The Thick of It (U.S. TV series)
Encyclopedia
Veep is a forthcoming 2012 HBO television comedy series set in the office of a fictional U.S. vice-president. The pilot was written by Armando Iannucci
and Simon Blackwell
.
It will be based on the style of Iannucci's BBC television sitcom The Thick of It
which is set in a fictional department of the British government. The Thick of It was first broadcast in 2005, gaining a number of awards and in 2009 inspiring a spin-off film, In the Loop
. A pilot for an American
version of The Thick of It was produced as a candidate for the 2007-2008 season on ABC
and would have been about the day-to-day lives of a low-level member of the United States Congress
and his staff. ABC did not pick up the show for its Fall 2007 schedule.
After it was dropped by ABC, several networks including HBO, Showtime and NBC
subsequently expressed interest in adapting the show. HBO later announced a pilot for a potential television series which was shot in 2011. The pilot was subsequently picked up for a full series which will air in 2012.
audiences by producers Mitch Hurwirtz and Richard Day
, of Arrested Development fame. Original series creator Armando Iannucci
had a production credit on the show, but he was not otherwise involved. The pilot was produced by Sony Pictures TV and BBC Worldwide
. Grammy
and Emmy Award
-winner Christopher Guest
directed the pilot.
In the pilot, John Michael Higgins
played Albert Alger, a newly-elected Congressman and Oliver Platt
played committee chairman Malcolm Tucker. Actress Rhea Seehorn was Ollie Tadzio, a young and ambitious speech writer, and Michael McKean
played Glen Glahm, "a former campaign operative who's now the chief of staff" for the congressman.
Iannucci distanced himself from the pilot stating "It was terrible...they took the idea and chucked out all the style. It was all conventionally shot and there was no improvisation or swearing. It didn't get picked up, thank God."
called Veep (a nickname derived from the position's initials "VP") was commissioned in late 2009. Iannucci has been given much more creative control over the show and has co-written the pilot with English comedy writer Simon Blackwell
, who also contributes to the British The Thick of It. In October 2011, AFRO reported more details of the show: "Directors for season one include Iannucci, Tristram Shapeero
and Chris Morris
. VEEP is executive produced by Iannucci, Christopher Godsick and Frank Rich
. Joining as co-executive producers are Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche
, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Stephanie Laing producing. In addition to Iannucci, Blackwell and Roche, writers include Sean Gray
, William Smith
, Roger Drew
, Ian Martin
and Jesse Armstrong
."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
is playing the central role of Senator Selina Meyer. Other confirmed cast include Anna Chlumsky
(who has previously starred in Iannucci's film In the Loop
), Tony Hale
, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, Sufe Bradshaw and Reid Scott
. Shooting was completed in March 2011.
HBO announced it picked up the show for a full season in April 2011. The series is being recorded in Baltimore
and began production in the fall of 2011 for a 2012 debut on HBO.
Armando Iannucci
Armando Giovanni Iannucci is a Scottish comedian, satirist, writer, director, performer and radio producer. Born in Glasgow, he studied at Oxford University and left graduate work on a PhD about John Milton to pursue a career in comedy....
and Simon Blackwell
Simon Blackwell
Simon Blackwell is a British comedy writer. He is best known for his collaborations with Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, and thus has written and co-written scripts for The Thick of It, In The Loop, The Old Guys, Have I Got News For You?, Four Lions and Peep Show amongst others.-External links:*...
.
It will be based on the style of Iannucci's BBC television sitcom The Thick of It
The Thick of It
The Thick of It is a British comedy television series that satirises the inner workings of modern British government. It was first broadcast on BBC Four in 2005, and has so far completed fourteen half-hour episodes and two special hour-long episodes to coincide with Christmas and Gordon Brown's...
which is set in a fictional department of the British government. The Thick of It was first broadcast in 2005, gaining a number of awards and in 2009 inspiring a spin-off film, In the Loop
In the Loop (film)
In the Loop is a 2009 British satirical black comedy film directed by Armando Iannucci. It is based on the BBC Television series The Thick of It satirising Anglo-American politics in the 21st century and the Invasion of Iraq...
. A pilot for an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
version of The Thick of It was produced as a candidate for the 2007-2008 season on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and would have been about the day-to-day lives of a low-level member of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and his staff. ABC did not pick up the show for its Fall 2007 schedule.
After it was dropped by ABC, several networks including HBO, Showtime and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
subsequently expressed interest in adapting the show. HBO later announced a pilot for a potential television series which was shot in 2011. The pilot was subsequently picked up for a full series which will air in 2012.
Cast
- Julia Louis-DreyfusJulia Louis-DreyfusJulia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
as Selina Meyer - Anna ChlumskyAnna ChlumskyAnna Chlumsky is an American actress best known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 movie My Girl and the 1994 sequel My Girl 2. Her father, Frank Chlumsky, is an instructor in the culinary program at Kendall College in Chicago...
as Amy - Tony HaleTony HaleTony Hale is an American actor, best known for his role in the Fox comedy series Arrested Development as the neurotic Byron "Buster" Bluth.-Early life:...
as Gary - Matt Walsh as Mike
- Timothy Simons as Jonah
- Reid ScottReid Scott (actor)Reid Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Brendan Dorff on the hit television show, My Boys. He has also appeared in several television commercials, the popular show All My Children, and in the off-Broadway play "Cargo."- Life and career :Scott was born on November 19,...
as Dan - Sufe Bradshaw as Sue
ABC pilot
The ABC pilot, also titled The Thick of It and and was developed for AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
audiences by producers Mitch Hurwirtz and Richard Day
Richard Day (writer)
Richard Day is an American writer, producer, director and occasional actor. He has worked as a writer/producer for several television programs including Arrested Development, Spin City, Ellen, Roseanne, Mad About You and Aliens in America.In addition to his work in television, he has also written...
, of Arrested Development fame. Original series creator Armando Iannucci
Armando Iannucci
Armando Giovanni Iannucci is a Scottish comedian, satirist, writer, director, performer and radio producer. Born in Glasgow, he studied at Oxford University and left graduate work on a PhD about John Milton to pursue a career in comedy....
had a production credit on the show, but he was not otherwise involved. The pilot was produced by Sony Pictures TV and BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
. Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
-winner Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that...
directed the pilot.
In the pilot, John Michael Higgins
John Michael Higgins
John Michael Higgins is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim....
played Albert Alger, a newly-elected Congressman and Oliver Platt
Oliver Platt
Oliver James Platt is a Canadian-American actor. He is currently starring in the Showtime original series, The Big C with Laura Linney.-Early life:...
played committee chairman Malcolm Tucker. Actress Rhea Seehorn was Ollie Tadzio, a young and ambitious speech writer, and Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael John McKean is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski, on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; and for his work in the Christopher Guest ensemble films, particularly as David St...
played Glen Glahm, "a former campaign operative who's now the chief of staff" for the congressman.
Iannucci distanced himself from the pilot stating "It was terrible...they took the idea and chucked out all the style. It was all conventionally shot and there was no improvisation or swearing. It didn't get picked up, thank God."
HBO series
As a result of the failure of the 2007 pilot, Iannucci re-entered talks with HBO (his initial preference) about adapting the series, with the result that a new pilot episode for a series based in the office of the Vice President of the United StatesVice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
called Veep (a nickname derived from the position's initials "VP") was commissioned in late 2009. Iannucci has been given much more creative control over the show and has co-written the pilot with English comedy writer Simon Blackwell
Simon Blackwell
Simon Blackwell is a British comedy writer. He is best known for his collaborations with Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, and thus has written and co-written scripts for The Thick of It, In The Loop, The Old Guys, Have I Got News For You?, Four Lions and Peep Show amongst others.-External links:*...
, who also contributes to the British The Thick of It. In October 2011, AFRO reported more details of the show: "Directors for season one include Iannucci, Tristram Shapeero
Tristram Shapeero
Tristram Shapeero is a British director of television comedies, including Brass Eye, Smack the Pony, Green Wing, Community and Absolutely Fabulous.- Director :...
and Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Chris Morris may refer to:* Chris Morris , gay rights activist* Chris Morris , American football player for the Detroit Lions...
. VEEP is executive produced by Iannucci, Christopher Godsick and Frank Rich
Frank Rich
Frank Rich is an American essayist and op-ed columnist who wrote for The New York Times from 1980, when he was appointed its chief theatre critic, until 2011...
. Joining as co-executive producers are Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche
Tony Roche
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Stephanie Laing producing. In addition to Iannucci, Blackwell and Roche, writers include Sean Gray
Sean Gray
Sean Gray is a British comedy writer and director. He is a member of the writing team of the Armando Iannucci-created television series The Thick Of It and Time Trumpet and the radio series Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive. He is also creator of 'iGod' - an apocalyptic Radio 4 comedy series...
, William Smith
William Smith
-Academics:* William Smith , English geologist* William Smith , English lexicographer* William Robertson Smith , philologist, physicist, archaeologist, and Biblical critic...
, Roger Drew
Roger Drew
Roger Drew is a British illustrator and television screenwriter.His illustration work ranges from music sleeve art for The Darkness, to TV artwork for Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round and Johnny Vaughan Tonight....
, Ian Martin
Ian Martin
Ian Martin, from the United Kingdom, is a human rights activist who has been involved in a number of human rights organisations. He was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal for the United Nations Mission in Nepal from 2007 to 2009....
and Jesse Armstrong
Jesse Armstrong
Jesse Armstrong is one of the co-creators of Channel 4's Peep Show, along with Sam Bain. He also co-wrote the BBC Four comedy The Thick of It and was one of the writers on series 1 and 2 of the BBC Radio 4 sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Sound and the BBC Two sketch show That Mitchell and Webb...
."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
is playing the central role of Senator Selina Meyer. Other confirmed cast include Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky is an American actress best known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 movie My Girl and the 1994 sequel My Girl 2. Her father, Frank Chlumsky, is an instructor in the culinary program at Kendall College in Chicago...
(who has previously starred in Iannucci's film In the Loop
In the Loop (film)
In the Loop is a 2009 British satirical black comedy film directed by Armando Iannucci. It is based on the BBC Television series The Thick of It satirising Anglo-American politics in the 21st century and the Invasion of Iraq...
), Tony Hale
Tony Hale
Tony Hale is an American actor, best known for his role in the Fox comedy series Arrested Development as the neurotic Byron "Buster" Bluth.-Early life:...
, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, Sufe Bradshaw and Reid Scott
Reid Scott (actor)
Reid Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Brendan Dorff on the hit television show, My Boys. He has also appeared in several television commercials, the popular show All My Children, and in the off-Broadway play "Cargo."- Life and career :Scott was born on November 19,...
. Shooting was completed in March 2011.
HBO announced it picked up the show for a full season in April 2011. The series is being recorded in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and began production in the fall of 2011 for a 2012 debut on HBO.