Why doesn't Oz get credit for being one of the greatest shows of all-time? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 03-26-2014, 04:37 PM

http://www.411mania.com/movies/colum...onard-Left.htm

Quote:

2) Sad to say, I have not seen Oz, but everyone I know who has watched it, enjoys it. It is one of many shows I plan on watching at some point. Six Feet Under and Big Love are on that list as well. But I can answer your question. I perused several sites and most seem to agree that Oz is not "underrated" necessarily, but does deserve to be mentioned alongside the best shows of all-time. So why isn't it? Well, I read an article by someone who loves Oz and they stated that until The Sopranos aired in 1999, HBO had not yet figured out how to properly market this style of smart storytelling to the public.

The fact is, The Sopranos stole the thunder from Oz in a big way. It was able to accomplish this because of HBO putting its full attention into marketing it, plus the public has always had an infatuation with the mafia. Not everyone has a comparable infatuation with hardened prisoners, especially when it is not a prison reminiscent of a Frank Darabont offering (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). The consensus of the writer I came across seems to be that The Sopranos is escapist entertainment and because people would rather be Tony Soprano than someone in prison, people connected to it better. I also read on a few sites that the highs in Oz were not as high as those in The Sopranos and its lows were worse than those in The Sopranos. But that's just what I read. I can't say until I see the show for myself. But where The Sopranos gets credit for establishing the anti-hero and a specific mode of storytelling, many feel that honor should go to Oz, which got there earlier.

visaman666 · 04-13-2014, 12:49 AM

The Showcase cable channel in Canada did it right, they put OZ on a theme night called Television Without Borders, TV shows that were considered risque for regular network TV, most of the shows had naked boobies, but OZ had full-on anal rape (sorry spoilers). It was must watch TV in my household!

ohmrwilson · 04-13-2014, 05:25 AM

two comparisons- and politics is one of them.

first and foremost is the sad fact and is the same one and only reason President Barack Obama, the greatest president since LBJ is hated by a portion of the USA.

and without the ACA being rammed through by the President, the future single payer or France like system could never happen.(Now because of the continuing hatred, it is making the single payer or France like system rapidly approaching after a few years of President Clinton(45) term.

two, it's like David Lynch. He is an artist, garbage like Tarantino afterwards stole certain parts, then made it more commercial and all.
Without Lynch, there are literally thousands of shows/movies that never would be on or heard now.

Without Oz, there are dozens of popular shows now that would never be on tv.

IMHO

Nyan · 05-14-2014, 11:02 AM

I thought that Oz and The Wire had a lot of people stanning for it, at least that's my impression. Oz and Wire come out of that great period of television that The Shield came out of. FX was the leader and HBO was the follower. Now it seems like AMC has taken over that role.

04-13-2014, 05:25 AM	#3
ohmrwilson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 25, 2012 Location: ny Posts: 314	two comparisons- and politics is one of them. first and foremost is the sad fact and is the same one and only reason President Barack Obama, the greatest president since LBJ is hated by a portion of the USA. and without the ACA being rammed through by the President, the future single payer or France like system could never happen.(Now because of the continuing hatred, it is making the single payer or France like system rapidly approaching after a few years of President Clinton(45) term. two, it's like David Lynch. He is an artist, garbage like Tarantino afterwards stole certain parts, then made it more commercial and all. Without Lynch, there are literally thousands of shows/movies that never would be on or heard now. Without Oz, there are dozens of popular shows now that would never be on tv. IMHO
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04-13-2014, 12:49 AM	#2
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	The Showcase cable channel in Canada did it right, they put OZ on a theme night called Television Without Borders, TV shows that were considered risque for regular network TV, most of the shows had naked boobies, but OZ had full-on anal rape (sorry spoilers). It was must watch TV in my household!

05-14-2014, 11:02 AM	#4
Nyan Be The Rainbow! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2011 Location: Land of Pop Tarts Posts: 141	I thought that Oz and The Wire had a lot of people stanning for it, at least that's my impression. Oz and Wire come out of that great period of television that The Shield came out of. FX was the leader and HBO was the follower. Now it seems like AMC has taken over that role.