Bonehead Decision Of The Week

(from New York Daily News)

Even Tony Soprano would appreciate this: The A&E Network has agreed to shell out a record $195 million to air reruns of HBO's mob drama "The Sopranos."

Many wondered if the show would ever be fit for television with commercials. But producers of the violence and profanity-laden "Sopranos" have come up with a show sanitized enough to air on basic cable.

"We're going to work with HBO as our partner to create a version of each episode of the show that is tailored for our needs," said Bob DeBitetto, head of programming at A&E.
DiBitetto said it was too early to discuss exactly how the show would be cut or how commercials would be placed in each hour-long show.

Since "The Sopranos" was launched on HBO in 1999, there has been much discussion over whether the show would ever be able to air on a basic cable network or broadcast station that relies on advertisers to succeed.

The graphic violence and coarse language of the story lines involving a New Jersey mob family headed by Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini, are so integral to the show that their loss seemed inconceivable.

Blogger's Note: That's because without the course language and graphic violence you've got no show! Just this weekend I was discussing with some friends how HBO programming does not work on basic cable, using Sex and the City as an example. At one point I said that surely The Sopranos could never make such a transition because the show would be around two minutes long. Well, I guess that logical thinking is why I'll never be a TV executive. How can we introduce Mr. & Mrs. Joe Public to The Sopranos? Let's strip away everything that makes the show unique and interesting AND insert lots of commercials. Phooey. Let's see them try OZ next.