US rapper Kanye West's TV show for HBO may never air over fears it could offend viewers, it's writer says.

Larry Charles, who has been affiliated with the programme, told ComingSoon that TV bosses at HBO had found a pilot episode “too hardcore”.

“Also, HBO's management shifted. HBO doesn't have a good track record when it comes to black shows, and I felt like that may have had something to do with it also," he said.

"I don't see a lot of shows about that experience at all. This was very entertaining and we showed it to a lot of people.

“People gave it a very good response, and it seems to be on the shelf right now. The management has shifted at HBO so we're waiting to see."

Charles said West's show was inspired by Curb Your Enthusiasm, presented by Larry David.

“What Kanye West said to me the first time, he said, 'I'm the black Larry David.' That's the first thing he said to me. So it's like a Kanye-and-'Curb' show, it's kind of improvised about the situations and stuff,” Charles said.

"He's so much funnier than people realize. Even the whole being-full-of-himself stuff is a joke to him, and he likes to play that of being like, you know, Kanye. And he's kind of a brilliant guy actually."

(by Jason Gregory)