
Michael K. Williams of 'The Wire' is one of many stars in the HBO series.
HBO has finally let the cat out of the bag, officially announcing the premiere date for its new series based on old Atlantic City, Boardwalk Empire.
HBO’s Web site shows that Sept. 19 will be the much anticipated date when the cable station launches its “New Drama Series Coming This Fall. From Terrence Winter and Martin Scorsese Comes an epic drama series set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition” — Boardwalk Empire.
In addition to the date, the HBO “Boardwalk Empire” page on its site includes some really cool video clips and additional information on the show based on the book by Nelson Johnson.
Read this AC Weekly interview with Terence Winter from a few months back, this tasty tidbit on the launch of the show and its relation to Atlantic City area restaurants, and this post catching Boardwalk Empire author and Atlantic County judge Nelson Johnson at a book signing in Margate in late March 2009. In fact, if you type in “Nelson Johnson” in the main search box on the acweekly.com home page, you get “24″ results, all of which include coverage of the soon-to-be-debuted TV series, the pilot of which was directed by Martin Scorsese.
Now here’s a fascinating thought; I’m just thinking how small the world actually is: Marty Scorsese is involved in this HBO project, which takes place in Atlantic City.
Now, back in 1978, Scorsese directed the classic rock film The Last Waltz, which featured the Band, a group that came together only after Levon Helm and his band the Hawks were playing a summer-long Jersey Shore gig in the town of Somers Point (about 15 minutes outside of Atlantic City) at a club called Tony Mart’s. Bob Dylan, in the summer of 1965, heard about them and would eventually recruit them to become his first touring electric band on a tour that would literally change the course of rock ‘n’ roll history.
But Scorsese knows this story all too well. He’s interviewed the members of the Band many times ( and became very close with one of its members, Robbie Robertson) and made two films relating to the subjects: The Last Waltz (1978) and Bob Dylan:No Direction Home (2005).
And here’s another connection! The Band — and Levon Helm especially, even to this day — is famous for its version of the classic Bruce Springsteen song “Atlantic City.” (And another connection within a connection. Atlantic City Weekly editor Jeff Schwachter played the song “Atlantic City” at Atlantic City Weekly’s 35th birthday party last year at The Pool at Harrah’s, but getting a little carried away now…)
But it’s interesting to think about how strong Scorsese’s connection to our area actually is — he also filmed 1986’s The Color of Money in Atlantic City — and how much of that contributed to, affected or helped his work as executive director of the series and the director of the series’ pilot.
Back to the date: Yes, you will start seeing Atlantic City area folks getting very excited about this show soon. And with everybody calling Boardwalk Empire the “next Sopranos,” Sept. 19 is going to be one important date.
Boardwalk Empire. Sunday, Sept. 19. 9pm. See you there.