# "The Tudors" Series on Showtime-- Man, Am I STOKED! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683 "2006-11-01T02:12:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/1 "2006-11-01T02:12:18Z")
I literally bounced up and down in my seat, squealing with excitement, when I saw the previews for this series tonight. I don’t know if I can wait until Summer 2007 for it. (Guess I’ll have to.) _Oh, man, oh man . . . ._ I’ve been saying for years that this could be an awesome television series if it was done correctly. From the tiny snippets I saw, it looks like they did try for the level of authenticity in sets and costumes that was brought to HBO’s _Rome._ There’s very little on Showtime’s website about it, except for a few [press releases.](http://www.sho.com/site/announcements/060508tudors.do) > [@](#): > > THE TUDORS will focus on the rarely dramatized, tumultuous early years of King Henry VIII’s nearly 40-year omnipotent reign (1509-1547) of England. In addition to dalliances with famous female consorts Catherine of Aragon and the infamous Anne Boleyn, the series delves into Henry’s most notable political relationships, including those with philosopher Sir Thomas More, Cardinal Wolsey, head of the Catholic Church of England during its break with Rome, and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and Henry VIII’s closest friend. Anyone else excited about this one? ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/2 "2006-11-01T02:27:57Z")
I’m excited as well. I just wish it started sooner. ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/3 "2006-11-01T02:41:59Z")
I am as well. I love that period of English history. Too bad I’m not in the States. I guess I’ll just wait for the inevitable release on dvd in 2008. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/4 "2006-11-01T02:43:18Z")
So this isn’t a sitcom starring former Cardinals starting pitcher John Tudor? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/5 "2006-11-01T15:54:21Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] So this isn’t a sitcom starring former Cardinals starting pitcher John Tudor? [/QUOTE] It is, actually… only he has a time machine. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/6 "2006-11-01T16:26:50Z")
I hadn’t heard about this, it sounds good. I’ve been watching Weeds on DVD, so I guess it’s time I pony up and get us Showtime. Good stuff! – IG ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/7 "2006-11-01T17:39:51Z")
[QUOTE=Lissa] Anyone else excited about this one? [/QUOTE] Nothing against the Tudors but I’d prefer a series about the Wars of the Roses myself. Incidentally when I try to access your link I get: ‘We at Showtime Online express our apologies; however, these pages are intended for access only from within the United States.’ If you don’t mind this off topic question, I’ve never seen such a message before. Anybody know why this should be so? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/8 "2006-11-01T20:42:16Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] Incidentally when I try to access your link I get: ‘We at Showtime Online express our apologies; however, these pages are intended for access only from within the United States.’ If you don’t mind this off topic question, I’ve never seen such a message before. Anybody know why this should be so? [/QUOTE] Wow, that’s weird. I have no idea why they’d restrict access. Seems like they’d want people to read about their shows even if they can only buy them on DVD. I agree that the War of the Roses could be a wonderful series, but I think Henry VIII is “sexier” and more accessible to the viewer who may not have a really good idea of what the time period was like. The saga of the Tudors has all of the elements which draw viewers: lust, greed, intrigue, murder and betrayal. Not that the War of the Roses doesn’t-- it’s just that I think that the Tudors lend themselves more to a “soap opera” type entertainment factor whereas the stories around the WotR are more political and subtle. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/9 "2006-11-01T21:13:46Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] Nothing against the Tudors but I’d prefer a series about the Wars of the Roses myself. Incidentally when I try to access your link I get: ‘We at Showtime Online express our apologies; however, these pages are intended for access only from within the United States.’ If you don’t mind this off topic question, I’ve never seen such a message before. Anybody know why this should be so? [/QUOTE] Rights issues. I’ve seen the same thing when trying to see clips from the British series **The IT Crowd**. Probably they plan to show it in the UK later this year and don’t want anyone to get a look beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/10 "2006-11-01T21:31:19Z")
Thanks, **Lissa** , this is the first I’ve heard of it… and now I can hardly wait! I’m really fascinated by the story of Henry VIII and his wives. I have several books about them, and I have the videos of the old mini-series starring Keith Michell. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/11 "2006-11-01T22:26:50Z")
Well…of course _you’d_ like it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/12 "2006-11-01T23:42:22Z")
This and Weeds (and Dexter) are why I kept Showtime and dumped HBO. But who wrote that press release --“rarely dramatized”? IMDB has 12 entries at the top, and those are just the ones with Henry VIII in the title. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/13 "2006-11-01T23:54:43Z")
Actually, in costume-drama terms Henry VIII has been kind of overexposed. They should have started the series with Henry VII. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tudors-series-on-showtime-man-am-i-stoked/378683/14 "2006-11-02T00:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Actually, in costume-drama terms Henry VIII has been kind of overexposed. [/QUOTE] [grouses]Yeah, but it ain’t never been done _right_. [/grouses] (Or maybe it has, and I just haven’t seen it.)