Milch developing surf, aliens TV series

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Hollywood television writer David Milch is in the midst of developing series for HBO based on surfing, family dysfunction and space aliens.

The pilot for "John From Cincinnati" was described by The New York Times as "surf noir" in which a fictional family of surfers struggles with drugs and has frequent encounters with "John," who is either from the Queen City or another planet.

The cast of the pilot, which is being written in conjunction with novelist Kem Nunn, includes veteran actors Ed O'Neill and Rebecca De Mornay.

The Times said Milch drew on his own experiences as a doper in creating the concept for the pilot, which will air in the spring. Milch's more-legitimate accomplishments include Emmys and a large body of scripts for shows such as "NYPD Blue," "Hill Street Blues" and "Deadwood."