Magnolia Pictures has acquired the U.S. rights to Susanna Fogel’s "Life Partners," starring Leighton Meester ("Gossip Girl"), Gillian Jacobs ("Community"), Adam Brody ("Some Girl(s)") and Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious"), from Red Crown Productions. The film, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, was written by Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz, whose other collaborations include the series "Chasing Life" and the pilot "Washingtonienne," and came out of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Read More: Susanna Fogel Examines a Complex Female Friendship in "Life Partners" "Life Partners" tells the story of straight Paige (Jacobs) and lesbian Sasha (Meester), who are best friends in their late 20s. When Paige meets Tim (Brody), the friends' relationship changes. "Susanna is a great comedic talent, and we are so happy to be bringing her film to audiences," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles in a statement.
- 5/17/2014
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to Susanna Fogel's “Life Partners” following its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, the company announced Friday. Red Crown Productions and Haven Entertainment produced the film, which stars Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”), Gillian Jacobs (“Community”), Adam Brody (“”The O.C.”) and Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”). Also read: Mark Feuerstein, Kate McKinnon, Julie White Join Indie Comedy ‘Life Partners’ (Exclusive) Developed within the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, “Life Partners” was written by Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz, whose other collaborations include the series “Chasing Life” and the pilot “Washingtonienne.” Straight Paige (Jacobs) and lesbian Sasha (Meester...
- 5/16/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Exclusive: I’ve learned that ABC Family is finalizing deals for three pilot orders — to drama Terminales and comedies Phys Ed and Continuing Fred. They will join the network’s recently picked up drama pilots: multi-ethnic family show The Fosters, executive produced by Jennifer Lopez, and Socio, about a teen psychopath. Terminales is an adaptation of the Mexican drama series created and produced by Miguel Angel Fox. Described as “Sex And The City if Carrie Bradshaw was dying of cancer,” Terminales follows a young woman’s life after she is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Lionsgate TV and Kapital Entertainment are producing; Aaron Kaplan is executive producing; Paul Presburger is overseeing for Televisa, which owns the format. ABC Family originally put the project in development in August 2011. In April, it brought in new writers — Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz, creators of the HBO comedy pilot Washingtonienne – to write a new script,...
- 9/17/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz, creators of the HBO comedy pilot Washingtonienne, have come on board to write an adaptation of the Mexican drama series Terminales for ABC Family. The hire seems appropriate as Terminales is sometimes described as “Sex and the City‘if Carrie Bradshaw was dying of cancer” and Sarah Jessica Parker, who played Bradshaw on the hit HBO comedy, developed and executive produced Washingtonienne. Created and produced by Miguel Angel Fox, Terminales chronicles the life of young and successful publicist April Marquez who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Fogel and Lefkowitz replace Del Shores who was originally tapped to write the project. Lionsgate TV and Kapital Entertainment are producing Terminales. Aaron Kaplan is executive producing; Paul Presburger is overseeing for Televisa which owns the format.
- 4/26/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Black Sheep Entertainment has teamed with Firefly: Theater & Films to produce "Unscreened," a series of four short plays written by some of Hollywood's hottest female writing talent, including Emily Halpern ("Private Practice"), Leslye Headland ("Terriers"), Beth Schacter ("Normal Adolescent Behavior") and Susanna Fogel & Joni Lefkowitz ("Washingtonienne"). The cast features "Cloverfield" star Michael Stahl-David, Adrianne Palicki (TV's "Friday Night Lights"), Shannon Woodward ("Raising Hope"), Zosia Mamet ("Mad Men") Sarah Agor, Will Greenberg, Julia Garro, Scott Kradolfer, Jesse Williams and Firefly principal Steven Klein. Halpern, Schacter and Fogel are directing the plays,...
- 1/11/2011
- The Wrap
In what’s bound to be Grey’s Anatomy’s most talked about character reveal since Eric Dane’s McSteamy stepped out of that infamous shower four years ago, Jackson Avery—as played by Jesse Williams—will ditch his scrubs in the Oct. 14 episode during a tense confrontation with his supervisor, Teddy (Kim Raver). But before you call the Gratuitous Nudity Police, know that he has a serious medical reason for doing so: He tries (and fails) to use his impressive body of work to get ahead.
“He and Teddy butt heads throughout the episode and it leads to a faceoff,...
“He and Teddy butt heads throughout the episode and it leads to a faceoff,...
- 10/1/2010
- by Michael Ausiello
- EW - Inside TV
Ever wonder how TV shows are born? Well, when a Mommy TV show and a Daddy TV show love each other very much, they start to kiss and rub their bodies together, and then they...
Wait, scratch that. Wrong explanation.
The truth is, all year long, broadcast and cable networks hear pitches from writers and producers, which they then commission into actual scripts. Every winter and spring, they order some of these scripts to "pilot," which means the show is cast and a "pilot" episode is shot.
This does not mean that the show is necessarily ever going to make it on air. Pilots are ordered precisely so the networks can decide whether they want to invest in them. From the pilot, they can see how the show looks, whether or not it "works," and whether casting changes are necessary. Case in point, last year Fox passed on Ron Moore...
Wait, scratch that. Wrong explanation.
The truth is, all year long, broadcast and cable networks hear pitches from writers and producers, which they then commission into actual scripts. Every winter and spring, they order some of these scripts to "pilot," which means the show is cast and a "pilot" episode is shot.
This does not mean that the show is necessarily ever going to make it on air. Pilots are ordered precisely so the networks can decide whether they want to invest in them. From the pilot, they can see how the show looks, whether or not it "works," and whether casting changes are necessary. Case in point, last year Fox passed on Ron Moore...
- 2/4/2010
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
If you ask Manhattan's female authors--specifically of the urban chick-lit genre--whom they would want to option their novels, the answer is often Sarah Jessica Parker. They would also like her to produce the film adaptation, star in it, and maybe even have a say in the wardrobe, if she has a spare moment. This has made Ms. Parker, 44, very busy. Currently in development at her production company, Pretty Matches, is The Washingtonienne, an HBO comedy series about the lives of three 20-something women working on Capital Hill, based on Jessica Cutler's naughty novel of the same title; The Late Bloomer's Revolution, a film adaptation of Amy Cohen's memoir about how she and her father both entered the dating world after the death of her mother; and a Project Runway--style art competition picked up by Bravo a year ago. Just last...
- 8/26/2009
- by The New York Observer
- Huffington Post
Mark Mylod has signed to direct "What's Your Number?" Columbia's romantic comedy starring Anna Faris. Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson of Contrafilm are producing the pic, previously titled "20 Times a Lady."
"Number" centers on a woman who treks through her sexual past to find Mr. Right, exploring the idea of sexual quotas and whether such numbers matter.
Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan wrote the script, based on Karyn Bosnak's book.
Sam Dickerman and Adam Milano are overseeing the project for the studio.
British director Mylod helmed "Ali G Indahouse" before moving stateside with HBO's "Entourage," on which he was a director and co-executive producer. He worked on Showtime's "United States of Tara" and recently finished "Washingtonienne," the HBO comedy pilot exec produced by Sarah Jessica Parker.
"Number" centers on a woman who treks through her sexual past to find Mr. Right, exploring the idea of sexual quotas and whether such numbers matter.
Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan wrote the script, based on Karyn Bosnak's book.
Sam Dickerman and Adam Milano are overseeing the project for the studio.
British director Mylod helmed "Ali G Indahouse" before moving stateside with HBO's "Entourage," on which he was a director and co-executive producer. He worked on Showtime's "United States of Tara" and recently finished "Washingtonienne," the HBO comedy pilot exec produced by Sarah Jessica Parker.
- 4/22/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leslie Mann and Elizabeth Banks are set to star in the comedy What Was I Thinking? for New line, report the trades. The flick is based on the book of the same name by Barbara Davilman and Liz Dubelman and compiles 58 bad boyfriend stories. The film version sees a woman getting dumped during her engagement party, causing her friends to spring into action and whisk her away on a ski trip for healing and hedonism. Four flashbacks dealing in "worst ex-boyfriend" tales, threaded by the adventures on the ski trip, follow. Mann would play a woman who dates a lot but never seems to have serious relationships, while Banks is a woman on the rebound. Two other lead female parts are called for. Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz are writing the screenplay. Fogel and Lefkowitz are also behind the Sarah Jessica Parker HBO pilot The Washingtonienne - a comedy that...
- 4/17/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
New Line has picked up "What Was I Thinking?" a comedy project from Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz with Leslie Mann and Elizabeth Banks attached to star. Lynda Obst is producing.
The project is based on a book of the same name which saw Barbara Davilman and Liz Dubelman compile 58 bad boyfriend stories. Obst saw the book and realized it would make a great hook for a movie. She then enlisted Fogel and Lefkowitz, who wrote the Sarah Jessica Parker HBO pilot "The Washingtonienne," to come up with a movie story.
The take sees a woman getting dumped during her engagement party, causing her friends to spring into action and whisk her away on a ski trip for healing and hedonism. Four flashbacks dealing in "worst ex-boyfriend" tales, threaded by the adventures on the ski trip, follow.
"It's a story of how women help each other," said Obst. "And we do that by telling stories.
The project is based on a book of the same name which saw Barbara Davilman and Liz Dubelman compile 58 bad boyfriend stories. Obst saw the book and realized it would make a great hook for a movie. She then enlisted Fogel and Lefkowitz, who wrote the Sarah Jessica Parker HBO pilot "The Washingtonienne," to come up with a movie story.
The take sees a woman getting dumped during her engagement party, causing her friends to spring into action and whisk her away on a ski trip for healing and hedonism. Four flashbacks dealing in "worst ex-boyfriend" tales, threaded by the adventures on the ski trip, follow.
"It's a story of how women help each other," said Obst. "And we do that by telling stories.
- 4/16/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Brant Sersen's last film, the Rob Corddry-starring comedy Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story, won the audience award at SXSW 5 years back. His follow-up, Splinterheads, stars Rachael Taylor (top billed in the Washingtonienne pilot) and Lea Thompson (riding the heat of the recent resurgance of Howard the Duck), and is premiering at SXSW in Emerging Visions. Sersen answers The 5 Questions We Ask Everyone after the jump. </ ...
- 3/12/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
The Daily Beast has chosen who they think are the Breakout Stars for 2009 and Channing Tatum tops their list. Here's what they had to say about Chan and why they feel 2009 is his year...
The Daily Beast predicts this promising crop of young actors will hit the big time this year. From Lenny Kravitz’ daughter to Michael Cera’s girlfriend, meet the class of 2009.
Channing Tatum
Yes, you’ve seen Channing before. He was in the teen dance-off Step Up, the Queens indie A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and the Iraq soldier drama Stop-Loss. But 2009 is going to be the Year of Tatum. (You heard it here first.) He will star opposite Big Love’s Amanda Seyfried in Dear John, the latest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel to transition to the big screen—basically, this year’s The Notebook. Then he appears in Michael Mann’s 1930s gangster noir,...
The Daily Beast predicts this promising crop of young actors will hit the big time this year. From Lenny Kravitz’ daughter to Michael Cera’s girlfriend, meet the class of 2009.
Channing Tatum
Yes, you’ve seen Channing before. He was in the teen dance-off Step Up, the Queens indie A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and the Iraq soldier drama Stop-Loss. But 2009 is going to be the Year of Tatum. (You heard it here first.) He will star opposite Big Love’s Amanda Seyfried in Dear John, the latest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel to transition to the big screen—basically, this year’s The Notebook. Then he appears in Michael Mann’s 1930s gangster noir,...
- 1/25/2009
- by Blog Expert
- Channing Tatum Unwrapped
HBO did some serious holiday shopping the past two days.
On Thursday, the pay cable network picked up to series two comedies: "How to Make It in America," toplined by Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk, and the Jason Schwartzman starrer "Bored to Death."
They follow the Wednesday series order for another male-centered comedy, "Hung," starring Thomas Jane.
Both "How to Make It" and "Bored" are said to have received eight-episode orders.
"How to Make It" marks the third series on HBO from Stephen Levinson's Leverage and Mark Wahlberg's Closest to the Hole, whose other two shows on the network -- the drama "In Treatment" and the comedy "Entourage" -- recently landed Golden Globe nominations for best series.
The show revolves around Ben (Greenberg) and his friend Cam (Rasuk), enterprising twentysomethings who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American dream.
Shannyn Sossamon and Scott "Kid...
On Thursday, the pay cable network picked up to series two comedies: "How to Make It in America," toplined by Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk, and the Jason Schwartzman starrer "Bored to Death."
They follow the Wednesday series order for another male-centered comedy, "Hung," starring Thomas Jane.
Both "How to Make It" and "Bored" are said to have received eight-episode orders.
"How to Make It" marks the third series on HBO from Stephen Levinson's Leverage and Mark Wahlberg's Closest to the Hole, whose other two shows on the network -- the drama "In Treatment" and the comedy "Entourage" -- recently landed Golden Globe nominations for best series.
The show revolves around Ben (Greenberg) and his friend Cam (Rasuk), enterprising twentysomethings who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American dream.
Shannyn Sossamon and Scott "Kid...
- 12/19/2008
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Suddenly TheWB is not just for teens anymore. TheWB.com has launched a much more adult slate of programming this winter, and so far the more adult-geared humor has delivered. Earlier this week the holiday treats came early with the all-at-once launch of Rob Coddry's Childrens' Hospital. But you might have missed Joni and Susanna, an equally delightful present with all six episodes dished out this week. The semi-scripted web series was created by Joni Lefkowitz, and Susanna Fogel who met in a Second City La sketch comedy class six years ago. After putting a number of low-fi videos up on Joni's YouTube channel, it wasn't long before they found themselves with a deal from Warner Bros. There's no doubting there are few topics that are taboo for Joni and Susanna, which help makes their web series a joyous, uncensored romp. Kudos to TheWB for introducing a show with noticeable...
- 12/18/2008
- by Lindsay Stidham
- Tubefilter.com
With a new web series, a pilot for HBO in post production, and a "Reality Bites for the MySpace generation" project in development, out writer-actor Joni Lefkowitz is one of the women to watch in 2009.
Lefkowitz and her writing partner and co-star, Susanna Fogel, first gained notoriety with their wry YouTube videos in which they filmed themselves looking for parking, going for fast food, and complaining about the early picket line hours during the WGA writers' strike.
Less than a year later, Lefkowitz and Fogel came up with the eponymous series, Joni & Susanna which is now a part of the original programming line up on TheWB.com, Warner Bros' video-on-demand website.
Lefkowitz talked to AfterEllen recently about her new show and its depiction of the darker side of women's friendships; lesbian films; and why being gay isn't interesting enough to be the focus of her work.
AfterEllen: Congratulations on your...
Lefkowitz and her writing partner and co-star, Susanna Fogel, first gained notoriety with their wry YouTube videos in which they filmed themselves looking for parking, going for fast food, and complaining about the early picket line hours during the WGA writers' strike.
Less than a year later, Lefkowitz and Fogel came up with the eponymous series, Joni & Susanna which is now a part of the original programming line up on TheWB.com, Warner Bros' video-on-demand website.
Lefkowitz talked to AfterEllen recently about her new show and its depiction of the darker side of women's friendships; lesbian films; and why being gay isn't interesting enough to be the focus of her work.
AfterEllen: Congratulations on your...
- 12/16/2008
- by dennis
- AfterEllen.com
James Wilkie Broderick was still showing off his Obama pride yesterday on his way to school with his mom Sarah Jessica Parker. Post-election, Sjp is keeping the politics going working on her new HBO series, The Washingtonienne, as well as recording an audio tour for an upcoming exhibit at the Met. One project she's not starting quite yet is the sequel to Sex and the City that Kim Cattrall recently confirmed. Sarah Jessica said, "I’m thrilled to know Kim is excited but all the deals are not yet done. With ‘the wind on our heels,’ we hope to make it a reality." That sounds like a work in progress, but hopefully it just means Sjp is waiting for the right time to confirm it herself. Bauer-Griffin Online...
- 11/12/2008
- by PopSugar
- Popsugar.com
HBO is firming up the casts of its comedy pilots "Washingtonienne" and "How to Make It in America," adding Jason Dohring and Kate Burton to the former and Shannon Sossyman and Scott Mescudi to the latter.
"Washingtonienne," based on Jessica Cutler's book, revolves around the professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill.
Dohring will play Spencer, a senior legislative assistant for the same senator for whom Jackie (Rachel Taylor) works. Burton will play Joy, the senator's put-upon personal assistant.
Dohring ("Veronica Mars") is repped by Innovative Artists and manager Joel Stevens. Burton ("What Just Happened?") is repped by Gersh Agency and Principal Entertainment.
"America" centers on two enterprising downtown twentysomethings (Bryan Greenburg, Victor Rasuk) who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American Dream.
"Washingtonienne," based on Jessica Cutler's book, revolves around the professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill.
Dohring will play Spencer, a senior legislative assistant for the same senator for whom Jackie (Rachel Taylor) works. Burton will play Joy, the senator's put-upon personal assistant.
Dohring ("Veronica Mars") is repped by Innovative Artists and manager Joel Stevens. Burton ("What Just Happened?") is repped by Gersh Agency and Principal Entertainment.
"America" centers on two enterprising downtown twentysomethings (Bryan Greenburg, Victor Rasuk) who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American Dream.
- 10/23/2008
- by By Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch will star in "Washingtonienne" from "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker. Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Jessica Cutler about the lives of three twenty-eight-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill. There's Jackie (played by Taylor) who's just come in from New York who wishes to persue a speechwriter career but has to move up from her current position as an intern. As her mentor is an old college friend April (Tulloch), a woman on the Hill since graduatiing who lives with her boyfriend.
- 10/7/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch will star in "Washingtonienne" from "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker. Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Jessica Cutler about the lives of three twenty-eight-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill. There's Jackie (played by Taylor) who's just come in from New York who wishes to persue a speechwriter career but has to move up from her current position as an intern. As her mentor is an old college friend April (Tulloch), a woman on the Hill since graduatiing who lives with her boyfriend.
- 10/7/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch will star in "Washingtonienne" from "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker.Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Jessica Cutler about the lives of three twenty-eight-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill.There's Jackie (played by Taylor) who's just come in from New York who wishes to persue a speechwriter career but has to move up from her current position as an intern. As her mentor is an old college friend April (Tulloch), a woman on the Hill since graduatiing who lives with her boyfriend. Walsh will play Laura, a small-town, workaholic who defends the Republicans against her more liberal minded friends. Also in the HBO produced pilot is David Furr as April's boyfriend Tom. ...
- 10/7/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch will star in "Washingtonienne" from "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker. Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Jessica Cutler about the lives of three twenty-eight-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill. There's Jackie (played by Taylor) who's just come in from New York who wishes to persue a speechwriter career but has to move up from her current position as an intern. As her mentor is an old college friend April (Tulloch), a woman on the Hill since graduatiing who lives with her boyfriend.
- 10/7/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Meet "The Washingtoniennes."
Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and "quarterlife" star Bitsie Tulloch have landed the female leads in HBO's comedy pilot from "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker.
Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Jessica Cutler about the sexploits of a low-level female congressional staffer with powerful men on Capitol Hill, "Washingtonienne" revolves around the professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old girls working on the Hill.
At the center is Jackie (Taylor), a recent transplant from New York who has decided to pursue a career as a speechwriter but first must work her way up from the intern desk.
Her mentor in the ways of Washington is her old college friend April (Tulloch), who has been on the Hill since graduation and lives a prematurely middle-age lifestyle with a boyfriend who seems more in love with his flashy senator boss than with her.
And finally...
Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and "quarterlife" star Bitsie Tulloch have landed the female leads in HBO's comedy pilot from "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker.
Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Jessica Cutler about the sexploits of a low-level female congressional staffer with powerful men on Capitol Hill, "Washingtonienne" revolves around the professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old girls working on the Hill.
At the center is Jackie (Taylor), a recent transplant from New York who has decided to pursue a career as a speechwriter but first must work her way up from the intern desk.
Her mentor in the ways of Washington is her old college friend April (Tulloch), who has been on the Hill since graduation and lives a prematurely middle-age lifestyle with a boyfriend who seems more in love with his flashy senator boss than with her.
And finally...
- 10/7/2008
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO has added to its growing slate of 2008 pilots.
The premium cable network handed out orders to three projects: "Treme," a post-Katrina-themed New Orleans drama from "The Wire" creator David Simon and Eric Overmyer; "The Washingtonienne," a D.C.-set comedy based on Jessica Cutler's book that Sarah Jessica Parker is executive producing; and a drama from Terry Winter and Martin Scorsese set in 1920s Atlantic City.
HBO co-president Richard Plepler and West Coast president Michael Lombardo made the announcement Thursday during the network's portion of the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton.
The Winter-Scorsese pilot, based on the book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City," is set to shoot in January.
Lombardo said the pilot pickups are part of the network's effort to "ramp up the volume a little bit," spearheaded by new entertainment president Sue Naegle.
"I feel like all of these projects are in the same vein" as what HBO has traditionally done, he said. "What's different is the volume and maybe the strategy in attracting talent."
Plepler said HBO execs aren't overly concerned about finding another huge hit along the lines of "The Sopranos" or "Sex and the City."
"I think you have to listen for excellence and quality first," he said. "Nobody knew when 'The Sopranos' came in the door that it would become 'The Sopranos' or that 'Sex and the City' would become 'Sex and the City.' All we knew is that they had excellent auteurs attached to them who had a real vision."
Asked about a theatrical "Sex" sequel or a "Sopranos" film, Lombardo said there is "enormous interest" in doing another "Sex" movie and that Warner Bros./New Line is working in partnership with HBO to put it together, though he doesn't know how long that might take.
As for "Sopranos," Plepler said: "Whatever (creator) David (Chase) wants to do. It's totally up to David, and if he wants to do it, we would be delighted."
HBO execs also brushed aside concerns about the upcoming Iraq War miniseries "Generation Kill," even though recent theatrical entries with a similar theme have not connected with audiences.
"It has nothing to do with politics," Plepler said. "It's really the story of this particular Marine reconnaissance as they went through Iraq without politics. It has nothing to do with the bureaucracy of war ... the politics of the war."
In other HBO news:
-- "Big Love" is in production to return in the first quarter.
-- Chris Rock's fifth stand-up special will air in September.
-- The World War II miniseries "The Pacific" will air in late 2009 or early 2010.
-- Larry David has told HBO he will do another season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and execs are hoping it will return at the beginning of next year. HBO has a deal with David for another 10 episodes, but it still depends on David, who is "excited about it," Lombardo said.
-- The chances of HBO and David Milch doing a "Deadwood" wrap-up movie are "slim to none," Plepler said.
-- HBO and exec producers Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason have been shopping for a new network home for "12 Miles of Bad Road," but they have yet to find a buyer for the six produced episodes.
The premium cable network handed out orders to three projects: "Treme," a post-Katrina-themed New Orleans drama from "The Wire" creator David Simon and Eric Overmyer; "The Washingtonienne," a D.C.-set comedy based on Jessica Cutler's book that Sarah Jessica Parker is executive producing; and a drama from Terry Winter and Martin Scorsese set in 1920s Atlantic City.
HBO co-president Richard Plepler and West Coast president Michael Lombardo made the announcement Thursday during the network's portion of the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton.
The Winter-Scorsese pilot, based on the book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City," is set to shoot in January.
Lombardo said the pilot pickups are part of the network's effort to "ramp up the volume a little bit," spearheaded by new entertainment president Sue Naegle.
"I feel like all of these projects are in the same vein" as what HBO has traditionally done, he said. "What's different is the volume and maybe the strategy in attracting talent."
Plepler said HBO execs aren't overly concerned about finding another huge hit along the lines of "The Sopranos" or "Sex and the City."
"I think you have to listen for excellence and quality first," he said. "Nobody knew when 'The Sopranos' came in the door that it would become 'The Sopranos' or that 'Sex and the City' would become 'Sex and the City.' All we knew is that they had excellent auteurs attached to them who had a real vision."
Asked about a theatrical "Sex" sequel or a "Sopranos" film, Lombardo said there is "enormous interest" in doing another "Sex" movie and that Warner Bros./New Line is working in partnership with HBO to put it together, though he doesn't know how long that might take.
As for "Sopranos," Plepler said: "Whatever (creator) David (Chase) wants to do. It's totally up to David, and if he wants to do it, we would be delighted."
HBO execs also brushed aside concerns about the upcoming Iraq War miniseries "Generation Kill," even though recent theatrical entries with a similar theme have not connected with audiences.
"It has nothing to do with politics," Plepler said. "It's really the story of this particular Marine reconnaissance as they went through Iraq without politics. It has nothing to do with the bureaucracy of war ... the politics of the war."
In other HBO news:
-- "Big Love" is in production to return in the first quarter.
-- Chris Rock's fifth stand-up special will air in September.
-- The World War II miniseries "The Pacific" will air in late 2009 or early 2010.
-- Larry David has told HBO he will do another season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and execs are hoping it will return at the beginning of next year. HBO has a deal with David for another 10 episodes, but it still depends on David, who is "excited about it," Lombardo said.
-- The chances of HBO and David Milch doing a "Deadwood" wrap-up movie are "slim to none," Plepler said.
-- HBO and exec producers Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason have been shopping for a new network home for "12 Miles of Bad Road," but they have yet to find a buyer for the six produced episodes.
- 7/10/2008
- by By Kimberly Nordyke and James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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