This isn't Sonicsring, This is HBO
It turns out that Dave's favourite show, True Blood, has saved HBO. It's a desperately needed smash hit for the one-time crown-jewel of Cable TV. It's sold all over the world, and the DVD and Bluray sales are through the roof.
Not so long ago they had 3 smash hits on their hands all at the same time - The Sopranos, Six Feet Under and Sex and the City. However when those shows finished HBO's status as the place for cutting-edge TV was taken up by Showtime. We were given Weeds, Dexter and Californication in quick succession. All of which are still running and doing big business, especially Weeds, now on it's sixth series.
The last true darling of HBO was 'The Sopranos', and Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano) has jumped ship to star as 'Nurse Jackie'. A overworked under-appreciated staff nurse with a serious prescription drug habit.
First episode we see her counting out 16 granules of Oxycontin, aka Hillbilly Heroin, shot in extreme close up. She snorts them to get her through her early morning shift at work. She is married with 2 kids, 1 with problems, and a shitty apartment. No-one a work realises she is married as she always takes her wedding band of. She bangs the hospital pharmacist so she can keep her supply stocked up.
Edie Falco is as far removed from her put-upon gangster's wife role as it's possible to get, always looking extremely tired and strung-out. Her glamorous look is gone, and we see her looking pasty skinned, with severe cropped hair and wearing blue hospital duds at all times. She is brilliant at her job, and dealing with the shit-storm that happens at her workplace on a daily basis so we're learning to love her. This show just keeps improving with each episode. Seems to be a slow burner.
Back over at HBO True Blood has kicked of a renaissance of sorts for the channel. Entourage is back for it's sixth series, and while it's never been a huge hit, each series see's an increase in viewing figures. It's one of the most consistently funny and entertaining 'bloke' shows on TV.
They've tried a different slant for their new show 'Hung'. Thomas Jane (The Mist) stars as Ray Drecker, a high school PE teacher who hates his job and life. He is broke, lives in a tent, his ex-beauty queen wife ran off with a dermatologist and his kids think he's a loser. He does have one very large plus though, his penis. After attending a Get-Rich-Quick seminar he realises he can put this god-given talent to use, and with the help of a Hippy Pimp starts stacking up the cash.
It has some Californication overtones, but isn't as extreme (Showtime is the new HBO in that respect), and isn't quite as funny. The characters are very well realised though, and it has a real bitter-sweetness running through it. It's the most promising new drama so far this year.
Here's to competition!
