Michael Lombardo Departing HBO

Michael Lombardo, HBO programming president, is departing the premium network after a 33-year run.

After a brilliant run of hits earlier in Lombardo’s career, HBO could use a few. Vinyl has failed to catch on after considerable initial buzz. The second season of True Detective was panned by critics and viewers alike. Game of Thrones is a monster, but is on the back end of its run.

HBO has signed up cultural tastemakers Jon Stewart and Bill Simmons, but lacks a clear scripted hit successor to Game of Thrones.

Lombardo has held the president of programming title since 2007.

HBO confirmed Lombardo's departure.

Variety was first to report the news, saying the decision was believed to be Lombardo's.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.