15 Awesome HBO Series We Forgot Existed

HBO’s résumé originates back to the early 1970s and is responsible for groundbreaking programming many services mirror today. HBO walked so streaming services could run, though this comes with some forgotten territory viewers might not remember.

While greats like The Sopranos and Band of Brothers are staples in HBO’s history, some remain lost in the public’s memory. Some aired with merely one season; others ran for multiple. However, it’s tricky to pinpoint several when clicking through television’s extensive list of shows buried for various reasons.

Dream On

Before finding incredible success with the show Friends, Marta Kauffman and David Crane presented HBO with Dream On. The sitcom follows the life and times of fictional New York City literary editor Martin Tupper (played by Brian Benben). Dream On ran for six seasons in the 1990s, though it’s received mixed reviews for its blatant use of adult themes.

Dream On suffered a similar fate to Sex and the City when it moved on to standard television syndication on Comedy Central. Not only is this a bizarre choice for censored programming, but it did nothing to elevate viewers’ interest.

Spicy City

Exploring destinies and encountering fate is a dodgy experience, but this is ideal for the cyberpunk genre. As such, animator Ralph Bakshi wanted to showcase such mature topics with his Spicy City anthology series. The adjective appropriately applies to the situations Bakshi’s characters endure in a futuristic and steamy setting.

Ralph Bakshi’s Spicy City performed successfully for only a month, enough to beat South Park’s ratings in July 1997. However, Bakshi and HBO could have disagreed with a change in staff, leaving Spicy City to crumble under one season. These stories faded away, leaving Bakshi to work on other creations in the adult animation world.

Hello Ladies

Adult themes run rampant in certain HBO shows, yet actor Stephen Merchant takes a different approach with Hello Ladies. Created by Merchant Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, Hello Ladies is a situational comedy about Englishman Stuart Pritchard looking for love in Los Angeles. As you’d expect with such a premise, humorous situations frequently leave an embarrassed Pritchard reflecting on his actions.

Much like with Spicy City, Hello Ladies aired for only a brief time. After one season, HBO bid farewell to Stephen Merchant’s sitcom due to low viewer counts. Of course, Merchant found success elsewhere with numerous projects involving Adult Swim and BBC One.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Literary works are an excellent source for adapting creative works for the small screens at home. One example is The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, a comedy-drama series from creators Richard Curtis and Anthony Minghella. The show follows the eponymous agency set in Botswana, where it was filmed. Moreover, it aired in collaboration with the BBC, broadcasting alongside HBO overseas.

Despite its international appeal, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency closed its doors after one season. HBO discussed plans to close out character arcs with feature films, which ultimately led to a cold case.

Luck

HBO’s Luck is anything but. Centered in horse racing, Luck follows Chester “Ace” Bernstein (played by Dustin Hoffman) as he aims to take revenge on those who betrayed him. As mentioned earlier, Ace gets involved with the sport with the help of his lieutenant, Gus (portrayed by Dennis Farina).

Reviews looked promising, with Luck receiving subsequent work to continue with Ace’s story. However, safety concerns arose when three horses died during production on Luck. While production crews took precautions, HBO disqualified the series while it filmed its initial season two episodes.

Lucky Louie

Luck ran out for comedian Louis C.K. in the 21st century, though this was only sometimes true. Before achieving success with his self-titled Louie show on FX, Louis C.K. created, wrote, produced, and starred in Lucky Louie. It’s another sitcom in HBO’s forgotten list of programs, lasting only one season in 2006.

Unfortunately, Louis C.K.’s unique brand of humor didn’t satisfy HBO executives. Reception was relatively low compared to other HBO programs, and the comedian moved on to other projects. This includes the Louie show on FX, which critics and fans viewed favorably.

Mr. Show with Bob and David

While some comedy didn’t bode well with HBO’s content, the same doesn’t apply to actors Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. Premiering in 1995, Mr. Show with Bob and David showcased the actors’ comedic talents in a sketch format. It ran for four seasons, often featuring famous participants like Brian Posehn and Tom Kenny across skits.

Mr. Show with Bob and David is available on the Max streaming service, yet it’s a program we rarely hear referenced today. It’s surprising to some to acknowledge that Bob Odenkirk and David Cross once worked together in the comedy entertainment world.

Flight of the Conchords

When Mr. Show introduced audiences to Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, Flight of the Conchords did the same with musicians Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. Essentially playing fictionalized versions of themselves, the two musicians embark on a journey to gain fame in the States. Running for two seasons, Flight of the Conchords gave audiences a charming look at two New Zealand musicians.

With the show’s success, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie found equal opportunities with the Flight of the Conchords music act. Wishing to move on from writing duties, they didn’t return for a third season.

The Comeback

The television landscape shook when Friends premiered, quickly becoming an entertainment staple. The main cast went their separate ways, with Lisa Kudrow starring in her show for HBO with The Comeback. It initially aired in 2005, yet HBO swiftly tossed it away due to insufficient viewer counts. Immense fan interest would see the series’ second season nearly a decade later in 2014, however.

For reasons unknown, The Comeback couldn’t live up to its name with a continued production process. Lisa Kudrow previously discussed season three’s potential, yet HBO might have moved on altogether. Perhaps we’ll receive a third season when the next decade rolls by, yes?

John From Cincinnati

HBO is most likely interested in something other than making a comeback with John From Cincinnati, another forgotten program. Set in Imperial Beach in California, the show focuses on a strange man who connects with a surfing family. It’s a project from creators David Milch and Kem Nunn; the former is behind another HBO gem, Deadwood.

While the premise hooked viewers and confused critics, HBO drowned John From Cincinnati when its numbers performed low. The film included a cast of notable names, including Bruce Greenwood, Ed O’Neill, and Austin Nichols as the titular character. These actors found success in other projects, leaving John From Cincinnati dinged and closed out.

Here and Now

HBO’s Here and Now is more recent in memory than some of the network giant’s other forgotten shows. Premiering in 2018, the show centers on a multiracial family in Portland as they face various social issues. Actors on the program included Tim Robbins, Holly Hunter, and Raymond Lee, along with various supporting characters.

Despite the star power on screen, Here and Now failed to meet viewership expectations, and HBO canceled it after one season. Despite the failure of the freshman season, HBO expressed interest in working with Alan Ball, Here and Now‘s creator, on a potential future project.

Braingames

Television producer Shelia Nevins’ position at HBO as President of Documentary and Family Programming proved worthwhile for educational programs. Before the prominent label, Nevins created Braingames with her Spinning Reels company. It was the first of its kind on the network, pioneering academic entertainment for young learners and families.

However, for reasons unspoken, Braingames flunked out of HBO’s circle. Only six episodes premiered for audiences, leaving behind excusable all-nighters to enjoy a half-hour of mind-bending skits. Of course, HBO distributed other youth-focused programs, including Crashbox, Craftopia, and The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo.

Classical Baby

HBO produced an animated program introducing young viewers to classical music with Classical Baby. Classical Baby is a 2005 brief series hosted by a classically trained baby in diapers. Each episode presents a beautiful spectrum of animated shorts supplemented by well-known classical pieces.

Watching any episode of HBO’s Classical Baby produces a meditative state many fans adore and remember. Despite its innocent and incredible approach to kids, HBO hasn’t aired any additional episodes since its “Lullaby” inclusions in 2017. There is no word that Classical Baby will pick up their baton for future presentations.

Maximum Security

As networks and streaming services merge, certain shows from the past become obsolete. We see this now with Netflix and Hulu, yet HBO is making similar moves with its Discovery merger. One example is Maximum Security, which doesn’t appear on HBO’s page for all available series.

Maximum Security was a show HBO launched in the mid-1980s with executive producer Ron Howard. It featured television greats such as Robert Desiderio, Geoffrey Lewis, and Jean Smart in significant roles. However, HBO canceled the show, locking it away forever in television’s neglected history.

Unscripted

Director Steven Soderbergh and actor George Clooney worked together on a few projects, including Unscripted for HBO. After their K Street program concluded, Soderbergh and Clooney bestowed audiences with a comedy-drama series. It ran for only one season, with ten episodes airing in early 2005.

Sources fail to indicate a particular reason for Unscripted’s closure. It’s possible Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney became intrigued with other projects, as exemplified by the closure of their Section Eight Productions company. Like K Street, Unscripted is a much-forgotten installment in HBO’s altered history of concluded shows.