Over the course of his career, Bob Dylan has announced — even started — a variety of projects that have never been released — at least not as they were originally described. Here’s three Bob Dylan legendary projects dear to my heart. Like their chameleon-like progenitor, the first two evolved into different forms. I still hold out hope for the last.
“Love That Bob”
The Bob Dylan Sitcom That Became a Movie
According to comedian/writer/producer Larry Charles, Dylan, inspired by watching too many Jerry Lewis movies on his tour bus, contacted him with the idea of doing a vaudeville-style TV sitcom series. Dylan produced a box filled with character names, one-liners, ideas, verse, and prose scribbled on scraps of paper and told Charles, “I don’t know what to do with all this.”
“We wrote this very elaborate treatment for this slapstick comedy which was filled with surrealism and all kinds of things from his songs and stuff,” said Charles in a podcast interview. “So, we say to Bob, ‘If you come to HBO with us, we’ll definitely sell the project because they won’t have the balls to say no to your face,’ and he agrees.”
Unfortunately, the ever-mercurial Mr. D. had cooled on the idea by the time Charles had arranged a pitch for the HBO suits. His mood…
