HBO is a premium cable network that has given us outstanding programming for more than a decade now. They’ve spawned dozens of award winning shows that have been lauded by fans and critics alike (and even jerks like me). The following list is my world famous/controversial list of the top five HBO shows EVER!!! (Really though it’s neither world famous or even controversial…or is it? No…no isn’t.) I did not count miniseries which means don’t scream and threaten to hoof me in the shins (the shins if I’m lucky) if you see a distinct lack of Band of Brothers, The Corner or Generation Kill on the list.
#5- The Sopranos
Original Run: 1999-2007 — 6 seasons
HBO’s biggest hit to this day, The Sopranos told the story of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he balanced his life as a “waste management consultant” (pssst it’s a front) with his role as a husband and father. His story is given a touch of an everyman quality when it is shown that he has many of the same problems that any family man would face, and like scores of other broken suburbanites he seeks the help of a shrink. Armed (see what I did there? I just want you to recognize and respect what I did there) with an incredible ensemble cast that included James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, E-street band guitarist Steven Van Zandt and what seemed like half of the cast of Goodfellas, the show deftly weaved multiple story arcs while maintaining the solid base of the Soprano family. Seasons passed, new characters were introduced, while others were” whacked” but the series always maintained its high quality using a gritty mixture of Scorsese and a violent, expletive filled Everybody loves Raymond. Despite its controversial ending, which infuriated some fans while delighting others, The Sopranos solidified HBO as THE premium cable powerhouse and an award winning machine.
#4- Carnivale
Original Run: 2003-2005 — 2 Seasons
Maybe the most polarizing choice on the list, Carnivale, simply put, is the most beautifully photographed show that has ever been on television. Set in the American dustbowl of the 1930’s, Carnivale chronicles the life of Ben Hawkins, a young man with mysterious power who joins a travelling carnival. Ben’s story runs parallel to that of a young preacher, whose perfect spiritual facade masks an underlying evil. The majestic wide shots call to mind classic John Ford, but being visually stunning isn’t the only thing keeping this show afloat. Sure, the story is sometimes confusing (alright so it’s a complete mind f%@k) and the first few episodes get bogged down by exposition, but most of this is necessary in order understand the impending mythology of the series. Even when the story is bending the hell out of your mind, the ensemble cast is pitch perfect (with an article about HBO, you will hear this ad nauseam) and the storytelling is compelling enough to glue those peepers to the glowing idiot box even when you don’t completely understand what is happening and the reasoning behind it. I won’t go any further into the plot, instead go out and buy this criminally under-watched show on DVD. A fair warning to those who crave definitive endings, you will find no such thing here.
#3- OZ
Original Run: 1997-2003 — 6 Seasons
The one that started it all, HBO’s original hour long drama, set the template for every HBO drama (to be fair almost all premium cable dramas) to follow. Set in the fictional Oswald state Penitentiary (later, correctional facility), Oz follows the everyday struggle of the inmates, guards and administration within. Let’s go down the checklist of precedents set by Oz that spawned the formula for HBO programming
- A giant, fantastic ensemble cast
- Multiple story arcs interwoven, some told over the course of the entire series
- Solid and tight writing, giving Oz fully fleshed out characters with real motivation
- Dangerous settings meaning any character, prominent or not, can be killed off
Being on premium cable allowed the producers of Oz to push the envelope with unflinching depictions of violence, corruption, drug use and much to the chagrin of many…male nudity (or dudity as it’s sometimes called). Oz was the first, and still one of the best.
#2- Mr. Show
Original Run: 1995-1998 — 4 Seasons
Rising from the ashes of the Emmy winning, but failed, sketch comedy show “The Ben Stiller show” writers Bob Odenkirk (who also performed on the show) and David Cross created a sketch comedy show where seemingly nothing was taboo. Joining Bob and David were an array of talented comedians including Tom Kenny, Jill Talley, John Ennis, Jay Johnston and Brian Posehn with occasional appearances from future stars Jack Black and Sarah Silverman. Much like Monty Python before them, Mr. Show used links to connect all of their sketches giving it an organic flow that couldn’t be matched by contemporaries like Saturday Night Live and Kids in the Hall. Although not totally above parody and pop culture references, Mr .Show moved away from the standard celebrity impressions and inane recurring characters (Only recurring characters I can think of are Ronnie Dobbs and Droopy) that plagued other sketch shows of the day. Instead Mr. Show relied on hilarious writing and performances from comedians who were essentially given carte blanche by HBO to do and say whatever they wanted. Where else could you find sketches skewering the likes of Hitler, Anne Frank and Jesus all well using language that would make your grandmother and a network censor faint? To close I want to pose to you a question, not from me, but from Jay Johnston. “Have you ever, taken a train and eaten piece by piece, after you just derailed it with your penis?” If you didn’t answer “Yes…IT WAS FOR CHARITY!” then you sir, have no soul.
#1- The Wire
Original Run: 2002-2008 — 5 Seasons
I can say, without hyperbole, that The Wire is the greatest drama in the history of television, premium cable or otherwise. First of all its a crime drama, but we can’t lump it in with the rest of the formulaic network one hours that are all flash and no substance (I’m looking at you CSI and all of your variations, don’t look away from me). The story partly follows Baltimore homicide detective Jimmy McNulty and his CID detail that is trying to bring down major crimes, the show also portrays the parallel lives of the criminals the CID is trying to catch. This show is the definition of an ensemble with dozens of characters that are fully fleshed out and given entire story arcs. Each season deals with a different issue within Baltimore, including the school system, newspaper, politics, (although that encompasses all seasons), stevedores and the open air drug trade. Unlike most crime dramas there are no easy solutions, nothing is fully resolved by episodes end (there’s never “Well I got this guys semen and it’s in the database this is wrapped up nicely…and before breakfast”), and things are rarely satisfyingly resolved by season’s end. Many storylines persist throughout the show’s entire run. The Wire paints the police and the criminals with the same brush, avoiding the pitfalls of defining who is right and who is wrong. Mostly everyone is a victim of circumstance. I will not delve any deeper into the plot, you’ll just have to check it out and see. Watch out for Omar Little, the gay stick up boy who robs drug dealers. He’s the greatest character in television history.
Well there you have it ladies and gents (mostly gents I assume, if ladies read this give me a call…for the love of god call me!), my list of the top five greatest shows ever on HBO. If you don’t agree, post your own list in the comments section.