Showtime has given a pilot production order to “Roadies,” a comedy that follows the day-to-day life of a successful rock tour as seen through the eyes of music’s unsung background players – the crew members who help get the show on the road. Cameron Crowe, who won an Oscar for chronicling the highs and lows of rock and roll life as witnessed by a Rolling Stone magazine cub reporter in his semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous, wrote and will direct the one-hour pilot (for a potential half-hour series). Crowe will executive produce with Emmy and Tony nominee Winnie Holzman (“Huge,” “My So-Called Life”), who will serve as showrunner, as well as Emmy winners J.J. Abrams (“Lost,” Star Trek) and Bryan Burk (“Lost,” “Fringe”). Kathy Lingg (“Person of Interest,” “Revolution”) is co-executive producer. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President, Showtime Networks Inc.
“Roadies” follows a hot-ticket tour, but with a simple twist: the band is in the background and the roadies take the spotlight. It’s an inside look at the reckless, romantic, funny and often poignant lives of a committed group of characters who live for music and the de facto family they’ve formed along the way.
“Cameron Crowe is one of my all-time movie heroes,” said Nevins. “Winnie Holzman created and wrote one of my favorite TV shows ever. J.J., among many other things, is a consummate television producer. Best of all: the comedy script they’ve come up with together is brilliant, original and full of life.”
“I love that we’re finally doing ‘Roadies,'” said Crowe. “J.J. and I have been talking about it for some time. We’re fans of crews, those workers up on the rigging towers, or walking feverishly with eight phones on their belt. Those quietly devoted people live huge lives, they’re often the real keepers of the flame. So happy to also be telling these stories with Showtime, and also with one of my very favorite writer-producers ever, Winnie Holzman. Let’s get this show on the road!”
“The opportunity to work with Cameron Crowe is both an honor and a dream come true,” said Holzman. “I’m grateful to J.J. Abrams, and to Showtime, and thrilled to be along for the ride.”
“‘Roadies’ is Cameron Crowe at his most musically passionate, colorful character best,” said Abrams. “We had been talking about the series for so long, but when he actually handed me the script, it was funnier and sweeter and wilder than I had ever imagined. Showtime is the perfect home for these characters – and there is no one I’ve been hoping to work with more than the truly brilliant Winnie Holzman.”
“Roadies” is produced by Bad Robot Productions, Vinyl Films and Dooley & Company Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television.
