HBO plans series based on sex advice column

NEW YORK - HBO is looking at developing a controversial show based on the humorous 'Savage Love' sex advice column written by the openly gay Dan Savage, which appears in various alternative weekly newspapers.

In his blog for Seattle's weekly newspaper Savage said he has been working on "a non-airing presentation pilot for HBO that would be called 'Savage Love'.

On his blog Savage said the possible show would focus on current events and cultural trends with sex as the filter.

Savage wrote: "I'm hoping to bring a new kind of conversation to TV about sex -- an honest conversation, one that's informed without being [too] wonky, funny without being [too] cruel, sexy without being [too] cheesy. Basically, my sex advice column -- but on the teevee."

HBO's foray into sex columns and television famously produced 'Sex and the City', which were based on Candace Bushnell's column with the New York Observer.

Savage's column, which began in Seattle in 1991, is now syndicated in a number of alternative weeklies in the US, Canada and Europe as well as the online satirical magazine The Onion.

In October 2006 it was expanded to include the 'Savage Lovecast' offering weekly advice.

The HBO show would likely excite much criticism because of Savage's use of strong language and frankness about sex.

For a number of years after launching the column Savage had his readers address him with "Hey faggot" in an effort to reclaim the word for the gay community.

His columns can cover anything from asking readers to come up with names for sex acts as well as popularising acronyms such as DTMFA for "Dump the Motherfucker Already" -- directed at those in bad relationships.

Earlier this year Savage was urged by a reader to stop using the word "retard" and "retarded". In response, Savage agreed, but turned to the words "leotard" and "leotarded" instead saying that he would then be insulting the physically fit rather than those with disabilities.

Picture credit: Dan Savage

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