Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Friday, January 26th, 2024

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, January 26th, 2024.

THIS WAS A REBOOT I WASN'T EXPECTING TO SEE
Vulture's Joe Adalian reported in his Buffering newsletter today that Netflix has picked up the rights to "romance" reality series Temptation Island:

The original Temptation Island ran on Fox from 2001 through 2003 (during the glory days of pioneering Reality Guru Mike Darnell) and spawned numerous international versions over the years. USA revived the series here in the States back in 2018, and it proved successful enough for the cable network to order five seasons in total, the most recent of which ended last August (and which can still be streamed on Peacock). But with USA’s increasingly tiny footprint, Temptation was limited in how much of a splash it could make in the culture. That could change when new episodes premiere on Netflix, which, time and again, has proven its ability to turn other platforms’ also-rans into hits. Temptation will be part of an already impressive roster of dating and relationship shows on the streamer, including Perfect Match, Love is Blind, The Ultimatum and Love on the Spectrum. David Goldberg and David Friedman will exec produce Temptation 3.0 for Banjay and Netflix. Netflix’s deal, by the way, is only for new episodes and not the library of those produced for Fox or USA.

This isn't one of those deals that will impress the industry analysts. But Netflix has been pretty successful in recent years with this genre of TV and picking up a format that is already known to some of the audience feels like a smart move.



SOME VIEWING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WEEKEND
Friday's tend to be a slower news day, so along with the regular weekend listings at the end of this newsletter, I've decided it's a good excuse to offer up some regular weekend viewing suggestions. And this week's suggestions are mostly the result of your questions. If you'd like me to suggest something for you to watch this weekend, drop a question into the comments section below and I'll answer ASAP.

* Q: I'm looking for some solid, straight-forward action movies. I watch them all the time with my high school-age son and we're run out of options. If it helps, we have Netflix and Max.

A: Netflix in particular is filled with action films, many of them original and not all that well-known to American subscribers. I'll assume you've already seen all of their high-profile titles and will suggest some other titles.

Lou (Netflix) isn't breaking any ground on the plot front. It's a pretty straight-forward action film about a loner living out in the woods who reluctantly decides to help rescue the kidnapped daughter of a neighbor. What makes the film different is that it not only features a woman in the starring role, it stars Allison Janney as a bitter ex-spy who kicks the ass of everyone who stands in her way. I've read in interviews that Janney loved doing such an unexpected role and she magnificently grumbles her way through the film in a way that puts Liam Neeson to shame.

Speaking of bas-ass female killers, Netflix has a nice collection of taut action movies in that genre. 2019's Maria is from the Philippines and stars Christine Reyes as an assassin who tries to leave her past behind until a gang threatens her family. I don't think I'm spoiling anything to reveal that it doesn't end well for the gang. And if your idea of the perfect action film centers around a sexy woman covered in sweat killing people non-stop for 90 minutes, then this will be the answer to your prayers.

2023's South Korean film Kill Boksoon stars Jeon Do-yeon as a single mother who is a feared assassin by day and mother of a surly teenager in the off-hours. The movie has some unexpected mother/daughter angst woven into an otherwise over-the-top action film. Watch for one fight set in a small restaurant, which is just a perfect mix of choreography and blood.

* Q: I have two kids - eight and ten - and I'm looking for a show we can watch on family movie night. Nothing too explicit, but not cutesy either.

A: This isn't an obscure choice, but it perfectly fits in your parameters. Percy Jackson And The Olympians is the first breakout non-Star Wars/Marvel series for Disney+ and if your kids haven't seen it, I suspect they'll love the non-stop action. Based on the book series by Rick Riordan, the series covers some of the same ground as the movies, but to be honest, the material works much better as a series. The show is breezy fun, and you don't have to know anything about the source material to enjoy it. FWIW, my teenage son's regular TV diet consists of equal parts Anime/sports/Pokemon and he's watched the entire season of the show with me. 

* Given the streaming service fatigue everyone seems to have right now, I am hesitant to suggest subscribing to yet another SVOD. But if you are a fan of Asian-produced TV and movies, Rakuten Viki is certainly a service you should check out.

And one reason to do that this weekend is that the service added the hit South Korean film Concrete Utopia exclusively today. It stars Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game, I Saw the Devil), Park Seo-jun (Parasite, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim), and Park Bo-young (Strong Girl Bong-soon, Doom at Your Service) and was a #1 hit in South Korea when it opened in movie theaters last August. 

Here's the logline: Concrete Utopia is a gripping disaster-thriller based on the second part of webtoon Cheerful Outcast by Kim Soong-nyung.  After Seoul is devastated by a powerful earthquake, the Hwanggoong Apartment complex is the only place still standing.  Young-Tak (Lee Byung-Hun) temporarily leads the residents of Hwang Gung apartment, but as the crisis unfolds, moral values are tested. 

TWEET OF THE DAY



ODDS AND SODS
* Heisler Beer is one of the most popular beers in the world, if your world is television. It’s produced by Independent Studio Services, a prop supplier, was created in the mid-’90s and is used in film and television whenever a character needs to crack into a beer and a major supplier doesn’t want their beer in the scene. 

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26TH:
* Badland Hunters (Netflix)
* Expats Series Premiere (Prime Video)
* Hightown Season Three Premiere (Starz)
* Masters Of The Air Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
* Sago Mini Friends Season Two Premiere (Apple TV+)
* Sit Down With Stand Up Udom Taephanich (Netflix)
* Trunk (Prime Video)
* The Underdoggs (Prime Video)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27TH:
* Confessions Of A Cam Girl (Lifetime)
* Doctor Slump Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero (Max)
* Love & Marriage: DC Season Premiere (OWN)
* Romance With A Twist (Hallmark)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28TH:
* For The Love Of Chocolate (UP tv)
* My Husband's Seven Wives (Lifetime)
* Next Level Chef Season Premiere (Fox)
* The Many Lives Of Martha Stewart (CNN)

MONDAY, JANUARY 29TH:
* History's Greatest Mysteries Season Premiere (History)
* Mighty Beheem’s Playtime (Netflix)
* The Claremont Murders (Acorn TV)
* The Greatest Night In Pop (Netflix)
* The Irrational (NBC)

SEE YOU MONDAY!