Hells Angels Founder Sues HBO Over 1% Pilot
As HBO fans are no doubt aware, the cable network is currently in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Almost all of their major shows have wrapped up, and they are now looking for fresh new programming to keep their subscribers happy. Among the new shows they are developing is a biker gang drama called 1%, unfortunately they seem to have run into a roadblock in the form of a lawsuit… from one of the founders of the Hells Angels!
Sonny Barger claims he had originally pitched the series to HBO together with writer/executive producer Michael Tolkin (they began working together when Tolkin was hired by Fox to adapt Barger’s autobiography for the screen). After Barger objected to some elements of the pilot episode, he was essentially cut out of the project. Now he has filed a lawsuit against HBO claiming that some parts of the show are too close to real-life people and events (including the character of “Chief”, a known nickname for Barger himself). Essentially, he either wants in on the deal, or he wants his contributions to be pulled.
I guess the bottom line in this case is don’t mess with the Hells Angels, although it’s kind of funny to think that they are now threatening people with lawsuits rather than violence. I guess when people say that the organization has become a full-fledged business in recent years, they really aren’t kidding. I just hope the show still gets made because I think this could be pretty awesome.
Comments (6)
I am actually wearing a Harley t-shirt from the Barger shop in Canoga Park, CA right now.
Posted by Less Lee on April 22nd, 2008I have this biker club T-shirt that says “Fuck The World” on it with like a picture of an eagle on it. It’s pretty cool, but I feel silly wearing it because I don’t actually have that sort of disregard for the world.
Posted by Joel on April 22nd, 2008I had a run in with a Hell’s Angel in NY a few years ago. It was my first time in NY, full of paranoia fueled by countless gangster films.
Posted by swarez on April 23rd, 2008I lived on the same street that the NY chapter of Hell’s Angels and the day after I came over I made the mistake of taking a picture up the street of where I was staying. That apparently was a big no no. I was approached by a hairy fucker who basically said that they would kick my ass if I ever dared to take a photo in this street again. They are a paranoid bunch to say the least.
I saw many tourists, usually males, being attacked, their camera taken if they took a picture of the house the Angels lived in. Women were usually asked nicely to stop taking pictures. Talk about gender discrimination.
But because this biker gang was in the street, it was one of the safest places to stay in NY, cause no one would fuck with anybody there.
Was this show supposed to be a narrative or documentary style show? I would love to see a hell’s angels R-Rated reality type show.
Posted by Jon Rocks on April 23rd, 2008Hells Angels are a bunch of fags
Posted by aquafina on September 28th, 2009Right on.Call it like it is .The only ones that support those cowards are cowards.
Posted by liberally on September 28th, 2009Leave a Reply