The Myth Of HBO Original Series

[Gvac]

There seems to be a perception out there that every original series put out by HBO is fantastic.

FALSE.

I think The Sopranos sucked after the first 3 seasons and they haven't put out anything "great" since, except maybe Curb Your Enthusiasm.

They've had some semi-decent shows, sure, but none of them are anywhere near as good as people would have you believe.

And FYI "Entourage" was NEVER funny. So predictable and childish it's embarrassing.

I couldn't believe anyone found it watchable.

[underdog]

Exactly.

[brettmojo]

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9858/pingponggif.gif

[weekapaugjz]

i thought six feet under was a great show.

mr. show was also fantastic.

[HBox]

Deadwood was fantastic you cocksucker.

[razorboy]

I loved the first two seasons of The Sopranos. After that, it seemed a bit forced.

Entourage has always been shite.

[brettmojo]

i thought six feet under was a great show.
You'd be correct.

[epo]

The Wire.

Lock this stupid thread up.

[Gvac]

Deadwood was fantastic you cocksucker.

Unwatchable tripe.

[IMSlacker]

I enjoy Flight of the Conchords quite a bit.

[Judge Smails]

I loved John From Cincinnati and I don't care what any of you fuckers have to say about it.

[Gvac]

I loved the first two seasons of The Sopranos. After that, it seemed a bit forced.

Entourage has always been shite.

Once again you've proven your genius.

[TheMojoPin]

The Wire, you insane sack of shit.

Rome was amazing.

They've put out some great mini-series in the last 10 years, too.

[HBox]

Eastbound and Down.

[Gvac]

Eastbound and Down.

Awful.

If I was back in Jr. High I'm sure we would have thought it was hilarious.

[KnoxHarrington]

The Wire did show signs of weakness in the 5th season -- that plotline of McNulty inventing a serial killer was ridiculous on many levels, and the newspaper stuff was kind of dull and smacked of David Simon getting back at people who'd pissed him off in his Baltimore Sun days -- but before that, and even in a lot of moments in the 5th season, god damn, that's up there with some of the best film and even literature out there.

[Gvac]

I enjoy Flight of the Conchords quite a bit.

You're gay so your opinion means little.

[instrument]

The wire, six feet under, deadwood, carnivale, angels in america, true blood.

And I'm not much of a tv watcher.

Wasn't band of brothers hbo too?

You're seriously reaching, this is so bad it shouldve been a poll by leeder

[Gvac]

i thought six feet under was a great show.

mr. show was also fantastic.

You thought wrong.

On both counts.

[TheMojoPin]

True Blood is fucking awful.

It's like Passions with a bigger budget but worse acting.

[Gvac]

I loved John From Cincinnati and I don't care what any of you fuckers have to say about it.

So great it lasted a whole season!!!

ZZzzzzzzzzz

[HBox]

Extras.

[TheMojoPin]

Band of Brothers

From the Earth to the Moon

John Adams

Generation Kill

[brettmojo]

You thought wrong.

On both counts.
Now you're just insane.

You've lost any credibility.

[realmenhatelife]

Deadwood may be the best series on television ever. If it weren't for The Office that would be a certainty. The writing and the editing on Deadwood was devastating.

[Gvac]

Rome was amazing.

I wish I was as delusional as you.

A bunch of Brits playing ancient Romans with modern day soap opera scripts is "amazing"???

Really?

I guess The Young And The Restless is "stupendous" in your eyes.

[underdog]

I liked the Life and Times of Tim.

True Blood is fantastic.

Flight Of The Conchords & Big Love are great.

John Adams, John from Cincinnati, Tell Me You Love Me, Rome, Extras, these were all great shows.

And I think one of the most underrated shows ever was The Comeback. The humor was so cringe-worthy and intelligent, but people couldn't understand it or something for whatever reason. That was a great, underrated show.

[epo]

You thought wrong.

On both counts.

Take it back.....MR SHOW WAS FUCKING AWESOME!

[Gvac]

I'm waiting for the obligatory "Fuck you...Lucky Louie RULED!!!" post.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

[underdog]

So great it lasted a whole season!!!

ZZzzzzzzzzz

Greatness is based on popularity now?

Good news, everyone. Transformers 2 is one of the greatest movies ever!

[IMSlacker]

I'm beginning to think that Gvac has never actually subscribed to HBO.

[Judge Smails]

So great it lasted a whole season!!!

ZZzzzzzzzzz

It was too smart for and confusing for you commoners.

Also, my wife and her chick and gay friends would give you tounge lashing for knocking Sex and the City.

[Section 8]

Awful.

If I was back in Jr. High I'm sure we would have thought it was hilarious.

They had baseball when you were in Junior High?

I don't have HBO, but I have caught episodes of Rome, which was pretty good, and Hung, which I find funny as hell.

[KnoxHarrington]

Take it back.....MR SHOW WAS FUCKING AWESOME!

If I were asked to erase either Monty Python or Mr. Show from existence, I'm keeping Mr. Show.

[underdog]

I'm waiting for the obligatory "Fuck you...Lucky Louie RULED!!!" post.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

It was painful to watch at points, but it was at least an interesting and new view on the traditional sitcom. Louis CK has a pilot about to be picked up on FX that I cannot wait to see.

[KnoxHarrington]

I'm waiting for the obligatory "Fuck you...Lucky Louie RULED!!!" post.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Nah. That show was "Everyone Loves Raymond" with occasional glimpses of cock n balls and constant use of the word "fuck".

[underdog]

Nah. That show was "Everyone Loves Raymond" with occasional glimpses of cock n balls and constant use of the word "fuck".

And cunt.

[epo]

I'm beginning to think that Gvac has never actually subscribed to HBO.

I noticed that when he posted the thread that "Hung" was on HBO.

[Gvac]

I'm beginning to think that Gvac has never actually subscribed to HBO.

I've had it for over 25 years.

The only thing I watch semi-regularly is the boxing, though. The rest of the shit bores me to tears.

[epo]

I'm waiting for the obligatory "Fuck you...Lucky Louie RULED!!!" post.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Please, everyone knows that Lucky Louie was horrific dogshit.

[KnoxHarrington]

I do think HBO programming has felt a bit adrift lately. True Blood's a big hit, though, but I can't get into that "Hey, This Guy's Got a Huge Cock!" show at all, and Entourage finds new ways to be even more stupid every week.

There are glimmers of hope: the Song of Ice and Fire series should be awesome, Curb Your Enthusiasm looks to have a really good plot arc this season, and David Simon's new New Orleans-set drama "Trome" just looks incredible. But it's a long wait for that stuff.

[razorboy]

I really can't wait for the Curb/Seinfeld shows this year, though.

[Gvac]

I really can't wait for the Curb/Seinfeld shows this year, though.

Me neither. I fully expect to laugh my balls off.

Literally.

If I don't I may sue.

[hammersavage]

The Wire.

Lock this stupid thread up.

Honestly the best series of all time, without question. One of the greatest stories ever produced in any medium. and it was on HBO.

[Gvac]

The Wire was NYPD Blue with more swearing and nudity.

Nothing groundbreaking there.

[Judge Smails]

No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency.



I'm sorry, I should probably not have brought it up. I've never actually met anyone who's seen it, including me.

[TooLowBrow]

premium cable is now only cable quality tv
cable tv is old normal tv quality
normal tv is dreck

[hammersavage]

The Wire was NYPD Blue with more swearing and nudity.

Nothing groundbreaking there.

I remember 4 tits the entire series.

[razorboy]

I remember 4 tits the entire series.

Doubtful.

[hammersavage]

Doubtful.

Outside of Orlando's I meant. Nicky Sobatak's girlfriend, who had the best tits ever. And the Russian hooker, the short one not the tall one, who had awesome tits.

[Servo]

Outside of Orlando's I meant. Nicky Sobatak's girlfriend, who had the best tits ever. And the Russian hooker, the short one not the tall one, who had awesome tits.

I think we also saw Mrs. McNulty's cans, and the diner waitress that McNulty banged after he wrecked his car.

[hammersavage]

I think we also saw Mrs. McNulty's cans, and the diner waitress that McNulty banged after he wrecked his car.

Oh yea, forgot about the fat diner waitress. I just wanted to think about tits really. This has been productive

[KnoxHarrington]

I've been re-watching The Corner lately, a mini-series which was based on another David Simon book, about drug dealers and drug addicts in Baltimore, and it's incredible too.

And it's funny to see people from The Wire in roles, such as the guy who played Sgt. Landsman as a scumbag scrap metal dealer who buys obviously stolen copper from the junkies, and Clarke Peters, who played Freamon, does an incredible job as an unusually old dealer/junkie. Highly recommended if you like The Wire.

[underdog]

I've had it for over 25 years.

The only thing I watch semi-regularly is the boxing, though. The rest of the shit bores me to tears.

Do you watch the 100 meter and Horse Racing, too, grandpa?

[Gritty]

I'm waiting for the obligatory "Fuck you...Lucky Louie RULED!!!" post.



Please. Nobody's that delusional.

[lleeder]

The only reason I got HBO was for Mr.Show. Everything else can suck a cock.













But I still must watch them.:unsure:

[grlNIN]

I don't have HBO anymore but i will do everything in my power to watch Big Love every week when it's on.

[Suspect Chin]

Tell us Gvac, what TV is worth watching?

[Chigworthy]

boxing=queerdom

[DarkHippie]

Gvac hates Band of Brothers (HBO 2001)

And "A song of ice and fire" should kick major ass.

[Dell]

Tell us Gvac, what TV is worth watching?

and here comes another thread...we'd all be better off if Gvac compiled it all into a book...would probably the best thing since...

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/1a/0f/c2ba8149e7a026768c2ad110.L.jpg

oh yeah...John from Cincinnati was only planned for a single season...and it was good...

[Gvac]

Tell us Gvac, what TV is worth watching?

As far as new, original programming?

Aside from sports and an occasionally well made documentary, nothing.

[TooLowBrow]

As far as new, original programming?

Aside from sports and an occasionally well made documentary, nothing.

what about g4's 'cheaters'?

[Suspect Chin]

As far as new, original programming?

Aside from sports and an occasionally well made documentary, nothing.

OK then, historically speaking, what TV is worth watching?

[Gvac]

OK then, historically speaking, what TV is worth watching?

I used to love "Forensic Files" on TRU but even that has turned to shit.

Seinfeld was witty, as were earlier episodes of The Simpsons. The Honeymooners and Our Gang/Little Rascals are still the funniest things ever on TV.

Dramas always have been, and always shall be AWFUL on TV.

They tend to be overly melodramatic and over the top.

[DarkHippie]

As far as new, original programming?

Aside from sports and an occasionally well made documentary, nothing.

How can you criticize anything and expect us to take it seriously if you are criticizing everything? You're like the boy who cried "Suck"

[Gvac]

How can you criticize anything and expect us to take it seriously if you are criticizing everything? You're like the boy who cried "Suck"

Blame the writers' strike, blame "reality" TV, whichever you prefer.

The fact is that EVERYTHING I've seen pop up in the past few years is a retread of something else.

And they're usually weaker in their acting and cleverness.

[brettmojo]

Seinfeld was witty, as were earlier episodes of The Simpsons. The Honeymooners and Our Gang/Little Rascals are still the funniest things ever on TV.
What are you 90?

[brettmojo]

Blame the writers' strike, blame "reality" TV, whichever you prefer.

The fact is that EVERYTHING I've seen pop up in the past few years is a retread of something else.

And they're usually weaker in their acting and cleverness.
Everything ever done in cinema or television is just retreads of Greek theater.

Next you'll be telling us Homer's writings are the only ones worth reading.

[Gvac]

What are you 90?

No.

Those shows were made long before I was born, but I've seen the reruns and can put them in their proper perspective.

All In The Family and Barney Miller aired when I was very, very young but I can see how incredible they were as I look back and watch them through the eyes of an adult.

Taxi was another good series, for a very short window. Despite what Andy Kaufman fans would have you believe, his "Latka" character destroyed the show.

[Gvac]

As fun and interesting as the character of Kramer was on Seinfeld, he's basically Ed Norton from the Honeymooners mixed with Reverend Jim from Taxi.

At least he's a hybrid, though.

Most of the characters I see on today's new shows are DIRECT RIPOFFS of ones from the past.

[DarkHippie]

Blame the writers' strike, blame "reality" TV, whichever you prefer.

The fact is that EVERYTHING I've seen pop up in the past few years is a retread of something else.

And they're usually weaker in their acting and cleverness.

Can you give us a scale of suck then? Like from "just grazed the lips" to "stomach coated with steaming hot semen"

[Gvac]

This is why ignorance is bliss, though.

The rest of you who don't know what came before believe that everything your watching is "good."

It's also why everyone should study history, especially when it comes to things far more important than television.

[underdog]

As far as new, original programming?

Aside from sports and an occasionally well made documentary, nothing.

You're like Blowhard a decade later.

[hammersavage]

You're like Blowhard a decade later.

a decade?

[Gvac]

Truth be told, Blowhard and I are a mere 6 years apart.

[Stuft]

Oz is still my favorite HBO series, to this day.

[Dell]

Oz is still my favorite HBO series, to this day.

just a remake of...Hogan's Heroes...thought I'd help out...

[brettmojo]

Yeah. Every time I watched Six Feet Under, I thought... Punky Brewster.

[Stuft]

just a remake of...Hogan's Heroes...thought I'd help out...

With 3x the man ass?

[razorboy]

With 3x the man ass?

Bob Crane had some kinky home movies.

[KnoxHarrington]

Oz is still my favorite HBO series, to this day.

It was good for the first few seasons, but that last one was a total trainwreck.

[Stuft]

It was good for the first few seasons, but that last one was a total trainwreck.

I don't disagree, it was much stronger earlier on. But i recently watched the series from start to finish and wanted more!

No other show has captured my interest like that, except for *Lost*.

[TheMojoPin]

It was good for the first few seasons, but that last one was a total trainwreck.

I think it actually rebounded a bit in the last season. Nowhere near as good as the first 3 seasons, but definitely much better than the 4th and 5th seasons. That 4th "double" season really seemed to push Fontona to the limit in terms of coming up with ideas and he just went way overboard with stupid storylines.

[KnoxHarrington]

I think it actually rebounded a bit in the last season. Nowhere near as good as the first 3 seasons, but definitely much better than the 4th and 5th seasons. That 4th "double" season really seemed to push Fontona to the limit in terms of coming up with ideas and he just went way overboard with stupid storylines.

Yeah, thinking about it, you're right, the really dumb storylines were in the 4th season, such as the absolutely idiotic "aging drug" storyline. What the fuck was that?

But the final episode was a total travesty. Keller can get his hands on a biological agent so deadly you drop dead as soon as you open the package? What?

[deliciousV]

This is why ignorance is bliss, though.

The rest of you who don't know what came before believe that everything your watching is "good."

It's also why everyone should study history, especially when it comes to things far more important than television.

We should all rush to study, become know it all haters like you. We could accomplish the same thing by making broad sweeping statements strictly for shock value, and rile everyone up.

[hammersavage]

Exactly.

[epo]

Truth be told, Blowhard and I are a mere 6 years apart.

I can't believe that Blowhard is only that much younger that you.

[TheMojoPin]

Yeah, thinking about it, you're right, the really dumb storylines were in the 4th season, such as the absolutely idiotic "aging drug" storyline. What the fuck was that?

By far the worst storyline on the show, though the stranded Chinese immigrants staying there was almost as dumb. If such a situation somehow occured then it would have been simple to temporarily keep the prisoners and the immigrants completely seperate. Just house the immigrants in the gym until they're out of there and suspend gym time. Boom, done. Making like they had to stay in the middle of Em City was awful.

But the final episode was a total travesty. Keller can get his hands on a biological agent so deadly you drop dead as soon as you open the package? What?

That was a cheesy capper, but his double cross of Beecher was great and the whole MacBeth storyline was a lot of fun. I also was impressed with the plot of the O'Reilly brothers and death row. My biggest gripe about season 6 is that it was just SO kill-crazy, even for a show so filled with deaths. Too many guys were killed just because the end of the series was near. Said's death was especially pointless and had zero payoff.

[Crispy123]

Fraggle Rock
1st & 10
larry sanders

[Kevin]

Gvac...


You know i love you..

but...

With your views on these shows..
You need to do a coors light version of the dos eqi commercials. Gvac is the most uninteresting man in the world

[Stuft]

Fraggle Rock


Good call.

[TheMojoPin]

Gvac...


You know i love you..

but...

With your views on these shows..
You need to do a coors light version of the dos eqi commercials. Gvac is the most uninteresting man in the world

Fuckin' GOLD.

"The closest he comes to animal magentism are the wolf prints on his shirts."

"He makes up characters on a message board that he pretends to hate."

"Almost every one of his iTunes shuffles comes up with Van Morrison."

"His diet consists of steak, steak, black olives and more steak."

"He owns a cat."

"He IS the most uninteresting man in the world."

[weekapaugjz]

Fuckin' GOLD.

"The closest he comes to animal magentism are the wolf prints on his shirts."

"He makes up characters on a message board that he pretends to hate."

"Almost every one of his iTunes shuffles comes up with Van Morrison."

"His diet consists of steak, steak, black olives and more steak."

"He owns a cat."

"He IS the most uninteresting man in the world."

:clap:

[Stuft]

."

"He owns a cat."



SO??!?!

[TheMojoPin]

That's incredibly uninteresting.

A single guy with a cat is always suspect.

[PapaBear]

A single guy with a cat is always suspect.
I think the lone guys, who sit in their cars near our local dog park for hours on end, are a little more suspect.

[Gvac]

You're welcome.

[TheMojoPin]

I think the lone guys, who sit in their cars near our local dog park for hours on end, are a little more suspect.

They probably go home to cats.

[PapaBear]

They probably go home to cats.
They definitely don't go home to pussy.

[Gvac]

They probably go home to cats.

They definitely don't go home to pussy.

Poor Mojo has never had either.

[TheMojoPin]

It's like you just countered a grand slam with a bunt single.

[Gvac]

Really? That's what it's like?

[TheMojoPin]

No.

I was being generous.

[Dell]

Gvac...you own a cat?...I hope we're talking like...Tony Montana's cat...

[Melk]

Who was responsible for "First and Ten" and "Arli$$"?

[KnoxHarrington]

Who was responsible for "First and Ten" and "Arli$$"?

"Arli$$" was one of the most disappointing shows ever, in that you'd think the world of pro sports management would be ripe for savage satire. Instead, it became all too obvious that Wahl was using the show as a chance to hobnob with his favorite pro athletes.

Yeah, there's been some real shit on HBO.

[Scottyflamingo]

How dare you insult the sexy hit comedy for grown-ups, Dream On...

[TjM]

boxing=queerdom

Wrong

[CruelCircus]

1st & 10


Awesome.