All the hype of the Soprano's finale reminded me of my own fanaticism around David Milch's Deadwood. Just as that show was beginning to sort out some of the more complex plot lines, production abruptly ended. I could never have imagined that "The Gem" would have been brought down by a (I generously assume) highbrow surfer show. I will forgive Milch only if Ian McShane is cast as the owner of the local sno-cone shop.

I completely agree. Deadwood was truly the best of the "golded era" of tv. This will have to be much better than any surfer drama I've ever seen to hold a candle to the greatest tv show ever made