I’m a big fan of history and all things non-fiction.  I guess this is the reason the docu-dramas airing on the major cable networks are such a hit with me. The real life drama and  historical significance has made such series’ as Rome (HBO), John Adams (HBO), Deadwood (HBO) and The Tudors (Showtime) massive hits for the networks and have cleared the way for similar projects. I will be the first to warn you that all of these require a working 12th grade (or better)  vocabulary to fully appreciate, but the story lines, artistry, and direction are unmatched in prime time.

I’m extremely excited about Showtime’s new series, The Borgias,  scheduled to air in the Spring of 2011.  If you don’t know why I’m excited, let me give you a little background on the notorious Borgia family:

• Rodrigo Borgia would later become Pope Alexander VI
• Rodrigo and his sons Cesare and Giovanni conspired to kill their sister’s third husband
• While Rodrigo was Pope, the family was accused of : incest, bribery, murder, theft, simony, rape, and adultery
• Cesare Borgia’s image is used in early portraits of Christ
• The family’s history has inspired such novels as The Count of Monte Cristo and Gone with the Wind
• Elements of The Godfather film trilogy were inspired by the Borgia’s real life tales
• Traces of the Borgia legacy have turned up everything from restaurants to Walt Disney movies
• And that’s just the beginning…

Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia

The series will star Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia, be directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), and Michael Hirst who wrote, created, and executive produced The Tudors will serve as executive producer/writer.