I Almost Wish I Had HBO
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 03/19/2008 at 9:49 AM
Michael Medved is calling HBO's "John Adams" a pop culture miracle. He writes:
When a TV network offers new programming that's entertaining, inspiring and substantive it's enough to renew our faith in miracles. HBO's epic eight hours on John Adams is precisely that sort of pop culture miracle: a lovingly-rendered tribute to the most misunderstood, most under-rated of our founding fathers. Aside from admirable attention to historical detail, the HBO miniseries offers perfect casting -- with Paul Giamatti as an Adams who's simultaneously brave, pompous, and selflessly patriotic.
I've been encouraged by a trend toward some classic and historical fare on TV recently (think The Complete Jane Austen on PBS). It appears this new series -- hearty and wholesome for a network like HBO -- also lifts up marriage and clean politics. Meved writes:
The luminous Laura Linney captures Adams' wife Abigail, with dialogue based frequently on actual letters, providing a singularly moving portrait of a romantic, richly functional, lifelong marital partnership. The series also stresses the nobility of politics – without which, even battlefield heroism could come to naught. Every American over the age of ten should see this rewarding piece of work -- while prepared to see brief, disturbing glimpses of war time violence. The John Adams miniseries runs on HBO every Sunday night through April.
I'm not a huge fan of TV, but in an age of television ruled by indulgence and perversion, it is refreshing to see a shift -- even a small one -- toward material more in line with Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." I look forward to watching "John Adams" when it comes out on DVD.
HT: Justin Taylor
1. Michele Samuelson said the following at 9:58 AM on Mar 19:
I've been following the making of this miniseries since it was first announced - brilliant casting, great source material, and HBO's attention to style and detail, plus Tom Hanks at the producing helm? I seriously can't wait to finally see the finished product (I don't have HBO either). If it comes even close to some of the other things HBO has accomplished (Band of Brothers, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee), it will be well worth the DVD price.
Plus - American Revolution and Founding! John Adams! I'm a total geek. :-)
2. Suzanne said the following at 10:28 AM on Mar 19:
Michele: Did I ever tell you your my hero?...
:)
3. Michele Samuelson said the following at 11:01 AM on Mar 19:
You're the one who mentioned John Adams and Jane Austen in the same blog post! I am in awe :-)
4. Louise said the following at 11:07 AM on Mar 19:
Take heart, folks.
The John Adams special will most likely be broadcast soon on regular cable TV.
I am a history fan, but alas, no HBO for me, so I could not view the program.
:(
Soon, though!
5. Diana said the following at 1:44 PM on Mar 19:
I really enjoyed the first two episodes. I watched them first by myself then in pieces later while different members of my family were watching it. My 17 year-old sister likes it and I've never known her to get into history. Even my 10 year-old brother enjoyed it (although I did warn him to not to watch a couple of moments). Unlike our sister, he always has enjoyed history, but I was still surprised that the miniseries was able to hold the attention of someone so young.
If you don't have HBO, it's worth finding a friend to record it for you. There's just a lot of great stuff in John Adams.
6. Ken said the following at 1:52 PM on Mar 19:
You really must watch 'The Wire'.
For some reason, HBO seems to get it right with the most ridiculous line up of outstanding TV!
7. Jacob said the following at 3:03 PM on Mar 19:
I caught a few minutes of the second part last night and was very impressed. This morning, I caught the first episode just as it was starting and tuned in. Very very impressed. Though I'm enjoying a two-week vacation, I'd rather not spend a lot of it in front of the tv, but I am very likely to buy it on dvd.
What I did see was good. A mob decides to tar and feather a representative of the King, and Adams watches in horror as pure democracy (mob rule) shows its true colors, which underscores exactly why we need checks and balances, a tripartite government and a charter that limits the responsibilities, rights and powers of that government.
The passion of a mob is what we are left with without a higher law to which we are held accountable.
8. Al said the following at 4:46 PM on Mar 19:
A friend passed me a couple of John Adam quotes. Pretty fascinating and thought provoking:
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other."
"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."
9. em said the following at 11:45 AM on Mar 22:
I suspect I'll be getting it on DVD. John and Abigail Adams are my favorite founding couple. Intelligent, complementary, real, mutually respectful and deeply caring through all the normal stresses of life plus the extraordinary ones that came with starting a country.
10. Angela said the following at 12:51 AM on Mar 25:
I actually practically begged my parents to get HBO so I could watch this miniseries, one of the main reasons being because the book it was based on I'd read last year and just loved. The money was worth it, the show is great, and not only do I enjoy it, but even the rest of my family ;)