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Growing up by the Jersey Shore, I always felt the story of Atlantic City would make a fascinating cinematic story. I guess I was right. DEPARTED buds Mark Wahlberg and Martin Scorsese are teaming for an HBO movie mini-series about the city and its rise and fall. With its boardwalks and fancy hotels Atlantic City was a huge family destination early in the 1900s. Tourism declined though as air travel became more prevalent and people were able to vacation in various other resorts. Poverty crept in followed soon thereafter by corruption. Then in the late 1970s, in an effort to revitalize the town, New Jersey approved legalized gambling in Atlantic City, the first city east of the Mississippi to do so. As you might suspect (if you've been to Atlantic City any time in the past, oh, thirty years), it didn't completely work. While the strip is a popular destination for weekenders, venture too far off and you could be in serious trouble. The Wahlberg/Scorsese project will be based on the book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City" by author Nelson Johnson. Wahlberg has an existing deal with HBO that covers both "Entourage" and the upcoming "In Treatment." Scorsese and Wahlberg are also mulling over a possible return to the DEPARTED world with a sequel.

Extra Tidbit: Salt water taffy was invented in Atlantic City when high tide flooded a candy shop and the taffy was soaked in salt water.

Two stars of the 2007 pap-centric flick Delirious team up again for the new HBO show Boardwalk. Buscemi’s already signed on to the Martin Scorsese drama, and now comes news that Michael Pitt will be on as well. Much like the film, Pitt will play a gofor. Can’t catch a break, huh?

The show will revolve around a cunning businessman (Buscemi) who starts a liquor-distribution network at the beginning of Prohibition and a low-level lackey (Pitt) trying to rise quickly.

Boardwalk’s written by Terry Winter, who is brilliant so you know it’ll be a smash. Cross your fingers and hope there’s more than just the pilot to look forward to.

HBO has given a greenlight to the Martin Scorsese-produced period drama Boardwalk Empire. The cable network has picked up 11 episodes of the drama, bringing the total order to 12 hours, including the pilot.

Written by Terence Winter, Boardwalk Empire is set in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition and chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster. Steve Buscemi stars as Thompson, who is described as “equal parts politician and gangster.”

In addition to Buscemi, the cast of the pilot also included Michael Pitt, Kelly MacDonald, Michael Shannon, Stephen Graham, Vincent Piazza, Aleksa Palladino, Paul Sparks, Shea Whigham, Anthony Laciura, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dabney Coleman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Paz de la Huerta.

Scorsese and Winter are executive producing the series with Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Tim Van Patten. Production on the series is slated to begin this fall for a 2010 premiere. Scorsese is expected to continue to be creatively involved and may direct another episode of the show, subject to his availability.

Why am I getting lectured about Final Fantasy? Eat shit how about that.