HBO

[modage]

I'm talking about the quality of shows.  



HBO was a leader because they had great shows that were completely different from anything else on TV.  In the last decade the landscape of TV has changed.  I don't see what differentiates most HBO programming from what you would find on another channel anymore.  (Except for the things shallow things I mentioned).  What are your favorite shows?  How many of them are on HBO?  

I'm saying I don't think their programming is as strong as it has been in the past.  And that their brand doesn't mean as much as it used to.  Do you disagree?

[pete]

I love treme.  it's on HBO.
but what you were saying before was that you wouldn't even give some of the shows a chance based on the premises - for example, boardwalk empire was a bust for you because the names involved were too big, but I'm not sure how different it is from curb, another high concept show.

[modage]

No, I'm giving Boardwalk a chance. I like it. It's got the most potential of any show in a long time. I've been thinking about that rant for over a year so I figured I had to get it out now before it got really great or something.

I think they knew they needed a hit that was also going to be critically well received. And to get it they relied on some of their worst tendencies: tweaking what worked before, and spending a lot of money on it.