Having aired shows about the advertising, computer, and meth production industries, AMC is looking to prove that it doesn’t mind working weekends by getting into the restaurant business. Variety is reporting that AMC has given “a straight to series pickup” to Broke, a drama from Clyde Phillips about two troubled friends who open a restaurant. (Phillips was behind the Showtime hits Nurse Jackie and Dexter.)
Unfortunately, Broke will not follow the class struggles of front of house versus back of house, the tension of patrons complaining that they can’t taste the alcohol in this drink, the suspense of trying to get a shift covered, or even the drama that surrounds servers and bartenders getting wasted on Fireball, hooking up, and then having to be section partners the next night. Rather, Broke will focus on a talented chef in trouble with the mob and his wine expert buddy who fulfill their lifelong dream of comping meals for ungrateful customers.
AMC has ordered 10 episodes of the series, which is slated to premiere in 2016. No casting announcements have been made yet, but finding actors with service industry experience shouldn’t be too difficult.