It’s a week of departures and arrivals at ‘new’ HBO

You’ll be talking about: The new HBO. Home Box Office enters a new phase post “The Sopranos” and sans longtime chief executive Chris Albrecht. This week the cable network puts its best foot forward with the premiere of the much-hyped surreal surfing drama “John From Cincinnati” and the second-season premiere of “Big Love.” (Tonight and Monday)

You can’t help but talk about: The return of Tina Brown. At the tail end of the 20th century, Bill Clinton was still in the White House, the economy was booming and celebrity editor Tina Brown reigned supreme. Then those towers fell, the media party took a breather and Brown all but disappeared from our radar. But here she is again with “The Diana Chronicles,” a book about the social milieu that formed the Princess of England. Helen Mirren calls it “extraordinary.” (Tuesday)

You probably won’t talk about: The Daytime Emmy Awards. Will “Guiding Light” sweep this year? Does Julie Berman of “General Hospital” have a fighting chance to win outstanding younger actress in a drama series? Will “Ellen” win all 12 awards it’s nominated for? These and other pressing questions will be answered at the Daytime Emmys. (Friday)

A lot of people will talk about: “Big Dog Daddy.” Burly country musician Toby Keith -- the guy who used to perform in front of a backdrop that depicted Dixie Chick Natalie Maines as Saddam Hussein’s lover -- adds another album to his long discography this week. (Tuesday)

We’ll be talking about: “Michael Tolliver Lives.” Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” series about life in San Francisco in the ‘70s and ‘80s made a very big impact on us in our teenage years, and we are thrilled to hear he has picked up with one of our favorite characters, Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, in this novel set 21 years after the last “Tales” book ended. Early reviews are positive. We can’t wait! (Tuesday)

-- Deborah Netburn