vashti1999
07-23-2004, 10:35 AM
LOS ANGELES - It's gonna kill 'em to hear it, but fans of HBO's mob drama "The Sopranos" will have to wait until 2006 before they see the final episodes of the series.
And exactly when in 2006 is unclear, according to HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht.
That's the bad news.
The good news?
HBO officials are talking to show executive producer David Chase to perhaps produce 13 episodes, rather than the previously announced 10, in the final season.
For now, though, Albrecht isn't losing any sleep over the long wait for fresh "Sopranos" episodes.
"It's like the Harry Potter book," he told TV writers at the Television Critics Association yesterday. "You'll wait for the sequel and be very happy to get it."
He's not much concerned about the risks of another network, perhaps Showtime, coming up with its own "Sopranos," either.
"I think it will be well worth waiting for," he said.
"Look, this past season was going to be the last season," Albrecht said, referring to his discussions with Chase. "We said it doesn't have to be unless you think that it is. And he got into it and arrived at the place himself where he said, 'You know what? I have found that there's more stuff to tell here. There's more things I can say about these people and these situations.'"
Chase and HBO then agreed on 10 episodes in the final season.
"But I have said to David, 'Especially if you're making the audience wait a while it would be great to do as many as you thought you could do with the same quality that everyone has come to expect of you,'" Albrecht said. "And no one holds a higher standard for the show than David does.
"So we've talked to him about it," Albrecht added. "He hasn't said no. And with David, that's always a very good sign."
And exactly when in 2006 is unclear, according to HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht.
That's the bad news.
The good news?
HBO officials are talking to show executive producer David Chase to perhaps produce 13 episodes, rather than the previously announced 10, in the final season.
For now, though, Albrecht isn't losing any sleep over the long wait for fresh "Sopranos" episodes.
"It's like the Harry Potter book," he told TV writers at the Television Critics Association yesterday. "You'll wait for the sequel and be very happy to get it."
He's not much concerned about the risks of another network, perhaps Showtime, coming up with its own "Sopranos," either.
"I think it will be well worth waiting for," he said.
"Look, this past season was going to be the last season," Albrecht said, referring to his discussions with Chase. "We said it doesn't have to be unless you think that it is. And he got into it and arrived at the place himself where he said, 'You know what? I have found that there's more stuff to tell here. There's more things I can say about these people and these situations.'"
Chase and HBO then agreed on 10 episodes in the final season.
"But I have said to David, 'Especially if you're making the audience wait a while it would be great to do as many as you thought you could do with the same quality that everyone has come to expect of you,'" Albrecht said. "And no one holds a higher standard for the show than David does.
"So we've talked to him about it," Albrecht added. "He hasn't said no. And with David, that's always a very good sign."