Savor the moment, HBO. You currently own more than a quarter of our TV Power Rankings list, but with the imminent departure of “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “Rome,” along with the TBD status of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and the oddly lengthy shooting schedule for the half-season “Extras,” the end of your reign as BE must-see TV could very well be nigh. For the moment, though, we heart you and wish you would ask us to the prom. Unless Jack Bauer’s still single, in which case we’re spoken for. Here’s a sample entry from our list: 13. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO): It seems like a long time between seasons of this great comedy, and I often wonder during the show’s hiatus: What trouble is Larry David into right now? Last season, he had to decide whether or not to give one of his kidneys to Richard Lewis. Richard’s cousin, Louis Lewis, was (conveniently) in a coma and Larry kept visiting him in the hospital, secretly hoping that Louis would croak so that Richard could have Louis’ kidney instead. The other season-long storyline was Larry investigating the possibility that he was adopted, leading to several funny scenes with his supposed gentile birth parents. The show isn’t quite as fresh as it was in its first couple of seasons, but with episode titles like, “The Korean Bookie,” “The Christ Nail” and “Kamikaze Bingo,” how could you be? ~John Paulsen Check out the full list here. Filed under: TV and News and Reviews and TV Comedies and TV Dramas and TV Action and Rome and Lost and South Park and Prison Break and The Office and My Name Is Earl and 24 and The Shield and The Sopranos and Rescue Me and Entourage and Deadwood and External Entertainment and External TV Comments:
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As to your comment on Big Love. The television show has nothing to do with “Mormons”. Mormons are not polygamists. There are some polygamous “splinter” groups that claim association with the Mormon faith, but they are not a part of that religion. Given your inability to check the facts, you must also write for the New York Times or are a companion to Dan Rather.
I have two words for you…The Wire. How this is not #1, let alone on the list, is a crime in itself. This list just shows that when The Wire is cancelled, and more horrible shows hit the airwaves, we can only blame ourselves for not supporting good TV.
Our write-up on “Big Love” doesn’t say that all Mormons are polygamists; it just says that Bill - the show’s lead character - is a polygamist, and one who’s “trying to lead the outwardly moral Mormon life.” I think that very specific choice of phrase pretty well indicates that polygamy is’t something that’s accepted within the morals of the current Mormon faith. Plus, HBO’s own website for the show says outright, “Polygamy is illegal in Utah and banned by the mainstream Mormon Church.”
As for “The Wire,” I know I’m not the only fan of the show at Bullz-Eye, but Season 4 hasn’t started yet, and Season 3 was two years ago; we have to take that into consideration when we’re making our lists…
As the guy who wrote up “Big Love,” I’ve got to give thanks to Shelley. Maybe Richard should actually read the write-up instead of apparently jumping to the defense of the Mormon faith (”Hey, we’re NOT polygamists!”). The show centers on a family that’s outwardly leading the Mormon life while secretly upholding their polygamist values. I “did my research” by watching every season-one episode.