[Keyser_Soze]

Originally Posted by Mandy-J (View Post) I'm so very curious to know more about this role. Where can I find more info on the show? I mean, I googled the term, and landed on sites about a girl having sex with different people (for money sometimes!) in the senate. And that was about it. And then I was like: do I like that premise? But that's not the complete plot, I understand?

This is from a Variety article from March, 2006:

Taylor and Parker are just beginning to flesh out how to bring "Washingtonienne" to the small screen, but Taylor predicted the final result will be "a controversial character." "There have been a lot of morally ambiguous male characters finding acceptance on TV, but we haven't seen that with female characters," Taylor said, calling the character Cutler created for her novel emblematic of her generation in many ways. "She's both hedonistic and very pragmatic," Taylor said. "She does what she wants, and if she can get something from it, terrific. (But) she's not using people brazenly. She just doesn't care what other people think."

From a more recent Washington Post Article - 10/17/08

"We don't want to tell Jessica's story because it's been told," Parker said yesterday. "We want a good show about Washington that's all about ambition and belief in government, what it is to be a young woman in what is traditionally thought to be a man's town."

SNIP

The HBO series is "extremely loosely" based on the book, said Parker, who optioned the rights for it as her "jumping-off point" for a tale of three 28-year-olds working on the Hill: intern Jackie, her college pal April and workaholic Laura, a conservative, small-town girl. The only character with any hint of Cutler is Jackie, who fails in New York and flees to D.C., landing on April's doorstep. "She's kind of floating, not focused like the others," Parker said. "She doesn't understand the protocol of the city. Her moral compass is a little different."

SNIP

The pilot shoots in D.C. and Baltimore early next month; if HBO execs like what they see, look for the first 13 episodes to air sometime next year.

[rowanlove]

Ohh, good to know more details about the overall plot, etc! From everything I've heard, it sounds like it will be a great show, IMO and given that Jason's character works in the same office as Jackie, I get the feeling we'll see him often. *crosses fingers and toes*

I'm really glad they're diverging from the book, because not only has Cutler's story been told, it tends to come off more completely opportunistic, rather than sort of an ambitious, determined, intelligent version of Lilly Kane with a 'f'-em if they can't take a joke!' type attitude. I'm really, really looking forward to the show, the more I learn about it.

[afrocurl]

T--thanks for bringing over that information.

As for the difference between the book and the show, I'm glad to hear it. I can't remember much of the book (it's been a while since I read it), but there's more potential in a show that knows how to take source material and expand on it.

[JulieB]

Thanks for the added info

[rowanlove]

THE WASHINGTONIENNE Pilot Executive Producers: Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson, Sarah Condon, Susanna Fogel, Joni Lefkowitz Director: TBA Writers: Susanna Fogel & Joni Lefkowitz Start Date: tentatively October 27, 2008 Locations: Baltimore and Washington DC STORY LINE: Fiesty, sexy, sometimes abrasive New York P.R. executive JACKIE moves to Washington DC to fulfill her dream of becoming a top political speech writer. A force of nature, Jackie doesn’t play by the rules. She speaks her mind and doesn’t kowtow easily - a rarity in DC. A fish out of water, she’s determined to swim with the sharks, and her bombastic splash onto the national political scene causes widening ripples in the Hill power hierarchy…

I like the description of the TV show MUCH better than the sound of the actual book.

[afrocurl]

Well, there's more room to navigate with that description, than the plot of the book. I can't wait to see where this goes.

[Mandy-J]

Thanks so much for all the extra info Anita and Keyser! This makes it much more interesting

[JulieB]

Thanks again for the info guys

I also found two locales they'll be shooting at,

Local sites make good At least two locals have landed parts in The Washingtonienne: Pazo and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The restaurant/lounge and museum will stand in for Washington locations on the HBO pilot, which sounds a whole lot like Sex and a Different City. It will be produced by Sarah Jessica Parker and star Rachel Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch. "They were looking for something that would be bar/lounge space that was very hip," said Allison Parker-Abromitis, marketing director for the restaurant group that includes Pazo. "They looked in Washington and Baltimore. It's nice that Baltimore sort of won out over D.C. for that ultra-chic, cool space." Pazo will close for filming one day early next month. Several servers, bartenders and kitchen staff will serve as extras, Executive Chef Michael Costa among them. Pazo food and drink could get cameos, too. "Their prop guy has not told me which entrees he wants," Parker-Abromitis said. "I sent them our menu. We just launched a bunch of new cocktails, so we're hoping we'll get some cocktails featured." As for the museum, it will stand in for some government building playing host to a party, said BMA spokeswoman Anne Mannix. Only exterior shots will be used. "I think it's supposed to be kind of a swanky party, and there will be a long line of people trying to get in," Mannix said. Mannix said she understood that the swanky party itself will be shot inside the Peabody Library. No one there, or with HBO, returned calls seeking comment.

Baltimore Sun

[Mandy-J]

To be near Baltimore right now...

Thanks Julie!

[rowanlove]

Originally Posted by JulieB (View Post) Thanks again for the info guys Pazo will close for filming one day early next month. Several servers, bartenders and kitchen staff will serve as extras, Executive Chef Michael Costa among them. Pazo food and drink could get cameos, too.

I'm sure everyone probably came to the same conclusion, but it sounds like the best bet would be to check with Pazo's to see what day they're closed for filming.

[JulieB]

Yep, Anita, I would say so

I've actually seen one pic of SPJ and a couple of Rachel. Hopefully Jason pops up soon somewhere.

[danceprincess20]

I will be living in DC from January to May, I hope the show is shooting there then!

[afrocurl]

I'm not sure when we'll hear about the show being picked up, but I'm sure that we might know something later.

[alee23]

The Italian Jason fansite Just Jason has an interview with Jason posted and also has the English translation after the Italian interview if anyone's interested. It's mainly on Moonlight. Just Jason

[rowanlove]

I absolutely love the picture they used! I'm sure we'll see them at BBM if Jason is announced! *crosses fingers for that to happen*