HBO Executive Doubts Show to Be Picked Up

David Gadberry, the producer/creator of “Secret Passions,” may have high hopes for marketing the gay soap opera to commercial cable networks but Chris Albrecht, senior vice president of original programming at HBO, doesn’t think the show stands much chance of being picked up.

“I’d think if you’re going to do something that would air every day or even once a week, you’re going to need to draw a more broad-based audience to sustain the financial investment,” Albrecht said.

At The Times’ request, Albrecht viewed a promotional tape containing three short scenes from the soap’s pilot, the same tape Gadberry says he has given to Hollywood executives he would not name. Albrecht said it was difficult for him to determine from the brief scenes “whether the show had anything interesting to say.”