TV TALK: ‘Tudors’ is giving Showtime a boost

Showtime's historical soap opera "The Tudors" is a perfect case study in how what used to be the alsoran pay cable channel is beginning to catch up to the big dog, HBO.

"The Tudors," which begins its second season Sunday night, tells the tale of the randy and rambunctious younger days of England's King Henry the VIII, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The youthful, athletic Rhys Meyers is a far cry from the popular image of Henry as a tubby tyrant munching on a turkey leg, and "The Tudors" is a far cry from the Masterpiece Theater costume dramas of yore.

While the acting and writing are variable, the show looks fantastic. It's more "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" than the original, Oscar-winning "Elizabeth." And it's closer to the potboiler atmosphere of the new film "The Other Boleyn Girl," than either of those.

The fact that the doings and dealings of a 16th century monarch are such a hot property here in the 21st century seems anachronistic, but with all the sex, violence and intrigue Henry managed to cram into his short life, there's no shortage of material for Hollywood to work with.

HBO tried to go this route recently with its epic series "Rome," which balanced the grand drama of Caesar's rise and fall with generous helpings of sex and scheming. Despite a raft of powerful performances and a budget of around $100 million, "Rome" was a bust with American audiences and the series lasted only two seasons.

What "The Tudors" gets right that "Rome" got wrong is keeping the events on a human scale. Henry, Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), Katherine of Aragon (Maria Doyle Kennedy), Sir Thomas More (Jeremy Northam) and the rest of the court never seem larger than life. Petty, rude, lustful (notice how often sex comes up with this show?), the characters may not be realistic, but they're fun. And closer to the "Dynasty's" Cartwrights or "Dallas'" Ewings than the Sopranos or the Julii.

While "The Tudors'" ratings are still modest by HBO standards (last season's premiere drew 870,000 viewers), much less compared with broadcast numbers, it's a big, big hit for Showtime.

HBO keeps lining up edgy, highbrow fare like "In Treatment," "Tell Me You Love Me" and "John From Cincinnati." Nobody watches any of those shows.

Showtime, meanwhile, has shows like "Dexter," which has been fitting in quite nicely as a strike replacement on CBS in recent weeks. Can you imagine any HBO show being aired in anything resembling its original form on broadcast television? It's ridiculous to even consider it.

Of course, when HBO does hit a home run with a "Sopranos" or a "Sex and the City," it can change the face of television. "The Tudors" is never going to do that, but it's certainly an enjoyable way to kill an hour and, with Henry on only the second of his six wives, it stands to have a long and successful run ahead of it.
New weekend anchor

KKTV/Channel 11's Mc-Kenzie Martin was promoted to weekend anchor, joining David Nancarrow on the anchor desk.

KKTV also gave Lauri Martin the title of senior reporter. Former KRDO/Channel 13 news director Dave Rose is also pitching in at KKTV.

Local hockey to air

When the men's hockey teams of Colorado College and the Air Force Academy fight to the Frozen Four on Friday and Saturday, it will be aired on TV, but if you don't have satellite TV, you'll be out of luck.

ESPNU is picking up the games, but the network is carried only by Dish and DirecTV, not Comcast. ESPNU is on DirecTV Channel 609 and on Dish Network Channel 148.

CC's games will also be broadcast on KYZX (103.9 FM) "The Eagle."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0275 or awineke@gazette.com

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