The next words are definitely "North Korea." (Twitter)

According to a U.S. state department official, VICE has not contacted them about their trip, nor does it vet private travel to the country, which two weeks ago scared the world by performing underground nuclear testing.

What could go wrong?


An obvious diplomatic choice.

According to VICE founder and host Shane Smith in a press release sent out today:

“Is sending the Harlem Globetrotters and Dennis Rodman to the DPRK strange? In a word, yes. But finding common ground on the basketball court is a beautiful thing. These channels of cultural communication might appear untraditional, and perhaps they are, but we think it's important just to keep the lines open. And if Washington isn't going to send their Generals then we'll send our Globetrotters – Cue music – ‘Sweet Georgia Brown.’ ”

The week-long trip will include a basketball camp for North Korean children and "engaging in community-based games to encourage openness and better relations with the outside world." And hilariously, the release added, "there may be a top-level scrimmage to be attended by Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea."

Rodman told reporters today, "“It’s my first time, I think it’s most of these guys’ first time here, so hopefully everything’s going to be OK , and hoping the kids have a good time for the game." And that's the last we'll hear from him for awhile, though we keep checking his Twitter feed for news about his decision to move permanently to the great and glorious sovereign country of strong leadership and bountiful food.

Though dangerous and extremely stupid (that's VICE's official motto, right?) this news has created quite a lot of buzz for a show we didn't even know was in the works. As The New York Time's staff Michael Roston asked on Twitter, "Hey @DennisRodman can you defend America in North Korea like you defended @Shaq in the 1996 NBA playoffs?" We actually think this is going to be more of a Rocky IV situation, with this guy playing North Korea's answer to Dolph Lundgren.

VICE debuts Friday, April 5th (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO, which will be the last time anyone sees the Harlem Globetrotters, so be sure to tune in!

Shane Smith, Vice founder (Getty Images)

We shouldn't be surprised that Vice Media's stunning transformation over the years-- from a dirty Canadian hipster zine founded by anarchists and ex-junkies, to a slick site (thanks, Viacom!) focused on original video  content--has lead to a pot of gold.

Since its inception, Vice has been pitching shows to networks, none of which panned out into anything, as the Vice brand wasn't exactly TV friendly (no, not even to the audiences of Jackass). But 2.0 Vice (and Vice.TV), with its lack of Gavin McInnes and new-found social consciousness, has landed founder Shane Smith his first network show. Forget Vice.TV...this is Vice TV!

From today's press release:

HBO is partnering with VICE on an innovative news magazine show to be hosted by VICE founder Shane Smith, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. The weekly series will be executive produced by Bill Maher, Shane Smith and Eddy Moretti, VICE’s chief creative officer, with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria serving as consultant.

“VICE has emerged as a premier new media brand through a savvy combination of irreverence, smarts and fearlessness,” said Lombardo. “We are excited to offer a forum for their groundbreaking style of news coverage and look forward to a show that’s like nothing else on TV.”

Titled VICE, the HBO series will showcase a mix of stories from around the globe. Among the segments in production for possible inclusion in the show are: Taliban child suicide bombers; North Korean slave labor camps; New York’s underground voodoo heroin clinics; Somalian pirates; and Satanic dentists in the Pacific Northwest.

(Emphasis ours) Since this story has been percolating since September, the biggest news here is the involvement of Bill Maher and Mr. Zakaria, and what these two unexpected players will bring to the table. Cynicism and gravitas, respectively? (We'd love to see an interstitial segment with the CNN anchor reading from the DOs and DON'Ts.)

The New York Observer has reached out to Shane Smith, and will update with a response as soon as we hear back.