I watched a Top Chef marathon one Saturday while completing a tedious project and the day just zipped by. That was TV at its distracting yet engrossing best.

Articles everywhere are stating that it was Milch's decision to walk away from the show, when in fact a few weeks ago he spoke about the upcoming plotlines of Season 4 in an interview at MIT. This is HBO trying to spin the story and trying to transfer blame. Don't believe a word of it.

Milch worked hard to save S 4 from extinction. The cast attests to it.

HBO Cacels Deadwood = We Cancel HBO

www.savedeadwood.tv

www.hbonomo.com

Thank you for mentioning this show! My friend and I are the only ones I know who can get past the clunky animation to the absurdist satire. Maybe it's a midwestern depressive/deadpan thing? I mean, Tom is appointed Vice-Mayor and put in charge of Bumtown, then sweet-talked into a development scam over the intoxicating effects cheesy fries. Is it really any different that congress? Or when his novelty t-shirt "Rats off to you" is stolen by the novelty store at the mall and becomes the new macarena. God I love that show.

Speaking of Adult Swim, Squidbillies is fantastic, but apparently too abstract for Adult Swim? It has some serious fans among the punky rednecks I know. Maybe because it freely references Hank Jr. ("I see from your hat-shaped-resume that you know how to skin a buck, run a trout line, and that all your rowdy friends are coming over tonight") - not something they'd know in the New Jersey suburbs of Aqua Teen.

Although it wasn't quite as grand as it's predecessor, "Project Runway," Bravo's "Top Chef" was still one of the better reality shows I've seen. It had clever challenges, not too much product endorsement, and most importantly, real, interesting people. It dutifully filled the void that "Project Runway" left for latter half of the season. I see no mention of it anywhere though. Did anyone else watch it?

Body of Evidence with Dayle Hinman on the Court TV Channel — FABULOUS! It's written for the slowest among us and I think it's a hoot. Things like when a large Ked's sneaker print is found in the bedroom of the disappeared old lady who had no close relatives or friends who visited her .. Officer Hinman speculates that this shoeprint may be the print of the perpetrator! And Officer Hinman's French manicure and Washington DC apparel are perfect camp. After Colbert, The Daily Show and The Simpsons, Body of Evidence is a close fourth.

>Battle Star Galactica is a re-make of a rip-off.

Man obviously hasn't watched the show.

Every reality show sucks. Sucks big time. Sucks donkey balls. There's not a single one of them worth the time and energy involved in changing the channel.

People who like reality shows have no taste. QED.

As for Heather, it would be nice to have a critic who actually thought deeply about what she was watching.

Or does that not count because it runs in the off season? It's my all-time favorite show. Consistently hilarious, but also touching--with a fantastic ensemble cast. The new season starts tonight! :)

Battle Star Galactica is a re-make of a rip-off. HH should be ashamed for lauding such a lack of creativity.

I just wanted to edit Cynthia's wonderful post - the website to petition HBO is www.hbonomo.com

Join our cause in the name of art.

HBO reallocates funds from Deadwood. We reallocate funds from HBO.

Please add this to your viewing schedule. It is really a wonderfully funny show. Christine is delightful and uncomfortable and familiar feeling. Her relationship with her ex seems a bit on the unrealistic side, but I can overlook that.

Thanks Heather, for your excellent summation of HBO's unbelievably dim-witted and short-sighted refusal to renew the contracts for the cast of Deadwood. I'm almost afraid to watch Season 3.. I'm sure the final episode will cause clinical depression.

From recent interviews with Chris Albrecht (CEO, HBO) and Quentin Schaffer (HBO's Sr. Veep of Corporate Communications), apparently Deadwood's budget had been "reallocated" to pay for a new series "John from Cincinnati", a surfing themed drama.

Dude!

In my opinion, putting the money into an existing hit series makes more sense than speculating on a new one. They couldn't have waited til Deadwood completed production of its promised fourth and final season, and THEN brought out Surfer John?

I loved HBO. I was devoted to it. But like a jilted lover who has suddenly had the door slammed in her face, I now despise the bastard and will do the only thing I can to get myself through the anger. The day after Deadwood's final episode, I cancel HBO and convince as many folks as I can to do so also. I won't allow them to hurt me again. They'll put their ads out; "Please, won't ya watch my new show? I promise it'll be great."

So then you'll want me back, huh? Want me to fall for another series so you can slam the door in my face again, huh? Well, F.U. HBO. I won't get fooled again.

Showtime and that pile of books in my corner are gonna look awful sweet come September.

www.savedeadwood.tv

www.nomohbo.com

Can you voice our frustration with HBO in a cover article with a review of Season 3 of Deadwood? I assume that is in the works? However, rather than delay, please get it out ealry if possible.

We appreciate your vote of support. Please spread the word.

www.savedeadwood.tv

www.hbonomo.com

I absolutely agree that the refusal to renew "Deadwood" for a fourth season is a serious crime by HBO. "Deadwood" is one of my all-time favorite shows, hands down. (I didn't include it on the list because it's a summer show, and that was a Fall 2005 - Spring 2006 list.)

And wait until you see the first few episodes of Season Three -- it could easily be the best season yet. It's torturous to watch such incredible scenes and know, the whole time, that there won't be a fourth season.

Could it all be a publicity stunt meant to stir up a little outrage, thereby tripling the show's press coverage and ratings? Given the anger aimed at HBO over this, I hardly think so. I just can't believe that they could take a show this good and throw it away right before Milch had a chance to round out the story with a final season. I don't get it, I really don't.

Canceling "The Comeback" was a mistake, but I could live with it. Canceling "Carnivale" was a good move -- that show chased its own tail without ever managing to offer up a compelling narrative. But canceling "Deadwood"? Come on. This show is obviously one of HBO's crowning achievements. I've really enjoyed "Big Love" but let's get real: "Deadwood" puts "Big Love" to shame.

I'm not one to get angry over cancellations, but this one makes my blood boil. I can't for the life of me figure out what HBO is thinking. Cancel "Deadwood," and promote and renew lightweight, juvenile pap like "Entourage"? Once upon a time, HBO could be trusted to make smart choices while the other networks catered to dimwitted teenagers. I guess the golden age of HBO is officially over.

As for the other pissed off fans of "Deadwood": If you think you're mad now, wait until you see how good this season is. It's a fucking travesty.