With the animated, Kickstarter funded animated effort "Anomalisa" presumably on the way, it’s not like we have nothing to look forward to from Charlie Kaufman ("Synecdoche, New York," "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind") but it has been frustrating watching his projects sputter in development (don’t get us started on the meta-musical "Frank Or Francis"). Which is why this latest bit of news is a bummer… but has a silver lining.
FX has passed on "How & Why," a comedy pilot they ordered from Kaufman. Led by Michael Cera and John Hawkes (killer), with supporting turns by Sally Hawkins and Catherine Keener (again, killer) this one follows a man clueless about life, yet who is smart enough to explain how and why a nuclear reactor works. Perfectly absurd, but it seems the price tag is a sticking point. According to THR, the project is being shopped around, but Netflix has already passed, while IFC may take a look. But thankfully we live in an era where almost everybody is starting a streaming service, so Amazon, Yahoo and Hulu, we urge you take a look at this.
Meanwhile, hot on the heels of news that FX would be renewing their acclaimed "Fargo" for a second season, comes plot details about what the next batch of episodes—with new actors and new characters—will entail, and it will link to the first season. The 1979 Sioux Falls case hinted at throughout the first season will become the focus of the second season, with the narrative jumping backward in time. "We will meet Molly’s mother and we may learn what happened to her. Ben Schmidt [Peter Breitmayer’s series one police lieutenant] will factor in there somewhere… There were a lot of clues left in the first season and we’ll do our best to hit those," writer Noah Hawley said at the Television Critics Association press tour (via Radio Times).
What do you think about that direction? Did you want more from Allison Tolman, or is this a more interesting way to go? Let us know in the comments section.