Mr. President

MARY McNAMARA committed a rather egregious historical error in her commentary on HBO’s seven-part series, “John Adams” [“HBO as Underdog,” April 19], in which she claimed that “George Washington so quickly tired of the infighting among his Cabinet and vagaries of public opinion that he stepped down from the presidency after a single term.” This is patently absurd. He served two. And that was a point underscored in the series. Adams only served one.

The error further undermines the credibility of her assessment that “ ‘John Adams’ has done well, especially considering that it’s a historical drama composed, mostly, of men in waistcoats talking politics.” Say what?

The focus of the series was on the relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail, played brilliantly by Laura Linney. The interplay of their 54-year marriage dominated the drama. It was hardly about men in waistcoats.

Perhaps McNamara should have paid closer attention.

Geoffrey F. Dunn

Santa Cruz

HBO may no longer be top dog, but I believe it still sets the standard for TV excellence. Though I find myself watching more Showtime these days, I wonder if their programs (“Dexter,” in particular) wouldn’t be better if produced by HBO.

While Showtime keeps adding to its plate, HBO has put itself behind the eight ball with three inexplicable moves that made even its most faithful feel betrayed: 1) Its failure to give a fitting conclusion to “Deadwood”; 2) The grossly unsatisfying ending to “The Sopranos”; 3) Allowing that infuriating muck “John From Cincinnati” to even air. Shows like “John Adams,” “Big Love” and “In Treatment” give us hope, but such crimes are not so easily forgiven.

Michael Truesdale

Valley Village