The Therapy Channel

I watched a few advance episodes of HBO's upcoming series "In Treatment" over the weekend, and I was struck by the fact that HBO is really becoming Therapy Central.

While the cable channel is at this moment receiving kudos for "The Wire," which exists far from the cushy world of therapists' couches, it is simultaneously keeping its eye on the psychoanalysis set (the shrink-oisie?). HBO appears to be acutely aware that its most popular series, "The Sopranos," wasn't just about the street world of mobsters, that Dr. Melfi's sessions were a critical element of the show's success.

"In Treatment" -- which is quite promising, by the way -- is about the daily appointments of a therapist played by Gabriel Byrne. The series will run for a half hour every weeknight for nine weeks, and each half hour will be solely made up of a single therapy session. (It premieres on Jan. 28.) The same patients -- including Blair Underwood and Josh Charles -- will return over the course of the weeks, and we will also see Byrne in therapy with his therapist.

It may be the most sustained and detailed view of talk therapy ever shown on American TV, as it relies solely on talk (and yes, SCRIPT), for its story. Instead of "My Dinner With Andre," it's "Our Sessions With Paul."

Meanwhile, HBO's other newish series, "Tell Me You Love Me," is also about therapy, with extended scenes taking place on the couch. Of course, much of the action on "Tell Me" takes place not just in the therapist's office, but in the bedroom.