HBO Crystal Ball: 'Carnivale' Back
by Andrew Wallenstein, The Hollywood Reporter (December 12, 2003)

"Carnivale" will reopen its tent next year on HBO.

Sources said the premium cable network has greenlighted a second season for the primetime series, ordering 13 more episodes. Production is expected to begin in the spring in anticipation of returning the Depression-era drama to air sometime in late 2004.

Created by Daniel Knauf, "Carnivale" completed its 13-episode rookie season earlier this month with an episode drawing 3.5 million total viewers, just under its season average. While HBO's more established series such as "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City" attract much bigger audiences, "Carnivale" earned a respectable viewership on par with another of its critically acclaimed dramas, "The Wire."

The series appeared to hit a ratings trough early against stiff competition on the broadcast networks but surged in the latter half of its run even as its lead-out, the faux-reality series "K Street," faltered. Launched simultaneously with "Carnivale," "Street" will not return for a second season.

"Carnivale" is executive produced by Knauf and Howard Klein. Knauf is repped by Agency for the Performing Arts' Marc Pariser.