One more note on the demise ...
Question: One more note on the demise of
Deadwood: The difference between HBO canceling these shows before their conclusion versus regular television networks canceling shows is roughly analogous to the difference between a movie theater shutting off the projector two-thirds of the way through the film because the bosses want to save money on their electric bill versus a theatre company canceling a free performance of
Shakespeare in the park because not enough people show up. With the free Shakespeare performance, it might make me sad that I wouldn't get to see the full show, but, hey, I wasn't paying for it anyway. But with the movie theatre, I'd be completely outraged — wouldn't you? — because I'd paid for a specific service. I can't imagine going back to a theater that would treat its customers like that — and if they did it twice in a row? Forget about it! Sorry about going on and on about this HBO deal, Matt, but having been burned twice, with
Carnivale and now
Deadwood, a lot of us are really upset!
Answer: Having watched the first month's worth of episodes for
Deadwood's third season, I'm more puzzled than ever that HBO is calling it quits for this magnificent series. But having watched one of the extra features on the second-season DVD, revealing the bizarre process of how
David Milch actually supervises the writing of the show (making it up on the spot, it often appears), I also understand that if Milch is developing a new project, HBO was right in realizing that
Deadwood couldn't continue as is without him. And not being an expert on contracts, budgets and other money matters, I can only imagine how costly it would be to keep this cast and crew, etc., on contract waiting for Milch to be free. (The real question is why HBO couldn't wait to start the new Milch venture until after the fourth season of
Deadwood was completed.) I'm not making apologies for HBO, but I do think it's wise to approach the new season of
Deadwood by appreciating and celebrating its unique qualities, not bemoaning the fact that it won't be continuing for that fourth season so many fans were counting on. No show, not even on HBO, lasts forever. And not even a pay service like HBO is immune from having to make unpopular (and at times mystifying) programming and business decisions.
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