Will the HBO series over-take the books ;)

[TK-421]

On the original post, I do not believe that would happen.

Looking at the history of past HBO series:

The Sopranos, arguably their most popular series lasted 6 seasons with a total of 86 episodes.

Six Feet Under lasted 5 seasons with 63 episodes.

Carnivale lasted 2 seasons.

The Wire lasted 5 seasons with 60 episodes.

Deadwood lasted 3 seasons with 36 episodes.

Oz lasted 6 seasons with 56 episodes.

Rome was only 2 seasons with 22 episodes.

Big Love has had 4 seasons with 43 episodes and its been announced that it will end after its 5th season.

True Blood is in its 3rd season with 36 episodes

Boardwalk Empire is its 1st season 12 episodes.

Do you sense a trend?

Compare that with other premium cable series on other networks:

Mad Men on AMC completed its 4th season with 52 episodes to date and the contract allows for one more season.

The Tudors on Showtime had 4 seasons with a total of 38 episodes.

Dexter on Showtime just ended its 5th season and has been renewed for a 6th.

Weeds on Showtime had 6 seasons with 76 episodes.

Californication on Showtime just started its 4th season and has been renewed for a 5th.

The L Word on Showtime had 6 seasons with 70 episodes.

Queer as Folk on Showtime had 5 seasons with 86 episodes.

Breaking Bad on AMC has 3 seasons with 33 episodes.

So, my guess is that 5-6 seasons is the most we should bank on and of course all that depends on ratings and viewership.

 

[The Imp]

On the original post, I do not believe that would happen.

Looking at the history of past HBO series:

The Sopranos, arguably their most popular series lasted 6 seasons with a total of 86 episodes.

Six Feet Under lasted 5 seasons with 63 episodes.

Carnivale lasted 2 seasons.

The Wire lasted 5 seasons with 60 episodes.

Deadwood lasted 3 seasons with 36 episodes.

Oz lasted 6 seasons with 56 episodes.

Rome was only 2 seasons with 22 episodes.

Big Love has had 4 seasons with 43 episodes and its been announced that it will end after its 5th season.

True Blood is in its 3rd season with 36 episodes

Boardwalk Empire is its 1st season 12 episodes.

Do you sense a trend?

Compare that with other premium cable series on other networks:

Mad Men on AMC completed its 4th season with 52 episodes to date and the contract allows for one more season.

The Tudors on Showtime had 4 seasons with a total of 38 episodes.

Dexter on Showtime just ended its 5th season and has been renewed for a 6th.

Weeds on Showtime had 6 seasons with 76 episodes.

Californication on Showtime just started its 4th season and has been renewed for a 5th.

The L Word on Showtime had 6 seasons with 70 episodes.

Queer as Folk on Showtime had 5 seasons with 86 episodes.

Breaking Bad on AMC has 3 seasons with 33 episodes.

So, my guess is that 5-6 seasons is the most we should bank on and of course all that depends on ratings and viewership.

To be fair, David CHase pulled the plug on The SOpranos, not HBO. Also, just as a minor correction, the third season of True Blood is in the books available on DVD.

As for GOT. I think if the show is uccessful enough to make it through 2 seasons it will go the distance, unless the series isn't showing any signs of being finished, for whatever reason. But as you said, in the end it's about ratings. We do know that HBO is heavily promoting it, as is MTV (are they connected?), but in the end, it will be the quality of the production that will matter. We'll know soon what kind of viewership it will have.

 

[viZion]

Stupid question: What is the HBO title of the series? Is it just called A Game of Thrones?

 

[Werthead]

Carnivale lasted 2 seasons.

The creator of Carnivale was an unreasonable prima donna who couldn't handle the show once Ronald D. Moore quit to work on BSG, going massively over-budget. He wanted HBO to greenlight Seasons 3-6 in one go after they lost half the audience for Season 2. HBO - very politely - declined.

Deadwood lasted 3 seasons with 36 episodes.

Likewise, David Milch lost some of his interest in the show after three seasons and wanted to work on a new project, John from Cincinatti. HBO decided they didn't want him to split his attention between different projects and they agreed to end Deadwood.

Rome was only 2 seasons with 22 episodes.

HBO have said they regret cancelling Rome. They got some bad info on what ratings they were going to get for S2 and weren't happy with the BBC withdrawing from the project.

True Blood is in its 3rd season with 36 episodes

The fourth season has been greenlit and is being filmed right now. Barring a catastrophic fourth season, it'll get a fifth easily.

Boardwalk Empire is its 1st season 12 episodes.

Second season greenlit and entering production imminently, IIRC.

I think things might have unfolded differently if JRRT was alive and active in the production of the movies. Additionally, I think you might be underestimating how much control GRRM has over HBO. He's already demonstrated that he wanted to be part of set location selection, casting, and writing. I don't know it for a fact, but I'm guessing that he has a deal with them as to him being able to veto plot changes he doesn't like. Maybe Wert can enlighten us on this subject.

No. GRRM can advise, but he has no power of veto over anything. DB Weiss and David Benioff are in charge of the project and Martin has a consulting producer credit and an agreement to write on episode per season, but that's it.

Stupid question: What is the HBO title of the series? Is it just called A Game of Thrones?

It's called Game of Thrones, without the 'A'. It won't change, that's the name of the whole series for however long it goes on for.

 

[The Imp]

The creator of Carnivale was an unreasonable prima donna who couldn't handle the show once Ronald D. Moore quit to work on BSG, going massively over-budget. He wanted HBO to greenlight Seasons 3-6 in one go after they lost half the audience for Season 2. HBO - very politely - declined.

Likewise, David Milch lost some of his interest in the show after three seasons and wanted to work on a new project, John from Cincinatti. HBO decided they didn't want him to split his attention between different projects and they agreed to end Deadwood.

HBO have said they regret cancelling Rome. They got some bad info on what ratings they were going to get for S2 and weren't happy with the BBC withdrawing from the project.

The fourth season has been greenlit and is being filmed right now. Barring a catastrophic fourth season, it'll get a fifth easily.

Second season greenlit and entering production imminently, IIRC.



No. GRRM can advise, but he has no power of veto over anything. DB Weiss and David Benioff are in charge of the project and Martin has a consulting producer credit and an agreement to write on episode per season, but that's it.



It's called Game of Thrones, without the 'A'. It won't change, that's the name of the whole series for however long it goes on for.

Thanks for the info Wert

 

[Virtuous]

Okay, I've obviously been living in cave somewhere. I had no idea GRRM was being produced by HBO. When is this show scheduled to start? And I hope to all that is good that they bribe him enough to finish the darn series. Am I the only one who thinks that there's really no need to introduce new POV characters in Book 4??? I totally get why he killed off most of the northerners and focused on the Lannisters (waaaay more interesting group of bastards) but come on... let's wrap a few things up here! Looking forward to seeing who plays Cersei on the show.

 

[TK-421]

Go here for info and discussions on the series:
Game of Thrones - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

It's scheduled to premiere on April 17, 2011 on HBO.

Lena Headey is playing Cersei:
http://winter-is-coming.net/features/cast/lena-headey/

 

[Red 13]

When i herd HBO was doing A Game Of Thrones i immediatelly started reading the books simply because i had been planning on reading them for a long time and hadn't got round to it. I love HBO shows becacuse its always great quality, thats why i rushed to read A Game of Thrones before the show airs because if not i might just watch it and not bother reading the book. Anyhow, i don't regret it because the books are really great and have got me completely hooked. I'm currently reading A Storm Of Swords.
I saw the trailer for the show and it looks amazing. I did notice that most of the characters (well the young characters) are all a little bit older than in the book. Jon Snow, for example, who in the book is 14 looks about 19 in the show. Also Daenarys who normally is 13 looks about 18, but that i can understand because she's probably gonna get a few sex scenes.