Lena Dunham (along with co-executive producer Judd Apatow) will bring Girls to HBO this April, and in what is finally, hopefully, a post-Carrie Bradshaw New York City, we're already counting down the days. Even if we haven't been sent a screener and have only seen teasers. Here's why:
And, Now, A Few Reasons We're Excited For Lena Dunham's Girls
Video: Julianne Moore Channels Sarah Palin in Game Change
Since it was first announced we've been very curious about HBO's upcoming 2008 election flick Game Change. Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin! Ed Harris as John McCain! Woody Harrelson as McCain advisor Steve Schmidt! Director Jay Roach and writer Danny Strong from HBO's last political movie, Recount! Well, now the wait is almost over. The first teaser has hit these here interwebs:
HBO Cancels Bored To Death, We Cancel HBO Subscription
As you may or may not know, we are huge fans of Bored To Death over here at Gothamist, so news that HBO has decided to pull the plug on the show, which just ended its third season, is hitting hard. And right during the already depressing holiday season! Thanks HBO, we are now canceling our cable subscriptions. Feel our wrath, huge network conglomerate.
Is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Coming To HBO?
It's a bit early to announce definitively, but director Stephen Daldry, fresh off of making us cry our faces off with the Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close trailer, is trying really hard to get HBO to sign on for a miniseries-style adaptation of Michael Chabon's modern-day classic.
Move Over Carrie, Judd Apatow Brings "Funny, Real" Girls To NYC
HBO's next foray into the "ladies in New York City" genre comes from Judd Apatow and Lena Dunham, the mumblecore queen who will star in the show Girls, which focuses on the twenty-something set in the big city. Alex Blagg gave some hopeful commentary this morning, saying, "Girls might have a reverse-Sex & the City effect on NYC, where everyone who moves there acts cool and funny and real."
Will Ewan McGregor Get Naked In HBO's The Corrections?
Casting for HBO's upcoming TV adaptation of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections is well underway: Dianne Weist and Chris Cooper are on board to play the central Lambert parents, and now, Deadline is reporting that Ewan McGregor has signed on for his first regular TV gig to play middle child Chip. We no longer care who gets cast as the other two Lambert children—the only question now is, will we get to see McGregor's junk?
Who Should Play Robert Moses In Oliver Stone's New HBO Movie?
"Those who can, build," New York's controversial master builder Robert Moses once said. "Those who can't, criticize." And then there are those who fetishize powerful white father figures and make movies about them, like Oliver Stone. Which is to say, the controversial director has reportedly teamed up with HBO to produce a movie of Robert Caro's 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning classic about Moses, The Power Broker. So who will play Moses?
Casting Begins For HBO's Adaptation Of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections
It's been an exciting few months for "cultured" people who like things like Jonathan Franzen, Noah Baumbach, and premium cable. We first started hearing the rumblings of an HBO adaptation of Franzen's 2001 novel The Corrections back in September, when Brooklyn indie darling Noah Baumbach threw his hat into the director's ring. Then, at this month's New Yorker fest, Franzen took a break from name-dropping Oprah to confirm the deal, adding that the adaptation would be a full four-year series. And now, the casting rumors are upon us!
Mick Jagger And Martin Scorsese To Work On HBO Show?
The last time HBO signed up for a show from executive producer Terence Winter that had Martin Scorsese affiliated they ended up with Boardwalk Empire, so why wouldn't the premium cable network want to try again? Especially if Mick Jagger is involved! The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that talks are getting serious for a new hourlong drama from the trio, set in 1977 New York, following the adventures of a coke-addled record executive.
Video: Jonathan Franzen Confirms He's Adapting The Corrections Into HBO Series
Great American Stoner Novelist Jonathan Franzen confirmed yesterday that he is indeed adapting his 2001 National Book Award-winner The Corrections into an HBO series. He told a packed session at the New Yorker Festival that the story of the complicated lives of the Lambert family would be a full four-year television series. He also confirmed that indie filmmaker Noah Baumbach is involved with the project, ostensibly as director. Watch Franzen discuss the show with New Yorker editor David Remnick below:
Video: Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Larry David Out Of NYC For Offending Michael J. Fox
The eighth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm came to a close last night, as Larry's neurosis-spewing tenure in New York wound down in spectacularly inappropriate fashion. David finds himself facing down none other than beloved actor and Parkinson's advocate Michael J. Fox (who was diagnosed with the disease in 1991), and since no cow is too sacred for David, the disease is ripe for the mocking. David draws a Hitler mustache on Fox's father-in-law on the cover of a magazine ("I just like to see what people look like with Hitler mustaches!"), which spurs Fox to retaliate with a suspiciously carbonated bottle of soda...
Aaron Sorkin Is Coming Back To TV (Well, HBO)
Last fall we got our hands on a draft for Aaron Sorkin's latest television show, set inside the world of a 24-hour-news network, and got very excited. As fans of Sorkin's work (especially SportsNight and The West Wing) this new, still untitled show, seemed like the perfect outlet for the writer's voice in every way that Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was not. So today when word finally broke that HBO had picked up the show, we breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Video: Larry David's Mister Softee Trauma
This NYC-based season of Curb Your Enthusiasm has been taking advantage of the Big Apple's standbys (subways! the High Line!) and last night, the HBO comedy featured Mister Softee. Of course, Larry David has experienced a childhood trauma that haunts him whenever he hears Mister Softee's infectious theme. Here's the curse-heavy video (spoiler, obvs, for those who haven't seen it):
Video: Riding The Boardwalk Empire Vintage Subway
You've heard all about the Boardwalk Empire-themed vintage 1920's trains running on the express 2/3 track in Manhattan—and yesterday it launched! But have you gotten to ride it yet? Below, you can watch two videos and get an idea of what it looks like inside.
Reminder: Boardwalk Empire Vintage Subways Start Running Today (9/3)
For you subway enthusiasts, as well as those who take the 2 and 3 lines, a gentle reminder: The MTA is running a 1920’s train on the express 2/3 track in Manhattan—starting today—every Saturday and Sunday this September, between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. between 42nd and 96th Streets. It's all part of HBO's promotion of its drama, Boardwalk Empire, which is set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.
Is Noah Baumbach Adapating The Corrections For HBO?
Rumors are swirling that Brooklyn-indie film favorite Noah Baumbach is adapting Brooklyn-lit poster boy Jonathan Franzen's widely read The Corrections for HBO, which could cause white people everywhere to spontaneously combust with joy.
Boardwalk Empire Is Bringing Back Old School Subways
Boardwalk Empire returns to the airwaves on September 25th, and they're ringing in season 2 with an ad buy. But it's an interesting one! They'll be bringing back vintage trains to the subway tracks. We're told:
Sponsored Post: Entourage, The Final Season
The following post is from our advertiser, HBO.
That old adage is true: All good things must come to an end. This Sunday, it’s the beginning of the end of Entourage. Don’t cry yet, because you still have eight episodes with your favorite guys: Vinny, E, Drama, Turtle, and of course, Ari. Is he going to be able to do something to save his marriage, or has he screwed it up for good?
Video: Larry David Finally Getting Neurotic In NYC
Even casual observers of Curb Your Enthusiasm can tell that Larry David belongs in New York. He's a neurotic, crotchety Jew with a persona entirely out of step with sunny LA, and while that's part of what makes it funny, it's finally time for Curb to come to its spiritual home.
Ex-Cop Cleared Of Raping Drunk Woman Still Faces Heroin Possession Charges
If it's not one thing, it's another! First not-guilty cop Kenneth Moreno loses his job after being accused of rape (when all he did was spoon with a half-naked drunk woman in her bed), now they're on his case for the heroin they found in his locker. Can't an exonerated "rape cop" catch a break? You may recall that when the allegations against Moreno and his partner Franklin Mata surfaced, investigators found some horse in the locker, for which Moreno still has to answer—that is, if the DA decides to prosecute. Of course, Moreno's lawyer has a very simple explanation for all this.
HBO's Bernard Madoff Movie May Star Robert De Niro
HBO is moving ahead with making a movie about infamous Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff—and the cable network wants Robert De Niro as the "$65 billion" man. According to Deadline, HBO just optioned the book, "The Wizard Of Lies: Bernie Madoff And The Death Of Trust," by NY Times reporter Diana Henriques and is in talks with De Niro.
HBO ISO Hipsters For How To Make It In America
You've got to hand it to the casting directors at HBO—they sure do know how to target an audience. Behold this amazing gem of a Craigslist ad—"looking for featured Hipsters!" (capitalization theirs)—that the network posted for its Brian Greenberg/ Kid Cudi vehicle about pretty young things just trying to make it in the big city, How To Make It America.
Julianne Moore Gets Palin-ed Up For HBO's Game Change
HBO starts production of its latest political movie, Game Change, on Wednesday and the first picture of its star, Julianne Moore, dressed up in Sarah Palin drag was released today. Gone is Moore's famous red tresses, replaced with Palin's brown hair (and famous updo). What do we think, does she pull it off?
Video: Larry David Enthusiastic For Curb In NYC
After some teasing, new info has finally ben revealed about the upcoming season of the hit HBO comedy of awkward manners, Curb Your Enthusiasm. The new season, which was filmed last summer in NYC and is set to take place here and in L.A., is set to premiere July 10, 2011. And in the video below, you can get a glimpse of some of the upcoming plot lines ("I think I have a scuffle or a fight in every show"), as well as some of the big name guest stars for season 8 of The Wonderful World Of Larry David's Ego:
Gothamist On Location With... Bored To Death
Yesterday, we stopped by the most Brooklyn place in all of Brooklyn: the Bored to Death set, which is actually the least Brooklyn place in all of the show. It's set up at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and inside you'll find—amongst other things—the West Village apartment of George Christopher (played by Ted Danson). In the upcoming third season, which Jonathan Ames & Co. are filming now, you'll find that George has opened a restaurant on Jane Street called George on Jane, and has moved to an apartment above his new venture. (You can see photos of the envy-inducing, albeit fake, piece of real estate in the gallery above.) We sat down to talk with the real Jonathan Ames, and the show's "Jonathan Ames," played by the incredibly kind and charming Jason Schwartzman—who started things off with this linguistic time stamp: "Let's note that this interview is being shot and recorded on a vintage Flip cam. It's kind of a collector's item." Here's what we learned:
Zipcar's New Vintage Fleet Arrives! (Or Boardwalk Empire Is Filming)
While filming around New York City might get in your way at times, it is pretty cool when you are tossed back in time after stumbling onto a set. This afternoon reader Louis Caldarola happened upon these vintage cars parked at McGolrick Park and Driggs in Brooklyn, where the show Boardwalk Empire will be filming tonight (according to Steve Buscemi's stalker). Either that or Zipcar is going super retro in the neighborhood.
Free Food Alert: Treme Truck Rolls Around Town Today
Are we at free food truck overkill yet? To go along with the free food food from the temporary AirFrance truck and the temporary Swamp People truck and the temporary Game of Thrones truck (with fare from Tom Colicchio!), today HBO is going to have a one-day-only Treme truck celebrating the show's DVD release.
Free Food Alert: Tom Colicchio's Game of Thrones Truck Coming To NYC
The transformation of food trucks into a major promotional tool is in full effect. Hot on the heels of the Air France truck and the Swamp People truck comes another free food truck, this one boasting food from Tom Colicchio inspired by HBO's upcoming series Game of Thrones. The truck will be in New York from March 28 through April 1 serving 300 portions a day of free dishes featuring meats like rabbit, duck, squab and venison.
Ed Harris Will Channel John McCain in HBO's Game Change
HBO has dropped another casting notice for its adaptation of John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime and it appears to be as on point and interesting as the last one. Joining Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in the movie will be Ed Harris as John McCain.
Stella D'Oro Strike Struggle To Become HBO Documentary
The Stella D'Oro baked goods factory in the Bronx has been closed for over a year and a half ever since negotiations with its workers broke down and turned into a bitter strike. According to Mike Filippou, who was Stella D'Oro's lead mechanic, at least 100 of the 135 people who lost their jobs in June 2009 are still out of work. But the workers will get a chance to play themselves in an upcoming HBO documentary about the strike.

