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[07/13/06 - 12:00 AM]
HBO Sacks 'Rome,' Delays 'Sopranos' Until March, More
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- HBO has firmed up its plans for the coming year as the network outlined its programming highlights for the 2006-07 season at the TCA Summer Press Tour on Wednesday.

The biggest news: the second season of "Rome" will likely be its swan song, despite solid ratings for its freshman go around. HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht indicated its production budget - reportedly as high as $100 million - will be the biggest factor in its decision. The network currently shares the cost with its production partners, the BBC and Italy's RAI, who are only signed through its second season, which will launch on Sunday, January 7. Nevertheless, Albrecht said it's very possible the show could continue, telling reporters: "we may decide that the food in Rome is so good and figure out a way [to continue]."

Also announced:

-- HBO will try shifting movie premieres from Saturdays to Sundays this fall, ending a 15-year tradition. Said fall package, which includes "Fantastic Four," "Doom" and "Domino," will bump the fourth season of "The Wire" - set to begin on September 10 - from 9:00/8:00c to 10:00/9:00c. Albrecht however said the movie schedule will likely revert back to normal once "Rome" bows in January.

-- Also being tested: new episodes of "The Wire" and the revived "Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam" will be available six days before their premieres on the network's HBO on Demand service.

-- Production on the final "The Sopranos" episodes has been delayed a few weeks to accommodate co-star James Gandolfini's knee surgery. Said development will push the installments from a January to a March start.

-- January is being targeted as the return date for "Extras," whose new season includes cameos David Bowie, Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen while next summer will see the return of "Big Love." Joining "Big Love" in June will be "sexLife," a new relationship drama from Cynthia Mort. Beyond the summer, HBO is close to giving series orders to David Milch's "John From Cincinnati" and Alan Ball's "True Blood," based on Charlaine Harris's "Southern Vampire" book series. No launch date however was given for the back half of "Entourage's" third season.

-- Albrecht also noted that a sixth season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is "pretty close" to being a done deal with the new season being targeted for late 2007.

-- Saturday, February 3 will see a new concert featuring pop star Kelly Clarkson, live from Wembley Arena in London.

-- And finally, HBO has teamed with Cingular Wireless to offer full-length episodes - segmented into chapters - of early episodes of "Entourage," "Sex and the City," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Dane Cook's Tourgasm." Original mobisodes of "Entourage," focusing on Kevin Dillon's character, are also on tap, acted, written and produced by the cast and crew of the regular series.





  [july 2006]  
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· BIG LOVE (HBO)
· CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
· DANE COOK'S TOURGASM (HBO)
· ENTOURAGE (HBO)
· EXTRAS (HBO)
· JOHN FROM CINCINNATI (HBO)
· ROME (HBO)
· RUSSELL SIMMONS PRESENTS: DEF COMEDY JAM (HBO)
· SEX AND THE CITY (HBO)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)
· TELL ME YOU LOVE ME (HBO)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· WIRE, THE (HBO)





[05/07/26 - 11:01 AM]
First Look & Date Announcement - Hulu Original "Hannah Berner: None of My Business"
The special will premiere on Friday, June 5 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S., and on Disney+ internationally.

[05/07/26 - 10:09 AM]
BET Announces the Return of the Black + Iconic Soiree on May 23, 2026 at MGM National Harbor, Hosted by Laverne Cox, Celebrating Culture, Community, and Impact
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[05/07/26 - 10:02 AM]
New Episode Of HBO Original Documentary Series "The Yogurt Shop Murders" Debuts May 22
The first four episodes of the series are currently available to stream on HBO Max.

[05/07/26 - 10:00 AM]
Starz Sets June 12 Premiere Date for Visceral and Haunting Drama "The Listeners," Starring BAFTA and Golden Globe Nominee Rebecca Hall
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[05/07/26 - 10:00 AM]
Performers Announced for "The 52nd American Music Awards" Live Monday, May 25
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[05/07/26 - 09:30 AM]
PBS America @ 250 Continues with Semiquincentennial-Themed Programming to Mark the Nation's Historic Anniversary
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[05/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
TNT Sports Unveils Commentator Roster for 2026 Roland-Garros
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[05/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Criminal Minds: Evolution" Season 19 Trailer & Key Art Announcement
This season will premiere with two episodes, with each episode dropping weekly thereafter through the season finale on July 23.

[05/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel Partners with The White House on New "Mission to Honor: A 250th Salute to American Veterans" Initiative
At the heart of the initiative is a series of first-person video profiles featuring veterans from World War II through the Global War on Terror.

[05/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: HBO Releases New Teaser and Images for the Upcoming Original Series "Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness," Featuring President Obama and Larry David
In addition to David, the series will feature select "Curb Your Enthusiasm" actors and noteworthy guest stars.

[05/07/26 - 09:00 AM]
E! Greenlights "Cocktail Wars" Hosted by Lance Bass and Joey Fatone
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[05/07/26 - 08:59 AM]
Wells Adams Named Co-Host of "Big Break x Good Good" Presented by Golf Galaxy Returning This August on Golf Channel
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[05/07/26 - 08:31 AM]
"The Forsytes" Season 3 Starts Production and Announces New Cast
Gregg Sulkin and Gabriel Antunes have joined the returning ensemble.

[05/07/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "The Chi" Says Goodbye - Trailer and Key Art Unveiled for Landmark Final Season, Premiering May 22 on Paramount+
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[05/07/26 - 08:01 AM]
Apple TV's "The Dynasty: UConn Huskies" Set to Premiere Globally August 21, 2026
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