Sunday, February 17, 2008

National ‘Kingpin’ Appreciation Day

Guess what? I just figured out how to upload videos to YouTube. I was motivated by a certain anniversary...

Five years ago – in February of 2003 – a TV show I created was broadcast to the masses. It was called “Kingpin.”

Some critics dissed it, some kissed it. But I remain exceedingly proud of “Kingpin.” And I have been feenin’ ever since for another opportunity to be storyteller-in-chief for a bona fide Hollywood production.

Embedded below is a 7½-minute sequence from Episode 4 of “Kingpin.” The network really did let us push boundaries when it came to violence, as you can see. But check out how I used the music of Susana Baca:

11 comments:

DeAngelo Starnes said...

Kingpin was a good show with Wire layers of characters. The network didn't give you a chance to get your shit off. In fact, they killed just when it was getting good.

My only beef was the woman you cast as the lead mobster's wife. I don't care that she was white but she was fucked up looking.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed Kingpin too. I remember the commercials for it...I think they wore out Kinky's Mas so much that I went looking for it my damn self.

Michael Fisher said...

Was that the show you had called Toy about?

Abbie said...

I loved this show. I was just talking about it the other week- when they torture the guy by addicting him to heroin. That was pretty brilliant. And Bobby Cannavale played evil pretty well.

Mes Deux Cents said...

Hi UBM,

I'll be putting Kingpin on my must see list. :)

And you have been tagged! I think you will enjoy this one. Please see my blog post about it.

http://mesdeauxcents.blogspot.com/2008/02/im-it.html

HIM said...

I know you've been asked this question a thousand times, but were there any other filmed episodes other than the ones available on DVD ? My wife and I LOVED THIS SHOW!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Huge fan of the show, but I have particular reasons for loving this scene.

By the way, she was very flattered, too!

It all starts with the "feenin'". Can't wait to see what's next for you.

I'm currently in the lab, trying to finish that NBC pilot. I was a good soldier and didn't work on it during the strike. It appears others worked on theirs, so I'm racing the clock...

--Jorge Reyes

Anonymous said...

I watched all of it and enjoyed it. Originally it was just a 6 episode miniseries With the possibility of becoming a regular series, no? I met Yancey recently on a bad TV movie we were both doing. He spoke fondly of you. He also said he was miffed by so many similarities between your show and CANE.

Francisco said...

Dude! UBM! This show was 'teh awesome' and I've been patiently waiting for you to get off your ass and do another one. You and Me talked back in Television Without Pity about your awesome taste in latino music (which you need to feature more in your blog, BTW) and the plans for the aborted second season of Kingpin (artificial insemination babies! Lupita the witch goes nuts! Quinceañera party massacre, etc, etc...) Good Times. Do a kick-ass script and take it to AMC, they are doing awesome stuff now and willing to take chances.

Undercover Black Man said...

I'm currently in the lab, trying to finish that NBC pilot.

Jorge: Time to make the donuts, bruh. Rock that shit.

Andre: Sorry I'm late responding, but yeah, those six were the only six that got made. We had six more scripts, but the plug got pulled.

Thanks for the positive vibe, though.

Undercover Black Man said...

Francisco: Greetings! Thanks for that. I'll put some Latin music up for you in a minute...

Russell: Welcome to my spot, and thanks. Yancey is the coolest. I weep for what could have been.