Brace yourself for a bold and possibly, outrageous statement: Over the last three years, Showtime has elevated itself above its competitors atop the apex of original network produced programming. I freely admit that upon first glance this seems like the type of audacious claim becoming increasingly more common place in the cutthroat, controversy-hungry world of internet journalism, but it’s true. In fact, the more my brain examines the hypothesis, the stronger my conviction becomes.
I didn’t always feel this way; like most television viewers, I used to happily digest everything the four major networks put on my plate. Eventually, though, one just has to draw the line. There’s a point when the body no longer soaks in watered down garbage, and my overly distended stomach just can’t hold any more ‘According To Jim’ repeats. While NBC and friends continue to saturate primetime with tired sitcoms and hospital dramas, Showtime executives actually green light fresh ideas. What a novel concept!
Two years ago, Showtime premiered the dope dramedy ‘Weeds’, and I grabbed the televised reefer and felt my first light-headed non-network high. The characters were new and engaging, and the best part was, they acted like real people. No one was a walking stereotype; they were complex personalities that swore, cried, and laughed when appropriate. Throw in Kevin Nealon’s sometimes bizarre and always hilarious comedic style, and you can’t possibly go wrong.
Last year, during the second season hiatus of ‘Weeds’, Showtime premiered the serial killer drama ‘Dexter.’ And I thought ‘Weeds’ couldn’t get any better. The Michael C. Hall vehicle is creepy, engaging, and never dull. The plot flows with uninterrupted drama and synergy, and the acting is near perfect. These two groundbreaking weeklies would be more than enough to win my acclaim, but this year the network premiered quite possibly, its best show yet.
‘The Tudors’ is a historical gem, an alluring glimpse into the personal life of Henry VIII. The big budget slice of royal court intrigue does for the power-hungry ruler what ‘Rome’ did for Octavian. The women are beautiful, the stakes are high, and catty backstabbing eclipses even the most heinous of ‘Laguna Beach’ vocal betrayals. That’s pretty lofty acclaim for a show that premiered a mere two weeks ago.
Surprising absolutely no oneVariety has announced all three of the series will be returning for new seasons. In a landscape dominated by repetition and obviousness, it’s nice to see Showtime defy humdrum predictability and gear programming toward intelligent niche markets and away from Ritalin deprived buffoons seeking a break from thinking.
