Title: "Old Bob" Tales

Genre: Paranormal Horror / Folklore / Anthology

Format: (30 or 60 Minute) Episodic Anthology Series

Setting:

In the moss-draped, gator-haunted backwoods of old Florida, where cypress knees rise like forgotten tombstones and whispers echo through foggy bayous, legends live—and sometimes, they walk.

Series Synopsis:

Old Bob Tales is a haunting anthology series that pulls viewers deep into the eerie folklore of Florida’s forgotten corners. Each standalone episode unearths a chilling tale rooted in local myths, backwoods superstition, and whispered ghost stories passed down through generations. Guided by the cryptic storyteller “Old Bob”—a swamp-dwelling recluse who knows too much—each tale invites viewers to confront the thin, rotting line between myth and reality. As with the most dangerous legends, once you've heard a Bob Tale… it’s already too late.

Comparative Analysis:

Old Bob Tales

The Twilight Zone

• Similarity: Both are anthology series rooted in morality tales with a chilling twist. Like Twilight Zone, Old Bob Tales uses an omniscient narrator to introduce and close each story, framing each tale as a warning.

• Difference: Where Twilight Zone is speculative and often sci-fi, Old Bob Tales is rooted in folk horror, Southern Gothic, and environmental dread.

• Why It Works: Audiences love parables with a bite. The framing of lessons through suspense keeps them timeless.

American Horror Story

• Similarity: Horror anthology with a distinct setting and an evolving mythology. Old Bob Tales shares AHS’s appetite for stylized dread and occasional grotesque imagery.

• Difference: Old Bob Tales is subtler and leans on atmospheric terror and folklore over gore. It’s more literary and contained in scale.

• Why It Works: AHS proved there’s a hunger for high-production-value horror rooted in character and myth.

"Old Bob" (Narrator)

• Look: Tall, gaunt, weathered skin like tree bark. Wears a long oilskin duster, wide-brimmed hat low over shadowed eyes. Boots muddy, shirt threadbare but clean. Carries a lantern with an eerie greenish glow.

• Vibe: Southern mystic meets ghost story collector. Think Sam Elliott meets the Grim Reaper.

• Quirks: Whittles strange shapes while telling tales. Hums old folk tunes. Appears physically in some episodes—but never directly intervenes.

• Inspiration: A bit of Rod Serling, a bit of Hades from Hadestown.

Why Old Bob Tales Stands Out

• Narrative Voice: Old Bob is a franchise in the making—think Southern Rod Serling meets Hades. His ironic voice, moral tone, and character make him a meme-able and recognizable icon.

• Regional Freshness: Florida folklore is criminally untapped. From sugarcane revenants to moss spirits, the series has endless cultural depth.

• Contained Production: Low-cast, small-location horror means strong aesthetics with modest budgets—ideal for streaming seasons.

Ideal Buyers

1. FX/Hulu

• Home to American Horror Story. Would suit their catalog of elevated horror with anthology storytelling.

2. Netflix

• Global appetite for folk horror and horror anthologies is growing. Old Bob Tales fits right alongside Midnight Mass, Haunting, and Cabinet of Curiosities.

3. Amazon Prime

• Already hosts Lore. A great fit for regional supernatural storytelling.

4. Shudder/AMC+

• Folk horror fanbase. Opportunity to lead a lineup of uniquely Southern content.

5. HBO / MAX

• Prestige drama-horror hybrid. If pitched as more character-driven and literary (like True Detective), Old Bob Tales could live here beautifully.

Old Bob