Commentators viewed the success of Rome as crucial for the network , especially after the past mixed reception of Carnivàle and K @-@ Street . In July 2005 , James Hibberd of Television Week wrote that Rome was viewed " as the network 's best shot for adding another literate , must @-@ see drama to its schedule " . Writing for the same publication , Tom Shales said that HBO " have made such a fuss over Rome , and the network itself have put such painful pressure on the show ( and its producers ) to make a hefty impact , that it 'll be scorned like a leper if it fail to make a truly gigantic splash . "