TVSquad

A few questions...

Is Bullshit even coming back? They have been running out of ideas.

And The 4400 had good ratings? I thought the ratings were dropping.

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I have thought Showtime has better original shows than HBO for a couple years now. I loved Carnivale and I was so sad to see it go. That was the beginning of the end in my opinion. At that time everyone knew The Sopranos was wrapping up and Sex and the City was on it's way out (not my kind of show).
There's nothing else like Dexter on TV. He's such an anti-hero, but you pull for him like he's a good guy.
Dexter = Best show on TV

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I'd like to mention that for the last couple of years, Showtime has had the shows with the best *writing* when compared to HBO. If you looked at the storylines of Weeds, Brotherhood or Dexter, you'd see shows that were original, clever and very well-written.

What exactly did HBO have to offer up as a challenge (excluding The Wire, which is very well-written but not on for two seasons at a time)? They offered "John From Cincinnati," "The Sopranos," "Big Love," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Entourage." People argue over whether Curb is a great show or not, and I actually liked Big Love. But The Sopranos lacked any quality writing since the third season (yes, I stand by that claim) and Entourage is simply pretentious and in love with itself.

John From Cincinnati brought HBO's hubris crashing down. and now they are scrambling against Showtime.

Five years ago, if you'd claimed that Showtime would offer better original programming than HBO... you'd probably be laughed at. I'm glad to see that Showtime came through against the big dog, and I'm hoping they don't get too full of themselves like HBO did.

Meanwhile, all I want for Christmas is Dexter season 3 early in 2008. Or as soon as they can.

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The Bad Kharma HBO has gotten for cancelling Deadwood because it cost too much and giving us crap like John from Cincinnati in it's place has now taken ity's toll on this network. Showtime has Weeds, Dexter, and Californication and many other very fine series. Those shows are in their prime. HBO is in trouble. Only Big Love is really in it's prime. The Wire, Curb are very near the end and Entourage is a bit past it's prime. Yeah, HBO is in trouble. Showtime is the better of the 2 networks right now.

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Dexter deserves the ratings. It's awesome.

I wouldn't count out HBO just yet. In Treatment will hit next month and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason of Designing Women fame has a new comedy series (12 Miles of Bad Road I think it's called?) that should debut, strike permitting, later next year.

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Yes, HBO is in trouble. Yet, in its defense, Showtime aren't in that much a different position HBO was when it was at its peak. The great shows on Showtime like "Dexter", "Brotherhood", "The Tudors" are only on thier second, or heading into thier third season. So they are fairly new. They are where HBO were around 2000, "the Sopranos" was a hit and going into its second season. "Six Feet Under" had its first season. So, HBO now has classic shows, that people will rediscover for years to come. Showtime needs to prove thier longevity with these shows, let's see if Showtime gives "Dexter" or "Brotherhood" a five year run. That has yet to be seen.

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I made the mistake and rented the first season...now I am hooked. I almost got cable again just to see the new season. I always thought HBO had the lock on good series and Showtime needed to catch up. The Tables have turned!

Rob
HTTP://www.movie-cat.com

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I will promise you that Showtime will give Dexter 5 seasons unless the actor dies or somethnig inasne like that happens.

Your point Midnight is kind of... disproving itself. Showtime's shows are in their prime now, and that's a bad thing how? How exactly is HBO making money from their old shows? It's not from the fees, it's only DVD sales that finally dropped. Showtime is making good money now, and is giving their newer shows more seasons than anything on HBO in the last 5 years.

So like you said, HBO is the past, and Showtime is the future.

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Glad to see I'm not alone in thinking HBO has lost its way....Friends have made the switch to Showtime and have been telling me about Dexter, Weeds and other good Showtime original series for a while.

I admit I'm still pissed over Deadwood and Rome but with the final season of The Wire no need to hang around and pay for HBO.

Here I come Showtime.

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Do you think they will rerun Dexter the second season for us who missed it, but just discovered Dexter season one on DVD and are addicted now!

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