Boardwalk Empire.

[thomas]

A friend gave me the DVD's a couple of weeks ago in which there are 12 episodes and it is very very good, I've seen the whole lot twice already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I dunno. I've watched nearly all, but wasn't that hooked. Loved sopranos (watched 4 times), wire (3 times), etc...but, I don't know, it didn't match all the hype I don't think.

 

[ColinJ]

I'll wait until it comes out on terrestrial TV or Freeview and then not watch it.

I thought that about The Sopranos but eventually decided to give Series 1 a go on DVD about 9 years after it was first shown. I ended up renting all the series back-to-back - great stuff. (It would probably have been cheaper to buy the boxed set though!)

I prefer to watch these shows on DVD. No ads, a good quality picture and I can watch when I want to watch.

 

[ColinJ]

...and that's why God gave us the PVR and the "jump" button...

True but (s)he didn't give us free SKY subscriptions and did give us those wretched on-screen logos. I hate the things, and would be especially annoyed to be paying for the privilege of having digital graffiti electronically spray-painted all over my TV screen! I'm dreading the digital switchover when I won't be able to escape the things unless I go DVD only.

 

[sheva]

What, you've seen it? Wherewhenhowwhatwho?

my son has ermm.. acquired it. It truly is brilliant.

 

[snorri]

HBO, the most acclaimed TV station of all times

Isn't that the crowd responsible for a lot of the US rubbish on our screens?

 

[ColinJ]

Oh, no, I don't have a Sky subscription, Colin, perish the thought!

I've got a freesat box. Excellent thing, no subscription, and it means I never have to watch any adverts any more!

I'd forgotten about FreeSat, however, I've just been given a twin-tuner Freeview PVR so I'll wait for the local digital switchover in September and will use that.

That still won't solve the problem of the onscreen graphics though (especially the incredibly annoying animated ones which pop up before the programme you are watching is finished, often with voiceovers).

Also, aren't the best new series always on subscription channels for a couple of years first?

 

[Yellow Fang]

It looks great, but like nearly every other good TV series out of America, it's on Sky. Why are all the good dramas out of America these days? They have been for years. It's not just the production values; it's the writing. British telly is crap. Why do I bother with my TV licence?

 

[potsy]

I thought that about The Sopranos but eventually decided to give Series 1 a go on DVD about 9 years after it was first shown. I ended up renting all the series back-to-back - great stuff. (It would probably have been cheaper to buy the boxed set though!)

I prefer to watch these shows on DVD. No ads, a good quality picture and I can watch when I want to watch.

I have just finished watching season 2 of The Sopranos, I take it I'm a bit late to the party?

Friend of mine lent me the DVD's and has just given me season3 though I've not started on it yet(only had it 4 weeks)

I too love watching stuff uninterrupted, either on DVD or sometimes I'll record a whole series and watch it once I've got the lot. I too hate those pop-ups near the end of shows though, really annoying

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Make sure the lift door is shut.

 

[PaulB]

I have just finished watching season 2 of The Sopranos, I take it I'm a bit late to the party?

Friend of mine lent me the DVD's and has just given me season3 though I've not started on it yet(only had it 4 weeks)

I too love watching stuff uninterrupted, either on DVD or sometimes I'll record a whole series and watch it once I've got the lot. I too hate those pop-ups near the end of shows though, really annoying

Here's a question for you about the Sopranos. You know Silvio? Well what is the actor who plays him better known as? I don't mean which part, I mean he's famous for something that isn't acting. Got it?

And when you see Lorraine Bracco, you know, the trick-cyclist, who would that be if the original gangster's girlfriend in Goodfellas (who she portrayed) had actually been? You know what I mean? The trick-cyclist was always going to be the girlfriend of the central character in Goodfellas but originally she was going to be played by someone else (think the Silvio guy to get a clue). And that guy who plays ANOTHER trick-cyclist and is the (former) husband of Lorraine Bracco's character, what is HE better known as? Again, not a film role but something else.

And finally, there is another VERY famous person in it later on. A person who, like Silvio, isn't primarily known as an actor BUT, like the guy playing Silvio and the would-have-been trick-cyclist, from the same 'industry'. Who's that?

 

[ColinJ]

Here's a question for you about the Sopranos. You know Silvio? Well what is the actor who plays him better known as? I don't mean which part, I mean he's famous for something that isn't acting. Got it?

He was brought into the East Street Band and made a major contribution to Born to Run!

 

[PaulB]

He was brought into the East Street Band and made a major contribution to Born to Run!

Correct, although he founded the E Street band and he's Stevie Van Zandt.

Other answers are; Madonna! Yes, she was originally scheduled to play the girlfriend of the lead character in Goodfellas so would have been the trick-cyclist in the Sopranos. Her husband in the show is the famous film director, Peter Bogdanovich.

And finally, continuing the music theme, the very famous singer appearing in later episodes as a nasty NY gangster is Frankie Valli. And he's very good indeed.

 

[ASC1951]

Why are all the good dramas out of America these days? They have been for years. It's not just the production values; it's the writing. British telly is crap.

I think they use a lot more writers and they pay them properly. We probably only get their better stuff, too.

Just about the only drama we still do well is costume drama. Difficult to cock up Jane Austen when the book is written by a genius.

 

[ColinJ]

I remembered this old thread and am requesting an update ...

I bought my stepdaughter the boxed set of The Sopranos on Blu-ray last Christmas and we will have got to the end of that just in time for a new boxed set this Christmas. Boardwalk Empire has made the shortlist. I just wondered what the final verdict was from the CycleChat viewing panel ...?

If it isn't Boardwalk Empire then I think I might go for The Shield but am put off the boxed set on Amazon because it is supposed to be an over-edited version. There is an unbutchered US version available but I am reluctant to import from the USA in case of import duties, defects, or compatibility problems.

Another possibility is The Wire although we both struggled to get on with Season 1. (I found the accents and fast dialogue hard to follow but I was drinking a lot of beer in those days so being semi-sloshed was probably why I couldn't make out half of what was being said! )

 

[Adam4868]

I remembered this old thread and am requesting an update ...

I bought my stepdaughter the boxed set of The Sopranos on Blu-ray last Christmas and we will have got to the end of that just in time for a new boxed set this Christmas. Boardwalk Empire has made the shortlist. I just wondered what the final verdict was from the CycleChat viewing panel ...?

If it isn't Boardwalk Empire then I think I might go for The Shield but am put off the boxed set on Amazon because it is supposed to be an over-edited version. There is an unbutchered US version available but I am reluctant to import from the USA in case of import duties, defects, or compatibility problems.

Another possibility is The Wire although we both struggled to get on with Season 1. (I found the accents and fast dialogue hard to follow but I was drinking a lot of beer in those days so being semi-sloshed was probably why I couldn't make out half of what was being said! )

Loved the Wire,probally my favourite,if you want a good boxset to watch give Deadwood with Ian Mcshane in a look.