The Five Shows That Put HBO on the Map (with Leah Cevoli)

from 40 Years and 40 Beers · host Bob Bain and Joe Massi

Before Deadwood and long before Game of Thrones, five shows transformed HBO from a premium channel into the home of prestige television. Bob, Joe, and special guest Leah Cevoli revisit the late-’90s “Phase One” era that changed everything.They unpack how Oz, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, and Curb Your Enthusiasm reshaped storytelling, pushed boundaries, and made HBO the standard every network chased for the next two decades.A deep dive for anyone who loves classic TV, cultural history, and the rise of premium storytelling.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Nov 7, 2025

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The Five Shows That Put HBO on the Map (with Leah Cevoli)

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