Series Pitch Website

A secret life. A groundbreaking show. A battle for truth in 1950s America.

one-page overview

Late Night with Bob and Lena One Page

pitch deck

episode breakdown

pilot episode

A talented radio producer, Bob Klein lands a job at NBC, where he navigates the cutthroat entertainment industry while hiding his sexuality.

Bob’s professional and personal world shifts when he meets Lena Horne, recognizing her as the ideal host for a variety show that challenges racial and social norms.

However, his vision for Lena’s show clashes with industry racism, corporate cowardice, and Southern affiliates unwilling to support a Black lead.

Powerful figures like Roy Cohn, who represents the political oppression of McCarthyism while hypocritically concealing his own sexuality threaten Bob.

Despite risks, Bob commits to pushing forward with Lena’s show, setting the stage for his battle against the forces trying to silence them both.

season breakdown

Episode 1 – The Spark

Bob Klein, a closeted but ambitious radio producer, lands a job at NBC and meets Lena Horne, seeing her as the perfect host for a groundbreaking variety show. Facing McCarthyism and racial barriers, he risks everything to push the project forward.

Episode 2 – Breaking Barriers

Bob and Lena form a strong bond, but their show faces resistance from network executives afraid of backlash. As homophobia and racial discrimination intensify, Bob’s personal life grows more precarious.

Episode 3 – The Lavender Scare

A police raid on NBC exposes the dangers of Bob’s secret life. He falls for Billy Strayhorn, while Lena struggles with Hollywood’s racial double standards. The show’s future hangs in the balance.

Episode 4 – The Pilot Gamble

Bob lands Judy Garland as a guest and successfully films Lena’s pilot. Just as it seems like a breakthrough, NBC kills the show, fearing affiliate and sponsor backlash.

Episode 5 – The Fallout

Lena turns to civil rights activism, while Bob moves to Hollywood, hoping for greater creative freedom. He watches his secret lover, Frank, enter a sham marriage, forcing Bob to question his own compromises.

Episode 6 – Legacy & Resistance

Bob orchestrates a covert LGBTQ+ gathering, publicly challenging the system. Lena faces backlash for her activism but refuses to be silenced. Years later, Bob witnesses the early seeds of change he helped plant begin to take root.