HBO's new comedy series 'Vice Principals' premiered yesterday night and is truly one-of-its-kind. Created by directors Jody Hill and Danny McBride of 'Eastbound and Down' fame, it is an 18-episode series that revolves around the uneasy partnership of two rival vice principals who have come together to take down the new principal.
In an interview with Variety, McBride disclosed a lot of details about the show as well as his directorial debut. He said that direction was something he always saw his career in but acting derailed it. But now he is happy that he has got a chance.
Talking about the unique idea of two high school administrators at war, he said that it was floating around in his head for a while and he, along with Jody brainstormed about it after finishing 'Eastbound.' Initially, they had thought of it as a feature but then it graduated into an 18 episode arc.
McBride revealed that they spent all of 2014 in writing and the entire last year in the shooting. As for HBO's reaction to the 18-episode project, he said that he had thought about the fact that it would be a hard sell for HBO but they liked the approach of having a confident beginning, middle and end. And thus, there was no end to drag the seasons.
About Bill Murray's cameo in the premiere, he said that the association struck off on a plane. It was a chance meeting and then he sent him an email, asking him if he would be interested in checking out the script and prompt came the reply from the comic actor, saying that he would be honored to play Principal.
As for Walton Goggins', he said that they did not have him in mind while writing the role of Lee Russell. They needed someone with dramatic gravity as well as comedic chops and thus, they were stuck. But after some deep thinking, they zeroed in upon his name and thankfully, he agreed to do the role. He also acknowledged that Kimberly Hebert Gregory is amazing and a real discovery.
