Ever since I have watched the first episode of
the newest television series ROME, I knew that HBO had struck ratings
gold. Rome hasn't been this uncut, real and uncensored since the time of
Caligula. Anybody who is willing to give a couple hours to the
History Channel each week definitely understands that Rome wasn't a perfect
Utopia that featured colored rainbows and skittles that sprinkled from the
sky. Rome was tough, naked, brutal and extremely sadist. Hell,
nudity was widespread during those times; something that I wouldn't mind
bringing back.
It looks like other television viewers have caught on to ROME as
well, therefore causing HBO to announce that they have decided to go forward
with a second season. As Caesar would say, 'change the music to a happier
tune.'
A Second Season Heads to ROME
According to Variety,
HBO has renewed the television series ROME for a second season
of 12 hourlong episodes, although they won't make it to air until 2007.
Why the wait? Well, anytime you have a first season costing around $100
million, you have to picture that the second season will require the same,
well, resources.
"The show has built momentum with our subscribers and with the critics," said Carolyn Strauss, president of HBO Entertainment.
The first episode that aired on August 28th harvested 8.9 million total
viewers over the course of 11 plays on HBO and HBO2 spread across the entire
week. The 9.1 household rating ROME chalked up for the Sunday primetime
run alone was the best number for a new-season debut episode since the fourth-season
premiere of Six Feet Under in 2004.
Strauss said ROME will join two other
continuing HBO series recently picked up for third seasons: Deadwood
and Entourage. I have unfortunately only seen two of the final
episodes from Entourage, and am now wishing I had HBO on Demand.
Production of the new season of ROME will begin in March.
For the entire report on the second season of ROME, head over to
Variety.
HBO's Rome
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