It looks like David Milch (Deadwood, John From Cincinnati) has a new project in the works for HBO:
Now this is more like it. I guess it’s not as good as a new Deadwood season would be, but a gritty, 70’s era, New york cop drama sounds like a perfect milieu for Milch’s sensibilities and strengths. I bet they’ll say the F word a lot.
I wonder if he can involve any of the Deadwood cast, or if he burned his bridges with them.
I’m a recent convert to Deadwood. Watched Season 1 on DVD, fell in love with it, desperately need to see the rest. But I read a recent Milch interview where he said the show would still be on the air, or it would have been more popular, if he was able to get his original choice of actors, Ed O’Neil, to play Al Swearengen!
I heard that too. Apparently his comment about Ed O’Neil came after Ian McShane made some comments that got back to Milch.
Here is Milch talking recently about television in a panel discussion.
It’ll be hard to invest time in a Milch production. The early demise of Deadwood is as much his fault as HBO’s. Deadwood was expensive, but so was John from Cincinnati, and this new show will be too, just because of the way he works. Another period show, even if it’s the 70’s, it’s gonna cost. Polyester doesn’t come cheap!
And it’s not like Milch is the only one doing smart, dramatic TV. Look at The Wire, Mad Men, Damages, The Brotherhood. Especially The Wire.