Game of Thrones
- Thread starter Husker75
- Start date
Scareb
Sr Member
There's no way this show would get cancelled due to poor ratings. It seems like everyone and they're dog are hooked on it. Even my physio who you wouldnt for a second think would be into it loves the show. She actually gets excited when I come in because we talk about it haha.
Even I had no interest in the show initially. Only after buying season 1 and literally marathoning it because it was so good that I couldn't turn it off, did I realize how awesome it was.
I'm sure if you sat 100 people in a room who had never heard of the show and played the first 2 episodes, they'd tell you to put on the rest while they go order a couple pizzas.
Even I had no interest in the show initially. Only after buying season 1 and literally marathoning it because it was so good that I couldn't turn it off, did I realize how awesome it was.
I'm sure if you sat 100 people in a room who had never heard of the show and played the first 2 episodes, they'd tell you to put on the rest while they go order a couple pizzas.
Deadwood. Great show, big ratings, etc. and it got cancelled. I don't like westerns and I liked that show.
Solo4114
Master Member
Deadwood got canceled because of budget issues and Chris Albrecht's idiocy. Same story with Carnivale, although Carnivale's ratings waned in its second season (had a strong opener, though). Chris Albrecht is gone at this point, I think.
Rome had spectacular ratings too, but was also expensive. Big costume dramas are expensive, and that's an issue for shows like this. Plus you have the scaling costs of actor salaries (although -- haha -- with Martin writing them....many a time you don't have to pay 'em for more than a couple seasons.
)
Still, if anything's gonna cook this show's goose, it'll be budgetary issues, rather than waning interest. Right now, they're managing this by limiting the show to ten episodes a season, which I think is the absolute right thing to do. It's enough time to mostly convey the story, without bankrupting the show by trying to squeeze in another three hours. But there's no question this is an expensive show. You can see the production costs on the screen (and it's well worth it!).
I'm not sure if HBO gets a cut of any of the other merchandise like the video games, but that stuff does act as cross marketing for them, so it doesn't hurt.
Rome had spectacular ratings too, but was also expensive. Big costume dramas are expensive, and that's an issue for shows like this. Plus you have the scaling costs of actor salaries (although -- haha -- with Martin writing them....many a time you don't have to pay 'em for more than a couple seasons.
)Still, if anything's gonna cook this show's goose, it'll be budgetary issues, rather than waning interest. Right now, they're managing this by limiting the show to ten episodes a season, which I think is the absolute right thing to do. It's enough time to mostly convey the story, without bankrupting the show by trying to squeeze in another three hours. But there's no question this is an expensive show. You can see the production costs on the screen (and it's well worth it!).
I'm not sure if HBO gets a cut of any of the other merchandise like the video games, but that stuff does act as cross marketing for them, so it doesn't hurt.
ghostryder
Legendary Member
Alan Cross
Sr Member
Just heard about how, in one scene from an episode this season, available on a DVD, one of the severed heads on a stake is supposed to look like former president George Bush. HBO just came out and apologized. HBO says it'll be removed in future editions.
If that's true, then the DVD's with the GW head just became a collectors item. Weirdest story ever.
If that's true, then the DVD's with the GW head just became a collectors item. Weirdest story ever.
Rbeato
Sr Member
Thats the exact reason I'm worried about the show going on for atleast 6 seasons...the budget for the show. the seemed to save a lot of the money for episode 9 this season, which paid off ofcourse. Trust me I don't want to see the show to get canceled ever. Best show on T.V. in a very long time. Books ofcourse are better, but its great to see it portrayed on screen. The show is a huge hit right now ofcourse, but 4 years from now you never do know, fans of the books won't be enough to carry the show, and if people that don't know it well (like the ones i've seen complaining how the show just lags) may loose interest in it. Just saying you never know, and was just saying what the producers said at comic con.
As far as the showing passing the books, GRRM has told the producers the main idea of where the story is going to go so if something was to happen to him, or the new books not being out in time then they can still make the show with the info he told them.
As far as the showing passing the books, GRRM has told the producers the main idea of where the story is going to go so if something was to happen to him, or the new books not being out in time then they can still make the show with the info he told them.
Beat you.
Why doesn't anyone listen to the commentary tracks? They're so insightful!... Well, all except for the one by George R.R. Martin. Funny how the man who created the franchise has the least interesting things to say about the show and his involvement. I mean, look at this!
George: This is where Jon is about to learn about his father being imprisoned.
Very insightful. I'm sure without you making that comment George, nobody would have figured that out eventually.
Alright, alright. He's not like that all the time in the commentary. In fact, he does point out some interesting tidbits about why things are different from the books, how some things that didn't make it are things fans didn't like in the books in the first place ect. But the most interesting bit comes when he talks about how this series will affect his writing. He assures us it won't except for one tiny little detail. There is a character he wrote in the books that he never really cared for, but after watching the series and seeing the role be played out by a terrific actor, he does state that this character's role will most likely be expanded in the future books.
I'm not telling who it is. Just watch the commentary track. Even the parts where he's just commenting on what's going on-screen can offer a chuckle. Not Arnold funny, but passable.
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sparrowed
Well-Known Member
firesprite
Master Member
The thing to remember about most writers is that for the most part they're not very socially functional creatures. The idea of authors being able to talk in addition to writing is a fairly new requirement thanks to the rise of social media.
Solo4114
Master Member
Because I only just bought the blu-rays yesterday.
SmilingOtter
Master Member
Very true. As much as I like Tom Clancy's books, his interviews are painful to watch.
"THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS!"
- Nicholas Meyer quoting Gene Hackman on his Star Trek II Commentary
Indeed, and George R.R. Martin pretty much proves it. However, there are a ton of talented writers who not only create great stories but can also give a very good commentary track. Some of these include (but not limited to):
James Cameron
Nicholas Meyer
J.J. Abrams
Joss Whedon
Mark Rosenthal
Matt Groening (Vows to have every Simpsons episode include a commentary)
Dan O'Bannon
David Morrell
Sylvester Stallone
Neil Gaiman
John Carpenter
Robert Zemeckis
Bob Gale
Peter Jackson
Kevin Smith
Terry Jones
Francis Ford Coppola
If you have any film where these individuals provide a commentary track, give it a whirl.
Here's hoping George R.R. Martin will do a better job if he records one for his episode from Season 2.
firesprite
Master Member
Yes... this is why I said 'For the most part'. I've worked long and hard to be better at speaking in front of people (I used to be CRUSHINGLY shy as a kid) because as a writer these days, more and more people want to be able to talk to you about your creations and expect intelligent answers.
Also, there's only one person on that list that I know for a fact is a writer/novelist like Martin so most of them don't count... and honestly, Gaiman is much more of a showman than most writers.
Because writing, designing and directing something that has a deadline attached to it is a much easier thing to do than simply writing something on your own time. Some folks on this list do all three of those things.
AggieChick42
Active Member
I like the HBO series and the books are pretty darn good. However, I've always had issues reading books like this because the way people talk in them lol So the series helps me out there... but there are a lot of "subtle" differences between the two and some of them aren't even necessary...
firesprite
Master Member
That's true, however, when you're dealing with people who are also directors, etc, they HAVE to be able to communicate with people verbally. It's their job. "Most" writers don't do well with verbal communication because they don't have to do it is what I was getting at.
Well, they can do better. Can't we all? I mean, George R.R. Martin isn't all bad in his commentary track, he just needs to better prepare for one that doesn't involve him talking about the blatantly obvious.
Also, HBO has pulled Episode 10 of Season One from iTunes and HBO GO and has stopped shipping out new DVDs/BluRays of Season One in order to remove Bush's head.
I'm calling total bull crap on this. There is no way HBO didn't know about the head before this broke out. There are people in the studios who watch and approve of commentary tracks before they're released, and there are prop departments who log this crap in. The Star Trek movie BluRays have heavily edited commentary tracks that cut off the speakers before they're even done saying a sentence. And even if it is Bush's head, so what? Bush isn't canon in Game of Thrones, and I'm pretty certain Bush ever had hair that long.
Sigh. We make fun of politics all the bloody time.
I'm calling total bull crap on this. There is no way HBO didn't know about the head before this broke out. There are people in the studios who watch and approve of commentary tracks before they're released, and there are prop departments who log this crap in. The Star Trek movie BluRays have heavily edited commentary tracks that cut off the speakers before they're even done saying a sentence. And even if it is Bush's head, so what? Bush isn't canon in Game of Thrones, and I'm pretty certain Bush ever had hair that long.
Sigh. We make fun of politics all the bloody time.
