Cool News
HBO's CARNIVALE and THE WIRE In Limbo!!
I am – Hercules!!
With HBO promos promising “the last two episodes” of “Carnivale,” we’ve been getting barraged with panicky emails asking if Ben Hawkins’ tale is really about to end for good.
Well, by coincidence I attended Wednesday’s sold-out festival-closing “Deadwood” event and HBO bigwig Carolyn Strauss was a surprise panelist. So after everybody took off their microphones, I asked her what the status was with “Carnivale” and “The Wire.”
The good news is, “Carnivale” and “The Wire” are not dead. The bad news? Neither are they yet renewed. Strauss confirms only that both remain in limbo.
Do we know when a decision will be made on either show? “I have no news,” were Strauss’ parting words.
Strauss did mention during the panel, however, that HBO starts televising its “Rome” series beginning in September. (“Deadwood” creator David Milch says that before he pitched “Deadwood” he coincidentally pitched HBO his own series set in ancient Rome. HBO liked his Rome pitch, but was already “waist-deep” in the “Rome” series when he brought it to the channel, so it went nowhere.)
Looking for bumper stickers, plush toys and girls’ underwear covered with cute cartoon double-amputees? Visit The Herc Store!
-
+ Expand All
-
Please save Carnivale and The Wire!!! They're so fantastic! Carnivale this year is my second favorite show after 24. It's really that good. They have really rewarded the people who have stuck with it since the beginning.
-
Obviously, Ben and Justin will meet for the first time before seasons end...but that will just be the beginning of the war. I doubt HBO will not renew it...if they don't, I will be sorely disappointed.
-
I seriously hope this is the final season for Carnivale. Loved season 1... but this season has just been "meh", all the mystery is gone. Rather see the story wrap, than get drug out for another 13 episodes. -Half
-
I thought the end of season 3 was a good ending for the series as a whole. Loved the show, but they already gave us a good sense of closure and I feel like the story has ended. I'd rather see the same people do a fresh new project.
-
So Carnivale is in Purgatory, CA? Is Arrested Development still on the bubble? Are you Joey watching knuckle-draggers going to smother Robot Chicken and the whole Adult Swim lineup, too? But it's not their fault, right? Low ratings mean the show just couldn't connect with an audience, probably due to questionable quality... Right? WRONG! Let me just say this, after losing Dead Like Me and Family Guy once already, I'm going door-to-door and if you're not watching / or tivo'ing Family Guy (reborn) come May -then the ORGY is coming. Me, you, Smith, Wessen, Heckler, Khoch, Jim Beam, Cloris Leachman, the soundtrack to Raw Deal, Pipe, Bomb, the guy that impersonated Michael Moore on Arrested Development... PREPARE.
-
that's right....i said motherfuck.....gotta agree that the shows would seem to be a little out of place if they come up with new seasons...where do they go from here....but still....motherfuck....cuase right now...if HBO is counting on future series to be UNscripted, Entourage, and (ugh) Family Bonds....they are in deep shit....what the fuck happened to the Baseball Wives show?....ahh well....we always have the new arliss, a.k.a ali g.....And thus, more soft core porn! - - - George, The 7th Chicken!!!!
-
Mar 17, 2005 5:29:02 AM CST
After Six Feet Under finishes its last season, what will HBO hav
by prof. pop-cult
And, sorry, but The Sopranos hasn't been cool for years now.
-
That the concept is cool but the execution isn't. Carnivale is bo-ring and creepy in a bad way. The Wire is disjointed and oddly filmed. Few will miss them when they're gone. It's not like Firefly, which was the best show ever on broadcast tv being cancelled by political issues. A stupid executive didn't understand it, so despite good ratings, it went.
Oh, and family guy isn't funny. Never has been. -
I believe Joey is on NBC. I don't think that show is "creepy-in-a-bad way," or "oddly filmed."
-
Stoopid, stoopid Grok. THE WIRE is the best thing on television, maybe in its entire history. (DEADWOOD this Sunday proved it may well be on track to come in a close second.) I'm so tired of having the dull, vapid, slack-jawed, illiterate multitudes determine what the rest of us get to watch... BECKER is on the air for like 9 years, but CARNIVALE might not get a third (short) season?! Morons. The world is full of morons. Grok take toys, go home.
-
If anything, Ben and Justin's stories should end this season. It'd be short and perfect. Maybe they can take the Carnivale into new storylines, but no point in stretching out what's been a great build up and conclusion with these two.
-
My understanding is that they basically had 2 full TV seasons mapped out before they even started filming. That's 4 HBO seasons, so while some of you mouthbreathers can't imaagine where else it could go, the people making the series have known all along where they wanted to take it. I just hope Carnivale doesn't end up like Twin Peaks.
-
ROME should be great!
Get the fucking LIONS!! -
Although I think that the 3rd season of The Wire reached a logical stopping point, it also did in its first two seasons. I think that's the strength of its strong writing. It has defined story arcs that are actually resolved (Soprano's? Hello?). It's one of the few shows where all the writers are on the same track. There aren't any subplots that are created for one episode then never mentioned again. At the same time, however, the character's are interesting enough where you still want to see what happens next. Although I want to see it come back, I'm concerned that HBO will tamper with the show to make it more commericial and lose what makes the show so good. The last thing I want to see is David Lee Roth and Lawrence Taylor playing poker.
www.theletterd.blogspot.com -
Mar 17, 2005 9:42:13 AM CST
It's the evolution of excellent shows.. they rock all then get o
by judge briggs
like hot girls... just can't date decent normal guys... have to go with the shit-bags.... so for shows, if the show is excellent, bet your behind it will not last or it will go into limbo.
-
not really tv and hbo, then this should not even be a question of renewal. it should already be done since they play by different rules.
-
Season 2 may have started out a bit slow but damn the last 8 episodes have rocked.. I would love another season of Carnivale but if it ends this year then lets hope the final 2 episodes are worthy of this great season.
-
Maybe it's just spin for the press, but I can't remember a show ever ending on HBO unless the creators said so. Maybe "Mind of the Married Man", but, seriously, they just don't seem to do that.
They always countdown to the end of the season like it's the end of the show, so I hadn't even thought about it with Carnivale. -
Hawkins failing to kill Brother Justin but escaping with the help of the sister. Then, next season will be Justin sending more mooks to track down Hawkins. I've had enough. You could drag this thing on forever. Besides, they're running out of disgusting things for people to do to each other.
From the promo I saw, Rome looks exactly like Deadwood. -
Yep, that's what they should do if HBO really cancels the show.
-
Well, first of all, to the poster who said that Carnivale was mapped out for two regular television seasons, you're wrong. Knauff (The creator) originally wrote it as just a movie. Then, when he decided to do it as a TV series, he wrote it as a miniseries. Then HBO became interested, so he stretched it into a two season arc. He has said the MOST the series could EVER go is three seasons, but that it might be stretched a bit. We'll see what happens. But as of now, I don't think it'd be horrible to have a nice, tight, 2 season series. As far as British series goe VS American series. WE both have it wrong. The Office runs 12 episodes and two specials and it's OVER??? Talk about an extreme! Then Frasier runs 11 years...why didn't it stop at 6. Maybe shows in France run the proper length. I duno, because here in the states and over abroad, I am still smarting that I only ever got to see 12 episodes of Spaced (As close to a live action Fmaily Guy with it's quick cut tangents as there ever was). Lastly, to the poster who said Carnivale was boring and creepy in a wrong way, it's ok to admit you don't get the show. It's alright. It takes work and a brain and commitment to uderstand it. When I was little, I thought Mozart and Beetheoven were boring. I just wasn't ready to handle them. Don't worry, you're like most of America, underdevloped. YOu'll probably never grow out of it, but don't hurt your brain trying to understand what I'm saying anyway.
-
I'd be really upset to see Carnivale end but at least rap up all the loose ends before ending it. I would be ok if it ends with everything wrapped up but I can't see how they'd do it in two shows. If it is canceled, at least give us a final movie.
-
I absolutely love Carnivale. I recently read a chat transcript with Daniel Knauf (creator of Carnivale) in which he said that he currently has the series mapped into 6 seasons - 3 "books" of 2 seasons each. He didn't elaborate and say if different "books" had different characters or were from different eras. I love Carnivale! Let it continue, but sheesh keep it On Demand so a new audience can find it. My girlfriend saw 10 minutes of the show last week and said "This show is interesting, I'd like to catch this from the beginning." Right now, the best a new audience can do is pay $50-$100 for the DVD set, which is ridiculous for 12 episodes. Put it On Demand!
-
Kudos as ever to HBO for giving these shows airtime. Carnivale is/was a terrific concept, with very interesting ideas and themes, but the sad fact is that despite the superb art direction and nice plot mechanics, the actual writing and the performances are extremely variable. Clancy Brown, Amy Madigan and Adrienne Barbeau are as compelling as Anderson and Stahl are woeful. Their exchanges are excruciating. Whoever said it was let down by the execution was dead on. I've stuck with it this season despite the over-reliance on visions, shock cuts and structural repetition (ooh, look, Ben's taking a trip to another place to get his ass whupped and learn something this week), and I want it to be OVER - bring on the Stephen King Stand-type climax mixed with the Trinity A-Bomb tests and Sophie killing her pappa to end it all. The Wire, on the other hand, is pure gold. Every superlative engendered by this show is wholly earned. There are plenty more stories here (Simon says he has Seasons 4 and 5 mapped out), but it did seem a natural finale when 3 ended.
-
I wouldnt be surprised they cancel carnivale, it just feels wierd watching it. To freaky, firs season was long and dull, but the second season has become active. I dont have patience to watch it. I noticed that when shows are on the premium channel justlike Dead Like Me they get carried away make the episodes long and dull.
-
...that Knauf RECENTLY said that Carnivale is built for six seasons- with three two season "books"... And Simon already has arcs for two more Wire seasons thought out- with a fourth season dealing with the school system... I LOVE both these shows- however it would perhaps be more of a pity for the Wire to not come back- it has consistently been the smartest and best television ever and is critically acclaimed all over- I predict HBO will pick it back up because I think the emmys CAN'T deny it its due once again- the outcry last time was huge- and if it is lauded by the emmy's HBO will look all the stronger for continuing to stick with it- also these Nielson ratings don't work for HBO- anyone who misses the initial show can catch it the next night on HBO 2- then there's HBO on Demand and DVD sales which have been strong for the Wire and Carnivale- Carnivale may prove too expensive to produce though in the long run- you know what Carnivale needs? some star directors for a few episodes- imagine Tarantino and Lynch directing episodes! Rodrigo Garcia is incredible- but in my opinion some of the other directors aren't up to snuff with the material... HBO if you bring these shows back I'll be your bitch for life!!!
-
They should do something about Brother Justin. He started out as a conflicted, multi-faceted character but now he's just a cardboard 100 percent evil villain. Also Hawkins should take a bath now and then.
-
If I have to lose one of these shows bye bye to the wire..Carnivale is unlike any other show on TV right now..the wire is just another cop drama show , sure its well done but I am sure with the shield back we can do without the wire :)
-
Whats' with this we shit? Speak for yourself man/woman/it. The Wire is the best show on the boob tube nowadays. RECOGNIZE!!!
-
I was so hoping it would be cancelled. Now it is time for HBO to renew Carnivale.
-
I tried both the Sopranos and Deadwood. I couldn't get into them. I dont' mean I gave them an episode then said "Nah..." either. I gave them a real try. Deadwood put me to sleep, and it's the one of those two I liked the most. Sopranos just wasn't interesting at all to me. *shrug* I'm not into that sort of genre. The Wire? Heard of it, not watched it. Not going to either. There are way too many cop shows and law shows on the tube now. I've gotten to where I try to avoid them. I watch very few things that would fall even close to that category. Carnivale has interested me since the first episodes cuz I could see the potential of where I *thought* the story would go. It has far exceeded my expectations or hopes. I have gotten to where I care what happens to a majority of the characters. I fear for many of them and what "the end" may mean for them, should the story be allowed to get a proper ending. I want to see what they do with Sophie. I want to see if Iris lives through any success or failure of whatever plot she has brewing. I want to see if Ben's salvation of Jonesy has any positive impact on his life and the life of his new wife in regard to Ben's quest(s). I want to see if there is more to Lodz that simply possessing Ruthie. I feel so sorry for Ruthie. I almost feel sorry for Lila, but she just rubs me wrong. Yes, I agree that Bro Justin has been somewhat bland of late, if you can call anything he does bland. Whew that man! Loving the Clancy Brown, I have to say. When he got up in the face of that man helping him facility the passing of the powers, all pissed off but saying not a single word nor making a sound, it gave me a pleasant little shiver. Well, I THINK it was pleasant. I don't know if I'd want him to get up in my face like that or not. I'm torn on that one. I sure wouldn't want him pissed at me, but Yeowie! Needless to say, as I think you can all see... I don't want Carnivale to go yet. I DO want at least one more season. I don't know that they can wrap it in two more episodes. If they can, fine. If there are supposed to be FOUR more seasons... o geez! I won't get my hopes up, but if they came out on DVD, I'd see 'em. You can take that to the bank and cash it, bubba! Carnivale is the only reason I still have HBO. It goes, I'm dropping it. For budget reasons I had to choose between HoBO and Showtime - and because of Carnivale ALONE I chose HBO. It was a no brainer. It goes, I'm jumpin' ship.
-
...IS one of the best shows on television. Here is hoping that both are renewed, especially since Six Feet Under sucks hard.
-
I don't have cable so I had to go rent the whole season, which was cool 'cause I got to see it all in about a week. Why did they only put 2 eps on a disk? I spent about $18 to rent all six disks over a period of a few weeks (incl. waiting for those taken out to be brought back so I could see 'em in order.) They could easily have put 3 or even 4 eps on a disk. Woulda been better for collectors too, having less bulk to fill up shelf space.
-
You can breathe easy now , the wire is coming back..you still have something to occupy you on those long lonely nites..
-
I forget where I read it, but Carnivale was always planned to be a 3 season series. Basically it's the whole 3-act story structure spread across 3 seasons and I think that tactic works wonderfully. HOWEVER, HBO had better not fuck up by leaving us hanging with only 2/3 of a story. Carnivale is the best fucking show on TV right now and deserves better. Furthermore, its the ONLY reason I subscribed to HBO after Netflixing season 1 a couple months ago - just in time for the start of season 2. If they cancel the show, the fuckers are also canceling my very short-lived subscription. As much as I also like Deadwood, it can't hold a candel to the awesomeness of Carnivale. When it comes to Deadwood, I can live with poor-quality torrent downloads. I'm paying HBO for Carnivale, and Deadwood is a nifty bonus.
-
The Wire is just the best show on Television. Hands down. Every season has been different than the rest and the ideas floated for the 4th about the school system are equally as ambitious.
It was floated in a chat that Carnivale would explore Europe in season 3 - continuing "the war" with other combatants. After all, Hitler is just starting to awaken in the current timeline.
-
Mar 17, 2005 9:52:29 PM CST
It was meant to go 3 seasons-- Daniel Knauf said so during the c
by vatoloco
!!!!!!!
-
Mar 18, 2005 12:31:15 AM CST
Yeah, I can't help but feel that Deadwood is just a big put on.
by cookylamoo
An excuse to be dirty, disgusting and foul for an hour each week. Can't wait for Rome. Et Tu, Cocksucker.
-
The First Season of Deadwood was a Cinematic Masterpiece.
-
Foooooools, I say!
-
Seems like somewhere Knauf said there could possibly be a series set BEFORE the main events of Carnivale: the whole backstory of Scudder and Lodz running around Europe, Belyakov's first searching out Scudder and buying the carnival, Justin's early years etc. I guess. Hope that HBO renews it so that it goes the distance: I haven't seen a building of mythology this gripping on tv since Babylon 5, or the first Lonesome Dove miniseries.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 273 total posts 271 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 92 total posts 92 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 69 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 151 total posts 63 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 67 total posts 59 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 60 total posts 57 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 484 total posts 49 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 69 total posts 42 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 120 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 183 total posts 24 posts