Already-Cancelled HBO Comedy Reportedly Causing Outrage in Pakistan
An HBO comedy starring Jack Black is apparently a source of some outrage in Pakistan.
Even after it was cancelled.
Back in June, HBO debuted The Brink, a geopolitical comedy about a U.S. foreign service officer in way over his head––played by Black––working together with the Secretary of State––played by Tim Robbins––to avoid the U.S. going to nuclear war with Pakistan.
The show was received moderately well, and HBO had greenlit it for a second season. But then the network changed its mind and The Brink is now officially cancelled.
However, according to NBC News, apparently Pakistani officials are very displeased with the show and its depiction of the country and have warned both a cable TV provider and a popular seller of pirated DVDs not to distribute any episodes.
And on top of that, the Pakistani embassy in Washington has made it clear they don’t care for how the show “maligns” Pakistan:
“This is also an affront to the people and institutions in both countries who have invested a lot over the decades in blood and treasure in building this important and mutually beneficial relationship,” embassy press attache Nadeem Hotiana said in a statement.
Hotiana also slammed what he said was the show’s “repeated insinuations that an intelligence agency of Pakistan is complicit in protecting the terrorists at the expense of innocent Pakistani civilians.”
Earlier this year, before The Brink debuted, Black and the show’s executive producers were asked about Pakistan potentially being offended by the show. Here’s what they said, per Deadline:
Playfully evading the question, The Brink EP Jerry Weintraub quipped, “Offend who? Showtime?”
Black, who apparently hadn’t heard the latest headlines about Homeland and Pakistan, asked the reporters: “Are you sure Pakistan was offended by Homeland? I think there’s a little gossip going on back there with you reporters.”
EP Roberto Benabib then assured the room, “We took great pains to make sure our portrayal of Pakistan was accurate. We saved the satire for our war-hungry generals, but the Pakistani people who are caught in the middle of the global crisis are portrayed very sympathetically.”
And yes, Homeland has been criticized by Pakistan as well.
[h/t Time]
[image via screengrab]
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