Looks like writer/creator Benjamin Cory Jones’ network gamble with his pilot “Bros Before Hos” paid off. The Hollywood news site Deadline has announced that the show, now more appropriately titled, “Bros” has been picked up for a development deal with HBO.
If you remember, Jones shunned the idea of turning “Bros” (based on his life as a black gay man) into a web series, instead opting to go for a television network deal.
I have a feeling that the title may be changed again since the word “Bro” is despised in the white gay community.
Does this mean that we will soon be seeing the show airing right before HBO’s other “gay” show “Looking?”
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Development deals are just that. The network retains the right to exclusively develop the show. If they get it fleshed out to the point where they are ready for a Pilot, that gets greenlit and then the wheels start really turning.
However, with most networks, not every project being developed makes it to Pilot. If the Pilot is made and loved by the execs, then the show gets picked up to a Series order for a certain amount of episodes. This happens even less often than a development deal.
On the other hand, we’re talking about HBO and they usually commit to their shows. Especially now that the network has many sister stations and is getting serious about Video on Demand and Streaming, they need the content, especially if its unique and smartly written.
As I noted previously, it was refreshing to see witty dialogue in a comedy written, directed, produced and starring people of color.
Congratulations to Ben Cory Jones and the rest of the team.
From Deadline:
HBO has put in development Bros, a comedy from director Anthony Hemingway (Red Tails) and TV production executive-turned-producer Mark Taylor’s Hemingway | Taylor shingle and Dear White People producer Lena Waithe.
Written by Ben Cory Jones (Hand Of God) loosely based on his real life as a gay black man with his non-gay brothers, Bros centers on three African-American brothers — two straight and one gay — who are each dealing with love and dating. Hemingway and Taylor executive produce, Jones and Waithe co-executive produce.
Jones originally wrote the project on spec and gave the script to Hemingway. Then titled Bros Before Hos, the comedy shot a presentation this year that starred Dijon Talton (Glee), Kevin Phillips (Red Tails), Tuffy Questell (How To Make It In America), Dana Sorman (Harry’s Law), Nia Jervier (Dear White People) and Kristofer Gordon.
I just checked the kickstarter for this show a few days ago wondering what its fate will be. At least this is a start and I really hope that it will be pushed because we need more non-stereotypical black gay male representation on TV. If it does get picked up for real then trust and believe I WILL BE WATCHING.
I can’t wait for this. I’ve been waiting on an update for the longest! Thanks Nick.
AAAAAAAAaaaaaaa that’s what’s up!!! Now I have something to possibly watch on HBO. Great news!
I never heard of this, but like others I shall await this series with great anticipation.
HBO! Awesome. Gonna be some booty cheeks on display then. I’m pleased.
I’m really glad this got picked up! Too often great concepts like these get lost and forgotten. I can’t wait to see how this goes.
And to echo the sentiment below mine, definitely looking forward to some booty 😀
Good shit! Very happy for everyone who’s about to get a check if things pan out!
I was just excited about good production quality and a good script. I think it will do well – it looks HBOish…
why couldn’t Kevin Phillips had been the gay brother, i had a thang for you him ever since i saw him in (2007’s pride) he’s so cute and so underrated as an actor.
I’m happy for the show’s creator and producers. I enjoyed the pilot episode and hope that they are able to make it to the screen on HBO. Given that Showtime did a series “Brothers” in the 80s for about four seasons, “Bros” seems comparable with that series and it may have a good shot at getting picked up.
I was entertained within those 11 minutes.
By the end I was inspired.
I really hope they are being actively developed and moving in the direction of pilot production.
I’m going to email HBO to make sure they’re paying attention to getting this show ready for a pilot and a full season.
I will get HBO Go just for this.