Posted: 2/9/16 at 4:55pm
CBS has ordered a multi-camera comedy pilot based on Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts. Jermaine Fowler will play employee Franco and sitcom veteran James Burrows will direct:
I am a huge fan of Letts' but I did not have an opportunity to see Donuts. Does anyone think the play lends itself to be adapted into a comedy series?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 5:09pm
I don't remember it being a comedy - more of a drama-lite. My strongest recollection was that Michael McKean was very relaxed, and the ending telegraphed itself from thousands of miles away. Enjoyable, but not particularly memorable.
Posted: 2/9/16 at 11:12pm
So basically it's going to be like 2 Broke Girls in Chicago instead of Brooklyn. I hope it avoids the heavy CBS comedy treatment. Mom is still managing to mix a bit of humanity in with the canned laughs.
I saw Superior Donuts and Broadway and no, I don't think there's much there for a sitcom. At least not of the loud multi-camera variety.
Posted: 2/10/16 at 9:00am
It was a mildly likable dramedy enhanced by the performances but not very original in setting or concept. Will each episode feature the proprietor of a second-rate coffee-and-donuts place grudgingly offering a job to a young black guy who turns out to be a promising writer but whose dream is quashed by the Russian mafia? Seems pretty limited to me. What I remember most about it was during the latter part of the play at the Music Box, one could hear the only semi-muffled screams around the Schoenfeld stage door across the street as Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig emerged from A STEADY RAIN.
Updated On: 2/10/16 at 09:00 AM
Posted: 3/2/16 at 10:13am
Brian d'Arcy James to star! I hope this is good. http://deadline.com/2016/03/brian-darcy-james-star-superior-donuts-cbs-pilot-1201712757/
Posted: 3/2/16 at 4:14pm
I think Mom is achieving levels of greatness currently.
And I'll watch anything in which Brian wears a v neck shirt.
Posted: 5/26/16 at 9:40am
This didn't get picked up to series, but CBS is going to retool the pilot and consider it for midseason. The biggest change they're making is replacing Brian d'Arcy James.
http://deadline.com/2016/05/superior-donuts-new-pilot-jermaine-fowler-comedy-cbs-1201762793/
Posted: 5/26/16 at 10:43am
Saw it. The play itself was rather tepid, but McKean's performance made it worthwhile
Posted: 5/26/16 at 10:49am
I hope that means that Brian does more singing and recording. Specifically, a lot more singing and recording.
Posted: 5/26/16 at 10:53am
Brian seriously deserves a major break- the poor guy misses out on the behemoth that is Hamilton & gets replaced on a sitcom! Third times the charm! He's so friggin nice!
Even though he did the public production of Hamilton and not Broadway, does anyone know if he is sharing in the royalties that the cast got?
Posted: 5/26/16 at 12:20pm
^You do realize he's coming off a role in the Academy award winning best film, in addition to his one year stint in Something Rotten (Tony nominated). Sure, I want more BDJ in my life too, but he's had many big breaks.
Posted: 5/26/16 at 2:22pm
And he probably made a cool $1m off Shrek. I think he was getting 8K per week.
Posted: 5/26/16 at 2:29pm
another sloe eyed vamp said: "I hope that means that Brian does more singing and recording. Specifically, a lot more singing and recording.
"
I read recently that he wants to concentrate more on film. Hopefully for him, after the success of Spotlight, he will have the opportunity. I will miss him in Something Rotten as he is absolutely great. I wish him well!
Posted: 5/26/16 at 4:17pm
why this play. A play that should of have been off and not on broadway. I think everyone loved August and rushed doughnuts through
Posted: 5/26/16 at 4:28pm
RippedMan said: "And he probably made a cool $1m off Shrek. I think he was getting 8K per week.
"
He was in Shrek for a year- and if he made 8k a week, that would be about $425k for the year- nothing to sniff at but not $1 million dollars.
