The HBO Original Programming Thread

[Jeff Lebowski]

Bump. Here you go, PBW. Not sure why we have separate threads for HBO and HBO Max, but here we are.

Threads merged.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Anyone plan on watching The Gilded Age? Premiere is tonight. Written and produced by Julian Fellowes, who gave us Downton Abbey. This time the series is set in 1880's America and features wealthy families in NY.

Reviews have been interesting. The big rags like NYT and WaPo have been panning it, but most other reviews are very positive (84% on RT). It seems as if the big woke papers can't bring themselves to say something positive about a series focusing on rich folks. That's my theory anyway.

Disappointed with this so far. You get similar production and style to DA, but I am really struggling with the characters - I don't like most of them. And the acting is stiff as a board. Not sure we will keep at it.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Disappointed with this so far. You get similar production and style to DA, but I am really struggling with the characters - I don't like most of them. And the acting is stiff as a board. Not sure we will keep at it.

We've watched the first couple of episodes but had the same reaction you did. LIke the sets, costumes, and that time period, but the story hasn't grabbed us and the acting seems surprisingly not good... We may bail on the rest.

[UVACoug]

Anyone else watch Our Flag Means Death? It's hilarious. Another piece of genius from Taika Waititi. Rhys Darby (from Flight of the Conchords) plays a "gentleman pirate" who abandons his wife and children to seek adventure on the high seas. Taika plays Blackbeard. Definitely recommended if you like Taika's style of humor.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Enjoying Winning Time. Also, lots of nudity so that is a nice plus.

[Non Sequitur]

Enjoying Winning Time. Also, lots of nudity so that is a nice plus.

I love it. John C. Reilly is a great Jerry Buss, and I wonder if Jerry West was as big a dick as he is portrayed in the show.

[Commando]

Anyone else watch Our Flag Means Death? It's hilarious. Another piece of genius from Taika Waititi. Rhys Darby (from Flight of the Conchords) plays a "gentleman pirate" who abandons his wife and children to seek adventure on the high seas. Taika plays Blackbeard. Definitely recommended if you like Taika's style of humor.

Nice! I tried to watch that a couple times before it was actually out so I had a false start or 2 there. Can't wait to watch it.

[jay santos]

Couple episodes into Winning Time. So far it's great. Feels like a PT Anderson film back when he actually made good movies. I wish the nudity and sex wasn't so much so I could more easily recommend it to kids.

[clackamascoug]

I love it. John C. Reilly is a great Jerry Buss, and I wonder if Jerry West was as big a dick as he is portrayed in the show.

Do you mean literally or figurative?

Apparently - it can swing both ways with this show.

[Non Sequitur]

Do you mean literally or figurative?

Apparently - it can swing both ways with this show.

Going off the last episode, he has nothing on Spencer Haywood.

[SteelBlue]

New Tony Hawk documentary “Until the Wheels Fall Off” is excellent. If you grew up in 80s skate culture you will absolutely love the trip down memory lane. All the old heroes are included. Music is great. Tons of old footage. The 90s to present time portion is excellent as well. Some crashes that are hard to watch. Tony at 53 is certifiably crazy with the risks he takes. I believe he broke his femur just a few weeks ago.

[UVACoug]

If you aren’t watching We Own This City, you need to be. From the creators of The Wire (best show of all time, imho). About the rise of a corrupt unit of cops in Baltimore. John Bernthal puts on an amazing performance. It’s only 6 episodes long, and four have been released. If you like The Wire even a little bit, you should definitely check this out.

[falafel]

If you aren’t watching We Own This City, you need to be. From the creators of The Wire (best show of all time, imho). About the rise of a corrupt unit of cops in Baltimore. John Bernthal puts on an amazing performance. It’s only 6 episodes long, and four have been released. If you like The Wire even a little bit, you should definitely check this out.

Jamie Hector is in it and he does not play Marlo???

Edit: damn, this thing is full of Wire alums. Marlo, Herc, Jay,

[Non Sequitur]

If you aren’t watching We Own This City, you need to be. From the creators of The Wire (best show of all time, imho). About the rise of a corrupt unit of cops in Baltimore. John Bernthal puts on an amazing performance. It’s only 6 episodes long, and four have been released. If you like The Wire even a little bit, you should definitely check this out.

I love John Bernthal. I'm on it.

[SteelBlue]

Hacks is back. So far so good.