Kanye's Curb-like HBO show "Too HARDCORE"

[Shawn DePasquale]

LINK (http://www.eurweb.com/printable.cfm?id=47507)


KANYE'S HBO PROJECT IN LIMBO?: Director Larry Charles says pilot has been shot, but may be too 'hardcore' for the cable channel.
October 2, 2008

Kanye West

*Filmmaker Larry Charles tells ComingSoon.com that he's already shot a pilot for the currently-untitled Kanye West project on HBO, but the jury is still out as to whether or not it will ever air.

Describing the pilot as similar to HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" with West as a "black Larry David," Charles said, "It's kind of improvised about the situations and stuff.

"It was really good, but again I think it was too hardcore for HBO...People gave it a very good response and it seems to be on the shelf right now. The management has shifted at HBO so we're waiting to see."

Charles' recent directorial credits include "Borat" and the new Bill Maher documentary "Religulous."

I REALLY want to see this pilot now.

[CougarTrace]

with Kanye, no.

[Criden]

Interesting. If I remember right, that thing's been in development for forever. I don't know what to make of my beloved HBO lately, though. They seem more interested in LCD stuff than ever--Life & Times, Britain, and Summer Heights High all look terrible. Entourage is fun, but was always their lowest-brow good show, and True Blood looks good, from the Pilot at least, but not at Alan Ball's usual level. Also, there's been no news on Milch's hospital or cop shows in a while, which causes me some concern.

[NickT]

interesting. If i remember right, that thing's been in development for forever. I don't know what to make of my beloved hbo lately, though. They seem more interested in lcd stuff than ever--life & times, britain, and summer heights high all look terrible. Entourage is fun, but was always their lowest-brow good show, and true blood looks good, from the pilot at least, but not at alan ball's usual level. Also, there's been no news on milch's hospital or cop shows in a while, which causes me some concern.
lcd?

[Shawn DePasquale]

Interesting. If I remember right, that thing's been in development for forever. I don't know what to make of my beloved HBO lately, though. They seem more interested in LCD stuff than ever--Life & Times, Britain, and Summer Heights High all look terrible. Entourage is fun, but was always their lowest-brow good show, and True Blood looks good, from the Pilot at least, but not at Alan Ball's usual level. Also, there's been no news on Milch's hospital or cop shows in a while, which causes me some concern.

I like True Blood.

I like Curb.



uh.....cough....yeah...what happened to HBO?

[Shawn DePasquale]

with Kanye, no.

Because you don't like him?

[CougarTrace]

Because you don't like him?

nope not a fan at all. I can't seem him as an actor in a show like this but I've been wrong before.

[Patton]

I'd certainly rather see this than the puppet thing.

[Akira]

I could not be less interested in this.

[Corwin: Bear Fighter]

nope not a fan at all. I can't seem him as an actor in a show like this but I've been wrong before.

And I'm sure this a well formulated opinion based upon evidence you have seen with our own eyes?

[Cactusakic]

I don't know what to make of my beloved HBO lately, though.

Huh.
Y'know, I hadn't thought about it until now, but you have a damned good point here.

A few years ago, HBO had:
The Sopranos
Six Feet Under
Rome
The Wire
Deadwood
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage

Some of the very best TV I have ever seen.
Now it has the last two on that list and that's it for me.
Oh, and Big Love.

They got rid of Tell Me You Love Me, which I thought was a great show, yet they have already approved a second season of True Blood, which is juvenile garbage of the highest order (despite Ball's involvement).

Has the change in management that Charles mentions caused this dramatic decline in the number of good shows?

[The Cheap-Arse Film Critic]

He may be something of a boad hate figure, but I love Kanya. I do, however, call bullshit on this one. I can turn on HBO and see sumulated oral sex at lunchtime. Nothing Kanye wanted to do in his show could be "too hardcore" for this network.

[NickT]

Huh.
Y'know, I hadn't thought about it until now, but you have a damned good point here.

A few years ago, HBO had:
The Sopranos
Six Feet Under
Rome
The Wire
Deadwood
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage

Some of the very best TV I have ever seen.
Now it has the last two on that list and that's it for me.
Oh, and Big Love.

They got rid of Tell Me You Love Me, which I thought was a great show, yet they have already approved a second season of True Blood, which is juvenile garbage of the highest order (despite Ball's involvement).

Has the change in management that Charles mentions caused this dramatic decline in the number of good shows?
Couldn't it also be that HBO just had a fluke period though? To put it in a British angle the terrestrial channel I watch the least is ITV1, but if they timed all the shows I do watch from them right it could seem like they have suddenly got really good, when in actual fact it's just a timing thing.

[Cactusakic]

Couldn't it also be that HBO just had a fluke period though? To put it in a British angle the terrestrial channel I watch the least is ITV1, but if they timed all the shows I do watch from them right it could seem like they have suddenly got really good, when in actual fact it's just a timing thing.

It's as good an explanation as any I suppose.
I was just wondering if maybe the new management at HBO had some particular agenda regarding their programming which was directly or indirectly causing the current lack of stand-out shows.

[CougarTrace]

It's as good an explanation as any I suppose.
I was just wondering if maybe the new management at HBO had some particular agenda regarding their programming which was directly or indirectly causing the current lack of stand-out shows.

It could also be that its just not easy to find great shows. I mean look at public TV :scared:

[Patton]

We're not even gonna get Curb back until late next year. :cry:

[Patton]

It's as good an explanation as any I suppose.
I was just wondering if maybe the new management at HBO had some particular agenda regarding their programming which was directly or indirectly causing the current lack of stand-out shows.

Larry Charles seems to think so. And the proof also seems to be in the pudding of what they're developing.

There's a pretty good article in last week's EW about it. It might also be online.

[Cactusakic]

Larry Charles seems to think so. And the proof also seems to be in the pudding of what they're developing.

There's a pretty good article in last week's EW about it. It might also be online.

Linky McLink for the terminally lazy (aka Me)?

[Shawn DePasquale]

Linky McLink for the terminally lazy (aka Me)?

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228856,00.html


:D

[Cactusakic]

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228856,00.html


:D

:thumb:

Danke.

[Doug]

What's up with "Treme?"

That's the show I can't wait for. More Bunk is always a good thing.

Also the recently announced Fontana/Simon "Manhunt" mini has potential.

[Patton]

Linky McLink for the terminally lazy (aka Me)?

The reason I didn't link is because I'M terminally lazy. :surrend:

[Patton]

What's up with "Treme?"

That's the show I can't wait for. More Bunk is always a good thing.

Also the recently announced Fontana/Simon "Manhunt" mini has potential.

They're supposed to film the pilot this year and then go from there, resuming production early next year if its picked up. Normally I wouldn't be worried but I'm unsure of the new mgmt over there.

[Cactusakic]

Having now read the EW article in that link, it sounds like the current lack of quality is only a temporary thing.
Almost all of the "in production pilots" mentioned in that article sound pretty good to me.

Looking forward to seeing them.

[NickT]

Double post.

[Doug]

They're supposed to film the pilot this year and then go from there, resuming production early next year if its picked up. Normally I wouldn't be worried but I'm unsure of the new mgmt over there.

Thanks. Here's hoping Treme at least gets a full season order.

[Criden]

*cracks knuckles*


lcd?

Lowest common denominator.


I like True Blood.

I like Curb.



uh.....cough....yeah...what happened to HBO?

Good question dude. I like Curb, too. Love it. I should wear my Curb shirt today.


Huh.
Y'know, I hadn't thought about it until now, but you have a damned good point here.

Thanks Cacty.


A few years ago, HBO had:
The Sopranos
Six Feet Under
Rome
The Wire
Deadwood
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage

Some of my favorite shows ever. Most of, even. Let's not forget the excellent Comeback and Carnivale, too.


Some of the very best TV I have ever seen.
Now it has the last two on that list and that's it for me.
Oh, and Big Love.

Yeah, I love Big Love. And In Treatment. Those are two shows that give me some hope--although they were developed under the previous administration.


They got rid of Tell Me You Love Me, which I thought was a great show, yet they have already approved a second season of True Blood, which is juvenile garbage of the highest order (despite Ball's involvement).

I wasn't a fan of Tell Me, but I liked parts of it. I'm sorry to hear it about TB--I've only seen a rough cut of the pilot so far.


Has the change in management that Charles mentions caused this dramatic decline in the number of good shows?

Yeah, likely so.


Couldn't it also be that HBO just had a fluke period though? To put it in a British angle the terrestrial channel I watch the least is ITV1, but if they timed all the shows I do watch from them right it could seem like they have suddenly got really good, when in actual fact it's just a timing thing.

I don't think so, unfortunately. This fluke went on for almost ten years. That's a good portion of HBO's lifespan, relatively speaking.


It's as good an explanation as any I suppose.
I was just wondering if maybe the new management at HBO had some particular agenda regarding their programming which was directly or indirectly causing the current lack of stand-out shows.

I don't think it's an agenda inasmuch as a different taste level and an attempt to see what sticks to the wall, as it were.


It could also be that its just not easy to find great shows. I mean look at public TV :scared:

I agree that it's got to be pretty hard to find great shows, but I think if you're the head of HBO, it's not terribly too difficult. There are many talented people out there left uncultivated, HBO-wise, and many others whose shows have ended and could be possibly convinced to come back.


We're not even gonna get Curb back until late next year. :cry:

:cry:

[Doug]

When I saw HARDCORE in caps in the title all I could think about is:
You're not hardcore
(no you're not hardcore)
Unless you play hardcore
(unless you play hardcore)
And the legend of the rent is way hardcore!

[Shawn DePasquale]

Nice Carnivale shoutout Criden.


With all your HBO links you never heard about any spoilers for a 3rd season? possible storylines?

[Criden]

Having now read the EW article in that link, it sounds like the current lack of quality is only a temporary thing.
Almost all of the "in production pilots" mentioned in that article sound pretty good to me.

Looking forward to seeing them.

I mostly agree.


Naegle's off to a quick start. In just a few months, she bought six projects, including the comedy Hung from Dmitry Lipkin (The Riches), about a well-endowed high school basketball coach (Thomas Jane); the comedy Bored to Death from novelist Jonathan Ames, about a depressed alcoholic (Jason Schwartzman) who emulates his favorite heroes from Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett novels; a post-Katrina drama called Tremé from David Simon (The Wire); and a period drama about Atlantic City titled Boardwalk Empire that's exec-produced by Martin Scorsese. Naegle's also not above pandering to the old Sex crowd: She picked up a comedy from Sarah Jessica Parker called Washingtonienne, about young women dating and working in Washington, D.C., as well as a new comedy dubbed How to Make It in America from Mark Wahlberg's production company, about three twentysomethings who hustle their way through New York City. In all, HBO has 10 pilots in various stages of development right now — far more than it's ever had at any one time.

The ones I bolded sound either like they belong on Showtime, or like they're derivative, to me. Bored to Death, Treme, and Boardwalk Empire all sound great, though. Those fill me with hope, although I'm concerned about whether people care enough about HBO anymore to subscribe based on any of those three shows.

Anyway, here's the link to the Summer Heights High trailer--I think it looks pretty dumb.

http://www.hbo.com/events/summer-heights-high/

[Shawn DePasquale]

I mostly agree.



The ones I bolded sound either like they belong on Showtime, or like they're derivative, to me. Bored to Death, Treme, and Boardwalk Empire all sound great, though. Those fill me with hope, although I'm concerned about whether people care enough about HBO anymore to subscribe based on any of those three shows.

Anyway, here's the link to the Summer Heights High trailer--I think it looks pretty dumb.

http://www.hbo.com/events/summer-heights-high/

Hung looks like a showtime show for sure.

[Criden]

Nice Carnivale shoutout Criden.


With all your HBO links you never heard about any spoilers for a 3rd season? possible storylines?

Thanks man. And sure dude. Most of them are here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Carniv%C3%A0le#Season_2_finale_and_c haracter_fates), but I'll see if I can dig up a link with the rest.

[nrrdgrrl]

Was it really too hardcore for HBO? Or did it just make Kanye look more like an ass, and after that whole blog incident chewing those people out at Bonnaroo, and him punching a guy, I think his pr people don't want him to look more like an ass.

I think the whole issue is just damage control, until they can work in some shots of Kanye not looking like an ass.

[Shawn DePasquale]

Thanks man. And sure dude. Most of them are here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Carniv%C3%A0le#Season_2_finale_and_c haracter_fates), but I'll see if I can dig up a link with the rest.

:boogie::boogie:

[Artie Pink]

Some of the very best TV I have ever seen.
Now it has the last two on that list and that's it for me.
Oh, and Big Love.


Yeah, but c'mon, man - it's PAXTON!

[Criden]

Yeah, but c'mon, man - it's PAXTON!

I was waiting all morning for this post.