HBO/CINEMAX PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW

DRAMA SERIES

TRUE BLOOD: Based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, this hit drama series was created by Alan Ball, creator of HBO's Emmy(R)-winning series "Six Feet Under." The show follows the romance between waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people's thoughts, and her soul mate, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). Executive producers, Alan Ball and Gregg Fienberg. The third season wraps Sept. 12.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE: Set in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition, this new series chronicles the life and times of "Nucky" Thompson, the undisputed leader of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster. Steve Buscemi stars as Thompson; other cast members include Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Dabney Coleman, Shea Whigham, Anthony Laciura, Stephen Graham, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Stuhlbarg, Vincent Piazza, Paz de la Huerta, Paul Sparks, Michael Kenneth Williams and Gretchen Mol. The series was created by Terence Winter ("The Sopranos"), who also serves as executive producer with Martin Scorsese (who directed the first episode), Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg and Tim Van Patten. The season kicks off Sept. 19.

IN TREATMENT: Golden Globe winner and Emmy(R) nominee Gabriel Byrne returns as Dr. Paul Weston in the critically acclaimed series. New cast members include Debra Winger, Irfan Kahn ("Slumdog Millionaire"), Dane DeHaan and Amy Ryan. Executive producers, Stephen Levinson, Anya Epstein, Dan Futterman, Mark Wahlberg, Paris Barclay and Hagai Levy. The third season launches in October.

BIG LOVE: Returning for its fifth season in 2011, this acclaimed series tells the story of Salt Lake City native Bill Henrickson, who balances the needs of his three wives - Barb, Nicki and Margene - their nine kids, three houses and his entrepreneurial and political ambitions. Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin star in the show, which is executive produced by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, David Knoller, Bernadette Caulfield, and series creators Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer.

GAME OF THRONES: Based on the popular book series "A Song of Ice and Fire," by George R.R. Martin, this fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. Filming in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the show debuts in 2011.

TREME: From David Simon, creator of "The Wire" and "Generation Kill," and Eric Overmyer, writer-producer of "Homicide: Life on the Street," this HBO series explores a unique American culture rebuilding after historic devastation, chronicling the life of New Orleans residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Cast members include Wendell Pierce, Khandi Alexander, Clarke Peters, Rob Brown, Steve Zahn, Kim Dickens, Melissa Leo, Michiel Huisman and Lucia Micarelli. The second season kicks off in 2011.

LUCK: This new drama series is a provocative look at horse racing - the owners, gamblers, jockeys and diverse gaming industry players. The cast for the pilot stars Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick, Ritchie Coster, Ian Hart, Tom Payne, Kerry Condon, Gary Stevens and Nick Nolte; Jill Hennessy guest stars. Pilot credits: executive producers, David Milch, Michael Mann and Carolyn Strauss; co-executive producer, Henry Bronchtein; producer, Dustin Hoffman; written by David Milch; directed by Michael Mann. The series begins shooting this fall at Santa Anita Park and other Los Angeles locations.

COMEDY SERIES

HUNG: This comedy series stars Thomas Jane as a well-endowed former high school legend turned struggling middle-aged high school basketball coach, who figures out a way to use his best asset when faced with a financial crisis. Jane Adams, Anne Heche, Eddie Jemison, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Charlie Saxton, Rebecca Creskoff and Gregg Henry also star. The series is created by Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson; executive producers, Colette Burson, Dmitry Lipkin, Alexander Payne, Michael Rosenberg, Scott Stephens, Noreen Halpern and John Morayniss. The second season wraps Sept. 12.

ENTOURAGE: Created by Doug Ellin, this hit series draws on the experiences of Hollywood insiders and stars Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and three-time Emmy(R) winner Jeremy Piven. Executive producers, Mark Wahlberg, Doug Ellin, Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss, Denis Biggs and Ally Musika. The seventh season wraps Sept. 12.

BORED TO DEATH: Created by Jonathan Ames, this half-hour comedy series stars Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis. Schwartzman portrays a thirtysomething Brooklyn writer who has a sideline business as an unlicensed private detective, solving some cases and making others worse. Executive producers are Jonathan Ames, Sarah Condon, Dave Becky, Stephanie Davis and Troy Miller. The series kicks off its second season Sept. 26.

EASTBOUND & DOWN: Starring Danny McBride and executive produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Jody Hill and Danny McBride, this comedy series tells the story of a star pitcher whose self-destructive behavior knocks him out of major league baseball, leaving him broke, delusional and desperate to regain his former glory. The series kicks off its second season Sept. 26.

HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA: This comedy series follows two enterprising twentysomethings as they hustle their way through New York City, determined to achieve the American Dream by making a name for themselves in the competitive fashion scene. Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk, Luis Guzman, Lake Bell and Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi star. Executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss, series creator Ian Edelman, Julian Farino, Jada Miranda and Mark Wahlberg, the show kicks off its second season next year.

THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW: This animated adaptation of Ricky Gervais' hit podcasts features the comic stream-of-consciousness exchanges between Gervais, his collaborator Stephen Merchant and their offbeat friend Karl Pilkington. The second season kicks off next year.

OTHER SERIES

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER: Now in its eighth season, Maher's live weekly show is devoted to news and comedy, allowing him to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues. The show returns from hiatus Sept. 17, with editions debuting on Friday night.

COMEDY SPECIALS

TRACY MORGAN: BLACK AND BLUE: The red-hot comedy star makes his HBO stand-up debut in a solo comedy special, taping before a live audience at the Apollo Theatre in New York City Sept. 24 and 25, and featuring the comedian's unpredictable and freewheeling brand of humor in an uncensored setting. Debuts in November.

HBO FILMS

THE SUNSET LIMITED: Based on the play of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winner Cormac McCarthy, this searing two-character drama tells the story of a stranger who saves another man from throwing himself in front of a Harlem subway train known as the Sunset Limited. Secluded in the apartment of the rescuer, the two men from vastly different backgrounds engage in an intense exchange of ideas as they debate the value of their existence. Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson star; written by Cormac McCarthy; directed and executive produced by Tommy Lee Jones; produced by Barbara Hall. Debuts in Feb. 2011.

CINEMA VERITE: Diane Lane, Tim Robbins and James Gandolfini star in a film by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. The HBO Films presentation takes a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking documentary "An American Family," which chronicled the lives of the Louds in the early 1970s and catapulted the Santa Barbara family to notoriety in the creation of a new television genre - the reality TV series. The film also stars Patrick Fugit, Lolita Davidovich, Kathleen Quinlan, Shanna Collins and Thomas Dekker. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini direct from a screenplay by David Seltzer. Gavin Polone and Zanne Devine executive produce; Karyn McCarthy produces. Debuts in 2011.

HBO MINISERIES

MILDRED PIERCE: Kate Winslet stars in the title role of this HBO Miniseries presentation along with Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood, Brian O'Byrne, James LeGros, Melissa Leo, Mare Winningham and Hope Davis. Directed by Todd Haynes from a script by Haynes and Jon Raymond, it tells the epic story of a proud single mother struggling to earn her daughter's love during the Great Depression in middle-class Los Angeles. The five-part miniseries, produced in association with MGM, will follow the story laid out by James M. Cain in his 1941 novel of the same name. Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler, John Wells and Todd Haynes executive produce. Debuts in March 2011.

HBO DOCUMENTARIES

IF GOD IS WILLING AND DA CREEK DON'T RISE: Five years after Hurricane Katrina, director Spike Lee returns to New Orleans to see how the ambitious plans to reinvent the Crescent City are playing out in this all-new, four-hour documentary. He finds a patchwork of hope and heartache in a story book-ended by a pair of momentous events - the historic 2010 Super Bowl victory and the disastrous British Petroleum oil spill - that changed the history of America's most unique city once again. Debuts Aug. 23 and 24.

MY TRIP TO AL-QAEDA: This collaboration between Oscar(R)-winning director Alex Gibney (HBO's "Taxi to the Dark Side") and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Lawrence Wright brings Wright's acclaimed one-man play to the screen. Developed from Wright's 2006 best-selling book "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11," the film is an emotional journey performed by Wright, chronicling fundamentalist Islam's rise to power and the dilemma he faces as a writer in maintaining his objectivity. Debuts Sept. 7.

THE FENCE: The latest film from Rory Kennedy (HBO's Emmy(R)-winning "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib") investigates the impact of the 700-mile fence that was built by the U.S. government along the 2000-mile-plus Mexican border, and has involved 350 engineers, thousands of construction workers, tens of thousands of tons of metal and billions of dollars since 2006. The documentary reveals how the fence's stated goals - containing illegal immigration, cracking down on drug trafficking and protecting cptfc America from terrorists - have given way to unforeseen, even absurd consequences, asking the question: Was it all worth it? Debuts Sept. 16.

TEENAGE PAPARAZZO: This documentary chronicles the relationship between 14-year-old paparazzo Austin Visschedyk and Adrian Grenier, star of the HBO series "Entourage." Inspired by a chance encounter with Visschedyk, Grenier turns the cameras on him in an effort to document this unique teenager's world. But the actor-director soon finds the project becoming a personal challenge, as he is forced to take responsibility for his influence on his subject's life. Ultimately, the film is an intimate look at paparazzi and the celebrity culture they serve. Debuts Sept. 27.

SINS OF MY FATHER: This documentary tells the fascinating inside story of Pablo Escobar, the most notorious drug lord in Colombian history, through the eyes of Sebastian Marroquin, his only son, who changed his name and fled Colombia after his father's death. For the first time in more than a decade, Marroquin and his mother, Maria Victoria, break their silence in deeply personal interviews, while never-before-seen pictures and home movies from the Escobar archive paint an intimate portrait of their family life. It also provides an up-close view of Marroquin's efforts at reconciliation with the men whose prominent political fathers were killed by Escobar 20 years ago. Directed by Nicolas Entel. Debuts Oct. 4.

MONICA & DAVID: Winner of the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary Feature Award, this film explores the marriage of two adults with Down syndrome and the parents who strive to support their needs. Full of humor, romance and everyday family drama, the film weaves together intimate footage and personal interviews, beginning with Monica and David's storybook wedding and chronicling their challenging first year of marriage in pursuit of an independent life together. Directed by first-time filmmaker Alexandra Codina. Debuts Oct. 14.

WARTORN: 1861-2010: This timely documentary explores combat stress and post-traumatic stress in the military throughout American history, chronicling its effect on military personnel and their families. Directed by Jon Alpert and Ellen Goosenberg and executive produced by James Gandolfini. Debuts Nov. 11.

PUBLIC SPEAKING: This conversation with New York writer Fran Lebowitz about her experiences and views of the world spotlights her trademark humor. Directed by Oscar(R)-winner Martin Scorsese and produced by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter. Debuts in Nov.

WISHFUL DRINKING: This feature-length adaptation of Hollywood icon Carrie Fisher's hit autobiographical stage production tells the intoxicating tale of her life, combining her raucous one-woman stage performance, interviews with family and friends and archival footage. Produced and directed by World of Wonder's Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey. Debuts in Dec.

HBO2 DOCUMENTARIES

WOMAN REBEL: This documentary journeys to Nepal, where nearly 40% of the guerillas in the rebel army that fought to overthrow the government from 1996 to 2006 were women. The film follows one of them, Uma Bhujel (army codename "Silu"), from the jungles of the revolution all the way to the halls of Parliament, capturing a turning point in the country's history. Directed by first-time filmmaker Kiran Deol. Debuts Aug. 18.

WAR DON DON: This gripping presentation chronicles the sensational trial of Issa Sesay in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Prosecutors accuse him of war crimes; supporters call him a reluctant fighter who protected civilians and played a crucial role in bringing peace to the country. The film features unrestricted access to prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims and Sesay himself. Directed by first-time filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen. Debuts Sept. 22.

DARK LIGHT: THE ART OF BLIND PHOTOGRAPHERS: This documentary explores the artistry and innovation of blind photographers Pete Eckert, Bruce Hall and Henry Butler, whose luminous work can help others see the world through their eyes. The film asks the questions: Can vision succeed where eyesight fails? Can a blind person make meaningful photographs? How can the creator appreciate his own work? Debuts in Oct.

THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNOR BOOTH GARDNER: Oscar(R)-nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject, this documentary follows the former Washington State governor's "Death with Dignity" campaign to legalize physician-assisted suicide after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1993. Directed by Daniel Junge, the film looks at cptfc both sides of the hotly-debated issue, painting an intimate portrait of a man who battles his own physical deterioration as he works to pass the legislation and solidify his legacy. Debuts Nov. 3.

TOP 10 MONKS: This documentary tells the story of Cistercian monks living in a 12th-century monastery near Vienna who scored a surprise Top 10 hit in Europe with an album of Gregorian chants, showing how they cope with the effects - and incongruities - of pop "stardom." Directed by Dana Perry. Debuts in Dec.

SPORTS

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL: Winner of 21 Sports Emmys(R), and the only sports show ever to receive a Columbia University-duPont broadcast journalism award, the magazine program explores issues, controversies and personalities in the sports world with more provocative reports in new monthly editions. Host Bryant Gumbel is joined by correspondents Mary Carillo, Frank Deford, Jon Frankel, Bernard Goldberg and Andrea Kremer. The next edition debuts Aug. 17.

HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS: HBO Sports, NFL Films and the New York Jets team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League, focusing on the daily lives and routines of second-year head coach Rex Ryan and an intriguing mix of high-profile veterans, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason. The five-episode season kicks off Aug. 11.

LOMBARDI: The Emmy(R)-winning team of HBO Sports and NFL Films explores the fascinating career and life of Vince Lombardi, football's most revered coach. Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships and won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967. He defined athletic excellence and a single-minded dedication that made his name synonymous with winning at all costs, often at the price of personal relationships. The documentary debuts Dec. 11.

HBO THEATRICAL MOVIES

AUGUST

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN - Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro. (Directed by Michael Bay; based on Hasbro's TransformersTM Action Figures; written by Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman.) (HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (C) 2009 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.). Debuts Aug. 14.

THE INFORMANT! - Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey. Debuts Aug. 21.

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE - Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. Debuts Aug. 28.

SEPTEMBER

A PERFECT GETAWAY - Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez and Steve Zahn. Debuts Sept. 4.

COUPLES RETREAT - Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell and Jean Reno. (Directed by Peter Billingsley; written by Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn & Dana Fox.) Debuts Sept. 11.

LOVE HAPPENS - Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler, Judy Greer, Joe Anderson, John Carroll Lynch and Martin Sheen. (Directed by Brandon Camp; written by Brandon Camp & Mike Thompson.) Debuts Sept. 18.

UP IN THE AIR - George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and Danny McBride. (Directed by Jason Reitman; based upon the novel by Walter Kirn; screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.) Debuts Sept. 25.

OCTOBER

THE BLIND SIDE - Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron and Kathy Bates. Debuts Oct. 2.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL - Zachary Levi, David Cross, and Jason Lee and Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate. (Directed by Betty Thomas; cptfc written by Jon Vitti and Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger; based on characters created by Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman.) (Alvin and the Chipmunks and Characters TM & (C) 2009 Bagdasarian Productions, LLC. All rights reserved. (C) 2009 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.) Debuts Oct. 9.

THE LOVELY BONES - Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli and Saoirse Ronan. (Directed by Peter Jackson; based on the novel by Alice Sebold; screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson.) Debuts Oct. 16.

INVICTUS - Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Debuts Oct. 23.

AMELIA - Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston and Joe Anderson. (Directed by Mira Nair; written by Ron Bass and Anna Hamilton Phelan; based on the books "East to the Dawn," by Susan Butler and "The Sound of Wings," by Mary S. Lovell.) Debuts Oct. 30.

CINEMAX "SEE IT SATURDAY" THEATRICAL MOVIES

AUGUST

THE HANGOVER (UNRATED VERSION) - Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong and Rachael Harris. Debuts Aug. 14.

WHIP IT - Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Jimmy Fallon and Daniel Stern. (Directed by Drew Barrymore; screenplay by Shauna Cross; based on a novel by Shauna Cross.) Debuts Aug. 21.

POST GRAD - Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Rodrigo Santoro, Jane Lynch, with Carol Burnett and Michael Keaton. (Directed by Vicky Jenson; written by Kelly Fremon.) Debuts Aug. 28.

SEPTEMBER

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis and Julie Walters. ((C) 2009 Warner Bros. Harry Potter Publishing Rights (C) J.K. Rowling. HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and (C) Warner Bros. All rights reserved.) Debuts Sept. 4.

SHERLOCK HOLMES - Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong and Eddie Marsan. (Directed by Guy Ritchie; screen story by Lionel Wigram and Michael Robert Johnson; screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson and Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg.) Debuts Sept. 11.

CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT - John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, with Willem Dafoe and Salma Hayek. (Directed by Paul Weitz; screenplay by Paul Weitz and Brian Helgeland; based on the "Cirque du Freak" series of books by Darren Shan.) Debuts Sept. 18.

NINJA ASSASSIN - Rain and Naomie Harris. Debuts Sept. 25.

OCTOBER

THE FOURTH KIND - Mila Jovovich. Debuts Oct. 2.

PUBLIC ENEMIES - Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff and Stephen Lang. (Directed by Michael Mann; screenplay by Ronan Bennett and Michael Mann & Ann Biderman; based on the book by Bryan Burrough.). Debuts Oct. 9.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX - George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe and Owen Wilson. Debuts Oct. 16.

PIRATE RADIO - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost and Kenneth Branagh. Debuts Oct. 23.

THE FINAL DESTINATION - Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano and Haley Webb. Debuts Oct. 30.

NOVEMBER

CRAZY HEART - Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Robert Duvall. (Directed and written by Scott Cooper; based on the novel by Thomas Cobb.)

VALENTINE'S DAY - Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts and Taylor Swift.

CINEMAX VANGUARD MOVIES

AUGUST

ADAM - Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Frankie Faison, Mark Linn-Baker, with Amy Irving and Peter Gallagher. (Directed by Max Mayer; written by Max Mayer.) Debuts Aug. 11.

I WANT SOMEONE TO EAT CHEESE WITH - Jeff Garlin, Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt. Debuts Aug. 24.

SEPTEMBER

A SERIOUS MAN - Michael Stuhlbarg and Richard Kind. (Directed by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen.) Debuts Sept. 13.

OCTOBER

GENTLEMEN BRONCOS - Michael Angarano, Jennifer Coolidge, Jemaine Clement, Mike White, Hector Jimenez and Sam Rockwell star. (Directed by Jared Hess; written by Jared Hess & Jerusha Hess.)