Carnivale: The Complete 1st Season

>> As I do not subscribe to HBO, I have no idea of what aspect ratio that ???Carniv??le??? is presented in during its original broadcast. Most likely, it is displayed in a pan and scan version.

HBO aired Carnivale in widescreen on its main channel (and HBO West, HBO Latino).

I'm not sure if it was anamorphic or not... perhaps it was on HBO's Hi Def channel. (The current batch of reruns on HBO2 is full screen.)

HBO/HBO West/HBO HD offer Dolby 5.1, but HBO2 is only stereo. I believe HBO Family, HBO Signature, HBO Comedy and HBO Zone are all stereo only as well. HBO Latino offers spanish audio.

Thanks for the info, matta2k.
I'm sure that the regular HBO channel (non-HD) is P&S, but on the HD one, the programs are all in widescreen (except for series like Sex & the City, which was shot in 1.33:1).

>> I'm sure that the regular HBO channel (non-HD) is P&S

I popped one of my tapes of Carnivale into the VCR and there are black bars on the top and bottom...

Were there any notes from HBO included in your advanced copy about these extras and why they weren't included on the final product?

# Tarot Card Game
# Museum of TV and Radio Seminar
# TCA Trailer
# The Original Pilot Episode Titled "Milfay"

I'm extremely disappointed that the Museum of TV and Radio panel is not part of the set. I was really looking forward to it.

Thanks for the clarification on the show's broadcast aspect ratio.

I received an updated press release from HBO a day after I posted my review. No reason was given for the exclusion of the Seminar or any of the missing ones you just mentioned. I would venture a guess that the reason is usually and probably time constraint. The release also wrongly stated that the aspect ratio is 4:3.

Yes, I agree that the seminars are quite interesting. I remember the one with the Sex and the City cast on one of the show's DVDs. If I remember correctly, there was also one on the Alias DVD.

>> I would venture a guess that the reason is usually and probably time constraint.

Don't think so. The panel was held March 16. I think nine/ten months is quite enough time.

>> Yes, I agree that the seminars are quite interesting. I remember the one with the Sex and the City cast on one of the show's DVDs. If I remember correctly, there was also one on the Alias DVD.

There's one on my Freaks & Geeks Yearbook Ed., and season two of Strangers with Candy. There's a panel on Buffy season six, and a heavily edited panel on Arrested Development season one. They're great to watch.

I just learned that disc six of the rental version of the DVDs (available from Netflix, for example) contains the previously promised Museum Of TV And Radio discussion panel--58 minutes!

Why wasn't this extra included on the retail version that I paid $70 for? What is HBO's thinking here? Sure, it's swell that the discussion panel is available at ALL, but this is HBO slapping the faces of Carnivale fans: "Not only will they buy the overpriced set, but we'll make them rent it as well!"

(I've yet to find out if the original pilot is anywhere on the rental discs.)

Also, the total running time for all twelve episodes is 627 minutes. The box advertises 720 minutes. HBO is fleecing us like a bunch of carnies.