After ‘Sopranos,’ a Need for a Hit: HBO’s chief executive is preparing for life after the “The Sopranos” with a cachet of new offerings.

March 22. 2007, Wilmington Star News Online

“…Michael Nathanson, a media analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein, said Mr. Albrecht’s confidence about the channel’s future is probably well placed. He said HBO has been adept at taking advantage of the expanding ways to get programs to viewers, especially through services like video-on-demand.

HBO has taken advantage of that technology, which allows viewers to watch HBO’s shows whenever they want, better than anyone else in the television business, Mr. Nathanson said.

“If you look at it in the traditional way,” Mr. Nathanson said, “you might say HBO should be worried because it might lose viewers if its doesn’t have another ‘Sopranos.’ But its subscriber base keeps growing, and I think it’s because of how well they are doing with video-on-demand.” Mr. Albrecht said HBO was promising its customers the channel would deliver “the goods,” which he defined as “something you can’t get anywhere else.”

In that category, he includes “John From Cincinnati,” a drama that combines the zen of the surfing culture with doses of philosophy, quantum physics and dysfunctional family life. And a visit from what may be an extraterrestrial.

Though that does not sound like a genre that would have built-in appeal – like, say, gangster stories – “John” has been fast-tracked, moving into production quicker than anything HBO has done. It is also getting a blessed push-off on June 10 at 10 p.m. immediately after the final scene of “The Sopranos.”

“John” will emerge as a new signature show for the channel, becoming the 9 p.m. centerpiece of an expanded three-hour Sunday block running through the summer. Previously HBO had filled only the 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. block with original series; starting in June that will begin at 8 p.m.

The show, which stars Rebecca DeMornay and Luke Perry, was created by David Milch, who was behind the HBO drama “Deadwood.” That western series, if not quite earning a place on HBO’s album of greatest hits, had an ardent following. Fans felt blindsided by the news that Mr. Milch and HBO were shutting down “Deadwood” at the end of last season.

That decision was later rescinded and HBO now plans to do two movie versions of “Deadwood” to tie up loose ends. Mr. Albrecht said the experience had taught HBO some lessons about the need to wrap up big serialized dramas, out of obligation to those paying customers who had been devoted to the shows…. [more]