3 HBO alumni to produce pilots

HBO has ordered series pilots from “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker, “The Sopranos” executive producer Terence Winter and “The Wire” creator David Simon.

The proposed series fit well with HBO’s programming strategy after the exit of longtime network architect Chris Albrecht. The plan seems to be to greenlight a greater number of shows than in the past, without fundamentally changing the notion of what an HBO series should be.

“We’ve had to be a little more proactive” in pursuing projects, Michael Lombardo, president of the network’s programming group, told reporters Thursday. But “the kinds of things we’ve wanted haven’t changed.”

Parker will produce a half-hour comedy pilot called “Washingtonienne,” based on Jessica Cutler’s controversial book about her racy life as a political aide and blogger in Washington.

Winter is working on “Boardwalk Empire,” a drama about Atlantic City in the 1920s.

And Simon, with his longtime writing partner Eric Overmyer, will produce “Treme,” a drama about life in post-Katrina New Orleans. Simon is also an executive producer of “Generation Kill,” the HBO Iraq drama premiering Sunday.

Executives also confirmed that the long-awaited TV movie tied to “Deadwood” -- which was supposed to tie up loose ends left hanging after the series was abruptly canceled -- is not happening.

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-- Scott Collins