NBC developing anthology issue-based series inspired by 'Thank You for Smoking'

Image from Empire

By Darian Scalamoni

            Anthology series have really taken over the TV-sphere over the past few years. With FX running upwards of 4 anthology shows a year from Ryan Murphy and Noah Hawley, it seems that NBC is hopping on the bandwagon for their own anthology series. According to The Playlist, the network is producing an issues-based drama series influenced by Jason Reitman’s 2006 film, Thank You for Smoking.

            Thank You for Smoking starred Aaron Eckhart as a charismatic, tobacco lobbyist who tried to protect the big-time companies from being sanctioned by the government. The movie wasn’t a huge success at the box office but garnered Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Actor for Eckhart. As a huge fan of both the anthology format and the original movie, I’m definitely excited for this especially since the show’s first season will focus on gun control rather than the same topic the original movie was based around. The network will have to gather together a great cast though, because that along with a great script from Reitman propelled the movie to garner such reviews with critics.

            This has potential to be one of the better series NBC has produced even after their newest hit, This Is Us was one of the network’s biggest shows in years. Look for the show to begin shooting rather soon to premiere sometime in late 2017 or early 2018!