An average TV viewer has hundreds of options to watch on any given time slot, so if he or she chooses to pay extra money for a special channel, it better deliver

For the last two decades, HBO has been considered the gold standard for television quality.

Remember the slogan, "It's not TV, It's HBO?" Well, up until a couple months ago this marketing ploy actually rang true. HBO has long been the trendsetter of original series that break all boundaries and push audiences' perception of what television is and should be.

There's plenty to watch on network television, but we have long been living in the Golden Age of Cable. Ever since HBO told us, "It's not TV. It's HBO," we've been hooked. Ponying up the money for cable can be difficult, but these channels make it worth the price.

CENTURY CITY, Calif. - Savage swordsmen bent on death and destruction clash with the iron-willed protectors of a new world in Pathfinder, the heroic action-adventure filled with intense battle scenes and breathless, primal violence.

It's an eclectic mix of DVD releases this week. First, check out the second season of HBO series Carnivale. The final battle between Good and Evil is looming, and two men are on a collision course that could determine the fate of the world. The first season of the Incredible Hulk is also available, starring everyone's favorite green-skinned man Lou Ferrigno. Or check out the fourth season of The Pretender, which centers on a man who could assume any personality and handle any job at a second's notice.