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Fans of the smash hit TV show 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� may be getting a few more seasons of the show.聽

Those behind 鈥淭hrones鈥� are reportedly in negotiations with network HBO for not only a seventh but also an eighth season of the program. The sixth season of the fantasy show is set to debut this April.聽

In the past, had said the plan was for the program to run seven seasons. More recently, however, that Benioff and co-creator D.B. Weiss were thinking of eight and that HBO would happily take more (not surprising, considering 鈥淭hrones鈥� is the most-watched show in HBO history).聽

鈥淭hrones鈥� is based on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, which adds another wrinkle. There are two more novels yet to be released in the series, according to Martin, who has published five so far. Could the TV adaptation wrap up the story in two seasons? Or would they need more time?聽

The number of seasons that a critically acclaimed show will run has also been an interesting question in the last several years. Many favorite shows had long runs, with, for example, 鈥淢*A*S*H鈥� running for 11 seasons and 鈥淔riends鈥� running for 10.

But shows have often ran for a far shorter length of time in, for example, Britain, with one of the most critically acclaimed British shows ever, 鈥淭he Office,鈥� only running for 14 episodes (not counting a 2013 new special episode).聽

After the British 鈥淥ffice鈥� gained popularity, some bemoaned the short run, but said of the amount of episodes, 鈥淚 didn't want to repeat myself or water it down, so I just left it as it was, and I've never regretted that, really.鈥�

In contrast, the show's American adaptation ran for more than 200 episodes. in later seasons.

In our current age of quality television, however, some have expressed admiration for British TV's brevity. When discussing a then-possible end of her show 鈥淕irls鈥� (it has now been confirmed that the HBO show will now end after six seasons), said in an interview, 鈥淚 think America has a tendency to push shows past their due dates. I like the British model 鈥� in and out."聽

There can be the perception that fewer episodes and fewer seasons equals more creatively satisfying work. Are some of the most recent critically acclaimed shows running for fewer seasons, then? Not quite, but since the seasons are shorter, they鈥檙e still running for fewer episodes.聽

The recently concluded show 鈥淢ad Men,鈥� for example, ran on AMC for eight seasons, but the seasons were usually only 13 episodes, as are those of acclaimed Netflix shows like "House of Cards" or "Orange Is the New Black." 鈥淭hrones鈥� itself usually runs for 10 episodes a season.