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Milch, Mann and HBO?

By Seth Freilich | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (28)

swearengen-shot.jpg

It’s just been announced that HBO has ordered up a pilot called “Luck.” Written by David Milch (“Deadwood” and, damn it, “John From Cincinnati”). Directed by Michael Mann. Focusing on the world of horse racing. Not much known beyond that, but do you really need to know much more? I don’t. The plotline will presumably be less muddled and Jesus-y than “John,” which means Milch’s dialogue will hopefully get to shine. And horse racing scenes directed by Mann? NBC should fucking hire him to direct the Kentucky Derby! This pilot will have to be complete and utter shite not to get a series order.

Meanwhile, that’s just the tip of the fucking iceberg. Do you realize what a fantastic fucking year HBO has in store for us? I mean seriously. It starts this weekend, with the return of “Big Love.” And then in March, the miniseries “The Pacific,” the sequel-in-spirit to “Band of Brothers,” starts its 10 episode run. Dig on this trailer:

If this is even just one-third as good as “Band of Brothers,” it’ll be amazing.

Meanwhile, the ten episode season of “Treme” is slated to start sometime in April, meaning it’ll overlap with “The Pacific” for a spell. “Treme,” you’ll recall, is the post-Katrina New Orleans show from David Simon (“The Wire”). Early buzz has been strong and Simon has earned the right to garner high expectations.

And then there’s “Boardwalk Empire,” airing sometime this year and focusing on Prohibition-era Atlantic City, with all the grit and gangsters that come with it. Martin Scorsese directed the pilot, one of the main “Sopranos” producers is also behind it, and it stars, among others, Steve Buscemi, Dabney Coleman, Kelly Macdonald and Michael K. Williams (“yo, Omar’s coming, man!”). I’m over the moon in anticipation for this.

Not to mention the third season of “In Treatment” and the second seasons of “Hung” and “Eastbound and Down.” And another season of the campy and it’s-so-bahd-and-the-acks’nts-so-atrocious-but-I-can’t-help-but-watch-it “True Blood.” And “Bored to Death,” for those of you who stuck with it. The only true turd is the return of “Entourage.”

Maybe I’m nuts and expecting too much from too many unseen things. But I don’t feel like I’m going out on a crazy limb to suggest that when the year is all over and put to bed, there may be a legitimate case to be made that HBO’s 2010 will turn out to be one of the most rewarding years of programming a network has ever had. And if Vince dies on this season of “Entourage,” I think it’s case closed!









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Comments

OOH OOH OOH OOH OOH! Is "The Pacific" really airing in March? Is it REALLY?? It truly exists??

Posted by: Jay at January 6, 2010 9:55 AM

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Posted by: garylove at January 6, 2010 10:04 AM

Sometime in March HBO is also expected to make the call on whether or not it will pick up "Game of Thrones" for a full season. Current buzz says that unless the pilot is the biggest lump of shit they've ever seen, a full season pick-up is pretty much in the bag.

Posted by: Snath at January 6, 2010 10:06 AM

Muddled and Jesus-y or not, 'John From Cincinnati' was awesome. That is all.

Posted by: Poultice at January 6, 2010 10:07 AM

I cannot wait for "The Pacific." It looks fantastic!

HBO's potential for an amazing year makes me weak in the knees.

Posted by: Bouncing Betty at January 6, 2010 10:09 AM

The only ones I'm interested in are "Treme" and "Boardwalk Empire" and this still seems like an embarrassment of riches. Michael K. Williams, especially, gets my blood pumping. (Well, Kelly Macdonald, too, but... in different ways.) I've been worried that Omar was so iconic, and that Williams was so perfect for the part, that no other role would ever suit his unique talents so well. Fingers crossed that this proves me wrong.

Posted by: Todd at January 6, 2010 10:14 AM

I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that because I am (of some necessity) a cheap bastard I have been and will be missing lots of amazing TV on HBO. On the plus side: more time for naps and more money for the occasional big dinner out.

NOW who wins?

Posted by: , at January 6, 2010 10:14 AM

Milch..Mann...Horse Racing? Someone call Michael Jordan and Charlie Sheen cause I needs some new undies!

Posted by: LastoftthePajibicans at January 6, 2010 10:16 AM

Sometime in March HBO is also expected to make the call on whether or not it will pick up "Game of Thrones" for a full season. Current buzz says that unless the pilot is the biggest lump of shit they've ever seen, a full season pick-up is pretty much in the bag.

Posted by: Snath at January 6, 2010 10:06 AM

If this happens, I will order HBO again. I've been without for a few years now and don't really miss it. Though I hear "True Blood" is good and will likely have to get that off Netflix at some point.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at January 6, 2010 10:23 AM

Forbiddendonut writes: "I've been without [HBO] for a few years now and don't really miss it."

Amen. Their shows have been on the decline for a while. Sure, Entourage was entertaining for a season or two, but there is only so much of that douchebaggery I can stomach. Sopranos is over. Deadwood and Carnival were prematurely canceled (though, I feel Deadwood was limping along anyway, chasing season 1 greatness).

Posted by: superasente at January 6, 2010 10:34 AM

Oh, that picture makes me sad, you bunch of cocksuckers!!

Say what you’re gonna say or prepare for eternal fucking silence.

Posted by: dammitjanet at January 6, 2010 10:38 AM

I agree about HBO. They've had a few good documentaries recently, but nothing that I've watched after I saw both seasons of "In Treatment" over the course of a couple of days, and even that didn't have me glued to the TV. The only reason I didn't cancel it is because I knew "Big Love" was coming back soon, and I'm DESPERATE to see how "A Game of Thrones" plays out. If that sucks, or if they don't commit to the whole story, HBO will have to earn it's spot in my budget with these new series.

Posted by: Wednesday at January 6, 2010 10:40 AM

I loved John From Cincinnati. Me and those five other people.

Posted by: Cindy at January 6, 2010 10:41 AM

My husband and I are two of those five, Cindy. We adored that show.

Posted by: Another Jen at January 6, 2010 10:47 AM

And then in March, the miniseries “The Pacific,” the sequel-in-spirit to “Band of Brothers,” starts its 10 episode run.

That'll do, Seth. That'll do.

Posted by: branded at January 6, 2010 10:54 AM

Band of Brothers is the best thing ever on television. Ever. Other programs have built up to incredible moments but on the whole BOB was the most enjoyable, engrossing series/mini-series that I've ever seen. This looks like it has the spirit of BOB so I am most def thrilled by this trailer. And Michael Mann is. The. Shit.

Posted by: John Denver's Wingman at January 6, 2010 10:57 AM

Cindy and Another Jen, I loved John also. They cut it off right as we were about to get some answers. Bastards. But they did the same thing with Carnivale and I LOVED that show.

Posted by: John Denver's Wingman at January 6, 2010 10:59 AM

Glad I stuck with HBO at this point and they are the only pay channel we get. We pony up for Showtime in the summer during "Weeds" but we keep HBO year round. I wish they would have all of their series on demand. We started watching "Rome" over the holiday and it's great but annoying waiting for the discs to arrive. Looking forward to checking out all these series because the networks are failing miserably in getting me to watch. Other than "24" and "Lost" the big 4 are pretty much a wasteland for drama.

Posted by: TylerDFC at January 6, 2010 10:59 AM

Never show a picture of Al unless you are at least telling me we'll get to find out what happened to "Swegen" and the rest.

Posted by: Donalb at January 6, 2010 11:41 AM

If I can still afford my f'ing cable subscription two months from now I'll be excited about some of this stuff. Right now it's looking less and less likely. Sigh. Stupid, stupid cable providers.

Posted by: JenVegas at January 6, 2010 11:46 AM

Wow, just about all five of us right here. P-town has taste.

Posted by: Cindy at January 6, 2010 12:23 PM

Oh, that picture makes me sad, you bunch of cocksuckers!!

Say what you’re gonna say or prepare for eternal fucking silence.

Posted by: dammitjanet at January 6, 2010 10:38 AM
____________________________
Ditto.

Be brief or be fucked.

Posted by: rezcat at January 6, 2010 12:37 PM

This post just gave me an HBOner.

Please tell me I made that up.

Posted by: Maxwell at January 6, 2010 1:05 PM

"The Pacific."

*drops dead from the anticipation and is resurrected anew by sheer joy*

Posted by: Jelinas at January 6, 2010 3:37 PM

HBO is running Band of Brothers again in build-up for The Pacific. I watched the first episode the other night and damn if it isn't good. I have the DVDs and I watch them about once a year. Simply fantastic. Those men literally saved the world.
That said, I watched the WWII in Color series on History Channel and the war in the pacific seemed to be twice as bad as the war in Europe. Just brutal. I hope the new series is as good as it looks. Can't wait.
The Wire is still the best thing ever on television. BoB is great, but the Wire is better.

Posted by: Forrest at January 6, 2010 4:07 PM

It is a spectacular line-up, but I'm still disappointed HBO didn't pick up The Wonderful Maladys. It was absolutely packed with talent I love: SMG, Adam Scott (Party Down), Molly Parker (Deadwood) and Nate Corddry (Studio 60).

Posted by: trippdup at January 7, 2010 12:42 AM

It's an encouraging and depressive article. Maybe HBO will head back toward the halycon days of Deadwood and the Wire again. It has been a vast wasteland for several years now and unwatchable to boot. Big Love?, you're joking right? John from Cincinnati packed more into a minute's worth of dialogue than the entire runs of Entourage, Trueblood, In Treatment or Big Loathe. Maybe Milch's newest will do so well that the door will open to finish the greatest series ever, Deadwood. Milch and Simon are the best, although Simon will have a difficult time coming even close to the Wire.

Posted by: David10605 at January 25, 2010 11:50 PM

..I was backround On Deadwood, I hope the fucking cocksuckers use me on luck, Hi David....Jesse Wills

Posted by: Steven Jesse Wills at March 30, 2010 1:07 PM