<human>: I have a TV show idea that I would like to pitch to some networks, but have very little idea how to go about starting this process.  I would like to sell the idea, but making money off of it is really a lot less important to me than getting someone to give this show a chance.  I obviously won't give out the show idea here, but it is something in the reality TV genre that hasn't been done before as far as I know.  This is a really great chance to help a lot of people out and is something very close to me.  I have a lot of great ideas for the show and believe it is something people would watch.

Now I know the best advice if I want to protect my idea and be able to stay involved in the development of the show would be to get a lawyer.  However, I am a graduate student living in San Francisco with my wife and we literally have no extra money to do this.  Outside of a lawyer, what ideas do you have to get the opportunity to pitch this show to someone and at the same time protecting my interests?

To start I know I can send a letter by certified mail to myself detailing the show idea and keeping a couple copies of that letter in a few locations unopened to show a date at which I clearly had an idea.  I would do this before contacting any network to at least show that I not only had the idea, I have proof that I developed the idea before contacting them.  Other than that, I really don't know what I can do from the protecting myself aspect.

I'm sure I have more questions, but for now I just want to start getting into a position to bring this show into existence.  Thanks!

Can you give me a shortened version of the text?
<bot>: I have an idea for a TV show I want to pitch to some networks.  How do I protect my interests and how do I get the opportunity to pitch a show to a network in the first place?