Dear HBO,

Deadwood is my favorite show. Ever. Period. I like it even more than Kung Fu, 24 or The Sopranos. It's smart. Realistic. The production values are top notch and the music: outstanding.

I'm disappointed that this extremely intelligent, well-and-lyrically-written show is cancelled. It's a shame that smart television cannot even be appreciated on the premium network channels anymore.

Sorely disappointed,
Samantha Stark

Dear HBO,

I can understand shows coming to a natural conclusion (Sopranos, Sex and the City). However, The Comeback (the smartest and most painfully funny comedy, second only to Arrested Development) and Deadwood (a show written with Shakespearean lyricism) were the only reasons why I was keeping my HBO subscription. But seeing as how they're both cancelled, well, I guess I have no other recourse to protest other than to cancel my subscription with HBO.

Sincerely disappointed,
Samantha Stark

Labels: television

at June 15, 2006 6:33 PM  Unknown Screenwriter said...

While I agree that DEADWOOD is an outstanding series... It is not dead yet. The Producers will be creating several 2 hour DEADWOOD movies as a substitute for the series.

Just thought you would like to know that.

Unk

 

at June 15, 2006 6:38 PM  Samantha said...

I do, indeed, know that. However, it is my understanding that the two (not several) 2 hour "movies" are supposed to serve as a series finale of sorts. This comes directly from this article: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13169063/

 

at June 15, 2006 8:21 PM  Unknown Screenwriter said...

Don't believe everything you read. There will be both SOPRANOS and DEADWOOD films and yes, the two DEADWOOD films you speak of will end the series as we know it.

Having said that, there are other SOPRANOS and DEADWOOD films in the works. Marketing research is currently going on to figure out if they should release these future films specifically on HBO or theatrically.

My bet is that they will in fact go to the theater.

Not trying to argue with you but you have limited info on your blog. LOL.

Unk

 

at June 15, 2006 8:25 PM  Samantha said...

Actually that is rather heartening news. I'm glad the shows won't effectively die. However, I am skeptical that they'd make it to the theater. I remember when Sex and the City ended, there was all this buzz about a Sex and the City movie. About a year later, the buzz died when they couldn't get all the cast members to sign on for it. So I hope that doesn't happen to Deadwood. Or the Sopranos for that matter.

 

at June 15, 2006 8:43 PM  Unknown Screenwriter said...

Well no offense intended but there are several SEX AND THE CITY screenplays floating around.

The real problem here - that you don't have so much with DEADWOOD and the SOPRANOS is that you tend to end a screenplay on an up-beat; which is how these screenplays end. They don't leave a lot of room for a continuing story.

However, now with THE BREAK UP doing pretty decent box office, these SATC screenplays are being rethought.

That's NOT to say that the same characters or actors will return to these roles however. You can effectively place ANYONE in these roles and expect a certain amount of boxoffice because of the built-in audience.

None of the principals involved even want a SATC, SOPRANOS, or DEADWOOD film to go into production right now anyway. Waiting several years will heighten the expectancy and anticipation of the built-in audience which translates into good boxoffice.

In other words, there's no hurry.

Unk