Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 16 april 2019

HBO looks beyond ‘Game of Thrones,’ maybe back to a prequel

By LYNN ELBER analyst Larry Gerbrandt.
Associated Press The question is even more
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When critical to the pay-cable
the last drop — or gallon — channel, which soared
of blood is shed and an ex- on dragon’s wings with its
ultant victor has ascended hugely popular, eight-sea-
to the Iron Throne, view- son adaptation of George
ers may be split over how R.R. Martin’s novels.
HBO’s fantasy saga ended Keeping subscribers on
but they’ll be joined in de- board means more than
privation. another hit, even one as
“What do you do without globally dazzling as “Game
‘Game of Thrones?’” will be of Thrones” proved to be.
the lament heard after the But it’s where HBO can
May 19 finale, said media start to protect its brand

This image released by HBO shows Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in a scene from “Game of
Thrones.” The final season premiers on Sunday.
Associated Press
and position, observers say, During a period in which or, in shorthand, Netflix,
an effort both demanded “Game of Thrones” was off along with a growing host
and compounded by an the air for scheduling rea- of others including Amazon
increasingly congested sons, series including “West- and Hulu — and a shoul-
small-screen landscape world,” ‘’Sharp Objects” der-bumping rush for stars
and the expectations of and “Barry” proved strong and showmakers to churn
the channel’s corporate draws, Bloys said. out more and more fare
owner since 2016, AT&T. “I’m not going to argue for outlets already awash in
“I think they need a prestige that we won’t miss ‘Game programming.
show on this level to remain of Thrones.’ It’s been a fan- HBO, no longer a singular
HBO,” Bill Carter, a media tastic show for us, but life alternative to staid broad-
analyst for CNN and former does go on,” he said. He cast networks, also got new
reporter for The New York points to a deep bench of corporate ownership when
Times. But “more than ever, returnees, including Nicole AT&T bought its parent
it’s really hard to find a hit Kidman and Reese With- company, Time Warner.
show and to break through erspoon’s “Big Little Lies,” HBO recently saw the exit
in this marketplace.” and newcomers including of its chief executive, Rich-
The channel is well into the the graphic novel-based ard Plepler, who had been
hunt for a worthy succes- “Watchmen” from “Lost” with the channel for nearly
sor, with one possibility an producer Damon Lindelof. 30 years and guided it to
untitled prequel to “Game One marquee series that’s “Game of Thrones” glory.
of Thrones” created by also in its final season: the With AT&T’s resources, HBO
Martin and Jane Goldman much-admired comedy has stepped up production
and starring Naomi Watts. “Veep,” with Julia Louis- and will see a 50% increase
Set to begin shooting a pi- Dreyfus. in the number of original
lot in June, it’s among sev- HBO, which launched in program hours this year,
eral potential “Thrones” spi- 1972 and whose cachet Bloys said, arguing that vol-
noffs being weighed, with has long justified the boast- ume doesn’t preclude high
discussions at HBO about ful slogan, “It’s not TV. It’s quality: “There’s nothing in
“how many is too many,” HBO,” has reached this 2019 that we’re putting on
said programming chief crossroads before. the air because we’re try-
Casey Bloys. At the turn of the century, ing to hit an hour count. ...
“We have high hopes” for pop-culture sensations We haven’t lowered any
the pilot, he said. “The Sopranos” and “Sex of our standards to reach
“But I want to be clear, and the City” boosted a certain level of program-
nobody is going into this the channel’s visibility and ming” and there is no pres-
thinking that we’re going subscribers and made it a sure to do otherwise from
to do a prequel and all of serious player for prestige WarnerMedia CEO John
a sudden everybody who awards — including cable’s Stankey, he said.
automatically watched first-ever Emmys for best Subscribers ultimately will
‘Game of Thrones’ is going drama and comedy series. decide whether they think
to watch this. ... It’ll have a After the shows wrapped, the shows are what they
different feel and different the channel moved nimbly want.
rhythm. We’re not trying to on with audience-pleasers But expanding the pipeline
do the same show again.” including “Six Feet Under” is unavoidable, said Tuna
That begs the question of and “True Blood.” Amobi, a media and en-
what more HBO has to of- But that was then, and this tertainment analyst with in-
fer, he said. is the time of streaming — vestment firm CFRA.q