HBO, which built its brand on such sharp, single-camera comedies as "Sex and the City," "The Larry Sanders Show" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," is taking on the traditional network family sitcom format.
The premium cable network has given the green light to a comedy pilot starring comedian Louis C.K., marking HBO's first multicamera comedy pilot order.
The untitled pilot, which Emmy-winning writer-producer Louis C.K. also wrote, centers on a middle-class couple with a kid. Louis C.K. will play the father.
He also will executive produce the HBO Independent Prods. project with his manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, Dave Becky.
The pilot, which will be shot in front of a live audience, stems from Louis C.K.'s development deal with HBO (HR 9/14).
While the comedy borrows the decades-old multicamera family sitcom genre from the broadcast networks, it also stamps it with the trademark HBO edge and sense of reality, including mature subjects and foul language, which have made the premium cable network's series distinctive.
After HBO's HIP division was restructured in June with Tracy Katsky tapped to run it, she announced that a foray into the multicamera comedy genre, which has been struggling on network TV for the past several years, is the production entity's main priority (HR 6/3).
The HBO pilot marks an interesting transition for Louis C.K., who this past development season co-wrote and starred in "Saint Louie," a comedy pilot for CBS about a couple with a kid.
The pilot, executive produced by Bruce Helford, didn't make the cut.
As part of the writing team of HBO's "The Chris Rock Show," Louis C.K. Won an Emmy in 1999.
Additionally, he wrote, directed and produced the feature comedy "Pootie Tang" and was a writer and co-executive producer on Fox's comedy series "Cedric the Entertainer Presents."
Louis C.K. is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.