Rome Rules!

HBO's new series "Rome" is absolutely phenomenal. I have been addicted to it since it first premiered in August. So far, 8 episodes have been shown and the episodes keep getting better and better and better. HBO has been doing a fabulous job with each of their original series (that is why it isn't TV, it's HBO...), and "Rome" will join the legions (sorry, I couldn't resist...) of awesome HBO original shows that exist in the HBO Empire (ok, I did it again). "Rome" has already entered the ranks (alright, last time I do this) of such great shows as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (although the current season sucks compared to the last four seasons), the foul-mouthed "Deadwood" (of course, there are only so many f-bombs one person can take during a 1 hour episode!), "The Sopranos" (did you know that New Jersey leads the nation in ex-mayors in federal prison? True fact!), and "The Larry Sanders Shows" (a true blast from the past!). "Rome" is the type of show that allows me to pay my outrageously-priced monthly cable bill without too much gnashing of my teeth (Although it is ridiculous. Do I really need Oxygen and the NASCAR Channel? No! So why am I forced to pay for these channels in order to get to the promised land of HBO programming?)

If you haven't seen "Rome", check out the official website. It will get you up to speed on the ground covered so far, from Julius Caesar and his army of centurions crossing the Rubicon, to the fall of the Republic and the creation of the Roman Empire, and finally to the fateful union of Caesar and his Egyptian lover Princess Cleopatra. From battlefields to high society, "Rome" has it all.

The Rome of 52 B.C. was characterized by a decadent society consumed by debauchery, a tremendous chasm in wealth between the rich and the poor, a relentless army that invaded foreign lands and forced regime change in the name of keeping the peace, a corrupt and ineffective Senate that had long ago lost the affection of the people it was supposed to represent, and a society was rich militarily and in terms of spiritual possessions but spiritually bankrupt. Hmmmm, we don't see any parallels here, do we? (sarcasm off)

The intersection of film and politics in terms of television doesn't get much better than this. Check out "Rome" - you won't be disappointed. And if you are, then cancel your HBO and instead flip the dial on the boob tube to watch "Growing Up Gotti on A&E or the equally wretched "Being Bobby Brown" on Bravo.