Georgia Entertainment Scene
Georgia Entertainment Scene

HBO not moving forward with 'Brothers in Atlanta' comedy

Lorne Michaels attends the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Lorne Michaels attends the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
By
Jan 24, 2016

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Friday, January 22, 2016

HBO shot a pilot called "Brothers in Atlanta" last year here in Atlanta but the network decided to shelve the project.

It was created by Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin and "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels.

“After assessing our programming needs we talked to Bashir and Diallo and decided moving forward didn’t make sense for us at the time,” HBO said in a statement. “We feel they are immensely talented and we hope to work with them in the future.”

ExploreDeadline broke the news.

An original concept with many of the same players was tried in 2013 featuring Bashir and Diallo was reporters. That pilot was shot that year but didn't go to series. But HBO liked the people involved and tried again. "Brothers in Atlanta" was originally given a series pickup in April, 2015. This time, it was about two struggling entertainers in Atlanta. But they struck out again.

This is the second project shot in Atlanta killed in the past couple of weeks. An FXX animated comedy "Cassius & Clay" didn't make the cut either after a pilot was produced here in Atlanta, partly by an "Archer' creator Adam Reed.

ExploreA show with a seemingly similar premise by "Community" star and rap star Donald Glover called "Atlanta" has been picked up by FX and is set to air later this year.

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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