HBO has opted not to go to series on Mamma Dallas, its comedy pilot by Enlightened creator Mike White, which followed a conservative Texan family who unwittingly hire a hard-living drag queen as their live-in nanny.

With its concept, the project was considered a big swing and, while it is not going forward, HBO remains committed to its creator, as reiterated by the networks programming chief Michael Lombardo. Mike White is one of the most talented filmmakers working today and we feel honored to have worked with him on Enlightened and the Mama Dallas pilot, he said in a statement to Deadline. The latter only reinforced our views of Mikes prodigious talents. Unfortunately, after much discussion we have decided not to proceed to series on this work. We truly hope that we will find another opportunity to work together.

Written, directed and executive produced by White, Mamma Dallas centered on Liberty (Augustus Prew) who appears to be an attractive woman with a flirty side but shes really a drag queen with an upbeat personality. On a path that leads to jail or prostitution or both, Liberty (also known as Albert) sees a future that will destroy his basically optimistic spirit and re-invents himself to get a job as a nanny to three children of a conservative Texan family. Paul Fitzgerald, Mary Catherine Garrison and Nico Tortorella co-starred. White executive produced the pilot with Dede Gardner.

Source: Deadline.com

Paul Fitzgerald, Mary Catherine Garrison and Nico Tortorella will co-star opposite Augustus Prew in Mamma Dallas, HBO’s comedy pilot by Enlightened creator Mike White, who also will have a role on the show. Written, directed and executive produced by White, the half-hour project follows a couple, Carrie Cox (Garrison) and Hugh Cox (Fitzgerald), who unwittingly hire a hard-living drag queen, Liberty (Prew), as their live-in nanny. Liberty appears to be an attractive woman with a flirty side – but she’s really a drag queen with an upbeat personality. On a path that leads to jail or prostitution or both, Liberty (also known as Albert) sees a future that will destroy his basically optimistic spirit and re-invents himself to get a job as a nanny to three children of a conservative Texan family.

With her decorating business taking off, perfectionistic Carrie needs a nanny to help with the kids, and it doesn’t occur to Carrie that she’s having a long talk about childrearing with a drag queen. Hugh is an earnest, successful man with political aspirations who is deathly afraid of any hint of scandal.

Tortorella plays Liberty’s lowlife boyfriend Jesse, who runs a chop shop and steals high-priced sports cars with Liberty’s help. He’s horrified that his macho friends will find out he’s dating a guy.

White plays Liberty’s roommate Tammy, a chain smoker who is always strung out and has no life ambitions.

White is executive producing the pilot with Dede Gardner.

Source: Deadline