The End Nears for The Sopranos: Do You Keep HBO?

You know, I remember HBO before it had any series and was strictly movies and specials with shorts inbetween programming. That was what I bought it for back then because I could watch regular series on other channels. While I still pay for HBO.....about 10 channels of HBO, I seldom watch it (it being the main HBO cannel) because you can hardly ever catch a movie on it. I was hoping to get back into the Sopranos this season since I've missed at least the last two, but it just has not happened for me. Series TV on HBO has just never interested me other than the Sopranos.

Based on HBO's performance re their original programming, I will keep them for the time being. It will be tough w/ both Rome and Deadwood gone, and a lot will depend on how good this surfer show from David Milch is, I wasn't a big fan of NYPD Blue so he's batting .500 w/ me. Judging from the premise of the show, I think the odds are against it rising to the level of Milch's last show Deadwood.

Keith, are you saying you prefer broadcast series over HBO's? Your gonna have to come strong to back that up, if thats what you're saying

I'll keep it, 'cause I'm a Big Love fan and John From Cincinnati intrigues me. I also watch Bill Maher's show regularly (even though they just went on their customary three-month hiatus) and occasionally Real Sports and Inside the NFL (feel like I'm in the minority with those two).

James, what do you know about Flight of the Conchords? HBO needs to discover a truly great comedy (I personally wouldn't put Entourage in that category)... something to rival the days of Larry Sanders.

The principal advantage to having the 10 channels/flavors of HBO that Keith mentions is that most of those movies and shows are available on demand. Of course, if you don't have on-demand capabilities with your cable box... well, it sucks to be you.

John-- me on Flight of the Conchords:

http://time-blog.com/tuned_in/2007/05/flight_of_the_conchords_you_ar_1.html

I wouldn't say it's Larry-Sanders-great, but it's pretty diverting.

Is Curb Your Enthusiasm coming back?

Curb comes back in the fall, last I heard, though I don't think an official date has been set.

I think I'll be dumping HBO -- not because the sopranos is gone (i never became a devotee because i didn't have HBO for its first couple of seasons) but because of the cancellation of Rome -- anyone who remembers I Claudius knows that the fun was just getting started, and I have a hard time believing that HBO and its partners abandoned the massive amount of money it spent in getting the show up and running given the enormous potential of the show.

I think the era of pay cable networks like HBO is about over. "On Demand" is where the action is now, and Netflix is now offering streaming films from its back-catalogue for on-line viewing. I see a "Netflix" On-Demand on cable in the not-too-distant future -- subscribe to Netflix, get discounted new releases "on demand" and thousands of other titles as part of your subscription available through cable, rather than on the web.

Not with "The Pacific" coming in 2009 I'm not.

Count me as one of the subscription keepers. The last season of The Wire is a good enough reason all by itself, but I'm also excited about Generation Kill, the miniseries from David Simon and Ed Burns based on the nonfiction book about Marines in Iraq, the John Adams and Pacific miniseries, John from Cincinnati, Curb and Entourage (although both have lost their fastball in the last couple years), and the adaptation of the Israeli series In Treatment coming in the fall, I think.

It seems the HBO is dealing with the end of The Sopranos by developing a range of shows that could each appeal to a certain niche audience, instead trying for one monster hit. While that might keep people like me from canceling our subscriptions, I doubt it will generate as many new customers as The Sopranos, Sex and the City and Six Feet Under did.

I love The Sopranos, but the bigger question in my mind about the future of HBO is replacing Chris Albrecht. Might there be a former NBC exec with a track record of innovative, original programming who happens to be in need of a job?

I'm on the fence.

Will probably keep it through the summer wasteland to see how John from Cincy and S 2 of Big Love grab me. While I enjoy Entourage, I could live without it.

And like most people here, I hardly ever watch movies anymore. I mean, if I wanted to the The Break Up, wouldn't I have done so by now through just about any other channel (DVD, on-demand, those old fashioned things called movie theaters?)....

Jim the First: I like your thinking re: Kevin Reilly. I think your niche strategy analysis is right, though I'm not sure it's for lack of trying for a monster hit. The niche audience was Showtime's strategy for a long time (to some extent still is) and it's not like HBO wants to be the next Showtime.

Jim the Second: I think that at this point it is possible to watch The Break Up at any given moment of the year, day or night, in English or en espanol.

I'm keeping it due to entourage, John Adams and Pacific.

I'm keeping HBO. While I am devastated that John from Cincinnati knocked Deadwood off a year early (and I'm not holding out much hope for the same quality in this new series), I enjoy Curb and The Wire. I am looking forward to Flight of the Conchords and the a few of the other series as well. HBO also does an outstanding job with their original movies, and draws from a very talented pool of creators and actors willing to experiment on pay cable.

I'm with Jim the First; let's bring a proven individual on board to develop some new series.

I will not be keeping HBO, I will have it removed after the last episode of the sopranos.

I will not waste my time looking at HBO with their new series. Shame the Soprano's had to end. HBO is getting too political as is Time Warner.
Too many anti government movies.

I will be dumping HBO for sure!!! I dumped HBO right after the first season 6 ended and got it back for .5 but know your history again. I love The Soprano's series and there is not another reason to keep HBO anymore and now since The Sopranos is on A&E now I don't need it for the reruns either. There are so many people out there that love the sopranos and to end it was not good. I am hungry for more, I want more, HBO please give me more and I will stay!! At the very least give us an HBO original movie for the sopranos.

Just cancelled since Sopranos is done. A big part of the decision is also because of HBO getting so plotically "left".
Sorry HBO-you've been whacked!

I canceled right after the Sopranos ended. I would have stayed with HBO, but since they have shown no indication that they intend on making those 2 Deadwood movies, I am gone. The Sopranos had to end sometime, but HBO's cancelation of Deadwood and Rome was a total disgrace.

Make those movies and I will come back, and give some of your other programs a chance.