A Game of Thrones - TV Show Discussion Thread

[Lorizael]

Her body is all out of proportion.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Of course it can't get the same ratings as it isn't available in anywhere near as many households. To imply low ratings are a result of less than par quality is, I repeat, laughable (and you know it).

Now you are grasping at straws. Mad Men has horrible ratings for CABLE shows.

All you've done is name a couple of cable shows that might have possibly been considered for broadcast TV at one time. To imply they both could have and would have been the same as the versions that DID actually air on cable is conjecture at best.

The closest we have is Sopranos and the atrocity it became when edited for "regular" TV. I have no idea why you think this particular argument supports your point.

As anyone knows, dubbing for curse words never works and taking out sex scenes whole hog, instead of, say showing the same scenes without nudity as if they would if it is originally on cable (A&E IS CABLE!) dampers things.

A good example is the HBO show "Dream On". The creators did 2 versions - one with nudity and one without for broadcast showing down the line and guess what it did air on broadcast TV (one season on FOX).

Btw, do you still think that Breaking Bad has too much violence on TV considering (and this is a show I did forget), FOX had "24", which included torture?

I said the last few years and you have now conceded the point. Thank you.

Way to be overly pedantic and engaged in picky selection indicating your complete and utter failure to prove your point.

How about for musicals? Drama is the category that counts.

So you are conceding you are wrong?

After all, plenty of comedy is far better than the vast majority of drama. Exhibit A: Community.

[OzzyKP]

But think of how awesome Community would be if it had nudity and swearing?

[MikeH]

I restate: Why are you entitled to get something for free?

I never said I was.

My complaint is there's no way for me to give them my money!!!!

[MikeH]

I am angry because I want to give the money and they make it impossible for me to do so.

[MikeH]

Except wait a year. This is 2012 not 1812, I don't have to wait for them to physically ship it by boat from America.

[Wezil]

Now you are grasping at straws. Mad Men has horrible ratings for CABLE shows.

We switched from Breaking Bad to Mad Men did we? Of course the cable shows have fewer viewers, they are in far fewer homes. You can't get around this fact despite continuing to ignore it. Also, I don't know why anyone is watching Mad Men so don't expect me to pump that one up.

As anyone knows, dubbing for curse words never works and taking out sex scenes whole hog, instead of, say showing the same scenes without nudity as if they would if it is originally on cable (A&E IS CABLE!) dampers things.

A good example is the HBO show "Dream On". The creators did 2 versions - one with nudity and one without for broadcast showing down the line and guess what it did air on broadcast TV (one season on FOX).

So it makes a difference then? Once again you concede the point.

Way to be overly pedantic and engaged in picky selection indicating your complete and utter failure to prove your point.

It's not overly pedantic to say you can't compare when no comparison exists. If cable wasn't making shows ten years ago how can you compare theme to broadcast shows of ten years ago?

So you are conceding you are wrong?

After all, plenty of comedy is far better than the vast majority of drama. Exhibit A: Community.

No, I'm saying you have picked a red herring. When I claim elevated levels of permissible violence is a part of the reason for cables success it is hardly fair to pick a genre that doesn't lend itself to violence as your go-to example. Particularly when comedy isn't what they predominantly show (we weren't talking about the Comedy Network). Why not musicals? Hell, pick reality shows as your example and you can trounce me.

Your own post confirmed cable has a virtually lock on both genies and golden globes for several years now. Cable has arrived and they have taken over.

[Wezil]

The 2012 Golden Globe nominee list:


BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)

BOSS (STARZ)

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)


Another sweep.

[DinoDoc]

Except wait a year. This is 2012 not 1812, I don't have to wait for them to physically ship it by boat from America.

I've never understood why HBO is opposed to Hulu and/or Netflix. They could put up the entire season 6 months after it aired on their channel and load the DVD up with extras when they would normally release it and mute these complaints.

[MikeH]

I'm sure Imran is right that they feel they are protecting their subscription income.

I think people who want to watch the latest version of the show when aired will either pay to have a subscription, or pirate, whether the Netflix and Blu-Ray comes out 3 months after the season or a year after the season.

[Felch]

What if you're subscribed, but you pirate anyways for the convenience of having your own copy?

[Felch]

In a similar vein, is it moral to record TV? DVRs cut into sales of DVDs, since fans of the show can watch whenever they want without buying expensive boxed sets.

[Lorizael]

Felch, that's moral because the law says it is.

[Felch]

Oh, okay. I'm not a lawyer, so sometimes I have a hard time telling right from wrong.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

The 2012 Golden Globe nominee list:


BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)

BOSS (STARZ)

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)


Another sweep.

I thought "American Horror Story" was rubbish. Can't argue with the rest of those, though.

[Krill]

...and no one cares about what you think Guy. We'll pirate it because we want to watch it. Our cares stop right there. We'd prefer to buy it (a personal feeling based on whatever) but pragmatically if it's a choice between not watching it and being a criminal, most people will chose to be a criminal.

And that is ****ing pathetic.

...and no one cares about what you think Guy. We'll pirate it because we want to watch it. Our cares stop right there. We'd prefer to buy it (a personal feeling based on whatever) but pragmatically if it's a choice between not watching it and being a criminal, most people will chose to be a criminal.

.

[DaShi]

In a similar vein, is it moral to record TV? DVRs cut into sales of DVDs, since fans of the show can watch whenever they want without buying expensive boxed sets.

Not if it's NFL games.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I've never understood why HBO is opposed to Hulu and/or Netflix. They could put up the entire season 6 months after it aired on their channel and load the DVD up with extras when they would normally release it and mute these complaints.

Netflix asked, but HBO asked for very high fees - so much that Netflix would have to charge $10 more per month (or something like that). HBO lives & dies on its subscriber fees.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If cable wasn't making shows ten years ago how can you compare theme to broadcast shows of ten years ago?

Wasn't making shows?! 10 Years ago was the heyday of The Sopranos and Six Feet Under and Sex & the City. People were saying HBO was entering into a dark age when those shows ended (with dreak like John in Cincinnati it was hard to argue).

When I claim elevated levels of permissible violence is a part of the reason for cables success it is hardly fair to pick a genre that doesn't lend itself to violence as your go-to example.

And my example of 24? 24 had far more violence than Breaking Bad can hope for.

[MikeH]

It's not violence, violence is endemic on US network TV, it's the puritanical attitude to nudity that stops networks showing anything that'll cause Christian groups to write to advertisers.

Which is insane BTW. Boobs good violence bad.

[Wezil]

Wasn't making shows?! 10 Years ago was the heyday of The Sopranos and Six Feet Under and Sex & the City. People were saying HBO was entering into a dark age when those shows ended (with dreak like John in Cincinnati it was hard to argue).

One channel, HBO. The trailblazer.

You know the explosion of cable shows happened recently. And you call me pedantic?

And my example of 24? 24 had far more violence than Breaking Bad can hope for.

Didn't watch it. Maybe it did. If I'm not mistaken, 24 was one of the few broadcast shows to win any awards recently. Hardly indicative of the channel however.

[Imran Siddiqui]

One channel, HBO. The trailblazer.

You know the explosion of cable shows happened recently. And you call me pedantic?

Which channel is Game of Thrones on?

Didn't watch it. Maybe it did. If I'm not mistaken, 24 was one of the few broadcast shows to win any awards recently. Hardly indicative of the channel however.

You mean along with Lost and that huge example of violence, The West Wing.

[Lorizael]

West Wing featured a liberal president who probably ate the children of prominent capitalists for breakfast. The violence was implied.

[MikeH]

Cameron's recent visit has put me in mind of The West Wing in the episodes dealing with the Brits.

[Wezil]

Which channel is Game of Thrones on?

Not Showtime, Starz, AMC or any of the other Cable channels currently making original programming that weren't making it 10 years ago. HBO is just maintaining their fine record.

You mean along with Lost and that huge example of violence, The West Wing.

And there you go again... :sigh:

West Wing won in 2001. Lost in 2005. Neither has been nominated since 2006.

Way to stay current Imran.

[Wezil]

2006: Grey's Anatomy - ABC

24 - Fox
Big Love - HBO
Heroes- NBC
Lost - ABC

2007: Mad Men - AMC

Big Love - HBO
Damages - FX
Grey's Anatomy - ABC
House - Fox
The Tudors - Showtime

2008: Mad Men - AMC

Dexter - Showtime
House - Fox
In Treatment - HBO
True Blood - HBO

2009: Mad Men - AMC

Big Love - HBO
Dexter - Showtime
House - Fox
True Blood - HBO

2010: Boardwalk Empire - HBO
Dexter - Showtime
The Good Wife - CBS
Mad Men - AMC
The Walking Dead - AMC

2011: Homeland - Showtime
American Horror Story - FX
Boardwalk Empire - HBO
Boss - Starz
Game of Thrones - HBO



2006 was the last year broadcast fared well.

I guess you could argue it's a slump and not a trend.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Showtime is still considered the bastard child of HBO. It has decent stuff like the first season of Weeds, Dexter, and, apparently, Homeland, but not nearly on par. Starz is just funny. AMC makes good stuff, but you just called their criticall most successful show and the one that won those 4 straight Emmy's to be not that good (so pick an argument - do award shows determine value or not?).

As for West Wing - winner of 4 straight Drama Emmys from 2000 to 2003. I didn't realize 10 years ago was "not current".

[Imran Siddiqui]

2006: Grey's Anatomy - ABC

24 - Fox
Big Love - HBO
Heroes- NBC
Lost - ABC

2007: Mad Men - AMC

Big Love - HBO
Damages - FX
Grey's Anatomy - ABC
House - Fox
The Tudors - Showtime

2008: Mad Men - AMC

Dexter - Showtime
House - Fox
In Treatment - HBO
True Blood - HBO

2009: Mad Men - AMC

Big Love - HBO
Dexter - Showtime
House - Fox
True Blood - HBO

2010: Boardwalk Empire - HBO
Dexter - Showtime
The Good Wife - CBS
Mad Men - AMC
The Walking Dead - AMC

2011: Homeland - Showtime
American Horror Story - FX
Boardwalk Empire - HBO
Boss - Starz
Game of Thrones - HBO



2006 was the last year broadcast fared well.

I guess you could argue it's a slump and not a trend.

You realize you are citing an Awards Show that gave their Best Drama prize to GREY'S ANATOMY one year, right?

[MikeH]

I support Wezil on this. I think the last 2 or 3 years have marked a big change. A few years ago there were great "must watch" shows from the networks. But I can't think of any new ones that started in the last few years. House is still great but that's ending, that's the only one I can think of.

And it's not just cable networks it's pretty much entirely HBO and Showtime.

Homeland is currently screening here, it's great.

[Wezil]

Showtime is still considered the bastard child of HBO. It has decent stuff like the first season of Weeds, Dexter, and, apparently, Homeland, but not nearly on par. Starz is just funny. AMC makes good stuff, but you just called their criticall most successful show and the one that won those 4 straight Emmy's to be not that good (so pick an argument - do award shows determine value or not?).

That is a good argument for which I don't think there is any good answer. Ratings don't work as there is a huge disparity in access (in effect one is comparing unlike items) but I concede awards only reflect the tastes of those offering the award. Are they "better"? I like to include the nominees as well as the winners for a wider picture but it still comes down to taste. That said, is there another measure that would work?

Re - My trashing of Mad Men... Again, it's a matter of taste. Believe it or not I've watched 2 or 3 seasons of the show (up to the point when Draper and colleagues started their own firm) in an attempt to find the elusive quality I was missing. The show was incredibly popular and loved by critics so I wanted to discover why. I just never did.

As for West Wing - winner of 4 straight Drama Emmys from 2000 to 2003. I didn't realize 10 years ago was "not current".

In TV terms it's not current. That's well past reruns and into syndication territory.