Image Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Steve Granitz/WireImage.comThe future of an HBO project that’s loosely based on Hollywood’s irascible blogger Nikki Finke is in doubt after an on-set blowout that’s strikingly similar to some of the juicy posts that can be found on Deadline.com.
Showrunner Cynthia Mort has been removed from Tilda after a tense pilot shoot in which she frequently clashed with executive producer/director Bill Condon and got into public scuffles with Diane Keaton, who plays a powerful online journalist who covers the entertainment industry.
“It was an unhappy marriage from day one,” says one source of the Condon-Mort partnership. “They banged heads about almost everything…and during production she picked huge public fights with anyone who disagreed with her on anything, including Diane.”
When HBO asked her not to come to the set, Mort fired off a scathing email to production and the studio saying Condon and Keaton didn’t know what they were doing and the show was going to fail. “It was an ugly, nasty email,” says another insider. “That was the final straw for HBO.”
HBO declined to comment for this story.
Another insider familiar with the situation acknowledged the aggressive nature of Mort’s email, which basically said it was her way or the highway. HBO ultimately chose Condon’s vision for the project.
(Mort, who declined to comment as well, is no stranger to difficult work environments, having co-produced a season of ABC’s Roseanne from 1995-96. The talented scribe was also responsible for HBO’s critically-praised series Tell Me You Love Me, which only lasted for one season.)
For now, the pay cabler isn’t giving up on Tilda. Word is Condon has assembled a new team and is closing in on a new showrunner, so there’s still a chance HBO may order the show to series (the network has ordered additional scripts). “They love Diane —Emmy in the bag—and Ellen Page, but development was rushed and the general feeling is the show doesn’t click,” says the source. The project also stars Jason Patric and Sanaa Lathan.
As for Finke’s involvement in the project, the influential but elusive blogger has said on her site that she had “no prior knowledge that this show was being created or put into development” and that she had no creative or consulting involvement with the show.
I knew this was gonna happen.
How?
Because some of us pay attention.
You must have a lot of spare time there. A veritable Beautiful Mind you are.
Thank you.
Wow maybe they should just film the behind the scenes stuff and out that on air, it probably would be far more interesting
Check OUt GenerationGossip.com
Bill Condon can do no wrong in my book! Dreamgirls almost made me fall in love with Jen Hudson, and I don’t even go for girls!!! Glad HBO went with his vision!
I do love me some Bill Condon and J Hud, it’s true. Maybe I should just let you continue to post for me, you seem to be doing well so far. My very own gay doppelganger.
I might be going out on a limb here…. I would’ve sided w/ Condon/Keaton in this one.
This one sounds like it has “cult following” and “epic fail” written all over it. Like “Deadwood” and “Carnivale,” destined for a couple of seasons at best before canccellation.
Three seasons was a respectable run for “Deadwood”. Face it, the following for anything on a pay cable channel would have to be considered a cult following; you’d have to be devoted to pay to follow it.
Hey Brett just because your IQ is less then your shoe size and you can’t wrap your head around a show like Deadwood, doesn’t mean it was an epic fail.
He wasn’t bashing Deadwood… he was bashing the cancellation. There is a huge list of shows which we great, had a cult following, critics fave and EPIC fails in the ratings.
Can we please retire the phrase ‘epic fail’?
Deadwood wasn’t destined for only a few seasons. HBO wanted a 4th season, but David Milch’s interest waned (which happens a lot with him) because he fell in love with doing John from Cincinnati.
The Condon/Mort situation was a poorly kept secret. It would either mean an awesome show, or an implosion. Sadly it was the latter. She will go on to do more great work, and who knows, Tilda may be a great show. Let’s wait and see some episodes before we start ringing the death knell.
Ugghhh….is the mass media trying to turn us all gay? Between Glee and now this crap I’m starting to think so.
Yep, that’s the plan. It’s especially cunning this time, because you’ll notice the word “gay” wasn’t used once in the article and there was no mention of this being homosexual in nature at all. They are like ninjas!!
And you are a jackass.
Stop being overly sensitive or PC. Why is it that whenever we use the word “gay”, it has to be done in a POSITIVE manner–as if the gay population is perfect and doesn’t do anything negative? Well, for your information, Glee’s director is gay, and it exudes an overabundance of being a “drama queen” which some gays are known to be like. Get over it. It’s called real life.
Nice one Nicole.
Well, I can see that few peeps haven’t taken their meds today, so I’m just going to back out of this losing battle quietly.
Actually Lee you are an idiot and a bigot. Get over yourself. No one said anything about all gays being saints. Only you standard sh-t bigots use.
To ask if there is a plot to make everyone gay because two f-ing shows on tv are deemed by those few who can’t handle their sexuality so have to fear and hate is bigotry and the gay community have never been one to complain about people joking about them. Try making a joke about women, or the God fearing lot, and see how far you get.
The comment by the idiot above you was true and bigoted and you only added it.
Not gay but sure as hell can tell crap when I see.
true and bigoted and as truly bigoted not as in fact.
Wait, what?
Lee,
The gay population is perfect. And you sir sound like a bitter old queen because you’re not.
Aaah, Rusty Shackleford. The last time I ran into you here, you were valiantly attacking Oksana for throwing her face into poor Mel’s fists like the gold-digging b!tch that she is, and now you’re standing up to protect us all from the insidious gay agenda. You, sir, are a true patriot!
Waht the F are you talking about Rusty?
Hey that’s the alias I use to order pizza with!
He’s not going to pork him Rus.
Yes Rusty we are trying to turn you gay!!! Especially since you were surely named after the Rusty Trombone!
Crap, someone let Rusty out of his pen again!
yes
Ah, we meet again Fake Rusty…are you proud of how you got the obituary board shut down? At least your making the EW admins realize that there is in fact a “too mean for the internet”. Also, I have no idea what this article has to do with homosexuals…you should have been more detailed in your comment.
Michael Ausiello is the Matt Drudge of Entertainment Weekly. I’m surprised you don’t have flashing red sirens running with this worthless story.
And, he likes it up the butt too.
So does your mom.
HBO is so 5 years ago. Diane Keaton is so 30+ years ago. Obviously HBO needs new blood not old blood.
Worst statement of the day (about HBO). Plus, have you SEEN the trailer for Boardwalk Empire?
Ugh, I know. It’s not like they have one of the most popular and talked about shows on tv today or anything.
All they need is True Blood.
One of the hottest shows out there right now. So 5 years ago, huh?
What was HBO’s Emmy nomination count this year? Something like more than 100, more than any network. Yep, nothing but dated material and casting. It must be HBO’s “so 5 years ago” stuff is better than everyone elses current stuff.
The best stuff you used to see on HBO is now on AMC.
Yup. The hottest Tv show on TV is so 5 years ago. And that Boardwalk Empire? Nah, ancient. And the Tv version of the best fantasy series since Tolkien, Game Of Thrones? Nah, HBO is dead… passe… hopeless. /sarcasm
This is such a dumb statement not only about HBO but Diane Keaton is a legend. How can she be “so 30 years ago” That’s like that about Al Pacino. Both have had underwhelming film lately but don’t talk about Keaton like she was a flavor of the month. She got an Oscar nomination in the last decade. And more than that, she’s one of the premiere actresses of her generation fool.
I love Diane Keaton. She’s talented and naturally beautiful. I see her name on a project and I know it means quality.
I love Diane Keaton…but, she doesn’t mean quality all the time…Mad Money, Smother
Mama’s Boy, Because I Said So, The Family Stone, Hanging Up, The Other Sister…etc etc etc
The family Sone is a classic at my house…
Don’t go picking on The Family Stone!
Hey now! I loved The Other Sister!
Weird pic of Keaton. Usually you can see every tooth in her head.
Uh Dur.
People don’t have teeth in their head, they have teeth in their mouth just like you have displayed some people don’t have brains in their head either, they have them in their @$$ so when they speak, you know its a load of $#!t.
So heej, what that means is that your post is a picture of your brain cells at work and as we can see, you have farted out a masterpiece.
Your mouth is part of your head, so heej’s statement is correct!
I wonder where brett’s mouth is. I can guess where it’s been.
I just looked at Ms. Keaton’s picture on this article and wow — I hope my wife looks that good at her age.
This is why women shouldn’t be put in charge of things.
Especially Alaska!
Nice!
I think only women who look and behave like Ms. Mort should not be put in charge of things.
Sounds like a show about the show would be better than the show.
I just wish they would show something — anything!