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EXCLUSIVE: NBC is making a major move in the event programming arena with The Slap, an eight-episode limited series based on the 2011 Australian short-run series. Brothers & Sisters creator Jon Robin Baitz will write the adaptation, which is being produced by Universal Television and Australia’s Matchbox Pictures, which produced the original. Playwright/screenwriter Baitz and Matchbox’s Tony Ayres will executive produce with Universal TV-based Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald as well as Ted Gold.
The Australian series, an adaptation of the 2008 best-selling novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas, examines what happens when a man slaps a child (unrelated to him) at a suburban barbecue. Subsequent episodes focus on the different viewpoints of those who attended the barbecue. (Watch trailer below) The original, which also had a limited 8-episode run on ABC1 last fall, starred Jonathan LaPaglia, brother of Anthony LaPaglia, Melissa George and Hotel Rwanda‘s Sophie Okonedo. It earned nine nominations at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, winning five awards, including best telefilm, mini-series or short-run series. The Slap also was nominated for a BAFTA Award for best international program.
NBC brass have talked about adding event programming to the network’s lineup. In June, NBC announced its plans for The Sound Of Music, a live broadcast of a new production of the original Broadway musical to be produced by Smash executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. In a TV universe steadily taken over by time-shifted viewing, sports and event programming’s importance is on the rise. Fox and its sibling FX announced earlier this week the launch of a new production unit that will supply the networks with limited and mini-series.
Under Parkes/MacDonald Prods.’ first-look deal with Uni TV, the company is producing the mid-season NBC pirate series Crossbones. CAA-repped Baitz was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play Other Desert Cities.
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Looks like a parody and what a silly premise
Actually, Craig, what a silly response. It sounds like something that’s at least got the potential to be an adult examination of actual human issues. Something to be cheered.
No, actually it looks horrible. Whenever it airs, it will be quickly cancelled. Jeez, hire a writer and create something original. sick of these freaking remakes and retreads.
The Slap was an absolutely phenomenal miniseries and I was wondering how long it would take for a US remake. Hopefully NBC doesn’t botch it. Then again, it is NBC…
One could argue that 90% of shows on NBC are event programming, seeing as they end after the initial order of episodes.
Yeah, I’d watch this on any other network but NBC.
There are just a non-starter in the scripted department.
Cmon…someone else watched 30 Rock last night.
Isn’t this just a mini-series as opposed to event programming (underline on EVENT) which by it’s very definition would be driven by an actual event.
Miniseroes, event programming, limited series… whatever it’s called, it’d be great to see broadcast networks try more of it. I miss the days when we’d regularly see big miniseries on the broadcast networks.
I can’t wait.
The slapping of a child by an adult at a party serving as the motivation for looking into and at the lives of the people attending.
Sounds really cool. Nice to know a fantastical event isn’t always necessary as an cause of action or conflict.
I don’t get the need to remake, surely it would be cheaper just to buy the rights to air the Australian series and show that. It’s not like they’re speaking a different language – it’s only a bunch of Aussies; Melissa George and Sophie Okonedo are both known to US audiences and it would save the “it’s not as good as the original” talk.
DirecTV already aired it in the US on Channel 101.
I’m sorry, Rhuw, why don’t you want NBC giving work to 100 people?
You’re a moron. Why wouldn’t you want NBC to give work to 100 people on something original?
Been waiting for NBC to try a new model for a long time. Since most shows never make it past a first season anyway, audiences become super skeptical. But something that has an interesting story, knows where it is going, and promises to end (well), could redefine the network.
Smart move, NBC. Get a big scifi in this arena and you’re set.
THE SLAP was an amazing series. But it is a truly Australian story. Not sure it will resonate the same way about Americans.
This was an absolute hit in Australia, as well as a best-selling book – I believe there’s a UK adaption in the works too? It works so well because it creates debate which is perfect for online talk and use in media promotion… to slap or not to slap… there’s not a parent around who wouldn’t get involved in that conversation. It would be pretty hard to get this great material wrong… looking forward to it!
I hope that this adaptation will be a re-imagining rather than a remake.
Sure, The SLAP had an interesting premise and a watchable pilot. But it also had some characters that were totally idiotic/unreasonable/unlikeable – and then came those POV-episodes. Do I really want to view a complete episode from this jerks POV? My answer was Hell NO. I couldn’t bring myself to watch it. Though I had planned to watch the last episode, by then I didn’t care anymore.
In the end I expected this to be one of those “important” projects that wins awards and is frequently used for politically correct conversation to go with expensive wine. AKA totally transparent in its mission, tour de force.
The book is written from the perspective of multiple POVs. If the producers want to tell that story, then they adapt the book and call it The Slap. If they want to do something else, then they can create their own story.
I didn’t see the Aus version but two things:
(1) I like Baitz’s work, and
(2) I support and cheer more limited series on network and pay TV. Some stories are bigger than a movie, but will never need a long life of 13 or 22 episode seasons.
I’m surprised they are adapting it instead of just airing the Australian version. I think most Americans would be fine with the original. Downton Abbey is popular, afterall.
Because they could employ those 100 people to make something original?
NBC has the worst Development execs in town. They will dumb this down in a heartbeat. Parkes/MacDonald have never been writer friendly. They like to replace writers when they’re not busy shopping because they’re incapable of giving notes.
Ted Gold will only tow the company line like he always does to make himself look good. He has no taste. He will throw Baitz under the wheels of that moving truck so fast it will make your head spin. Baitz should always be looking over his shoulder.
Couldn’t they show the Australian version? Oh, wait, somebody over there thinks Americans are so xenophobic that they don’t want to see overseas television.