TV Lowdown » Alphaville http://thetvlowdown.com The best and worst that TV has to offer. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:47:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Spike Lee and Robert De Niro developing “Alphaville” for Showtime http://thetvlowdown.com/2009/09/17/spike-lee-and-robert-de-niro-developing-alphaville-for-showtime/ http://thetvlowdown.com/2009/09/17/spike-lee-and-robert-de-niro-developing-alphaville-for-showtime/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:30:56 +0000 thetvlowdown http://thetvlowdown.com/?p=537 This could be one to look out for. The Hollywood Reporter has news that the duo will serve as executive producers on the series for Showtime described as “an ensemble drama chronicling Alphabet City’s gritty and tumultuous past before it became the gentrified East Village. Set during the 1980s, it will re-create the neighborhood’s eclectic [...]]]> This could be one to look out for. The Hollywood Reporter has news that the duo will serve as executive producers on the series for Showtime described as “an ensemble drama chronicling Alphabet City’s gritty and tumultuous past before it became the gentrified East Village. Set during the 1980s, it will re-create the neighborhood’s eclectic mix of struggling artists and musicians living alongside Puerto Rican and black families. Spike-Lee-and-Robert-De-N-001Along with its growing bohemian and celebrity population that also included graffiti artists, break-dancers, rappers and DJs, the neighborhood was plagued by illegal drug activity and violent crime. Local tensions culminated in the Tompkins Square Park riot of 1988, in which police clashed with anarchists and homeless activists.”

Much in the same way that “The Wire” told the story of Baltimore as seen through the eyes of diverse groups in society, it seems like “Alphaville” may be aspiring to do the same for Alphabet City. If they can pull it off with even one-tenth of the flair that “The Wire” did, this could certainly be a new series to look forward to. I’m already nearing the end of watching The Wire for the first time, and I’ll certainly be in withdrawal afterwards.

Lee will direct a pilot by John Ridley, but it’s not clear yet when to expect this one to hit the screens.

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