"Deadwood" and "John from Cincinnati" creator David Milch has another project lined up at HBO, this one set in the world of horse racing.
Milch's long-time friend Michael Mann ("Public Enemies," "Heat") is in talks to direct the pilot, called "Luck," the showbiz trade papers report. The show would focus on a character named Ace Bernstein, a well-known railbird at the track who's just finished a prison term for securities violations.
The pilot would be Mann's first TV project since "Robbery Homicide Division," the short-lived CBS series he executive produced in the 2002-03 season. He would also executive produce with Milch and Carolyn Strauss, the former head of HBO Entertainment.
Milch knows the horse-racing world well: He owned numerous thoroughbreds and won two Breeders' Cup races before selling his stock several years ago.
Other pilot news:
- Fox has greenlit a pilot called "Ridealong" from "The Shield" creator Shawn Ryan,...
Milch's long-time friend Michael Mann ("Public Enemies," "Heat") is in talks to direct the pilot, called "Luck," the showbiz trade papers report. The show would focus on a character named Ace Bernstein, a well-known railbird at the track who's just finished a prison term for securities violations.
The pilot would be Mann's first TV project since "Robbery Homicide Division," the short-lived CBS series he executive produced in the 2002-03 season. He would also executive produce with Milch and Carolyn Strauss, the former head of HBO Entertainment.
Milch knows the horse-racing world well: He owned numerous thoroughbreds and won two Breeders' Cup races before selling his stock several years ago.
Other pilot news:
- Fox has greenlit a pilot called "Ridealong" from "The Shield" creator Shawn Ryan,...
- 1/6/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing. The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd has an interview with Lost showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse in which they speak about the looming ending of the iconic ABC series, which launches its sixth and final season next month. While Cuse and Lindelof's involvement with the franchise will end at that time, both were quick to point out that they don't own Lost and that the studio could revive the series in some fashion down the road. "The Walt Disney Co. owns Lost," said Cuse. "It's a franchise that's conservatively worth billions of dollars. It's hard to imagine Lost will rest on the shelves and nothing will ever be made with Lost. Eventually somebody will make something under the moniker of Lost -- whether we do it or not. We just made a commitment to this group of characters whose stories are coming to a conclusion this May.
- 1/6/2010
- by Jace
- Televisionary
David Milch is teaming with filmmaker Michael Mann on a horse-racing drama for HBO. "Luck" has received a pilot order and is, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a provocative look at the world of horse racing and gambling told through a diverse group of characters surrounding a racetrack. Milch wrote the project and Mann is on board to direct the pilot. They executive produce alongside Carolyn Strauss, HBO entertainment president. Milch's long history at HBO includes "Deadwood," period drama "Last of the Ninth" and "John From Cincinnati."...
- 1/6/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
David Milch is trying his luck again at HBO, teaming with filmmaker Michael Mann on a horse-racing drama.
"Luck," which has received a pilot order from the paybox, is described as a provocative look at the world of horse racing and gambling told through a diverse group of characters surrounding a racetrack.
Milch wrote the project, with Mann on board to direct the pilot.
The two are executive producing with Carolyn Strauss, who, as HBO entertainment president, fostered Milch's close ties with the network.
During his long history with HBO, Milch created and executive produced the series "Deadwood" and "John From Cincinnati" as well as the 2008 pilot "Last of the Ninth," a gritty period cop drama.
Following an early start in television, where he worked as a writer-producer on several series, including an executive producing stint on "Miami Vice," Mann has been largely focused on the feature side, most recently writing,...
"Luck," which has received a pilot order from the paybox, is described as a provocative look at the world of horse racing and gambling told through a diverse group of characters surrounding a racetrack.
Milch wrote the project, with Mann on board to direct the pilot.
The two are executive producing with Carolyn Strauss, who, as HBO entertainment president, fostered Milch's close ties with the network.
During his long history with HBO, Milch created and executive produced the series "Deadwood" and "John From Cincinnati" as well as the 2008 pilot "Last of the Ninth," a gritty period cop drama.
Following an early start in television, where he worked as a writer-producer on several series, including an executive producing stint on "Miami Vice," Mann has been largely focused on the feature side, most recently writing,...
- 1/5/2010
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The rumor mill has been going in overdrive over the past week with speculation about who would succeed Carolyn Strauss as HBO's top series programmer.
According to sources, the selection process has entered its final stage and UTA partner and co-head of the TV department Sue Naegle has emerged as the front-runner for the entertainment president job Strauss vacated last month.
Naegle is among a slew of A-list names that have been bandied about for the position, including Universal Media Studios' Katherine Pope, USA Network's Jeff Wachtel, AMC's Christina Wayne and Regency TV's Robin Schwartz.
While going for a an agent rather than a network or studio executive to run HBO's series development is unorthodox, Strauss' predecessor in the top programming position, Chris Albrecht, also came to the premium cable network from an agency, ICM, where he had worked for five years.
According to sources, the selection process has entered its final stage and UTA partner and co-head of the TV department Sue Naegle has emerged as the front-runner for the entertainment president job Strauss vacated last month.
Naegle is among a slew of A-list names that have been bandied about for the position, including Universal Media Studios' Katherine Pope, USA Network's Jeff Wachtel, AMC's Christina Wayne and Regency TV's Robin Schwartz.
While going for a an agent rather than a network or studio executive to run HBO's series development is unorthodox, Strauss' predecessor in the top programming position, Chris Albrecht, also came to the premium cable network from an agency, ICM, where he had worked for five years.
HBO on Monday confirmed that it won't air Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's one-hour comedy 12 Miles of Bad Road, starring Lily Tomlin.
For the past few weeks, the series' executive producers Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason have been quietly shopping the six-produced episodes to other networks, including Lifetime.
12 Miles was picked up to series in January 2007 but was never scheduled by HBO, raising speculations about its future at the pay cable channel. The confirmation of 12 Miles' demise comes on the heels of the Sunday announcement of HBO entertainment president Carolyn Strauss' exit from her post.
12 Miles stars Tomlin as the matriarch of a wealthy Texas family whose real estate business and absurd wealth complicate the simplest family matters.
The pilot, which HBO Entertainment produced in association with Mozark Prods., co-starred Gary Cole, Mary Kay Place, Katherine LaNasa, Kim Dickens, Eliza Coupe, Leslie Jordan, Ivana Milicevic, David Andrews, Sean Bridgers, Texas Battle and Cameron Richardson.
For the past few weeks, the series' executive producers Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason have been quietly shopping the six-produced episodes to other networks, including Lifetime.
12 Miles was picked up to series in January 2007 but was never scheduled by HBO, raising speculations about its future at the pay cable channel. The confirmation of 12 Miles' demise comes on the heels of the Sunday announcement of HBO entertainment president Carolyn Strauss' exit from her post.
12 Miles stars Tomlin as the matriarch of a wealthy Texas family whose real estate business and absurd wealth complicate the simplest family matters.
The pilot, which HBO Entertainment produced in association with Mozark Prods., co-starred Gary Cole, Mary Kay Place, Katherine LaNasa, Kim Dickens, Eliza Coupe, Leslie Jordan, Ivana Milicevic, David Andrews, Sean Bridgers, Texas Battle and Cameron Richardson.
- 3/18/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
UPDATED 9:45 p.m. PT March 16
Carolyn Strauss, a 22-year HBO veteran, has stepped down as entertainment president of the pay cable network.
Word of Strauss' exit from her post began making the rounds Friday and was confirmed by HBO on Sunday. She is expected to continue at HBO in some capacity probably under a production deal and will continue to have input on development. Details about her new role are to be worked out during the next weeks.
"No one has made a more significant contribution to the success of HBO than Carolyn," HBO co-president Richard Plepler and president of the programming group and West Coast operations Michael Lombardo said in a statement Sunday. "We cannot imagine HBO without her, and we are thrilled that we will continue to have the benefit of her judgment and unique talent."
Rumors about the possible departure of Strauss, a longtime top lieutenant of former HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht, have been circulating during the past six months following the major executive reshuffling at the pay cable network in June that was prompted by Albrecht's ouster.
Carolyn Strauss, a 22-year HBO veteran, has stepped down as entertainment president of the pay cable network.
Word of Strauss' exit from her post began making the rounds Friday and was confirmed by HBO on Sunday. She is expected to continue at HBO in some capacity probably under a production deal and will continue to have input on development. Details about her new role are to be worked out during the next weeks.
"No one has made a more significant contribution to the success of HBO than Carolyn," HBO co-president Richard Plepler and president of the programming group and West Coast operations Michael Lombardo said in a statement Sunday. "We cannot imagine HBO without her, and we are thrilled that we will continue to have the benefit of her judgment and unique talent."
Rumors about the possible departure of Strauss, a longtime top lieutenant of former HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht, have been circulating during the past six months following the major executive reshuffling at the pay cable network in June that was prompted by Albrecht's ouster.
- 3/17/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alan Ball is returning to HBO's primetime lineup as the pay cable network has picked up his drama pilot "True Blood" to series.
The number of episodes and the premiere date for the vampire drama starring Anna Paquin is yet to be determined. Production on the show's first season is slated to begin in the fall.
Based on the "Southern Vampire" book series by Charlaine Harris, "True Blood" takes place in a world in which vampires can buy Japanese-made synthetic blood. Their integration into a small Louisiana town causes quite a stir, and a love story ensues between a vampire, Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin), an innocent waitress who can read people's minds.
"It's an absolute pleasure to continue our relationship with Alan Ball," HBO Entertainment president Carolyn Strauss said. " 'True Blood' proves that Alan continues as a master of his craft."
Ball's first series for HBO, the critically praised "Six Feet Under", bowed out in 2005 after five seasons.
The pilot cast of "True Blood" also included Brook Kerr, Ryan Kwanten and Sam Trammell.
The number of episodes and the premiere date for the vampire drama starring Anna Paquin is yet to be determined. Production on the show's first season is slated to begin in the fall.
Based on the "Southern Vampire" book series by Charlaine Harris, "True Blood" takes place in a world in which vampires can buy Japanese-made synthetic blood. Their integration into a small Louisiana town causes quite a stir, and a love story ensues between a vampire, Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin), an innocent waitress who can read people's minds.
"It's an absolute pleasure to continue our relationship with Alan Ball," HBO Entertainment president Carolyn Strauss said. " 'True Blood' proves that Alan continues as a master of his craft."
Ball's first series for HBO, the critically praised "Six Feet Under", bowed out in 2005 after five seasons.
The pilot cast of "True Blood" also included Brook Kerr, Ryan Kwanten and Sam Trammell.
- 8/10/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Win or lose, The Sopranos is ending on an Emmy high note.
Its 15 nominations not only leads the pack among all series this year but also represents the highest total a series has ever nabbed in its final season.
"I know that people really responded to this season and talked about it incessantly," said Carolyn Strauss, president of entertainment at HBO. "That may be what you're seeing in the voting."
The Emmys have a mixed track record when it comes to letting acclaimed programs go out on top. As recently as 2005, the comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond capped its closing season with a healthy 13 nominations and went on to win in the series category.
But it's a different story on the drama side, where a Sopranos win would mark the first final-season winner in 30 years. That distinction belongs to Upstairs, Downstairs, the British series that ran on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre and collected the last of its three wins in that category in 1977.
Some of TV's most legendary dramas have had trouble maintaining their momentum by Emmy standards. After a storied Emmy career, four-time best-series winner The West Wing faded to six nominations in 2006. Among other four-time winners, Hill Street Blues had just three nominations in 1987, and L.A. Law eked out just one in 1994.
Sopranos spread its nomination haul across a variety of categories, including two apiece in editing and writing.
Its 15 nominations not only leads the pack among all series this year but also represents the highest total a series has ever nabbed in its final season.
"I know that people really responded to this season and talked about it incessantly," said Carolyn Strauss, president of entertainment at HBO. "That may be what you're seeing in the voting."
The Emmys have a mixed track record when it comes to letting acclaimed programs go out on top. As recently as 2005, the comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond capped its closing season with a healthy 13 nominations and went on to win in the series category.
But it's a different story on the drama side, where a Sopranos win would mark the first final-season winner in 30 years. That distinction belongs to Upstairs, Downstairs, the British series that ran on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre and collected the last of its three wins in that category in 1977.
Some of TV's most legendary dramas have had trouble maintaining their momentum by Emmy standards. After a storied Emmy career, four-time best-series winner The West Wing faded to six nominations in 2006. Among other four-time winners, Hill Street Blues had just three nominations in 1987, and L.A. Law eked out just one in 1994.
Sopranos spread its nomination haul across a variety of categories, including two apiece in editing and writing.
- 7/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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