Which HBO series do you recommend?
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Topic: Which HBO series do you recommend?
Posted By: fuxi
Subject: Which HBO series do you recommend?
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 14:21
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Hi everyone,
I'm quite a big fan of SIX FEET UNDER, which I bought on DVD last year (all five seasons) and which I'm now enjoying for the second time. I know the whole show gets a bit repetitive and soap-like in the third-fourth season, but I still think it's one of the most gripping and intensive TV dramas ever. I especially like the fact that it goes straight for the jugular, hitting you with a subject (the death of your loved ones, and your own impending death) which television usually treats in a far more sentimental or melodramatic fashion. Now I notice there are quite a lot of acclaimed HBO shows (e.g. The Sopranos, The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing etc.) but I never really watched any of them systematically when they were on TV here in Britain. Which of these would you recommend, and why? Of course it doesn't necessarily have to have a morbid theme. If it deals with serious subjects (in a comic or a serious fashion), if the acting's great and if there's plenty of excitement I'll be happy! P.S. If it's any help, I also enjoy TWIN PEAKS and most of the films by Bunuel, Fellini and Almodovar... |
Replies:
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 14:37
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Curb Your Enthusiasm is good if you like slow paced, extremely dry humor. I liked the jokes, but there weren't enough of them to sustain my interest. It's sort of like watching an episode of Seinfeld if the characters in Seinfeld were more like real people instead of brilliantly witty TV characters. And of course President Obama loves The Wire. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 14:39
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Summer Heights High, Curb, Entourage, True Blood- to name a few
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Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 14:46
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See my avatar. Deadwood. The cussing in it would make Tony Soprano blush. But that isn't why it is good. Great acting. Great stories. Ian McShane is outstanding. Another one I really loved was Rome. Both of these bump their heads against downright barbarism at times, but the themes and acting are just first rate. I guess HBO does period pieces that are out of this world. ------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 15:06
| Oh, I know Summer Heights High, thanks to my daughters! That's Australian, though. Didn't know it was shown on HBO in the States. Great show! |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 15:11
| Yeah, I've enjoyed Six Feet Under, Deadwood, Rome, Sex And The City, Sopranos too. I'll have to get back later on why I liked each of these. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 15:24
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Real Sex, Cathouse, Pornucopia...
------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: moreitsythanyou
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 15:53
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Mr. Show is one of the best sketch comedy shows ever, highly recommended. Curb Your Enthusiasm is great as well.
-------------  <font color=white>butts, lol[/COLOR] |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 18:20
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True Blood and Hung are pretty good in terms of modern shows. The only really good ones on the station right now, in my honest opinion. If you're looking to invest in an older show that has already been through its full run, then I echo the others in recommending Deadwood and The Sopranos. Great stuff. |
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 18:43
Curb Your Enthusiasm is probably my favorite comedy show at the moment. Larry David can say a joke that hits me where no other comedian can. 
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Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 03:23
Thanks for your recommendations; I'll look into all the series mentioned! (In all honesty, I have seen a few episodes of ROME, and that wasn't really my thang.  Charming actors, though.)
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Posted By: ColonelClaypool
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 08:50
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My personal favourite HBO show is The Wire, absolutely fantastic. A HBO show that hasn't been mentioned yet is Band of Brothers. If you haven't seen it, go out and buy it today. It's that good. ------------- With magic, you can turn a frog into a prince. With science, you can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 08:52
Well Rome got f**ked halfway through its run. Actors were re-cast and budgets were cut. Very strange, really. kindof took people out of the experience. |
fuxi wrote:Posted By: Badabing666
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 09:16
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I'm a huge fan of The Sopranos, The Wire and Curb Your Enthusiasm. At the risk of deviating from your request for another HBO recommendation you might want to check out Dexter whose lead actor Michael C Hall was also in SFU but Dexter is a very different role. Not HBO but a quality series nonetheless. |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 09:32
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Yes, Band of Brothers is essential. More of a miniseries so it slipped my mind. They have replayed it on the History Channel and I think Spike TV is about to run it but you have to see it uncut.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 09:33
Yeah, Showtime has better shows these days on the whole. United States of Tara is also a very interesting non-HBO show. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 10:10
Hmm, the only recasting I noticed was Augustus which made sense as the character got older. The funny thing about that series was all the actors had a British accent. Shouldn't they have had Italian ones?  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 11:59
| Curb your Enthusiasm is my fave of those I've seen. I've four series on DVD. My kind of humour; dry and cringeworthy. |
Posted By: Hexenmeister
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 13:46
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It's probably just easier to name which HBO series aren't good. That list is much shorter. Personally, I thought John from Cincinnati (or whatever it's called) was horrible. I can't wait for the new series based on A Game of Thrones.  ------------- Check out my podcast on iTunes: Temple of Snakes Metal Podcast http://templeofsnakes.blogspot.com - templeofsnakes.blogspot.com |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 14:42
Yes, I too am excited for that! Rumour has it J.J. Abrahms will be developing a series based on Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" as well in the coming years. It's a good decade for fantasy. |
Posted By: Matthew T
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 14:51
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They have done some great shows. Sopranos,Deadwood,Six Feet Under, Rome and Carnivale.
I will say Carnivale and Rome the 1st Seasons are the best. The 2nd seasons things kinda lose their way. Carnivale I loved. Really different. ------------- Matt |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 00:12
Ohhhhh.....haven't heard about that.
 The Dark Tower is incredible but there is a ton of material there,it would be really easy to screw it up. -------------  |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 00:13
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Everyone here has named some great HBO series but I am surprised that no one has mentioned OZ,I was seriously hooked on that show for years. ------------- |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 00:18
No, I agree, but I think the writer involved in the project is the one who adapted Watchmen, so it's in good hands if that is the case. |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 00:19
Absolutely.  I also highly enjoyed the first season of Eastbound & Down, hopefully the second one won't suck. ------------- 
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 02:13
Absolutely - excellent piece of work ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 02:15
Cautious for that one from me too - loved the books, but there is just so much detail in those 5 books it would be easy to really screw it up.
Here's hoping for a good adaptation  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 15:46
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Five Books? Did you crap out before the end, Jim? I am on book 5 now and have a long way to go to get through all 7. Another clappie  for Oz. That was outstanding as well.------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 15:48
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Another one I liked that only lasted one season was Mind of a Married Man. If you are a married guy, it was pretty entertaining.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 15:58
| I guess not technically a series, but I always enjoy Real Time With Bill Maher. |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 16:22
1 Carnivale. A masterpiece. A complex piece of art. With your preferences this is the safest bet. 2 Deadwood and The Wire ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 16:27
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Summer Heights is fantastic!
Also, I never watched Enthusiasm but I have a friend which is partially emo and the only shows he watches are Seinfeld and Enthusiasm, so I say go for that one. ------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 16:31
There's 7 of them my friend.
 Haven't the last 2 been released in Britain yet?  ------------- |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 20:50
Personally, I think the ending of the seventh book should be changed a little bit. Not too sure a film/television audience would be okay with the final battle of the entire series ending with a senial old man screaming "EEEEEEEEE!" while throwing Harry Potter snitches at a selfish knight and supernatural artist with a notepad.  |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 09:09
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^Thanks, man. Please note a spoiler alert before saying anything.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 09:19
Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry feeds my misanthropic tendencies beautifully.
 ------------- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sQD8uhpWXCw" rel="nofollow - It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...Road Rage Edition |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 10:13
Oh Cock! Sorry - 7 books in all... I meant to say 7 books!!!  - Even more to be left out of the TV series then -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 11:52
Does that mean what I think it does or do I just have a dirty mind? ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 12:46
He didn't spoil anything,that's not how the 7th book ends.
I loved the end of the series though,it was a very Stephen King ending. ------------- |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 12:58
I've read many Stephen King novels, and I notice the various "cameos" from The Dark Tower Series, but I just can't bring myself to investing that much time into such a lengthy series. I think many of King's novels (however good or bad) tend to run unnecessarily long, although as a writer myself, I find immense inspiration in his blunt style. So is it really worth getting into (for someone who does like King, but occasionally has to struggle to get through his longer works)? ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: theteaclub_dan
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 21:27
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Flight of the Conchords!!!
But I think it's officially over now... 
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 22:42
Well, Rob, you may be interested in knowing that I am NOT a Stephen King reader at all, yet his Dark Tower series is the best modern Fantasy tale I have ever read. It is nothing like his other works, and honestly, his best work, considered by many. I think it is worth investing in if you like an odd mixture of Fantasy, Western, and modern-day Thrillers. It's all there. Just don't judge the series by the first book-- it sucks. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 22:44
Exactly; thank you, man. Yeah, the real ending was absolute genius. Truly something special. |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 13:42
I figured as much. It is such an unending slog that when I do get through it, it better be good. I never have time to read so taking this on was probably pretty dumb. But I will see it through to the end. ------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 15:01
I don't think you'll be dissapointed. I sure loved it, anyway. |
Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 16:12
| Curb Your Enthusiasm used to be my favorite, but Entourage surpasses it on every level in my opinion. You will not regret checking out Entourage |
Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: July 27 2009 at 22:26
| I don't know which cable station it was on but I liked both seasons of "Dead Like Me". I have season one and two on DVD with a total of twenty-nine episodes. |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 01:56
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The Sopranos... Easily the best TV show IMO. ------------- 
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Posted By: Greg W
Date Posted: July 29 2009 at 20:45
| I guess True Blood, even though I have some problems with that show. Still, a weak bunch of shows IMO. I absolutely hated the Sopranos(what can I say...I detest mafia movies, shows,etc) Showtime has the shows for me. I am absolutely addicted to Dexter. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: December 29 2009 at 05:41
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Thanks again, everyone! Santa brought me CARNIVALE, and I have bought complete sets of DEADWOOD and the SOPRANOS, all of which should get me through 2010 quite nicely! And may the others follow...
P.S. I've found out THE WEST WING (which I mentioned in my original post) was not a HBO series. Are there any fans here of that particular show? |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: December 29 2009 at 05:53
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1. The Sopranos (Have series boxset)
2. Rome (Have season 1 and 2) 3. True Blood (Have season 1) ^I'm a slight fan of the West Wing, although I've only watched it a handful of times when my parents watch it. I'll pick it up some day, my parents have the boxset. From what I remember it was fantastically written and acted. -------------
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Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: December 30 2009 at 14:17
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I know it's not an HBO series but you seriously need to check out Dexter on Showtime.
Best show on tv in my opinion. ------------- |
Posted By: Marty McFly
Date Posted: December 30 2009 at 14:47
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Get entire dvd collection of The Sopranos, because the story is important here. That's my suggestion. ------------- There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless," -Andyman1125 on Lulu  Even my |
Posted By: mrcozdude
Date Posted: December 30 2009 at 14:56
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Band of brothers. Perhaps the best program ever on television. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/cozfunkel/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: December 31 2009 at 01:17
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I finally actually watched The Wire, and it's a little rough in the first season, but it really picks up to become awesome in season 2. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: December 31 2009 at 17:43
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True Blood - the best thing on TV last year (2009). Headlined with a Kiwi actress (Anna Paquin) who has won a Golden Globe for her part in the series.
Also recommended, Flight of The Concords; Summer Heights High; The United States of Tara; Rome (1st season); The Sopranos. ------------- 
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: moe_blunts
Date Posted: December 31 2009 at 18:07
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I'm an HBO whore. The Wire is the best show ever made. Deadwood is perfect. Rome is the most expensive and totally amazing. The Sopranos, of course. Carnivale is strange and has a neat story. Six Feet Under might be my favorite show of all time, even though The Wire is better. John from Cincinnati might be the weirdest show ever made. GOOD STUFF!!! Hung is really good and I can't wait for the second season. Entourage's first 4 or 5 seasons were unbelievably good. Extras is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. Curb is well known and damn funny. Lucky Louie is incredibly irreverent and stars two of the funniest people on the planet. (louis ck and jim norton). Have your pick. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/moe_blunts/?chartstyle=minimalDarkRecent"> 
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Posted By: manofmystery
Date Posted: January 01 2010 at 00:34
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Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t on Showtime -------------  Time always wins. |
Posted By: manofmystery
Date Posted: January 01 2010 at 00:36
and this ------------- Time always wins. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: January 01 2010 at 06:25
What??? No Sex And The City??? Some HBO whore you are. My wife and I watched that regularly when we were dating (she's from New York). Rome The Sopranos Six Feet Under Deadwood Not a drama series but, Real Time With Bill Maher Now put down the HBO and go watch you some prog. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: moe_blunts
Date Posted: January 01 2010 at 20:52
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Real Time is my favorite current show on HBO. However, it's not really a "series" or something you'd go out and buy on DVD because it deals with current events. Bill Maher is a great interviewer, albeit quite an a****le. I remember this one time he was interviewing some ex-soldier from Iraq who experiencing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. Bill asked him questions he was a little uneasy about answering, and then Mr. Maher commented on how much his hands were shaking. LOL. He also gets on people who beat around the bush. "That's nice.... but you didn't really answer my question." Also, Sex in the City is gay. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/moe_blunts/?chartstyle=minimalDarkRecent">
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 17:01
------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 17:31
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No. Because the show sucks and I dislike Sarah Jessica Parker a lot.
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