After the conclusion of TREME HBOWatch had been wondering what was next for David Simon. We elaborated on that via two posts “What’s Next for David Simon” and a “Part II” follow-up. Since then, of course, we have learned that SHOW ME A HERO (debuting in August 2015) was the next project brought to HBO. It however is only a short-lived miniseries, though sure to be a great one. What about his next series?
Well nothing is set, but a pilot order is in place for a series about the adult entertainment industry in 1970’s – ‘80’s New York. According to our source (The Hollywood Reporter) – it will chronicle the legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New York’s Times Square from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s. Also explored will be the rough-and-tumble world that existed in midtown Manhattan until the rise of HIV, the violence of the cocaine epidemic and a rejuvenated real estate market that ended the bawdy turbulence.
He is once again with friend George Pelacanos (THE WIRE) to create this pilot episode that will go before HBO executives. It seems to be going under the title THE DEUCE. THR reported the following thoughts about the commitment complete with Simon quotes:
Simon acknowledges that he and Pelecanos were hesitant to take on the project when they first heard from one of their TREME location managers, who’d been researching the life of a man who had been one of the mob fronts on 42nd Street during that era. “He said, ‘You’ve got to hear the guy’s stories,’” Simon recalls. “George and I looked at each other and said, ‘I don’t wanna make a porn show. … I’m married with kids and lawn furniture. I don’t want to go there, man. That’s dark. “You don’t want to make porn to critique porn because that would be a venal journey —
nor do you want to look down on people because that also is fairly dishonest,” he explains, adding of the sweet spot: “You really have to land it in such a way where it’s a story about people and it’s a story about markets — about the moment where something became legal and profitable and what happens to people in that environment when markets prevail.”
nor do you want to look down on people because that also is fairly dishonest,” he explains, adding of the sweet spot: “You really have to land it in such a way where it’s a story about people and it’s a story about markets — about the moment where something became legal and profitable and what happens to people in that environment when markets prevail.”
Okay, but it is HBO. Surely they will push the boundaries of nudity, right? I see HBO and Simon thinking of two different approaches to this concept. They will have to compromise sowhere in the middle I think. And don’t forget even though HBO has enjoyed a long relationship with HBO, starting back with THE CORNER miniseries back in 1997, it doesn’t mean that this new attempt at a series is a given. We have reported of a rejected pilot before. Regardless, we will look forward for further news on the matter and eagerly await SHOW ME A HERO.
