HBO greenlights 'Brothers in Atlanta,' its first local series

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Actress Maya Rudolph attends Comedy Central Night Of Too Many Stars at Beacon Theatre on February 28, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Comedy Central) Maya Rudolph will be spending some time later this year shooting HBO's 'Brothers in Atlanta." CREDIT: Getty Images

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Actress Maya Rudolph attends Comedy Central Night Of Too Many Stars at Beacon Theatre on February 28, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Comedy Central) Maya Rudolph will be spending some time later this year shooting HBO's 'Brothers in Atlanta." CREDIT: Getty Images
Diallo

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Thursday, April 30, 2015

For the first time, HBO is shooting a regular TV series in Atlanta. It's not a "Game of Thrones" spinoff. It's something far more modest but does have the city in its title: "Brothers in Atlanta."

This comes on the heels of announcing production of part of its sprawling Lewis & Clark miniseries "Undaunted Courage" here later this year.

HBO shot a "Brothers in Atlanta" pilot last year but didn't like it so the producers - which include "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels - retooled and tried again in March. This time around, HBO executive gave it the magic green light, according to Variety magazine.

It's a simple concept about two up-and-coming black entertainers Langston and Moose (played by writer-exec producers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin) living life the city.

According to Variety: "Langston, an Atlanta native, is an aspiring DJ whose career has stalled due to his lack of focus and get-rich schemes, and Moose, who’s new to Atlanta, is a perennial backup singer with dreams of the spotlight."

In recurring roles, former "SNL" star Maya Rudolph will play Moose's boss and Jaden Smith will an annoying teen neighbor.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Actress Maya Rudolph attends Comedy Central Night Of Too Many Stars at Beacon Theatre on February 28, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Comedy Central) Maya Rudolph will be spending some time later this year shooting HBO's 'Brothers in Atlanta." CREDIT: Getty Images

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Riddle and Salahuddin were formerly writers and performers on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."