There are times I wish television wasn't so expensive.

One of the most mourned gone too soon series in TV history is Rome, written by John Milius the writer of among other things Apocalypse Now. The series was greenlit at least in 2003 because David Milch came to HBO with a pitch for two roman centurions who started the series arresting St. Paul and the heads said it was the greatest pitch they'd ever heard but they'd already greenlit Rome. Milch decided to make Deadwood instead (so that was a mitzvah) and by the time that series was prematurely cancelled, Rome had yet to air its first season.

It has been hailed as one of the great unsung masterpieces in HBO's lore, currently ranked #89 on imdb.com. It had an exceptional cast from Ray Stevenson, KeVIN McKidd, Polly Walker, and Tobias Menzies (a decade before Outlander and The Crown) as well as James Purefoy as Marc Anthony. It was nominated for seventeen Emmys and won 7. Its first season was nominated for Best Drama by the Golden Globes. It was just as great a series as so many of the HBO masterpieces - and like Deadwood, not enough people watched to justify the massive expense and it was cancelled after two seasons.

Bruno Heller, one of the headwriters has worked constantly in TV since creating the Mentalist, Gotham and Pennyworth. All have their merits but none have ever had the majesty of Rome. All of the actors have worked steadily in the twenty years since (until Stevenson's untimely death) but if ever there wasa time to mourn the grandeur that was Rome, it's right here.