“Boardwalk Empire” star Steve Buscemi and AOL are teaming on original series “Park Bench,” which presents New Yorkers’ take on the people, places and spirit of their city. FremantleMedia Intl. will be shopping the series to international buyers at MipTV next week.
Through unscripted moments and conversations with average New Yorkers — as well as his celebrity friends — Buscemi takes viewers on an adventure through the city. Discussing everything from pop culture to current events, the show, produced by Olive Prods. and RadicalMedia, will convey Buscemi’s relationship with New York and its array of characters.
“Having lived and worked in New York my whole life, I’m ready to take advantage of all it has to offer,” said Buscemi. “I just need to lay down for five minutes.”
AOL will deliver “Park Bench” online in the U.S. as part of its AOL Originals platform.
Production on “Park Bench” is set to begin this month in NYC. Wren Arthur and Buscemi are executive producing for Olive Prods. Justin Wilkes, Joe Killian and Jon Doran are executive producing for RadicalMedia.
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Gabriel Lewis, head of AOL Studios and AOL Originals, said: “We strive to produce and showcase programming that captures unique and authentic personalities, and this series will give audiences a glimpse into Steve’s world like they’ve never experienced before.”
“Park Bench is a superb one-of-a-kind, eccentric show, and with the association of Steve Buscemi, top producer RadicalMedia and innovative platform AOL, we’re delighted to be taking this series worldwide,” said Hayley Dickson, VP, television acquisitions and development, global content, FremantleMedia Intl.
Buscemi and Olive are represented by WME, The Gotham Group and attorney George Sheanshang.
