Roush on Dexter, Brotherhood and Meadowlands
Question: Why haven't I read anywhere that Showtime has far surpassed HBO as the best place for original drama? With
Dexter,
Brotherhood and now
Meadowlands, it far exceeds the pap that HBO is offering. Canceling
Deadwood for that insipid excuse of a drama
John from Cincinnati (he should go back, quickly!) was a huge letdown. And with the end of
The Sopranos and
Rome, the only show of quality is
The Wire. Have all the creative people left HBO and signed on with Showtime?
— Don J
Matt Roush: I'd beg to differ when it comes to the much improved
Big Love, the generally diverting
Entourage and a new season of
Curb Your Enthusiasm around the corner. HBO is far from a wasteland. But in terms of perception, it's true. Showtime has much better buzz, and at the moment, a more provocative and entertaining roster of shows (including the
Weeds-Californication combo later this month and a second season of
The Tudors next year as well). TV is often referred to as a cyclical business, but HBO (which bills itself as "not TV," sometimes to its detriment) has only now been forced to confront that reality. And it isn't pretty.
