The Thick of It (U.S. TV series)

Infobox television
show_name = The Thick of It


caption =
format = Comedy
picture_format =
camera = Single camera
runtime = 20-22 minutes
writer = Mitchell Hurtwitz,
Richard Day
director= Christopher Guest
creator = Armando Iannucci
Richard Day
Mitchell Hurwitz
executive_producer = Mitchell Hurwitz
Richard Day
Paul Delegdy
Armando Iannucci
starring = John Michael Higgins
Oliver Platt
Michael McKean
Rhea Seehorn
Alex Borstein
Wayne Wilderson
country = USA
network = ABC
first_aired =
last_aired =
num_seasons =
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
imdb_id = 0903651
tv_com_id =
website =

"The Thick of It" was a pilot for a American television comedy in the running for the 2007-2008 season on ABC. The show would have been about the day-to-day lives of a low-level member of the United States Congress and his staff. ABC did not pick up the show for its Fall 2007 schedule.cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/21/DDG0MPU2QM1.DTL |title=Sometimes buzz about TV pilots is just a lot of hot air|accessdate=2007-05-27 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle] Other networks, including HBO, Showtime and NBC, have expressed interest in the show.cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070604/tv_nm/thick_dc |title=Rejected by ABC, political satire sparks interest|accessdate=2007-06-04 |publisher=Reuters]

Based on the British series of the same name, it was developed for American audiences by producers Mitch Hurwirtz and Richard Day, of "Arrested Development" fame. Original series creator Armando Iannucci had a production credit on the show, but he would not be otherwise involved on a regular basis. The pilot was produced by Sony Pictures TV and BBC Worldwide.

Plot

The show revolves around a low-level member of Congress and his staff. Platt played a committee chairman.cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-pilotcasting-oliverplattchrislowell,0,2672707.story?track=rss |title=Platt, 'Piz' Pluck Pilot Parts|accessdate=2007-03-16 |publisher=Zap2it.com] Actress Rhea Seehorn would also have been a part of the cast and Michael McKean played "a former campaign operative who's now the chief of staff" for the congressman.cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-gilmoregirlsmelissamccarthyjoinsabcpilot,0,3297088.story?track=rss |title='Gilmore' Regular Joins ABC Pilot|accessdate=2007-03-16 |publisher=Zap2it.com]

Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Christopher Guest directed the pilot.cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-christopherguestdirectingthethickofit,0,7175185.story?track=rss|title=Christopher Guest Jumps Into 'The Thick of It'|accessdate=2007-03-16 |publisher=Zap2it.com]

Characters

*Albert Alger (played by John Michael Higgins) - the main character and a newly-elected Congressman.
*Malcolm Tucker (played by Oliver Platt) - protective and intimidating committee chairman.
*Glen Glahm (played by Michael McKean) - Alger's scatterbrained chief of staff.
*Ollie Tadzio (played by Rhea Seehorn) - Alger's young and ambitious speech writer.
*Hope Mueller (played by Alex Borstein) - Alger's press secretary that he inherited from the previous Congressman.
*Taylor (played by Wayne Wilderson) - an ambitious political blogger.

References