“It’s not television. It’s HBO.”
That’s the slogan of the premium cable network that single-handedly changed the television landscape forever and ushered in the Peak TV era. The Home Box Office turned 50 and in November 2022 Variety celebrated its golden year by ranking the best performance in its history.
disclaimer: We only include performances of dramas, comedies and limited series that are no longer on the air or have been completed. So don’t expect this current list to see Zendaya (“Euphoria”), Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”), or Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and many others still in the running. This list will be updated as series come to the end of their runs.
Now a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO (now called Max) is the oldest subscription television service in the United States. Launched on November 8, 1972, HBO has produced some of television’s greatest creations in the past 50 years – all with multiple phases and facets of itself – featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
HBO holds the record for the most Emmy wins in a single year, with “Game of Thrones,” with 12, holding it in 2015, 2016, and 2019. The show also has the most wins for a drama series in history with 59, and the most for a single episode – “Battle of the Bastards,” which won six and equals “Boardwalk Empire.”
For individual acting roles, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ turn as Vice President (and eventually Madam President) Selina Meyer in “Veep” has won the most awards for a single role, with six for lead comedy. Additionally, “Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage is tied for the most wins ever in supporting drama for his work as Tyrion Lannister (with four).
HBO has made us laugh (Garry Shandling in “The Larry Sanders Show”), cry (Michaela Coel in “I May Destroy You”), and feel fear (John Kassir in “Tales from the Crypt”). It has kept us in suspense (James Gandolfini in “The Sopranos”), a state of dread (Carrie Coon in “The Leftovers”), and even utter confusion about how we feel about a character (Jeremy Piven in “Entourage”).
We hope HBO continues to build on its presence in the television medium. But what’s on the horizon for the premium cable network, and with HBO’s streaming home base, HBO Max, merging with Discovery+, how will its legacy grow? The answer to that has yet to be determined.
We’re nervous but hopeful: And as long as Max continues to create shows like the recently defunct “Succession” and “Barry,” and continue wonderful TV shows like “Euphoria” and “Hacks,” the brand’s mission statement remains intact.
Read Variety list of HBO’s 61 Best Television Series Performances (since 1972) below.
Honorable Mentions: Kristin Davis (“Sex and the City”); Woody Harrelson (“True Detective”); Frances McDormand (“Olive Kitteridge”); Mary Louise-Parker (“Angels in America”); Andre Royo (“The Thread”); Alexander Skarsgård (“Big Little Lies”); John Turturro (“The night of”); Dominic West (“The Wire”); Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”); Henry Winkler (“Barry”)
Updated: May 29, 2023
