FX boss for some reason forced to clarify ‘True Detective’ comments
Welcome to the world of modern media, otherwise known as the world of reading way too much into almost every little thing or headline that comes out. The latest comes via FX head John Landgraf, who somehow got misinterpreted while talking about HBO’s “True Detective.”
Speaking at TCA recently, Landgraf (in our mind one of the greatest executives in TV thanks to his viewpoint on creative control for showrunners and flexible run times) spoke a little bit about his appreciation for “True Detective,” but also commented on the fact that creator “Nic [Pizzolatto] is going to have to prove he can write something truly great every single year.” Somehow, this was classified as a slam of the show, which is a little crazy given that it sounds more like an honest statement. Much like FX’s own “Fargo,” who knows if season 2 of “True Detective” will be any good? The problem with these anthologies is that the creatives in charge have to show every year that the past one was not a fluke.
Nonetheless, Landgraf released a lengthy statement today, reminding everyone that he lives “True Detective” and anyone who says otherwise did not understand them:
“It seems unreasonable that I should have to issue a clarification for something that was stated clearly in the first place, but nevertheless I repeat, for the record, that I watched True Detective and loved it … I think Nic Pizzolatto wrote something truly great (and Mathew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Cary Fukunaga also did absolutely stellar work). Nic has created a very high bar for himself, and as a fan of the show and based on his work in season one, I have no doubt he will clear it by a mile with his second incarnation of True Detective. Also, for the record, I am an avid viewer and fan of many of HBO’s outstanding original series, and I have a profound respect for Richard Plepler, Mike Lombardo and their entire gifted team. Anyone who claims to love television but doesn’t pay attention to the consistently excellent work that HBO is fostering, would be suspect in my book.”
You have to love a statement that also digs at people who try to spin stories, right? Basically, it’s a statement reasserting what we already knew … which is that “True Detective” is awesome. We personally prefer “Fargo,” but we wouldn’t blame anyone for an opinion in either direction.
Photo: HBO