July 19, 2005
The new TV season: The return of HBO's "Carnivale'' -- not

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2005/07/
the_new_tv_seas_5.html

Charlie McCollum, 04:00 AM in Charlie McCollum, TV

Despite thousands and thousands of e-mails, what HBO executives here on The Tour had to say to fans of the canceled "Carnivale'' was no way, no how, is the show going to return for a third season.

While admitting the outpouring of protest caught them by surprise, the suits contended the economics of making the elaborate, allegorical series about life in a Depression-era traveling show just didn't make sense.

Chris Albrecht, HBO's president and CEO, noted "Carnivale'' was "an enormous investment'' with its location shooting and huge cast. Plus it didn't play well overseas, a big revenue stream for HBO shows. "So you just have to say, 'Can I take this money and allocate it in other ways to appeal to the same audience,'" said Albrecht who then added with a laugh, "After reading those e-mails, I'm not so sure.''

For more on the problems of HBO, check out today's notebook from Beverly Hills and The Tour.

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