There are certain cable channels that you might not watch because the theme of the channel isn't something you're interested in. Or maybe there's a channel where you only watch one or two shows and then nothing else. I don't know where The Independent Film Channel falls in your viewing schedule, but I think you might start watching it a lot more very soon.

IFC has picked up three very interesting shows from some very interesting people. The first show is the new David Cross/Will Arnett show 'The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret,' the UK comedy about an American temp worker (Cross) who somehow gets a big gig in the British office.

Earlier this summer, we told you about how the New York Television Festival was taking pitches from the public for a new television show. Well, festival folks have narrowed the pitches down to the best 50 and now you can watch them and vote for your favorite over at MSN Video. But hurry! They're only available for viewing through tomorrow (Friday) and you have to have Internet Explorer to do so.

The top two vote-getters each day will be finalists who will get to pitch their ideas to development executives. Only one person will get $8,000 to make a pilot out of his/her idea. The contest is in conjunction with IFC, which presumably can choose to pick up the show.

[Via Lost Remote]

The Independent Film Channel (IFC) is holding a nationwide pitch contest for the best idea for a television show. You just have to sit in front of a camcorder for one minute and pitch your idea. It has to be one, continuous take that is no longer than one minute. The videos are due by August 4, but IFC is only accepting 10,000 entries so it could end before that date. IFC will choose ten finalists who get to fly to NYC to pitch their idea live to a panel of industry folk and celebrities (oh my God) and then the winner receives a whopping $8,000 development deal that hopefully only covers the pilot but the rules don't really say.

Click here to learn more and enter the contest.

*The contest is also sponsored by the NY Television Festival. (Sorry for the oversight, Ben)

IFC, aka Independent Film Channel, has added two new half-hour programs to its summer line-up. The first, called The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, is about two best friends who are struggling to make it in Hollywood. One is a screenwriter and the other is an aspiring producer. Laura Kightlinger, head writer of Will & Grace, created and stars. The second series, called The Business, follows the bumbling cast of a previous series called The Festival as they try to make a movie.

Also this summer on IFC, June is Pulp Indies month, including Pulp Fiction, Dirty Pretty Things and the director's cut of Dawn of the Dead. And July is Queer Month, featuring an IFC original documentary, Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema.

Damn, I truly loved this show. Jon Favreau invites four industry pros to a restaurant and they eat and talk about the business and they film it. Simple, brilliant concept.

Sadly, the show has now stopped production. IFC is doing more scripted shows, and Favreau is much too busy with new projects (he's prepping John Carter Of Mars, a TV show, and a new movie, possibly with Vince Vaughn). If you check out the Dinner For Five site, you'll see a note from Jon, and he says he has created his own My Space page so we can keep track of what he's up to. And die-hard D45 fans can still talk about the show on their forums.

The first season of Dinner For Five is available on DVD. Hopefully the other seasons will be coming soon.