Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice books have sold more than 60 million copies in 47 languages while Game of Thrones is HBO's most popular series ever.
So, yes, people do actually care.
Refuse to have HBO in my house. But south parks take on it with this guys predilection for happily presenting penises on the ‘game of scones’ makes me glad it’s not on my TV.
Popularity does not make something good. No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.