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UPFRONTS 2013: TV Spinoffs’ Almost Perfect Year 
EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central is finalizing a deal for a pilot order to Black Jack. The single-camera comedy, directed and exec produced by Pineapple Express helmer David Gordon Green, hails from Rough House, Green’s production company with Danny McBride, Jody Hill and Matt Reilly. Black Jack, written by Michael Starrbury, centers on Black Jack who, after 20 years as the most kick-ass special ops agent the US government has had on its payroll, finally goes too far and is de-commissioned. He’s sent home to begin the most treacherous mission he’s ever faced — normal life. The order is expected to be cast-contingent, with the pilot going to production if the network finds the right actor for the lead. Green, Starrbury, McBride, Hill and Reilly, all repped by CAA, are exec producing. Green most recently created the upcoming MTV animated series Good Vibes and helmed the feature comedy Your Highness starring McBride, Natalie Portman, James Franco and Zooey Deschanel, which opens April 8. Green also serves as consulting producer/director on McBride’s HBO comedy series Eastbound & Down.Black Jack is the latest pilot order by Comedy Central, which recently greenlighted Playing with Guns, starring Danny Masterson and Ethan Suplee; Waiting…, based on the 2005 indie; an untitled comedy from comedian Matt Braunger and writer Brent Forrester; and an animated pilot from production company ShadowMachine.
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interesting that below this article spelling out this guy’s success due to a web of connections, is an article about TV ratings being at all-time lows. Movie box office also hurting.
Hollywood is a club and protects its insiders with deals based solely on friendships and agency representation. While this has always been true to an extent, the cronyism is greater now than ever. but the good news is, it’s killing Hollywood. one project after another tanks. There are other reasons for the downfall of TV – Internet is huge, disperse cable channels, etc. but abject cronyism is a big, overlooked part of the demise.
What? Film alone made over $11 billion–BILLION–last year, UP from 2009. TV revenue up as well. It’s not exactly trickling down to the creators and crews but that’s another matter. But it’s far–very far– from a demise
exactly. it really is disgusting.
but the again, Hollywood is the exemplar of ‘great american inequality’ in action; talent not only goes unrewarded, but is shoved aside if not part of the club.
must be nice for these guise… i mean guys.
Wow. Another show about some super-duper AWESOME assassin juxtaposed against the humdrum experiences of domestic life.
This has been done to death, it has been “re-imagined” and then done to death again, people have come up with “fresh takes” on it and done it to death. Then they’ve resuscitated it only to do it to death again…
What they need to do is cast some awesome talent like Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl as the love interest and it will feel TOTALLY fresh.
Settle down hater. The script is awesome. Don’t jump to conclusions.
doesn’t this remind everyone of BURN NOTICE?
Have you haters read the script? This was truly one of the funniest pilots I’ve ever read, and being produced by one of the hottest companies out there. Quit with the trash talk if you’re not informed.
Read the script too and if you’ve ever seen either “Evil Roy Sladge” or “Sledge Hammer!” or “American Dad” then you’ll find nothing knew. I doubt Comedy Central will have the budget to even realize it in a significant way. It’s telling that CC is doing this and not HBO, where they have their other McBride show that very few people watch or talk about. Comedy Central is just picking up cast aside projects from Fox and Spike. Very dispiriting.
Nice try, dude. This is not a ‘telling’ look at HBO and Eastbound, but a story of how CC is finally getting off their asses, removing themselves from the failed ‘let’s tentpole around one up & coming comic then fail to actually A)market him/her correctly or B) actually align themselves in a meaningful, lucrative fashion that benefits both talent & network’, and working with proven, funny content providers.
Agree with you, however, on CC’s history of being gun shy when it comes to investing in the talent they do ensnare…which is ridiculous. They hate that the name ‘Comedy Central’ is in no way shape or form synonymous with ‘John Stewart’ or ‘Stephen Colbert’, yet what are they really doing about it?
Besides the logo change, of course…the first reaction & last resort of any confused, rudderless brand.
First off, I’m not a “dude.” I’ve also seen “Highness” and never in my life have I missed Monty Python more.
With all due respect…no gender was presumed with the use of the word ‘dude.’
I’m assuming your reference to Monty Python is not meant to be complimentary to Your Highness. I also assume that the only business anyone has comparing the two is predicated on the use of knights and dragon and such.
Surely Green, McBride and friends understand that, too, and I look forward to finding out on April 8th!
This script is HILARIOUS and this is NOTHING like Burn Notice. I know what im talking about as evidenced by use of CAPITAL LETTERS. This will hopefully be a step in the right direction for a cable channel that is wayyy sub par for what a “comedy” channel should be.
Does anyone else besides me feel that David Gordon Green has turned himself into a bit of a hack? He made some cool, artistic independent films at the beginning of his career, but his recent choices reek of commercial calculation. I understand the desire to make money, but it feels like he’s kind of sold his soul. THE SITTER??
Nothing but love, but I’m STILL getting used to the headline/tag “Comedy Director David Gordon Green”!!
Understand, the comedies he has put together have been a lot of fun. I’ll see Your Highness opening weekend. Some of us ARE familiar with his entire body of work, however. One can only hope the comedy genre brings him lots and lots of money and industry cred, so he can return to making poignant dramas his way, with his people, with zero interference.
And perhaps, finally crack that Confederacy Of Dunces script that he and Soderbergh set out to make so long ago.
I’ve never read a post that was so obviously penned by someone in the writer’s inner circle. Furthermore, Your Highness and this Black Jack crapola-sounding thing sound terribly derivative. Derivative = non-talent in EVERY case, and I’ve been reading scripts since 1993.
How many films have YOU had produced and/or funded in the last ten years? Oh, really. That’s interesting…
Besides, I was coming at it as an intelligent fan of film. I’m not a personal friend of Mr. Green, let alone in his “circle”, but thanks for the random association.
Lighten up and see a comedy. A derivative one at that.
Script opens with this description: “Over a screen blacker than Wesley Snipes at midnight…”
Funny?
I remember reading that and thinking….WOW! Really?
done to death? Absolutely!But, what comedy,drama,action,etc…hasn’t been done to death? But every once in awhile one is resurrected,THIS ONE IS THE ONE TO DO IT! Personally I would watch a “done to death” comedy over & over again,than another “done to death” reality show!!! Give this new comedy a try! Watch first,then judge! You might just enjoy it.
Michael Jai White is the star. He did a table read for the network and Rough House last week and killed it. Got Mortal Kombat coming out and did Black Dynamite.
Get the slo-mo ready because that’s this director’s ONLY MOVE!
Hi Stephen!
David Gordon Green had zero connections in North Carolina and worked a shitty factory job to pay for his first feature – which got rejected from Sundance. But he kept truckin’. Meanwhile, you wankers are crying on message boards.
Get off the cross and get off your asses. Or forever hold your peace.