Can fans save a show? Well, if they act quickly, try hard enough, and use financial pressure, the answer seems to be “Yes!” When it was announced that HBO would we cutting the wild-west Deadwood series short after three seasons, fans of the HBO series got, well, downright ornery! They signed petitions, took out an ad in Variety (a Hollywood trade paper), sent letters and made calls indicating that they would cancel their HBO subscriptions at the end of Deadwood’s third season (which recently started airing).
As a result, HBO and Deadwood creator David Milch have now come to an agreement. Deadwood will return following the third season… sort-of. Rather than a full-blown 12-episode season to complete the series (which would have been quite costly and now, very difficult to coordinate), HBO and Milch will instead produce a pair of two-hour movies.
But wait, hadn’t HBO previously offered to pay for a six-episode fourth season? How is this better? Milch has said that he wasn’t in favor of doing a six-episode season because each episode of Deadwood has typically represented one day in the lives of the characters and South Dakota area. Shifting to two-hour movies will allow him to break that format and to be able to complete the storytelling he had for the final season. Milch has said that he’s thrilled that they worked out a way to continue Deadwood past the third season.
But what about the series actors that were released from their contracts over a month ago. Can HBO get them back? Though Deadwood cast members have not been signed for the movie projects as yet, it seems clear that HBO intends to do all it can to work out this aspect as well. One source has reported that HBO intends to “make it worth their while.” No doubt. Wouldn’t want to upset these fans . . . 
HBO is to commended for giving life to Carnivale, Deadwood. And, also, condemned to f***ing lunacy for killing off great shows before they’ve gained their full audience potential. Deadwood is/was full of wit, pathos, action, seduction, greed, beauty, innocence and, innocene lost. I could taste the grit and feel the camp’s life blood — including that spilled. It was like a great book playing out in front of my eyes. There are very, very few other shows that captivated me in such a manner. How is that the drivel, mind-numbing crap on ABC, CBS and NBC can go on and… Read more »
Well, now we know, don’t we: HBO sucks; not as well as Trixie and only slightly better than The Networks! My husband and I started watching the series in June, this year, starting with Season 1 (thank you BlockBuster!) and are already into Season 3. We were considering subscribing to HBO (we have Dish Network w/ a DVR and no other “premium” channels, cuz we mostly watch the History channel, etc. & DVD’s, so what’s the point?) just to be able to watch Deadwood every week after we’d “caught up,” but now I find out that the best f**king show… Read more »
I’ll watch HBO again when Deadwood returns….
Al gets his finger chopped off, and Hurst rides off into the sun set, come on! It cannot end that way I need more.
Well this is my second letter to you about DEADWOOD. You answered my first one with an apology and “hang in there,we will give you more and a closure” I can’t even explain how devasated I am…and I didn’t even know it was gone until today..I live a REALLY BUSY LIFE and DeadWood was my escape from reality..I was always excited and waited all week for the next episode. I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE DROWNED MY PUPPY
I will never forgive HBO for this..nor will I ever watch anything my Milch…..period
Deadwood was my favorite series of all time. Superior acting and very well written stories. Such interesting characters, especially Swearengen & Calamity Jane. I agree with fans, it was a series that became addictive and I could hardly wait for the next episode. Needless to say, I am so disappointed that Deadwood has been canceled.
HBO used to have so many great shows, but now their all over or cancelled. They shouldn’t be relying on ratings because not everyone watches the show on HBO. I live in Canada, and as much as I would love to subscribe, they don’t distribute here. My family and I rent series such as Six Feet Under, Carnivale and Deadwood. The way they rate tv shows should really change because they aren’t counting all the people who rent, tape or tivo the show. I hope at least we will get two movies of Deadwood so things could be rapped up.… Read more »
I totally agree that HBO should be dropped from everyones channel lineup. I will be doing so this month. It never keeps the shows that are great and the movies aren’t any different than are on other pay channels. Good Bye HBO!!!
Deadwood and Sopranos had to go and so do you!!!
I just watched the third season, volume one. After seeing the video at blockbuster, I REALLY FORGOT, HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! It is very addicting, the cast and storyline are awesome! Leaves you wanting more, PLEASE BRING BACK,”DEADWOOD”!
I dont even mind the laungage, I think that is all part of it. I think, if you could go back and visit that time era, youd find it very close to how it really was! When can we at least expect the 2 hour movie(s) to come out? I NEED MY “DEADWOOD” fix!!!!PLEASE!!??!!
We got HBO for the Soprano’s and Six Feet Under. We loved both these shows and then Deadwood showed up and turned out to be one of the best shows we had ever seen. I can’t believe HBO can let such a great show go. I thought maybe the Cincinati show would be good but so far boring not sure I am even going to give it another try. Bill Maher is another shining star but really he really isn’t on that much. Sunday’s used to be HBO nite but now we don’t really care. We will probably cancel since… Read more »
My friends and Ihave spent Sunday evenings together for several years watching the Sapranos. The past three years we sat GLUED to HBO watching Deadwood,forbidden by all to speak until the show was over. We all hated to see the Sapranos end, and by the way the ending really sucked!What? Do they all live happily ever after? that’s a crock of sh*t. Then… HBO topped itself by eliminating Deadwood! Needless to say, we are pissed!!! Deadwood was GREAT! It is typical that it all comes down to monitary gain and the enjoyment of consumers is irrelivant. I have been a… Read more »
HBO SUCKS. Let’s all take a stand and boycott HBO and generate as much publicity as we can to give HBO a taste of it’s own medicine. Most people think that it can’t be done. I know other wise. Unite to regain Deadwood or unite to kill HBO.
Iloved rome and deadwood. Sopranos disappointed.Really like Etourage. What else? Oh, thats it. Damn, one fricken show for that much money does’nt seem worth it.
I can’t believe it. Life now officially sucks. I was waiting on season 4 and just found out there will not be one. I have told everyone that I know to watch this show. There is nothing better on television or at the movies. I wouldn’t let anyone in the room with me while I watched it, if they were going to talk. It was so intelligent that you needed to concentrate and you didn’t want to miss a minute. I just got Season 3 for Father’s Day and have never been more excited about a gift. I sat down… Read more »
what the F**k is wrong with HBO? How in the hell do you get rid of such a great show, guess what…….tomorrow I get rid of HBO, look there goes another customer…see ya HBO