Too Much TV: Is It Possible To Be A TV Critic *And* An Influencer?

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, November 6th, 2025:

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AN 'INFLUENCER' IN THE TV AND STREAMING INDUSTRY?
I've written a lot in 2025 about the changing role of the traditional TV critic. The long-running twice-a-year gatherings of the TCA (Television Critics Association) are likely never coming back. In part because of the industry turmoil and promotional budget cuts. But also because most streamers have decided that they prefer to pour their marketing money into experiential pop-ups and "tastemaker" events. Both of which provide some attention for the projects without of the messy feedback on the quality of the show.

I had a long conversation this week with the head of publicity at one of the big streamers and we spent a lot of time discussing what qualified someone to be an "influencer." Because while there are influencers out there who have tens of millions of followers, when you're a streamer, your influencer bread and butter are the people with smaller audiences. But hopefully those followers can help boost the visibility of their programming.

And content discovery is the biggest issue for any TV network or streamer right now. The media landscape is fractured, younger audiences tend to view more traditional outlets as suspect and smaller digital outlets often have their own visibility issues. All of this means that TV critics are increasingly seen as something nice to have if you have a show you believe will generate some positive buzz. But otherwise, there is an increasing belief that TV critics are less effective in building buzz within the current diverse online audience.

Speaking with this PR/communications head, my point was that - in the same way not every influencer is equal - not every TV critic is equal. You could build the staff of a half dozen great outlets from the ranks of the TV critics that have been laid off in 2025. So I can understand why many media companies might suspect that as a group, TV critics don't have the audience reach they used to. And that makes them less valuable as a whole.

But here's the thing - there are individual TV critics such as myself who are a hybrid of traditional journalist and digital influencer. Because we don't have a major outlet behind us, we've been forced to build our own online audience in much the same way as any other influencer. It's rare for a traditional TV critic to have a brand. But for TV journalist influencers like myself, our brand is what resonates with the audience. If I write about a show, I hopefully have a legitimacy with my readers that I wouldn't have if I was just writing pieces for a larger outlet. And that authenticity is what makes journalists like me valuable to studios, networks, and streamers.

That argument is still a tough one to make, but I am beginning to see a recognition in some places that they need to consider ways to integrate that TV journalist influencer into their promotional plans. 

In the meantime, reach out to me with your promotional plans. I have a daily newsletter audience of nearly 150,000 subscribers and often that readership tops two or three times that number after its been shared with others. I'm not at the level of the Kardashians, even the lesser known ones. But TV journalist influencers can help you move the promotional dial, while also providing traditional critical coverage of your show.

READER FEEDBACK
Here is a bit of the feedback I've received from readers over the past few days:


"CNN's issue is they're chasing viral moments instead of solid reportng. The straight news anchors like Burnett get overshadowed by the Scott Jennings circus. Networks need to realize viewers want actual analysis, not manufactured conflict."

--R&C

"Ezra Douthglesias, hahahaha, amazing."

--John A

"Watched Steve Kornacki’s surprise when Staten Island was gray on the map and then realized Cuomo’s map color was gray. Usually gray is reserved for ‘unknown’ or ‘unreported’. That was a dumb color to pick for the independent candidate. Totally entertaining though. One of my personal highlights"

--Steve

SOME QUICK TAKE REVIEWS

* Death By Lightning (Netflix)
One of the reasons why I love history is that there are an endless number of small, obscure moments in history that have a backstory so compelling and nuanced that they rival anything that could be imagined in an original scripted series. One example of that is this four-part limited series, which tells the story of the assassination of the president James Garfield, a man who in the rolls of American presidents is not exactly considered to be top-drawer example of what is possible. And yet, the show is really compelling, in part because the assassin is supremely self-delusional and mentally ill. He is angry because he wasn't appointed to the role of the U.S. ambassador to France, even though he had no experience in diplomacy and didn't speak French. He also chose the weapon he used to kill Garfield based on how it would eventually look on display in a Presidential museum.

* Pluribus (Apple TV, Friday)
This new series is from Vince Gilligan, who created Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. He promises this sci-fi series about the most miserable person on earth as they try to save the world from happiness is the "best thing he's ever done," and I wish I could tell you about it. 

The entire publicity process around the show is a bit frustrating. There are a lot of embargoes and spoiler alerts that are part of the publicity process from Apple TV (and I suspect, Vince Gilligan), most of which don't make much sense now that I have seen some of the show. Plus, Apple TV has provided a bunch of influencers two episodes of the show as part of its "First Bite" program. In theory, those influencers are only supposed to share their overall thoughts on the show, without revealing any details. But let's just say that the ability of influencers to do that has been mixed, from what I've seen.

The bottom line is you should watch the show. I wish I could tell you why, but in this case, I'm stuck with the ambiguity imposed by "the man."

* The Curse Of Oak Island (History)
There are what seem to be an endless number of "looking for treasure" reality TV shows, but Oak Island is one of the originals and still the best show of its genre. Partly because unlike many of these shows, there seems to be a fair amount of historical data that backs up the theory that at one point, some group of people buried treasure or other valuables deep in the ground under Nova Scotia's Oak Island. I tend to be in the camp of "it was there, but some took it out long ago," but it's still a fascinating show to watch. Even if too much of the show involves endless recaps and moments such as "Look, I found an old-ass nail!"

I'll have some more mini-review in tomorrow's newsletter, as we head into the weekend.

ODDS AND SODS
* So why was comedian John Mulaney at yesterday's Supreme Court deliberations? It turns out that he is friends with Neal Katyal, one of the lawyers working on the case. In fact, the two are apparently working on a TV series described as "The West Wing at the Supreme Court."

* A Shetland knitting group is unhappy with a new Channel 4 series that it claims spread "negative misconceptions" about Fair Isle knitting. But an American streamer should pick up Game Of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter, which has got everything - Fair Isle tank tops, cutting, "peeries", needle lengths, yarn thickness, and most controversially, crochet.

* Block Club Chicago has a great piece on what would actually happen to Chicago if it were targeted by a nuke, as it was in the Netflix film A House Of Dynamite.

TWEET OF THE DAY




WHAT'S COMING TODAY AND TOMORROW

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH:
* Alex Vs ARod (HBO)
* All Her Fault Series Premiere (Peacock)
* Death By Lightning (Netflix)
* Love + War (NatGeo)
* My Mother Looked Just Like You (LMN)
* The Bad Guys: Breaking In Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Basement: A Vanishing In Apple Valley (Sundance Now)
* The Vince Staples Show Season Two Premiere (Netflix)
* Unicorn Academy: Winter Solstice (Netflix)
* Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH:
* As You Stood By Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Baramulla (Netflix)
* Fire And Water: Making The Avatar Films (Disney+)
* Frankenstein (Netflix)
* Gold Rush Season Premiere (Discovery)
* Groom & Two Brides (Netflix)
* Happy's Place Season Two Premiere (NBC)
* Jay Jurden: Yes Ma'am (Hulu)
* Mango (Netflix)
* Maxton Hall - The World Between Us (Prime Video)
* Mistletoe Murders Season Premiere (Hallmark)
* My Lottery Dream Home Season Premiere (HGTV)
* Pluribus (Apple TV+)
* Power Book IV: Force Season Premiere (Starz)
* Ready To Love Season Premiere (OWN)
* Relative Danger (LMN)
* Seventeen: Our Chapter (Disney+)
* Stumble Series Premiere (NBC)
* Super Animals (NatGeo Wild)
* Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26 (Prime Video)
* The UnBelievable With Dan Aykroyd Season Premiere (History)
* The Worst Trip Around The World Series Premiere (Disney+)
* Vantara: Sanctuary Stories Series Premiere (Animal Planet)


SEE YOU EARLY FRIDAY MORNING!