Of all the pitches that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has heard over the years, this one from comedian Chris Rock has to be the most interesting (if that’s the right word?) of them all.
There’s no bigger name in the TV industry than Taylor Sheridan. He’s the mind behind some of the most watched series in the last decade – Landman, The Madison, Mayor of Kingstown to name a few…and he’ll soon become the billion dollar man (yes, billion with a “b”) when he takes his talents over to NBCUniversal in a couple of years.
The writer and director tends to write roles specifically for actors and actresses he wants to work with, and only time will tell if Sheridan jumps on this proposal from Chris Rock. In this situation, it’s Rock that’s putting an idea out in the world and trying to get Sheridan to bite… but the comedian tells Variety that he’s simply a big fan of Sheridan’s work.
At least, I think he is being complimentary… saying:
“Hey, if Taylor Sheridan’s got a job for me, I will take that job. I could be the black guy on ‘Yellowstone,’ no problem… I love Taylor Sheridan. He makes the best sh*t. ‘Hell or High Water.’ Nothing is better than ‘Hell or High Water.’ Nothing is better.”
Without a doubt, Hell or High Water is some of Sheridan’s best work, and even earned him a lot of respect in the entertainment industry.
Now you might think that Sheridan and Rock would be a weird pairing, given that one focuses on drama and the other has made a living in the comedy space. However, in recent years, Chris Rock has expanded into more serious roles, like playing Loy Cannon on Fargo, or Detective Zeke Banks in Spiral: From the Book of Saw. Comedians actually seem to move into dramatic roles with ease, and if viewers are like me, seeing a comedy star take on a role outside of their regular realm is always interesting.
That being said, the idea that Chris Rock has for Sheridan might be a little complicated. Obviously, Rock was riffing a bit and the proposed show is likely more of a joke than a real pitch. But here’s what Chris Rock thought up for a series that he and Taylor Sheridan could get to work on:
“I could just be the black guy that owns some land and has, like, white slaves. Taylor Sheridan, let’s do the white slavery show! I’m the guy.”
Something tells me Sheridan will probably pass on that one. And the comments didn’t take too kindly to it either… but I think Rock is just trying to be funny. At the same time, Sheridan has been a staunch advocate for the Native American community, one of the best in Hollywood (well, Texas) so if he’s trying to imply that Sheridan somehow only makes shows focused on white people, the joke clearly misses the mark.
Could Taylor Sheridan actually entertain that thought? I doubt it. But I imagine that the Yellowstone creator wouldn’t rule out giving Rock a call about a different role. With this particular pitch… Chris Rock seemed to be doing what he does best, and threw out a comical, satirical idea into the world.
That being said, I’d personally love to see Sheridan and Rock work together. Maybe the creator behind countless hit shows could find a way to work the world-famous comedian into one of his dramas?
And maybe this outlandish pitch is exactly what Chris Rock needed to present to get Sheridan’s attention?
