Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk Empire Season Finale

2010-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some recaps and reviews of the season finale of "Boardwalk Empire."

Baltimore Sun

Recap Roundup: Boardwalk Empire Episode Eight

2010-11-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's been almost two weeks since I posted. I've been really busy with my real job. So busy in fact that I missed my first episode of Boardwalk Empire. The horror! I was traveling for work, and the hotel didn't have HBO. How is that even possible? I had to catch up on on-demand.

Anyway, here are some recaps of last week's epoisode, "Hold Me in Paradise." I have to say that I'm excited for Jimmy to be back in A.C.

Also here is the preview of tonight's Episode 9 titled, "Belle Femme". I'm hoping to post a bit more in the coming weeks. Check back for some new posts. I'm hoping to do some more in-depth stuff, not just the recaps.

Ep. 9 Clip: Jimmy Returns Home

Recap Roundup: Boardwalk Empire Episode Six

2010-10-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Last week's episode of "Boardwalk Empire" titled "Family Limitation" put Margaret front and center, and we saw the relationship of Nucky and Margaret taken to another level. I'm also loving the interplay between Jimmy and Al, and the personal relationship behind the two gangsters. And Agent Van Alden is certainly making a bid for the "creepiest character" on TV. Here are some of the recaps for last week. Sorry they are a bit late this week.

Also here is the preview for the episode this Sunday, titled "Home." Please more Chalky White!

Ep. 7 - Preview

Recap Roundup: Boardwalk Empire Episode Five

2010-10-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Here's the weekly roundup of recaps and reviews for Boardwalk Empire Episode Five: "Nights in Ballygran." There's some consensus that Episode Five was the best episode of the season so far. Post a comment and let us know what you thought.

And here's the preview from HBO of "Boardwalk Empire" Episode Six, "Family Limitation."

Ep. 6 - Preview

Boardwalk Empire a New York Times Best Seller

2010-10-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

"Boardwalk Empire," written by Nelson Johnson, recently made it's debut on the New York Times Best Seller list. Here is the press release announcing that fact:

Boardwalk Empire a New York Times Best Seller

October 15, 2010, Medford, NJ—Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City is debuting on the New York Times paperback nonfiction best seller list on October 17.

Written by first-time author Nelson Johnson and published by a small, independent New Jersey regional press, Boardwalk Empire was tapped by Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter as the inspiration for their hit HBO TV series of the same name.

After printing fewer than 5,000 copies of Boardwalk Empire in 2002 and selling just 10,000 copies through 2009, Plexus Publishing, Inc. has been challenged to keep up with demand in the wake of the series’ record-setting popularity. The publisher printed an additional 85,000 copies in September alone.

“We are certainly very proud to have our first New York Times best seller,” said Plexus President and CEO Thomas H. Hogan, “and it is even more rewarding for us to reach that milestone with this particular title. Nelson Johnson’s account of the crime and corruption that shaped the history of Atlantic City is a project we’ve believed in from the beginning.”

Plexus was first approached about the film rights to Boardwalk Empire in 2006. “When we were told that Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson were interested in producing a primetime series for HBO based on our book, we were excited, but only cautiously optimistic,” Hogan said. “Hundreds of books are optioned every year, but relatively few make it to the screen, let alone become major success stories.” The series premiered on HBO on September 19 and was watched by an estimated 7.1 million viewers that evening.
According to the publisher, the tie-in edition of Boardwalk Empire that is currently on the New York Times list includes a foreword by series executive producer, writer, and creator Terence Winter; more than 35 photos of the cast and set; and a new afterword by author Nelson Johnson. The book is nationally distributed to the book trade by Independent Publishers Group (IPG).

"Rate Boardwalk Empire" Poll Results

2010-10-14T02:03:00.000-07:00

With nearly 1,000 votes tallied, I thought it was time to take down the reader poll that asked the question, "Rate the first episode of Boardwalk Empire." The results were as follows:

Excellent--701 votes, 74%
Good--207 votes, 22%
Fair--20 votes, 2%
Poor--8 votes, less than 1%

That's a pretty good review for the series premiere. Of course, I'd expect readers of this site to have an overall positive view of the series.

You'll see a new poll posted on the site. That poll asks you to, "Rate the first season of Boardwalk Empire."

Recap Roundup: Boardwalk Empire Episode Four

2010-10-13T03:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a roundup of recaps and reviews of Episode Four of Boardwalk Empire, titled "Anastasia."

Also, looking forward to Episode Five, here is a preview of "Nights in Ballygran."

Ep. 5 - Preview

Recap Roundup: Boardwalk Empire Episode Three

2010-10-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a roundup of recaps and reviews for Episode Three of Boardwalk Empire, titled "Broadway Limited." It was good to see Michael K. Williams as Chalky White finally get into the action.

Michael K. Williams and Episode 3 of Boardwalk Empire

2010-10-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

From the looks of the preview, "Boardwalk Empire" fans will finally get a chance to really meet Chalky White, played by Michael K. Williams. According to HBO, Chalky White is the de facto mayor of Atlantic City's African American community. An ex-boxer, Chalky runs a boot-legging operation for Nucky.

Michael Kenneth Williams is best known, and almost a cult figure, for his portrayal of Omar Little on "The Wire." For that role, he was named by USA Today as one of the "Ten Best Reasons to Watch Television," and he was nominated NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

It only makes sense that a character like Chalky White would be introduced as a part of "Boardwalk Empire." The African American community was an integral part in the growth of Atlantic City as a tourist destination. They made up a huge part of the work force required at the time. However, racial prejudice and injustices ruled the time. It will be interesting to see how the series tackles those subjects.

An Interview with Terence Winter on NPR

2010-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

The following is a link to an interesting interview with Terence Winter, creator of the series Boardwalk Empire, on NPR's "Fresh Air." Here is the written excerpt from the interview, titled "Down On The Boardwalk With Terence Winter." Also, you can listen to the podcast on "Fresh Air."

In the interview, Winter goes into some depth on the creation of the series, and how it arose out Nelson Johnson's book, "Boardwalk Empire." He also talks a bit about working with Scorsese, how the series blends history and fiction, and the cast and characters of the series.

It's a really good background for fans of the series, and explains a bit about how the series relates to the real history. It explains that while many of the characters are based on real life, it is definitely a fictionalized story.

Great background for anyone interested in the series.

"Boardwalk Empire" Third Episode Preview

2010-09-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of "Broadway Limited," the third episode of "Boardwalk Empire."

Ep. 3 - Preview

Episode 2, "The Ivory Tower," Boardwalk Empire Reviews and Recaps

2010-09-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here are links to a few reviews and recaps of "The Ivory Tower," episode 2 of "Boardwalk Empire."

Post your own reviews and comments on Episode 2 here.

Atlantic City: The Original Sin City (HBO)

2010-09-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

For Boardwalk Empire and history buffs, here is a 30-minute documentary from HBO, "Atlantic City: The Original Sin City." It's a companion piece to the series, and originally aired on HBO just prior to the series premiere. It includes interviews with many of the experts on Atlantic City history, including Nelson Johnson (author of Boardwalk Empire), Allen "Boo" Pergament, Heather Halpin Perez, Ralph Hunter, Vicki Gold Levi, Turiya S. A. Raheem, and Bryant Simon. It also includes executive producers Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter, as well as the research advisor for the series, Ed McGinty.

"Boardwalk Empire" second episode preview

2010-09-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of the "The Ivory Tower," the second episode of Boardwalk Empire.

Ep. 2 - Preview

LIFE.com's "The Real Boardwalk Empire"

2010-09-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you interested in some real pictures from the early days of Atlantic City, and the time of Nucky Johnson, LIFE.com just recently added a photo gallery. "The Real Boardwalk Empire" is an impressive archive of photos that covers much of early history of Atlantic City.

HBO Orders More Boardwalk Empire

2010-09-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

The New York Times is reporting that HBO has renewed "Boardwalk Empire" for a second season. Details on when that season would air were not discussed. Here is an excerpt from that article.

Less than an hour after promoting the strong ratings for Episode 1, HBO announced on Tuesday a second season order for the sprawling gangster drama “Boardwalk Empire.”

The first episode was watched by 7.1 million viewers on Sunday night, a standout rating for HBO, which has been in need of big new dramas since “The Sopranos” ended in 2007. Some critics have already compared that mob tale to “Boardwalk Empire,” and the high ratings and the almost-instant renewal are likely to generate more of that talk...

Finally, the Boardwalk Empire premiere

2010-09-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post. As you may know, I am a Boardwalk Empire fan, and I also work for the publishing company (Plexus Publishing) that published the book that inspired the series. That book, "Boardwalk Empire", was written by Nelson Johnson, and chronicles the true politics and corruption of Atlantic City. It provided the source material for the series that premiered last night on HBO. Finally!

Part of the reason that I've been absent is that I was unable to share a lot of what I knew. As the publisher of the book, we weren't intimately involved in the series or HBO, but we were involved in some small ways. This limited me in what I could post, and I couldn't really post many of the things I thought people would want to read.

Now that the series has launched, that is all out of the way. I'm going to be try to post regularly about the series and the book. For those who are interested, I'll be touching on how the series relates to the real-life story (at least to the best of my knowledge).

As far as the first episode goes, I was impressed. My wife and I were invited to the New York premiere on Wednesday night, and that was the first time I got to see it. We saw the whole "red carpet" thing, and people like Mic Jaggar, P Diddy, James Gandolfini, and all of the stars of Boardwalk Empire showed up.

On the big screen at the Ziegfeld theater, Boardwalk Empire had a real movie feel. I felt like I was watching a Scorsese movie, rather than a TV show. As I watched the show again Sunday night at home, I still felt that way. The boardwalk set, the elaborate costuming, and the overall production values on the show really make it pop off the screen.

I'm no TV or film critic, but I also thought that you could really feel Scorsese's influence behind the camera. From the camera angles and close ups, to the last scene with the killing of "Big Jim" Colisimo and Margaret Shroeder's husband, I thought that it "felt" like a Scorsese directed piece.

As far as how the series relates to the real story, I can point out a few details that are true. These are a few of the true and interesting facts that are in the series. You can find out more in the book, Boardwalk Empire:

Nucky Johnson always wore a red carnation.
Nucky's wife Mabel died of tuberculosis in 1913.
"The Commodore" (Kuehnle in real life, but Kaestner in the series) was really Nucky's mentor.
Margaret Shroeder's visit to Nucky in the pilot episode of Boardwalk Empire is very similar to a story from a passage in the book.
Nucky Johnson lived on one entire floor of the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Nucky Johnson was the Atlantic County Treasurer.
Atlantic City semi-openly violated the laws of prohibition during the 20's, and was a major port for rum-running.

While the series is definitely fiction, it is based on some level of facts, as they relate to Nucky Johnson and Atlantic City in general during the time of Prohibition.

Even more important than many of the facts is that Terence Winter, Steve Buscemi, and everyone involved in the production has managed to recreate the "spirit" of Nucky Johnson and of 1920s Atlantic City. While I know a little bit about the history of the time from reading the book, the series allows you see what it might have really been like.

Please feel free to comment on this article and post your comments about the first episode.

Trailer for Boardwalk Empire and More

2010-01-15T06:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post, so I'm going to use this post as an update of what's been happening with news about the HBO series and the book Boardwalk Empire.

First, here is a look at the newly released trailer for the show. With the release of this, all signs point to a fall premiere.

While it's only about a minute long, and a little light on content, I think it really sets the tone for the series. A little dark, very 20's, and certainly a high quality production (which was obvious given HBO's reputation and the people involved. I can't wait for the next trailer.

As those of you who read this blog know, I not only blog about the Boardwalk Empire series and the book it was based on, I also am involved in it to an extent. I work for the publisher of the book. In that capacity, I was able to pay a visit to the set in early December. HBO graciously invited Boardwalk Empire author Nelson Johnson and some other people from Plexus Publishing to visit the boardwalk set in Brooklyn, then go watch a few minutes of filming on location in Harlem.

Besides the fact that everyone we met from HBO and the production, including executive producer and writer Terence Winter, was extremely gracious, I also have to say that the boardwalk set was amazing! I've posted some previous video of the buildup, and there are some pictures of the set floating around the Internet, but in person, the set is extremely impressive. It is a little bit of 1920's A.C. transported to Brooklyn. Complete with storefronts, Steel Pier, and a replica of the Ritz Carlton lobby. It seemed to me that Nelson Johnson, who is a historian on the subject, seemed equally impressed.

As I mentioned earlier, with the release of the trailer, it looks like we'll see a 2010 premiere for Boardwalk Empire. I certainly can't wait. In addition, you'll also see a new edition of the book sometime this year as well.

Video of HBO Building Boardwalk Empire Set

2009-12-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting time-lapse video of the buildout of the boardwalk set for HBO's Boardwalk Empire. I believe it took about three months for this to get done.

Gretchen Mol Joins Cast of Boardwalk Empire

2009-11-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

It was announced that Gretchen Mol will be joining the cast of Boardwalk Empire. She will be playing in a recurring role as a showgirl. Mol is known most recently for her role in the series "Life on Mars." She also recently starred in the movie "An American Affair."

Some News from the Boardwalk Empire Set

2009-11-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

HBO recently invited press to the set of Boardwalk Empire. Here are some links to some of the coverage that resulted from that.

Here's a couple of key points that came out of the articles:

Writer Terence Winter confirmed that he changed the names of the characters (specifically Nucky Johnson to Nucky Thompson) so that he could fictionalize the story. He even mentions that this was done so they wouldn't fall into the same trap that a series like "Deadwood" fell into, where the eventual fate of the characters was known to anyone who "Googled" the facts.
Tim Van Patten is directing episodes two and three of the series according to The Press of Atlantic City.
The 300-foot long boardwalk set took three months to build and is located in Brooklyn which is where they are doing much of the filming.
The series is being shot in New York, rather than New Jersey, because better tax breaks were offered in New York.

Boardwalk Empire Video from HBO's "The Buzz"

2009-11-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

HBO recently starting airing the following clip on the network's "The Buzz," which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of their upcoming shows, including a first peek at Boardwalk Empire.

In addition to the airing of this video, there have also been reports that filming of the episodes is starting up within the next couple of weeks. All great news for those of us looking forward to the series. I also have to say that I'm excited about Treme starting up in the spring.

"A Boardwalk Story" Released From Publisher of "Boardwalk Empire"

2009-11-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

Plexus Publishing, Inc. recently released a book called "A Boardwalk Story", by J. Louis Yampolsky. The novel is set in Atlantic City in the years just prior to the start of World War II. It's a coming-of-age story of a young man set in the backdrop of a town and a time that is unique in history.

Plexus Publishing, Inc. is well known for publishing books about or set in, the New Jersey and Philadelphia area, including "Boardwalk Empire". This new novel, written by a Philadelphia resident and set at the "Jersey Shore" has ties to both areas.

As a Plexus Publishing employee, I am obviously a biased reader, but I have to say that this is one of my favorite books that we have ever published. And if you don't believe me check out the review on "Reading the Past" or the reviews at Amazon.com. Good reading!

Interview with Michael Stuhlbarg about Boardwalk Empire

2009-09-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

I just came across a nice interview with Michael Stuhlbarg at collider.com. Stuhlbarg is playing Arnold Rothstein, the Jewish gangster who was possibly responsible for fixing the 1919 World Series. The interview talks a little about the upcoming shooting schedule. Stuhlbarg mentions that shooting on the series order of 11 episodes will start back up in October and end in December or January. He also mentions a possible fall 2010 series premiere, which agrees with a lot of the current speculation.

HBO Orders 11 Episodes of Boardwalk Empire

2009-09-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

It was expected, but HBO officially gave the greenlight on Boardwalk Empire yesterday. They ordered 11 episodes of the series to make a total of 12 hours for the first season of the show. Here are some news and notes that came out of the press generated yesterday.

Variety.com and a number of other sources confirmed some earlier reports that Steve Buscemi's character will be named Nucky Thompson (not Nucky Johnson). It's certainly a slight change, but one that I guess needed to be done for legal reasons, since they are fictionalizing a real-life figure.
Entertainment Weekly (among others) reported that it would be a 2010 premiere for the series. No real factual information on the likely time frame in 2010. However, Broadcasting & Cable reported the following, "Boardwalk will likely debut in fall 2010. Among the shows already on tap for the network, HBO slated new drama Treme to debut alongside epic miniseries The Pacific in the spring. This summer’s original programming lineup is then expected to return intact, before leading into an autumn lineup including Boardwalk." That's a similar logic to what I had mentioned in my previous post.
There was some speculation in a couple of reports that Scorsese might be on board to direct a future episode or two, in addition to the pilot he's already directed.
The label "The Next Sopranos" keeps popping up in the news reports about Boardwalk Empire. Obviously, even with the recent successes of True Blood and Entourage everyone is still waiting for HBO's next HUGE thing (no, I'm not talking about Hung). That and the fact that this series is based in New Jersey and about organized crime makes it a natural label. It's amazing that this series is generating that type of buzz, even prior to the series being produced, and perhaps a year from the premiere.

HBO Greenlights Boardwalk Empire Series

2009-09-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

According to numerous reports, including one on variety.com and another one on hollywoodreporter.com, HBO has picked up Boardwalk Empire as a series. According to both reports, filming on the 11-episode order will resume sometime in the fall in NYC.

Obviously this is exciting news. As the reports are just coming out, I'll try to look through them all, get some more information, and write a more in depth report tomorrow.

Press of Atlantic City Article about Boardwalk Empire

2009-08-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

Here's some recommended reading for anyone interested in Boardwalk Empire, Atlantic City history, and Nucky Johnson. Yesterday, there was an article at pressofatlanticcity.com, written by Steven Lemongello, about the book Boardwalk Empire and the HBO series in development. I'm not sure if it appeared in the printed paper, but the online article does a good job of providing some background into the book and the series. Author Nelson Johnson was interviewed, and the article even mentions this Web site.

Top Ten Movies from Martin Scorsese

2009-08-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Since it seems to be a slow period with regards to any news and notes about Boardwalk Empire, I thought I'd take the opportunity to give my rankings of my ten favorite Martin Scorsese films. Since he directed the pilot for Boardwalk Empire and is an executive producer on the series, I thought it was an appropriate discussion for the site. Feel free to post your comments and on your own rankings. Here goes:

10. Cape Fear--While the ending may leave a little to be desired, Cape Fear is a riveting thriller, with A+ performances from an A-list cast. This remake of the 1963 movie, has you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. Robert DeNiro's Cady might be one of the top ten movie villains of all time.

9. The Color of Money--While not as critically acclaimed as many of his other movies, this film about pool sharks, starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, has become a classic. It's one of those movies that if it's on TV, you can't help but stop flipping the channels and watch it.

8. The Last Temptation of Christ--Another of Scorsese's movies that received mixed reviews, partially because of the provocative subject matter. It was certainly controversial, and I don't want to be. I liked the movie, and I'll leave it at that.

7. Mean Streets--This 1973 movie put Scorsese on the map, and laid the groundwork for modern-day gangster movies. Scorsese's looks at what it's like to grow up on the streets of NYC's little Italy, in an environment of crime. It should definitely be on any list of the top twenty gangster movies of all time (I'll do that list at another date).

6. Casino--Starring Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci, this film portrays the mob involvement in Las Vegas in the 1970's and 1980's. My favorite part about this movie is the way it shows the ever-increasing visibility of the mob and the pressure (both internally and externally) that it's members faced during that era. This along with Goodfellas does that as well as any gangster movies.

5. Gangs of New York--This is probably a lot higher than many people would rate this movie, but it's one of my favorite Scorsese movies. I particularly like the way Scorsese approached a period and place in history that had never really been tackled before. The setting in the streets of New York City in the mid-1800s fascinates me to no end.

4. Taxi Driver--New York City, Scorsese, and Robert DeNiro. This is my pick as the best of Scorsese's early movies, and one that is equally compelling and disturbing at the same time. Travis Bickle (played by DeNiro) is a train wreck, but you can't make yourself look away.

3. The Departed--Scorsese's newest movie may not rank this high on most people's lists yet, but I eventually think it will move up. It's part thriller, part gangster movie, part cop movie. About cops and the Irish mafia in South Boston, The Departed carries a unique tension throughout the entire movie. There are also A+ performances from DiCaprio, Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and everyone involved. I really think that this movie will age well, and get more respect as time goes on.

2. Goodfellas--Possibly 1A to The Godfather at the best mob movie of all time. Goodfellas is a portrait of blue-collar working mafia in Brooklyn. A memoir of Henry Hill, and based partially on his life, the film takes you through the rise and fall of the "wise-guy." Part of what makes it so intriguing is the movie's style and how Scorsese directed it, told almost as a documentary, and with first-person narration. Truly a quintessential, modern-day gangster movie.

1. Raging Bull--Scorsese's take on the story of boxer Jake La Motta is mentioned by many as the best film of the 1980s. Roger Ebert says that Raging Bull is a "story about force, anger, and grief." Truly one of the great character studies in film, Raging Bull is my #1 sports movie of all time, and might rank as one of the top ten movies of all time.

Boardwalk Empire in 2010?

2009-08-10T08:24:00.001-07:00

So, I keep posting guesses about the timing for the premiere of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" series. So here goes another one: September 2010.

From recent news, it turns out that I've been way too overagressive in thinking that this will be aired in the beginning of 2010. The recent news from HBO, announced at the Television Critics Association's press tour, gave a little bit of insight into the near-term plans that will affect "Boardwalk Empire's" scheduling.

First, filming on the BE pilot recently wrapped and a decision on picking up the series looks like it will be made in the next couple of months. Filming of the episodes would start some time shortly after that. Some good news was that it was widely reported that HBO execs were very excited about what they've seen so far. According to a Reuters article, programming head, Michael Lombardo, said, "By everything we've seen, it's fantastic. It's big; it's everything we hoped it would be."

Next, the new series "Treme" will air in the March/April of 2010 time frame. The mini-series "Pacific" will serve as a lead-in for the new series. Also, True Blood was renewed for another season.

Those are the facts, now for the speculation.

"Boardwalk Empire" has been about 6 months behind "Treme" in the development stages. Carrying that forward would mean that September 2010 would be the premiere of "Boardwalk Empire." With True Blood renewed and scheduled to air a third season in summer of 2010, that would mean an open slot in the fall, with no new programming on the slate (as far as I can tell).

So, September of 2010 it is! That's my latest guess. I've been completely wrong so far, so I expect to be to again.

Boardwalk Empire Pilot Progress

2009-07-15T08:19:00.001-07:00

It's been nearly a month since my last post. During that time, there have been quite a few little tidbits that I've come across regarding the filming of the pilot, but nothing too major. I thought I'd give an update.

Filming for the pilot began about five weeks ago. It seems as if all of the filming is taking place in the areas surrounding Brooklyn, NY. I know that there was an outdoor set built in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and, from reports, it seems as if there's some activity around there in the last few days. They've been filming in a lot of spots in the NY metropolitan area, including some coastal locations and some historic spots. I can't imagine that the filming of the pilot would last a whole lot longer.

Despite some chatter about the filming, there have been no real news stories coming off of the set or out of HBO. There is still no news on whether the series has been picked up, and, as far as I know, additional episodes have yet to be ordered. However, there was a radio interview with Mark Wahlberg recently where he mentions something about 12 or 13 episodes of the series being ordered. Here's a link to the interview.

If that's true, I do not think it is official yet. Clearly, though, it seems to be just a formality to get official word of HBO picking up the series. With the star power behind the series (Scorsese, Wahlberg, Winter, Buscemi, etc.), and what seems to be a large budget for production of the pilot, an order from HBO for a full season of episodes seems highly likely.

I am guessing, given the timing of everything so far, that the series will premiere on HBO in Winter (January or February) of 2010. Just a guess.

From a book standpoint, the new edition of the book will be hitting bookstores shortly. It is officially a September 1st publication date. As always, the book is available through online retailers and brick and mortar bookstores, as well as through the Plexus Publishing Web site.

As always, if you have any news regarding the series, I'm anxious to hear it and report on it. Thank you for all of the people who have posted here regarding filming locations and news.

Pictures of Boardwalk Empire Production

2009-06-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

I've been getting some notes from some gracious readers of this blog, as well as some of the extras on the set at Boardwalk Empire. I have a couple of things to relay regarding the production of Boardwalk Empire.

First, the majority of the filming seems to be taking place in Brooklyn so far, and much of it is outdoors. Above is a picture that I took from a blog, "Here is Park Slope". The blog mentions that filming took place at the Montauk Club on Monday, and I've also included a picture of the building as well.
Yesterday, reports were that filming took place in Far Rockaway, New York, and there are a few really good pictures at "onlocationvacations.com."
Today, according to the same web site, onlocationvacations.com, filming will take place at Hempstead House, also pictured here.
They are also building an outdoor set in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Up-To-Date Cast List for Boardwalk Empire

2009-06-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is a 9/24/10 update to the post below. Here is the cast list as listed on HBO.

Enoch "Nucky" Thompson played by Steve Buscemi

James "Jimmy" Darmody played by Michael Pitt

Margaret Schroeder played by Kelly MacDonald

Agent Nelson Van Alden played by Michael Shannon

Commodore Louis Kaestner played by Dabney Coleman

Elias "Eli" Thompson played by Shea Whigham

Eddie Kessler played by Anthony Laciura

Al Capone played by Stephen Graham

Angela Darmody played by Aleksa Palladino

Arnold Rothstein played by Michael Stuhlbarg

Lucky Luciano played by Vincent Piazza

Lucy Danziger played by Paz de la Huerta

Mickey Doyle played by Paul Sparks

Chalky White played by Michael K. Williams

Gillian played by Gretchen Mol

Babette played by Tracy Middendorf

The following is a new, updated cast list for the Boardwalk Empire pilot/series as of 6/12/09. It is gathered from a number of sources (none of which are official). This is not meant to be a complete list, nor is it known to be a completely accurate one.

Steve Buscemi as Nucky Johnson
Kelly Macdonald as Margaret, an enterprising Irish immigrant
Michael Pitt as Jimmy Darmody, a member of Nucky's gang
Michael Shannon as federal agent Van Alden
Stephen Graham as Al Capone
Vincent Piazza as Lucky Luciano
Aleksa Palladino as Angela Darmody, Jimmy's wife
Paul Sparks as a bootlegging funeral director
Shea Whigham as Eli Johnson, a corrupt county sheriff
Anthony Laciura as Louis Kessel
Charisma Carpenter in an as-yet unnamed role
Michael Kenneth Williams as Chalky White, the de facto "mayor" of Chickenbone Beach
Paz de la Huerta as Lucy, Nucky's girlfriend
Dabney Coleman as Commodore Kaestner, Nucky's predecessor and mentor

HBO Acquires TV Rights to Boardwalk Empire

2009-06-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

The following is part of a press release that Plexus Publishing, Inc. is about to send out:

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HBO Acquires TV Rights to Boardwalk Empire

June 11, 2009, Medford, NJ—HBO has exercised its option to purchase the TV rights to the book Boardwalk Empire. Written by Nelson Johnson and published by Plexus Publishing, Inc., Boardwalk Empire chronicles the politics and corruption of Atlantic City from its birth as a quiet seaside health resort through the notorious backroom politics and power struggles.

HBO has recently begun filming the pilot for Boardwalk Empire, which is being directed by Martin Scorsese. In addition, Scorsese is an executive producer on the series along with Terence Winter, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Tim Van Patten.

Plexus Publishing has also announced a new trade paperback edition of Boardwalk Empire to be released in fall 2009. The book will be distributed to the trade by Independent Publisher’s Group (IPG). The purchase of the TV/Film rights by HBO for Boardwalk Empire marks the first time that Plexus has sold those rights for one of its titles.
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I know it seems like this should have happened a long time ago, since filming has just begun begun. However, up until today HBO simply owned the "option" on the rights for Boardwalk Empire. Today, they purchased those rights.

As I've mentioned, this is extremely exciting news for a small regional publishing company like Plexus Publishing, Inc. and a local author like Nelson Johnson. Everyone who has been involved with this book at Plexus deserves a great amount of credit. We also appreciate the work of our agent, Brian Lipson, and the great people at HBO.

Above is a picture of Plexus Publishing's president and CEO, Tom Hogan, Sr. (center), editor-in-chief, John Bryans (at right), and me, Tom Hogan, Jr., V.P. of Marketing and Business Development.

Production on Boardwalk Empire has Started

2009-06-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

According to the same article from The Hollywood Reporter mentioned in my previous post, production on the pilot for HBO's Boardwalk Empire began yesterday, June 9th. I'll look to confirm that report, but in the meantime, this is very exciting news for the Hon. Nelson Johnson, author of the book, and everyone at Plexus Publishing, Inc.

For me, it seems like this day has been a long time coming. It's been nearly four years since John Bryans, editor-in-chief, was first approached by a representative looking to buy the Film/TV rights for Boardwalk Empire. Now, production is actually underway. A congratulations to Judge Johnson and John Bryans for all the work it took to make this happen.

Michael Kenneth Williams, Dabney Coleman, and Paz de la Huerta Added to Cast of Boardwalk Empire

2009-06-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dabney Coleman, and Paz de la Huerta (pictured here) have been added to the cast of Boardwalk Empire. According to the report, de la Huerta will play Lucy, Nucky's girlfriend. Williams will play Chalky White, the de facto mayor of Chickenbone Beach, Atlantic City's black section. Lastly, Coleman will play Commodore Kaestner, Johnson's predecessor and mentor.

A couple of comments related to the report. First, it's amazing to see more great talent added to the cast. I thought the main casting was pretty much done, but these new announcements are not minor in any way. In my opinion, this might be one of the best casts ever assembled for a television drama.

Secondly, relating to the characters themselves, it's great to see the African-American community represented in the story, and hopefully Michael Kenneth Williams (from "The Wire") will have a major part to play in the series. The African-American community certainly was a major part of the true history of the city.

In terms of Dabney Coleman's character, I'm wondering if The Hollywood Reporter made a mistake with the name. There was a "Commodore" that was indeed Nucky's predecessor, but in real-life it was Commodore Kuehnle, not Commodore Kaestner. Either it was a mistake in the reporting or just a name change for the purpose of fictionalizing. I'm not sure how all of that works in terms of permissions to use names, etc.

Filming for Boardwalk Empire to Start This Week

2009-06-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

According to various reports, including this one on the Broadcasting & Cable Web site, filming for the pilot of Boardwalk Empire will begin this week, the week of June 8th. I hope to get some more information coming in quickly, both from news reports and from first-hand accounts from extras and bystanders. I think this will be a busy time for information coming from the set, and will try to keep everyone up-to-date on the latest information that I can get my hands on.

Meanwhile, the book signing last week at Book Expo America for the new trade edition of Boardwalk Empire reportedly went very well. The book is available to the trade through IPG Distributors and can be purchased direct from Plexus Publishing or at Barnes & Noble.

Nelson Johnson Signing Copies of Boardwalk Empire at BEA

2009-05-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Nelson Johnson, author of the book Boardwalk Empire, will be having a book signing at Book Expo America (BEA), tomorrow, Saturday, May 30th at the Javits Center in NYC. He will be signing copies in the autographing area of the Expo at 1:30PM. Please also feel free to stop by the publisher's booth (#2558) at any point during the expo. I believe the BEA event is only open to qualified members of the book trade, however.

Outdoor Set for Boardwalk Empire taking Shape in Brooklyn

2009-05-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

I recently got a comment from a reader that they were in the midst of constructing a large outdoor set in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at the corner of Commercial and Franklin (I put a bird's eye view of the site here on the right, prior to any construction of course). The reader had walked by the site and talked to a few people on the construction crew. I'd love to get some pictures of the construction site if anyone can snap a few. Let me know if you get any pics, and I can send an e-mail address where you can send them.

June Filming for Boardwalk Empire

2009-05-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

I've gotten quite a few comments and e-mails from extras who have been hired to be in the pilot. They all confirm that filming will begin in June.

I sure would love to get some reports from the anyone involved in the pilot, now and when you get on set. While I'm certainly not looking to find out and give away any secrets, it would be nice to get some factual information, like where the filming was taking place, if Scorsese is really directing, how big a production it looks to be, etc. Even just let me know if it's hot in those 1920's outfits :-)

Good luck to all those involved in the pilot.

New Trade Edition of Boardwalk Empire

2009-05-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, Plexus Publishing, Inc. will be publishing a new trade paperback version of Boardwalk Empire available in Fall 2009. The book will be distributed to the trade by Independent Publisher's Group (IPG).

Here's a quick peek at the new cover. Advance review copies of the new edition will be available at Book Expo America (BEA) on May 29-31 in New York City. In addition, author Nelson Johnson will also be signing copies of the book during the event. For more information, contact Rob Colding at rcolding@infotoday.com.

Treme Picked up as Newest HBO Drama Series

2009-05-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

I haven't talked too much about the other projects going on at HBO, but I wanted to do a little bit of that, given the latest news that David Simon's newest project, Treme, has been picked up as a series by the network.

David Simon, who is best-known as the creator of The Wire, is now focusing on this drama set in post-Katrina New Orleans. The cast includes Wendell Pierce (played Detective Bunk Moreland in The Wire), Steve Zahn (Saving Silverman), Clarke Peters (also in The Wire), and some other impressive cast members.

Treme is the first new drama to be picked up by HBO, but three other comedies have recently been picked up; Hung, Bored to Death, and How to Make it in America.

As far as I know, there is one other major drama in the current pipeline at HBO, and I've mentioned it before, Game of Thrones, the fantasy series. It looks as if casting announcements are starting for that series, so it's still a bit behind Boardwalk Empire in the process.

What does all of this mean for Boardwalk Empire. I'm not sure, but I can guess. It sounds likely that Treme will premiere this Fall, probably starting soon after True Blood's second season ends. True Blood is scheduled to begin airing on June 14th and will run for 12 episodes. I think the only other one-hour drama on HBO at the moment is Big Love, which just finished up it's third season a month ago. It has been picked up for a fourth season.

Where could Boardwalk Empire fit in? The most likely scenario, it seems to me, is a Winter/Spring 2010 air date for the series. That is, of course, assuming the pilot is shot on schedule, and the series is picked up. Treme began filming the pilot in March, and is looking at a September air date (eight months later). If Boardwalk Empire follows the same approximate schedule, it would be set for a January/February 2010 premiere. As an aside, that's the season that The Sopranos always ran in.

I'm seeing the buzz start to build a bit again regarding the series, as the filming of the pilot approaches. It sounds like the pilot is going to be a BIG production, with over 50 days scheduled (according to one report I saw). I expect to see a lot of new info coming out at that time, and will keep everyone posted.

HBO Executive Says Filming will begin in May/June

2009-04-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

In a recent interview with Broadcasting and Cable magazine, Sue Naegle, President of Entertainment at HBO, talked about a lot of things, including some of the upcoming projects at the network. Here is the link to the full article. Below, I've excerpted a few of the items in the interview that relate directly to Boardwalk Empire.

As you'll see, this article confirms the reports that filming for the Boardwalk Empire pilot will start in the next month or so.

From the interview:

She’s confident the new regime’s new ways of doing things will return HBO to glory. “We have all the right ingredients to make great TV,” she says.

That includes patience. As we dine at the beginning of April, filming is wrapping on the pilot Treme, a heavily researched post-Katrina New Orleans drama from The Wire creator David Simon. Naegle has scripts for several additional episodes in hand and expects the show will go into production as a series this fall. But it’s not ordered yet.

Nor is there a series order for Boardwalk Empire, the 1920s-era drama written by Terence Winter (Sopranos) and directed by Martin Scorsese, the pilot for which will start rolling in late May. Or Game of Thrones, a fantastical drama based on the George R.R. Martin books. She’s also piloting a fourth project, comedy The Wonderful Maladys, between now and the fall and “may go into production on others,” she says. “They’re moving as if they’re moving into series.”

However, going forward on these projects will be a deliberate, collaborative process. There will be a period of time for each project to get the pilot right. “If we need to edit, make changes, reshoot anything, we want to have time for all of us to tinker,” she explains. “It’s not just for us, it’s for them [the creators]. We’re in it together, to make sure it’s working. It’s not at all because we need Terry Winter or David Simon to pass some test; it’s more that we want to be very careful about being smart with money and production and making sure we’re prepared.”

Credit where credit is due

2009-04-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted to mention a thread at another blog called Winter is Coming. It seems that the creator of that blog happened across my blog and noticed the similarities between the two. See, the blog is also about a potential HBO series, called Game of Thrones, also based on a book.

As the title of this post mentions, I wanted to give credit where credit is due. I happened across his site back in December, and seeing a blog about an upcoming HBO series was part of the reason I decided to launch ours. I certainly thank him for the idea, and also for giving me a good site to imitate as I started this one up. I've also gotten a few tidbits of information from him about the other shows in the pipeline at HBO. He does a great job on his blog.

Here's hoping Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire are the next big things on HBO!

June Shooting Dates for Boardwalk Empire?

2009-04-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

I feel pretty confident in saying that filming for Boardwalk Empire looks set to begin in June. This information is not verified, but comes from a number of sources, including, but not limited to a casting call mention of dates (http://www.gwcnyc.com/casting.shtml), a mention on the NYC Mayor's office Web site (http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/pdf/reeljobs.pdf), and some other mentions in recent articles about a summer production time frame.

However, this information has not been "announced" in any way. I have read nothing in mainstream media regarding this, we do not have any verification from HBO, and we definitely have no insider knowledge of the situation.

We're certainly excited to see the filming start. Until it does, we know that it's an "anything can happen" situation. Once filming starts, we'll be more confident that Boardwalk Empire will actually make it to the TV screen.

Nothing new on Boardwalk Empire

2009-03-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a month since my last post about Boardwalk Empire. Unfortunately, there's been nothing new to report. I'm assuming that means that the casting is pretty much complete. We were receiving updates on new cast members fast and furious there for a while. Now, it's been nothing for quite some time.

I guess the next news will be when they to decide to start filming the pilot. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll hear something about that very soon. I'll post some more news the moment I hear anything new.

What's next for Boardwalk Empire?

2009-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

A lot of people have asked me and John Bryans, the Editor-in-Chief at Plexus Publishing, about the timeline for the HBO pilot and potential series. To be honest with you, we really don't know when Boardwalk Empire might actually air, or even when the pilot might be filmed.

That said, here's what I know (at least I think I know) about the potential timeline.

First, the casting looks to be nearing completion. With ten characters cast (see my previous post), I can't see this taking much longer.

Second, they can't film the pilot until Martin Scorsese is available to direct it (assuming he is going to direct it). At the moment, it seems he is still not freed up from his latest movie project. However, from what I've heard, directing Boardwalk Empire will be his next project. That means that we are talking only a matter of a couple of months before the pilot is filmed.

After the pilot is filmed, a decision needs to be made by HBO on whether to pick up the series. While you would think that a pilot with Scorsese directing and producing, Terence Winter as the writer, and some heavy hitters in the cast would be a sure-fire pickup, there are certainly no guarantees. There are also a number of other dramas in the pipeline at HBO, including Treme (from David Simon) and Game of Thrones (a fantasy series). Also, True Blood seems to be developing a nice following and is already established. There is certainly competition in the HBO drama series category.

So, assuming the pilot is shot sometime this Spring, it might take a month or two after completion to find out if HBO will greenlight the series. If they give the go ahead on the series, then they need to film the number of episodes in HBO's initial order. Seems to me that's at least another couple of months to film the 10 or 12 episodes that normally make up a season for an HBO drama.

So, if I add up the months, we're looking at least six or eight months away from a potential series premiere (if everything falls into place). My guess is that we are talking early 2010, but you never know. Maybe September if they start filming the pilot soon.

So that's about it. While the timeline for the potential HBO series is still something I don't know, I do know one thing for certain. We will be publishing a general trade edition of Boardwalk Empire (the book) this fall. We will be partnering with IPG to distribute this book to the trade, and expect it to get a lot of attention nationally. In the meantime, books are available direct from Plexus Publishing, and also through Barnes & Noble.

Your All-Time Favorite HBO Series Poll

2009-02-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

I recently added a poll on the site, located in the right column, that asks you to vote for your favorite HBO series of all time. So far, predictably, The Sopranos is in the lead. If you visit the site, please be sure to vote.

I'll admit that I voted for The Sopranos, too. I couldn't help myself. While I was a fan of Rome and Deadwood, and I watch and really like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage, I just thought that The Sopranos was the winner over the long haul. I have to admit that I never really watched Six Feet Under or The Wire, which a lot of people really rave about.

Anyway, please place your vote. It'll be interesting to see how the poll numbers develop.

Up-to-Date Cast List for Boardwalk Empire

2009-02-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

Update on 9/24/2010. This cast list is no longer up-to-date. Click here for cast list.

Here's a complete and up-to-date cast list (as far as I have been able to gather from reports) for Boardwalk Empire as of 2/12/09:

Steve Buscemi as Nucky Johnson
Michael Pitt as Jimmy Darmody
Aleksa Palladino as the wife of Jimmy Darmody
Michael Shannon as Van Alden
Kelly MacDonald as Margaret
Vincent Piazza as a Lucky Luciano
Stephen Graham as Al Capone
Anthony Laciura as Louis Kessel
Shea Whigham as Eli Johnson
Paul Sparks as a bootlegging funeral director

More cast members added to Boardwalk Empire

2009-02-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, Boardwalk Empire has added four people to its cast. Aleksa Palladino ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") will play the wife of Jimmy Darmody. Shea Whigham ("Fast & Furious" and pictured at right) will play a Eli Johnson, Nucky Johnson's corrupt sheriff brother. Paul Sparks ("Rachel Getting Married") will play a bootlegger who's also a funeral director, and Anthony Laciura will play Nucky Johnson's loyal assistant, Louis Kessel.

A Story about Nucky Johnson from the Prologue of the Book

2009-02-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

From the "Prologue" and the opening pages of Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, the following passage gives you a good idea as to why Nucky Johnson is slated to be the central character in the upcoming HBO series. Here, author of the book, Nelson Johnson, relays the story of an encounter between Nucky Johnson and one of the many citizens of Atlantic City. The scene takes place at Nucky's home at the time, the Ritz-Carlton (pictured above in recent times), where he had leased the entire ninth floor for his operation.

"Luxury hotels weren’t something she knew about firsthand. Until now, she had never been inside the Ritz Carlton. The closest she’d come to the grand hotel was when walking on the Boardwalk. But there she was in the anteroom of a large suite of rooms, seated in a chair that nearly swallowed her. She was frightened, but there was no turning back. She sat there trembling, folding and refolding her frayed scarf.

As a housewife and summertime laundress in a boardinghouse, she felt out of place and her nervousness showed. Flushed and perspiring, she noticed that her dress and sweater needed mending and she grew more self-conscious. It was all she could do to keep from panicking and running out. But she couldn’t leave. Louis Kessel had told her Mr. Johnson would see her in a moment and she had to wait. To leave now would be embarrassing and, worse still, might offend Mr. Johnson. If it weren’t winter, and if there weren’t so many unpaid bills, she never would have worked up the courage to come in the first place. But she had no choice; her husband had been a fool and she was desperate for her family. Louis Kessel appeared a second time and motioned to her. She followed him, not knowing what to expect.

As she walked into Mr. Johnson’s sitting room, he took her hand and greeted her warmly. It was several years since she met him at her father’s wake, but Johnson remembered her and called her by her first name. He was dressed in a fancy robe and slippers and asked what was troubling her. In an instant her anxiety vanished. In a rapid series of sentences she recounted how her husband lost his entire paycheck the night before at one of the local gambling rooms. He was a baker’s helper, and during the winter months his $37 each week was the family’s only income. She went on and on about all the bills and how the grocer wouldn’t give her any more
credit. Johnson listened intently and,when she was finished, reached into his pocket and handed her a $100 bill. Overwhelmed with joy, she thanked him repeatedly until he insisted she stop. Louis Kessel motioned, telling her there was a car waiting to drive her home. As she left, Johnson promised that her husband would be barred from every crap game and card room in town. He told her to come back any time she had a problem.

Enoch “Nucky”Johnson personifies pre-casino Atlantic City as no one else can. Understanding his reign provides the perspective needed to make sense of today’s resort. Johnson’s power reached its peak, as did his town’s popularity, during Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933. When it came to illegal booze, there was probably no place in the country as wide open as Nucky’s town. It was almost as if word of the Volstead Act never reached Atlantic City. During Prohibition, Nucky was both a power broker in the Republican Party and a force in organized crime. He rubbed elbows with Presidents and Mafia thugs. But to Atlantic City’s residents, Johnson was hardly a thug. He was their hero, epitomizing the qualities that had made his town successful."

Stephen Graham to Play Capone in Boardwalk Empire

2009-02-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

According to various reports, british actor, Stephen Graham, has been added to the cast of Boardwalk Empire. His role will be that of a young Al Capone, who's working as muscle for a Chicago gangster and strikes up a friendship with Jimmy Darmody, played by Michael Pitt.

Graham's filmography includes roles in Gangs of New York and Snatch. He also has roles in the upcoming films, Public Enemies and The Damned United.

One of the exciting things about seeing the cast of characters for the series fall into place is the insight it gives you into the plot and setting of the series itself. The fact that a young Al Capone will be a character in the series is something I didn't expect, but something that adds to the intrigue.

In real life, Capone and Nucky Johnson did know each other, and, somewhere (I'm going to try to track it down and post it), there is a picture of Nucky Johnson and Al Capone strolling side-by-side down the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Nucky was the host of the "Atlantic City Conference" in 1929, which is widely believed to be the earliest organized crime summit held in the United States, which Capone attended. I'll detail some history of Nucky Johnson and Capone (taken from the book) in a later post.

A Note from the Publisher of Boardwalk Empire

2009-02-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

Here's Plexus Publishing, Inc.'s latest update on the HBO series and the book.

Dear Boardwalk Empire Enthusiast,

The casting of HBO’s dramatic series based on Judge Nelson Johnson’s Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City continues to generate strong buzz within the entertainment industry. Primary roles have gone to Steve Buscemi (Delirious, Fargo, Reservoir Dogs), starring as Nucky Johnson; Kelly Macdonald (Trainspotting, No Country for Old Men); Michael Pitt (Funny Games, Delirious, Dawson’s Creek); Vincent Piazza (Rocket Science, The Sopranos); and Michael Shannon (2008 Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor, Revolutionary Road).

The series is being produced for HBO by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Scorsese, with a pilot teleplay by Sopranos writer/producer Terence Winter based on Johnson’s 2002 historical exposé. It is widely speculated that Scorsese will direct the pilot, which would mark his first non-documentary television foray since 1986 when he directed an episode of Amazing Stories. Scorsese’s feature film Ashecliffe (formerly Shutter Island), starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is currently in post-production and it is expected that Boardwalk Empire will be next up.

On the publishing side, Plexus Publishing, Inc. has announced a September 2009 release date for its general trade paperback edition of Boardwalk Empire. The original 2002 edition is currently available from Barnes and Noble and Plexus but will be declared out of print by the publisher prior to the release of its trade edition.

Author Nelson Johnson is a New Jersey Superior Court Judge sitting in Atlantic County. His next book, to be published by Plexus in late 2009, will tell the story of the Black Experience in Atlantic City and document the contributions of African Americans to the birth of the USA’s first and most infamous resort town.

Stay tuned for further developments and don’t forget to bookmark www.boardwalkempire.com for breaking news about the series.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Press inquiries: Robert Colding, Marketing Coordinator, rcolding@plexuspublishing.com
Rights inquiries: John B. Bryans, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, jbryans@plexuspublishing.com

Martin Scorsese and HBO's Boardwalk Empire

2009-01-30T18:00:00.000-08:00

According to many reports and what little insider information I have, it is very likely that Martin Scorsese will direct the pilot episode of Boardwalk Empire. His inclusion in the project as both an executive producer and director is sure to cause some buzz as the production nears.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, this would mark Scorsese's first forey into directing a TV drama.

Scorsese has been involved in this project since the start, along with co-executive producer's Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson.

According to various reports, the HBO series pilot episode is set to start filming as soon as Scorsese finishes work on Ashecliffe (formerly Shutter Island).

Nucky Johnson

2009-01-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

When Nelson Johnson wrote the book, Boardwalk Empire, the history of Enoch "Nucky" Johnson as the political boss of Atlantic City formed the backbone of the story he told. Now, as HBO and writer Terence Winter prepare to take a fictional look at that history, it appears they will use Nucky Johnson as the main character in their series. Appropriate, since no other single figure did more to shape the city than Johnson.

For nearly thirty years, Nucky was the undisputed political boss of the republican political machine that controlled the Atlantic City government. It was during prohibition, however, that Nucky's power reached its peak. It's this period that the HBO series looks as if it will explore. Of Atlantic City during this time, Johnson once said, "We have whisky, wine, women, song and slot machines. I won’t deny it and I won’t apologize for it. If the majority of the people didn’t want them they wouldn’t be profitable and they wouldn’t exist. The fact that they do exist proves to me that the people want them.”

Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch gives Boardwalk Empire A-grade

2009-01-29T12:03:00.001-08:00

Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch had this to say about Boardwalk Empire:

"Boardwalk Empire: Revolutionary Road Oscar nominee Michael Shannon will costar in this HBO drama from someone named Martin Scorsese (who'll direct the pilot). Per The Hollywood Reporter, the Atlantic City-set script "centers on Nucky Johnson (Steve Buscemi), who runs a liquor distribution ring at the onset of Prohibition, and Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), a ruthless World War I veteran and a low-level flunky for Nucky." Shannon will play a Treasury Department senior agent who, we're guessing, is anti-bootlegging. This is a no-brainer, right? The imagery of the Prohibition era is intoxicating, even without Scorsese's attention to detail. Plus, you get Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon trying to out-creep each another. And, a character named Nucky! TAG: A"

A Story about the Book "Boardwalk Empire"

2009-01-29T10:48:00.000-08:00

As the V.P. of Marketing for Plexus Publishing, Inc., the publisher of the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, I have an interesting story to tell (at least I think it's interesting).

Boardwalk Empire is a book written by Nelson Johnson, that we originally published in 2002. Some time in 2000, Mr. Johnson, who at the time was an attorney and is now a Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court, came to John Bryans, our editor-in-chief, with the idea for the book. Now, let me explain that Plexus Publishing, Inc. is a very small publishing operation, that publishes a book or two per year, normally about the area of southern New Jersey where we live and work. Nelson's book fit into that mold, and John was excited about the book and it's contents. So he decided the project was a go.

So in 2002, the book hit the streets, and everyone who read it seemed to like it. We got some good reviews in local papers. Nelson (who is one of the leading authorities on Atlantic City history) did a lot of speaking to historical societies and groups in the area, and we sold a few thousand copies in the first year. For those who don't know, that's pretty good for a regional title with not much distribution outside the area.

From the beginning, Nelson was sold on the fact that the book, and the real-life characters portrayed within it, were great fodder for Hollywood. For a time, Nelson pursued some Hollywood connections, but to no avail. For a small publisher and a first-time writer, that's a hard nut to crack.

So a couple of years go by, with the book continuing to post good sales for us, and still getting a fair amount of local interest in the bookstores. Then one day in 2005, out of the blue, John Bryans gets a call from a Hollywood agent. It seems that one of his clients (which we were unsure of at the time) was looking to produce some type of series or movie (we were unsure of that as well), based in Atlantic City and covering the same type of crime and corruption that the book did. They were very interested in pursuing the movie/TV rights for the book from us.

So, that was the beginning. Over the coming months, we would learn that it was HBO that wanted to option the book and that Mark Wahlberg and Martin Scorcese would be the executive producers if this series was going to happen. Wow!

So, here we are, nearly seven years after first publishing the book, anxiously waiting to see whether, and when, this book will become a TV series. The cast looks great. It looks like Martin Scorcese is going to direct the pilot, and we couldn't be more excited. Nelson wrote a great book, and we're confident that the writer, Terence Winter, the producers, the director, the cast, HBO, and everyone else involved will make a great TV series. Look out for Boardwalk Empire!

Boardwalk Empire Cast Looks Impressive

2009-01-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

Today, various reports emerged that Michael Shannon would be joining the cast of Boardwalk Empire. That now means that the cast will include an Oscar nominee to join other standout cast members, Steve Buscemi (who I can't believe has never been nominated for an Oscar), Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men), and Michael Pitt (Funny Games). According to Hollywood Reporter, Shannon, who is nominated for best supporting actor for his role in "Revolutionary Road," will play Van Alden, a dedicated senior agent with the Treasury Department who with his team has been charged with controlling bootlegging in the Prohibition era.