HBO Cans Carnivale

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Home Box Office Wednesday canceled its dark dramatic series, Carnivale, after two seasons.

The Depression-era series, which follows a carnival troupe and the forces of good and evil, averaged 4.2 million viewers a weekly basis over its 13-episode second season, which ended this past March. That falls short of the 6 million average weekly viewers the network’s western series Deadwood is generating during its current, sophomore season run.

“We have decided not to renew Carnivale,” said HBO Entertainment president Carolyn Strauss in a statement. “We feel the two seasons we had on the air told the story very well and we're proud of what everyone associated with the show has accomplished.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.