tom fontana unforgettable oz be hand down one of the great television series ever create . brilliantly write and act and and direct it be as close to perfection in any art form ( film and television and literature and music ) a it get . haunting in it extreme brutality it create a prison world fill with diverse character that range from compassionate to flat out terrify . it be a show that no matter how brutal it be get through and one can not take it eye off of . the combination of professional trained theater actor with film and television actor allow for a range of diverse and all original performance . and while the show be universally praise and have or have a loyal fan base and one can not feel that it be under appreciate during it television run because of other hbo drama such a the soprano and sex and the city and and six foot under . and while all those show be fine and borderline masterpiece in their right and many people forget that it be oz that be hbo first entry into one hour television drama series . it be a brave and risky first entry and with it hbo hit a grand slam with it . this be as good a it get .