John from Cincinatti Cancelled

The Hollywood Reporter says HBO has declined to order a second season of David Milch's surfing apocalypse drama... which, off the top of my head, is the first time HBO has failed to give a second run to one of its hourlong dramas. (Can anyone think of another example?)

Anyway, Milch is currently in the process of developing several new projects for HBO. No word on those Deadwood movies, but my hunch is that they're a pipe dream.

What is John from Cincinnati About?

“I don’t know what it’s about. I don’t know the bottom line,” “John From Cincinnati” mastermind David Milch told Craig Ferguson Thursday night. “But if God were trying to reach out to us, and if he felt a certain urgency about it: That’s what it’s about.”

And why, pray tell, would He feel a certain urgency? For the traditional reasons, one expects (and hopes).

The second season, if it materializes, should be very interesting.

Ferguson also asked him if there would be more Deadwood. Last week, new HBO original programming chief Richard Plepler told those assembled for HBO's TCA presentation that it was "50/50" -- and he wasn't even sure Milch wanted to do it. Which was obviously bullshit. He's not sure *he* wants to do it, because it's something his predecessor (Chris Albrecht) committed to.

"Will there be more “Deadwood”?

“One hopes,” Milch told Ferguson and his CBS late-night audience. “It’s kind of a fluid situation over [at HBO] right now.”

No shit.

Hat tip: Aint It Cool News

John from Cincinnati

This is what they cancelled Deadwood for? The best series of the last 15, maybe even 20 years?

Cocksuckers.

I recognized a few of the names on the writing staff -- Ted Mann, for example. Meh. He's done some good work -- mostly cop-show related, obviously, but some magic realism, too (first season of Millennium, which was pretty good stuff).

Bill Clark, from NYPD Blue, is also back on board with Milch (though he wasn't involved with Deadwood).

I'm definitely disappointed not to see more Deadwood names on the staff, both writers and directors.

I hated Rebecca DeMornay--Tough and ornery broads are fine, but where's the charm that induces us to like and root for her despite her leathery, reptillian demeanor?

"Fuck all of you -- I wish I was a tree!" --Trixie, Deadwood.

Actually, It's too bad they couldn't get Paula Malcolmson for this. (Maybe she's too young -- But someone who could do what she did so well, anyway. Instead, they went for a name. Well, sort of a name.)

Deadwood was unusual for Milch because it had so many strong, incredibly interesting female characters (and, btw, female writers, such as Elizabeth Sarnoff, now on Lost). Before Deadwood, the misogynist label followed his shows around (NYPD Blue), and I'm afraid this series will revert to form in that regard.

If that happens, it'll probably drive me off no matter how intriguing the magic realism element gets.