tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post3995649811846995925..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Top 10 HBO ShowsAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-18583549894193994382015-06-15T18:13:39.312-04:002015-06-15T18:13:39.312-04:00Hey Dan, good to hear from you. I'm a little c...Hey Dan, good to hear from you. I'm a little confused by your "sum of its parts" comment though. The intention of this list was to showcase the best shows that have already gone through their entire run. I 100% agree with you that most TV shows peak, then are followed by a few weak or bad seasons. The Sopranos is one. Last season is good, but some of the latter seasons weren't nearly as compelling as the earlier ones.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6714811096590849332015-06-14T13:37:57.109-04:002015-06-14T13:37:57.109-04:00Hey Alex! I actually just recently finished the fi...Hey Alex! I actually just recently finished the first season of The Sopranos, which I absolutely loved! I honestly think that it may be the greatest first season of television ever. <br /><br />However, I have to disagree with your notion of television where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The prime example of this being The Simpsons. I honestly believe that if Fox would have ended The Simpsons after season 8, people would look back on it as the perfect TV show. There's plenty of good/great stuff after season 8 (as well as a TON of bad stuff) but those first 8 seasons are enough to solidify it as the greatest TV show of the 20th century.<br /><br />Also, I haven't gotten around to Twin Peaks yet, but I've been consistently told that despite how much it goes downhill; the first season and a half are enough for fans to label it as one of the greatest television programs ever. <br /><br />-Dan Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-42573264709647105182014-04-09T14:55:44.449-04:002014-04-09T14:55:44.449-04:00Sorry you had to post your comment twice! I have i...Sorry you had to post your comment twice! I have it set so that I have to approve comments on posts more than 15 days old, as a way of measuring spam. But yeah, isn't Omar great? He's the highlight of the whole show for me. So glad you're liking the show!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-14465461216638057772014-04-09T14:54:37.725-04:002014-04-09T14:54:37.725-04:00Thanks! Wasn't that Stringer scene just insane...Thanks! Wasn't that Stringer scene just insane?! That's when you know that NOTHING is sacred on the show, which I love.<br /><br />The Emmys... oh, screw 'em. The way a network submits a show for awards is very obscure: the entire show is not judge, only whatever 3-4 episodes are submitted for competition. The Wire is not a show that can be coherently viewed out of context, so offering 4 episodes from, say, Season 1, won't make sense to the Emmy voting committee. I agree, a damn shame. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-40278665186780779802014-04-09T04:30:30.091-04:002014-04-09T04:30:30.091-04:00Great list! I have just finished watching seasons ...Great list! I have just finished watching seasons 2 & 3 of The Wire. OMG, Stringer's final scene is so chilling. I can't get it out of my head. Also, Omar is my favourite character. What a badass. I just found out that The Wire has never been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys (or in fact, any other category apart from writing, I believe). WHAT?! Well, at least The Sopranos have won it twice.Aditya Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-70602100268324057242014-04-08T12:51:06.974-04:002014-04-08T12:51:06.974-04:00Great list! I just finished seasons 2 ad 3 of The ...Great list! I just finished seasons 2 ad 3 of The Wire, and I cannot get Stringer's final scene out of my head. So chilling. I also found out that The Wire has never been nominated for Best Drama Series at the Emmys. For shame.Aditya Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-77978829800096675962013-10-27T14:43:17.800-04:002013-10-27T14:43:17.800-04:00I would love to hear his take on the show. When I ...I would love to hear his take on the show. When I covered the police beat in college, every cop I spoke to said the only accurate depiction of police work ever filmed was The Wire. <br /><br />Oz is so intense. Totally understand how you may not like that one.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-55649659229755217562013-10-27T00:20:08.518-04:002013-10-27T00:20:08.518-04:00Ah ... The Wire. That's a great show. I'm ...Ah ... The Wire. That's a great show. I'm still trying to talk my husband into seeing the first season with me. We all HATE watching police shows with him, because he's been a cop forever and he distracts everybody from the show by tearing apart the way police procedure is portrayed. It seriously pisses him off that they hardly ever get that shit right. So I am curious about his take on The Wire. I tried several episodes of Oz, but it wasn't my cup of tea.momof3feistykidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15622239947336967007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-39568848170361239492013-10-21T21:20:57.324-04:002013-10-21T21:20:57.324-04:00Sex and the City was too good for this list. It wo...Sex and the City was too good for this list. It wouldn't have been fair for the other HBO shows if I included it. Ha.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-61291819747555604632013-10-21T21:20:08.251-04:002013-10-21T21:20:08.251-04:00Wow man, that's some high praise right there. ...Wow man, that's some high praise right there. As soon as some time frees up for me, I'm going to check it out. Thanks for coming back and posting the link.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-67425213176872689682013-10-21T15:44:10.203-04:002013-10-21T15:44:10.203-04:00Here is my spoiler-free intro of the first season ...Here is my spoiler-free intro of the first season and book to give you an idea of why I like it and whether you might as well: http://tipsfromchip.blogspot.com/2011/08/tv-and-book-game-of-thrones.htmlChip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-21437021910199360932013-10-21T15:23:52.230-04:002013-10-21T15:23:52.230-04:00What, no Sex and the City? :)
I have only seen fo...What, no Sex and the City? :)<br /><br />I have only seen four of these, but yeah, The Wire and The Sopranos are pretty much the best TV shows out there, HBO or otherwise. Glad you included Six Feet Under, too, which seems to get overlooked more often than not.Eric @ The Warning Signhttp://twscritic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-84498772585566281792013-10-21T13:07:36.118-04:002013-10-21T13:07:36.118-04:00Some quality stuff here, no doubt. The Wire is as ...Some quality stuff here, no doubt. The Wire is as good as I'm sure you've heard. Perfection.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-73718180117850347322013-10-21T13:07:12.420-04:002013-10-21T13:07:12.420-04:00I wasn't including shows currently on the air,...I wasn't including shows currently on the air, so GoT wasn't considered. Glad you're a fan of Six Feet Under and The Wire!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-81542621632922462522013-10-21T13:06:37.746-04:002013-10-21T13:06:37.746-04:00The Wire and Deadwood are brilliant, for sure. GoT...The Wire and Deadwood are brilliant, for sure. GoT is the only TV I wish I <i>was</i> watching. I need to get on that ASAP!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-13967773908833200822013-10-21T13:05:57.054-04:002013-10-21T13:05:57.054-04:00I need to dive into GoT soon. I've never seen ...I need to dive into GoT soon. I've never seen an episode of it, but everyone I trust says I'd love it. It's definitely time to take the plunge.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-3228347400351525362013-10-21T13:04:53.766-04:002013-10-21T13:04:53.766-04:00I've heard nothing but good things about Big L...I've heard nothing but good things about Big Love and Carnivale. Sadly, I've never seen an episode of either!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-66685893069532369152013-10-21T13:04:26.133-04:002013-10-21T13:04:26.133-04:00The Shield is my third favorite show of all time, ...The Shield is my third favorite show of all time, behind The Wire and The Sopranos. So I highly recommend that one. A fantastic and gritty cop thriller.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-55326275221802108372013-10-21T13:03:46.667-04:002013-10-21T13:03:46.667-04:00I wasn't including shows currently on the air,...I wasn't including shows currently on the air, or else Veep would've made the cut, for sure. Haven't seen GoT yet. Waiting to take the plunge.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-71609681894174769672013-10-21T13:02:59.999-04:002013-10-21T13:02:59.999-04:00Thanks man! I LOVE that Aldrin episode. Buzz tries...Thanks man! I LOVE that Aldrin episode. Buzz tries to go with it best he can, but wow... hilarious. I also love the Donald Trump interview. Cohen really created something revelatory there.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-35654577821611454222013-10-21T13:01:55.057-04:002013-10-21T13:01:55.057-04:00The Wire and The Sopranos are both perfect. It'...The Wire and The Sopranos are both perfect. It'll take you a while to get through them, but oh so very worth it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-18909614684439702102013-10-21T13:01:21.564-04:002013-10-21T13:01:21.564-04:00You're certainly not going to hear me argue ab...You're certainly not going to hear me argue about you choosing The Sopranos over The Wire. Both are flawless shows that I absolutely adore. I often wonder if TV will ever do better than those two shows.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-76422350435405223862013-10-21T12:59:52.953-04:002013-10-21T12:59:52.953-04:00Great list. I'd love to hear your thoughts on ...Great list. I'd love to hear your thoughts on The Wire. I think you'd really love it. Boardwalk is fantastic, but I hope it doesn't drag on for too many seasons. Still, I'm sure they'll end it just right.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-14161837546657795562013-10-21T12:58:52.918-04:002013-10-21T12:58:52.918-04:00You know, I never finished Rome, even though it...You know, I never finished Rome, even though it's only two seasons. And although I appreciated what I saw, it was never fully my thing, if that makes sense.<br /><br />So glad to hear the K Street praise. I think we're 2 of 14 people who have actually seen that show.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-17028884791409873442013-10-21T12:57:30.031-04:002013-10-21T12:57:30.031-04:00So glad you pushed me to watch Luck. They could...So glad you pushed me to watch Luck. They could've kept that one going for a great long while. Damn fine show.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.com