HBO vs Showtime: How Do They Stack Up

                                                                                         

Is Showtime the new HBO? It appears that way. While HBO does retain its selling points (good movies and original series), the gap is certainly closing. Their programming strategy is mind-boggling, with the cancellation of Sex & the City, Six Feet Under, Carnivale and the mysterious and painfully long gaps between seasons of the Soprano’s.

Meanwhile, Showtime is brimming with creative shows and talented actors/writers with the finely crafted comedy of Weeds and Barber Shop and the female-on-female dalliances of The L Word. The chances taken by this network are noteworthy. ‘Weed’ is being upgraded from a four-letter word back into acceptable vocabulary (though not by all). The show is hands-down one of the best I’ve seen in awhile. It is a must watch. My one complaint: only one half hour episode a week.

The small-screen offshoot of the Barber Shop movies is a huge hit with critics and audiences. The acting and writing is excellent on just about every Showtime offering this season, especially this one. Of course, Showtime has had the lock on homosexual relationship dramas since Queer as Folk, and The L Word will have little trouble standing alone now that QAF has been cancelled. The point is: Showtime is stepping up in the world of pay-cable, and HBO should be worried.

HBO is, in fact, still a very hot commodity. It offers one of the most prolific political commentators ever to be forced off network airwaves and into his own original programming contract. Bill Maher is still worth the $10 a month, if you enjoy his rambunctious, tongue-in-cheek but very topical analysis of current events. Entourage is another saving grace, and interest was minimally peeked for Lisa Kudrow’s awkward if not well-cast portrayal of Valerie in the Come Back.

Another HBO summer series, Rome, remains to prove itself. It look intriguing enough, and the costumes and sets are beautiful. One would assume the stories will be attention-holding; ancient Rome was certainly a place full of drama and corruption. But this coming fall season, with people’s minds on the war and Katrina’s aftermath, such an unfamiliar show may not have enough initial appeal to draw viewers in and hold them for a whole season. Especially when there are returning favorites on the networks to compete with.

About the author:
Jennifer Waite
href="mailto:lilmsscareall@hotmail.comlilmsscareall@hotmail.com">">lilmsscareall@hotmail.com

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com