HBO Drama Pilot ‘The Corrections’ Not Going Forward
HBO will not be going forward with the Noah Baumbach/Scott Rudin pilot The Corrections. The drama project, based on Jonathan Franzen’s acclaimed book, boasted one of most star-studded casts ever assembled on television: Chris Cooper, Dianne Wiest, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans and Greta Gerwig. The Corrections revolved around the troubles of a Midwestern couple (Cooper, Wiest) and their adult children (McGregor, Gyllenhaal) as they trace their lives from the mid-20th century to “one last Christmas” together near the turn of the millennium. Attempting to bring Franzen’s book to the screen — something that had been tried unsuccessfully on the feature side for a decade — was considered a big swing. Word is HBO brass liked the performances but the decision came down to adapting the book’s challenging narrative, which moves through time and cuts forwards and back. While that works in the novel, it proved difficult to sustain in a series and challenging for viewers to follow, hampering the potential show’s accessibility. HBO’s decision to pass on The Corrections comes on the heels of the pay cable network’s eight-episode straight-to-series order for True Detective, a high-concept cop drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Despite the timing, I hear the two decisions are not related as the recent cancellation of Luck freed up resources and HBO had the room and money do to both.
Sounds like the same reasoning behind the book not being added to a certain book club list.
Does this bode well or ill for ART OF FIELDING at HBO? Rudin has that too, right?
There has been absolutely no news on that but good point, great book and really cool series potential.
What a disaster pilot– it was truly unwatchable
I worked on it and would love to see it even if it stinks. Do you have a screener?
Bwhahahaha!!
Maybe it just wasn’t good?? Just cause you put all those “popular” people on a show/movie doesn’t mean it will be good:)
I’d still like to see it. They should stick it on iTunes or something.
I love how, all of a sudden, HBO is the worst network ever. The comment about airing CBS-like procedurals cracked me up the most.
This is the network that renewed Treme TWICE despite extremely low ratings, the network that currently has the best Sunday lineup on TV (GoT, Veep, Girls), the network that’s bringing Aaron Sorkin back to TV this summer,… – should I go on?
You never saw the pilot. So stop whining. If there’s one network that knows what it’s doing, then it’s HBO.
You almost had me there buddy, save for the fact that you think saving TREME was a courageous move. The problem with HBO is that their brand is both sophisticated and broadly appealing, which shows like THE SOPRANOS, DEADWOOD and SEX AND THE CITY delivered flawlessly, but the current regime seems to have only gotten the sophisticated part of the memo, and continues to bet on truly inaccessible, elitist programming. I understand why their choices start to mirror CBS’ – it’s the only network doing decent business, and doing it by offering popular, yet sophisticated shows. THE GOOD WIFE is about one of the best dramas on TV. Nina Tassler or Bonnie Hammer should be running the joint – they’re the only executives in the business, along with Bob Greenblatt,who truly understand how to develop a television network into a brand.
You almost had me there, buddy, save for the fact that you think Bob Greenblatt knows how to develop a network. Did you not see how he handled his pet project Smash?
I have faith in Greenblatt. He did what he could with the little he had, and ended up with a hit in GRIMM and THE VOICE, and SMASH just keeps getting better. Plus his pilots this season are looking incredibly promising. I would bet money he turns things around by this time next year.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind going through the very expensive production/pilot process for well over a year – just to pass on the series because its concept would be to hard to maintain as a series. That is a very basic principle that should be considered before the first actor is casted – not months after the pilot had wrapped.
I was really excited for this show and felt like it was finally giving HBO an opportunity to be unique again, but alas like EVERY OTHER PILOT they passed on it. I wonder if there will be any “series premiers” on the network in 2013…
I would hate to be Scott Rudin’s assistant when he gets this news.
I’m fine. I’ve learned to type without the use of my hands.
i would hate to be scott rudin’s assistant period.
Still mad at HBO for not going forward with The Wonderful Maladys. That was a great pilot.
You ACTUALLY got to watch The Wonderful Maladys?!?! I have been wanting to watch that pilot FOREVER!!!!
Me, too!!!
To those up in arms: the reality is that it probably wasn’t very good and they’re saving face for everyone involved.