan B". And it's outlaw mentality in full gear. He will take his bogus claim and shop it to every celebrity rag and website hungry for topical gossip, he'll go on Celebrity Justice, TMZ, any sleaze forum or cable access show that will have him. He will become a bitter, juvenile gnat buzzing in the ear of FX and myself. He will use lies, intimidation, and his big mouth to become such a pain in the ass, in the hope that Fox will throw some money at him to shut the f*ck up. It's not a coincidence that his claim hits while Academy members are voting.
Here's the problem with his plan. When it comes to parting with cash, there's one badass outlaw that makes Zita look like a pussy -- his name is Rupert, and Rupe don't sway. Trust me, Chucky could firebomb our lot and Fox wouldn't fork over a f*cking dime to this guy. That's why I love them... my parent company is as stubborn and aggressive as I am.
So here's my bi-monthly reminder to every delusional bitch who thinks that they've come up with the idea for SOA --
HAVING THE F*CKING IDEA IS NOT THE SHOW. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE TV DRAMAS PITCHED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. NONE OF THEM HAS MADE IT TO SERIES, EXCEPT SOA. BECAUSE THEY SUCKED. The same way there were dozens of mob family pitches before the Sopranos and crime scene pitches before CSI.
What follows at Sutter Ink is a worthwhile point-by-point response to the accusations. But be sure to give some equal time to Zito, whose own personal Web site communicates all you really need to know about the man behind the lawsuit. Four words: Eye of the Tiger. This ain't over by a damn sight.
ยท DOUCHEBAGGERY IS THE GREATEST FORM OF FLATTERY... AGAIN [Sutter Ink via The Live Feed]