I am thankful HBO gave the series the opportunity to exist period, but Carnivale compared to other HBO series is like comparing "The Godfather" to "Transformers".
shareYou are a fool. HBO is on another level compared to others. I feel pity you, if you feel that HBO hasn't had at least 10 of the best shows ever.
shareNobody even comes close to HBO, in terms of quality or quantity. Even the 'bad' shows they put out, aren't nearly as bad as 99.9% of everything else on television. Other networks have certainly stepped their game up, but still HBO sits on top.
Just this year, they have aired:
Girls
Enlightened
Game of Thrones
Vice
Veep
Family Tree
True Blood
The Newsroom
Real Time with Bill Maher
They've also aired some great original films (Mary & Martha, Phil Spector, and Behind the Candelabra), as well as the mini-series Parade's End, and a lot of high-quality original documentaries, and sports programming.
And that still leaves:
Boardwalk Empire
Eastbound & Down
Hello Ladies
Treme
...and whatever else they've got coming up.
The only network that's even close to HBO would be FX, if we're also including past programming. AMC has two of the greatest shows of all-time in Mad Men and Breaking Bad, but they've also got a bunch of *beep* reality programming, unnecessary talk shows, and a slew of mediocre to outright bad scripted content.
So yeah, this topic is a failure, as is anyone who shares the O.P.'s point-of-view. Get better taste. Or don't, and continue to enjoy Dexter, Ray Donovan, The Walking Dead, and other such nonsense.
Oh, and Carnivàle is amazing, so the O.P. got that right, at least. I wouldn't put it on that top tier of their programming, but it sits comfortably with a ton of other fantastic shows on the level right below that. Perhaps if it had been given a full run, it may have joined the likes of The Wire, The Sopranos, Deadwood, and Six Feet Under as one of the best shows of all-time, period. On the flip side, going by some recent articles I've read about what Knauf had planned for the future of the series, maybe it was best that it ended where it did. Hard to say.
In closing...
HBO > > FX > > > AMC > Showtime > > > > Starz = Cinemax
HBO has made some amazing shows, some of my favorite shows ever are from HBO:
HBO:
Carnivale
Game of Thrones
Deadwood
The Sopranos
Rome
True Blood
Tales from the Crypt
Other Networks:
Battlestar Galactica 2004
The X-Files
The Dead Zone
Breaking Bad
Jericho
Supernatural
Smallville
Heroes
The Walking Dead
The Twilight Zone
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Invasion
Roswell
The Vampire Diaries
Those shows above I could live the rest of my life just re watching them over and over and be very happy!
HBO Has given us some Great TV over the years,,I have not seen every show they have done,,like Deadwood,, Rome,,Carnivale.
But I have watched,
The Sopranos (LOVE)
Six feet under (really enjoyed)
True Blood (really enjoyed)
Tales from the crypt (really enjoyed)
Game of Thrones (really enjoy)
Band of Brothers (LOVED)---SHOCKED noone else has mentioned this show!!
(I'll grant you that it was a (mini) series but still)
But I have found that there are other channels that offer AMAZING TV as well.
AMC,, Have never seen Mad Men
But have watched,
Breaking Bad (LOVE)
The Walking Dead (LOVE)
ShowTime:
Weeds (really enjoyed)
Family Business (really enjoyed)
The Outer Limits (LOVED)
Starz:
Spartacus, Blood and Sand/Vengence/War of the Dammed.
Spartacus Gods of the Arena (Yes it is considered a separate) (mini) Series.
FX.. (for comedy)
Archer (LOVE)
Wilfred (Really enjoy)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (really enjoy)
These are just some of the offerings on other cable/premium cable networks.
There are too many other shows that are on the main TV networks to list.
To say That HBO Has most of the best shows ever made is just down right silly, While they have had some great shows, You can not compare them against every other show that has ever been made on all other networks combined.
There are soooo many different types of shows,
Comedies
Dramas
Crime Dramas
Sci-FY
Anthology shows ( The twilight Zone/The Outer Limits/Tales From The Crypt )
Documentary style shows (Autopsy Files) (True Crime)
Historical/period peace shows
Horror
HBO has given us some Great TV but you can not discount all that other networks have given us.
I just watched it again for god only knows how many times and it's still my favorite series. Heartbreaking given all the crap HBO has produced since then. Game of Thrones is good but under funded. In all honesty would HBO have lost money doing the remaining four seasons? I bought the first two and would happily buy every season. A moronic mistake that killed a classic.
shareI just watched it again for god only knows how many times and it's still my favorite series. Heartbreaking given all the crap HBO has produced since then. Game of Thrones is good but under funded. In all honesty would HBO have lost money doing the remaining four seasons? I bought the first two and would happily buy every season. A moronic mistake that killed a classic.
shareits crazy because nobody has mentioned Oz which was the first HBO tv drama and still one of the best.
shareHAHAHAHA, What are you high? HBO has produced the greatest shows of all time, I like Carnivale but it isn't even in their top 5, maybe not even their top 10.
Let's see:
The Wire
The Sopranos
Rome
Oz
Deadwood
Six Feet Under
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Band Of Brothers
Boardwalk Empire
And this is coming from someone who hasn't watched GOT so we'll just assume for sake of argument that GOT is on that list as well. Nope doesn't even crack the top 10. So I ask once again, are you high?
HBO has produced the greatest shows of all time, I like Carnivale but it isn't even in my top 5, maybe not even my top 10.Fixed it for you. share
Funny, but it's a fact, not an opinion that Carnivale isn't in the same league as Deadwood, Six feet Under, Curb your enthusiasm, Band of Brothers, and Boardwalk Empire. And THOSE shows aren't in the same league as Rome, The Wire, Oz and The Sopranos. To compare it to those 4 is essentially like saying Rocky V is comparable The Godfather.
shareWell it seems you hail from Boston, so naturally you think all your opinions are fact. Sorry to burst your bubble, but not everyone shares your opinion. Thanks for sharing it though.
shareWell put, Mofo. Incidentally, "Curb your Enthusiasm"? An outlier in that company to say the least. LOL
"...the dick swagger you roll with; I'd think you could spot crazy pussy". Rust
Lol, I do love Curb, to be honest.
I know that boston person thinks his opinions equal facts, but to say Carnivale isn't in the same league as Deadwood, and Six Feet Under isn't in the same league as The Sopranos? That's where the hogwash lies.
I enjoy all those shows, but Carnivale and Six Feet Under are two of my favorite shows of all time. I can't say the same about The Sopranos or Deadwood, though I can admit that I enjoyed them immensely.
Funny how you don't understand the fundamental difference between an opinion and a fact.
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