Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, October 29th, 2024:
IT'S A HONOR JUST TO BE NOMINATED
I just found out that I am a finalist for an National A&E Journalism Award, for the "David Robb Investigative Award."
It is a cliche to say that I'm honored for just being nominated. But being a finalist in an investigative category means a lot. Especially when you're a small, independent outlet.
By the way, this is the piece that was nominated and while I'm proud of the work, it's a pretty grim story:
On March 2nd, 2012, the boys' mom was on her home computer, posting pictures of her kids on Facebook when one son asked her to not post pictures of him "because he did not like people looking at his body," the complaint stated.
According to the mother, he became upset and when she pressed him about the reason, she said he fell to the ground and started crying, telling her Feeney had touched his privates.
“I almost passed out. For a second, everything stopped,” she said. “Everything in my world stopped.”
She then called her oldest son in and watched as her 6-foot-tall teen also fell to the floor in tears, saying, “Oh no.... mom. He molested me too.'”
The teen then told his mother he never thought his 9-year-old brother was experiencing the same thing.
The awards will be given out on December 1st in L.A. and I am not being coy and modest when I say that I don't expect to win. I'm happy just with the nomination and while it would be nice to go to the banquet, it's an expensive trip for this independent journalist. Besides, I can't imagine feeling happier than I do now.
ABOUT THAT NETFLIX/IMAX PROPOSAL
The streaming industry journalism complex is all aflitter about an idea that is apparently being proposed by Greta Gerwig, who is directing the upcoming The Chronicles Of Narnia film for Netflix. She has been aggressively pushing Netflix for a theatrical release for the film, with the streamer reportedly declining the idea. Now an idea has surfaced which proposes the movie would instead receive an IMAX release ahead of its Netflix premiere.
The idea has been floated this week in Bloomberg and Puck, with slightly different details. And since those pieces are both behind a paywall, this Los Angeles Times article recaps the issue nicely. Even if it does include way too many quotes from analysts making the predictably lame "Netflix leaves so much money on the table argument."
There are a couple of things to keep in mind about this news. It's seems pretty clear the proposal is being floated either by Gerwig or someone close to her, hoping to exert a bit of pressure on Netflix. And in the abstract, having some of Netflix's big budget action movies on IMAX screens makes some sense. They can still argue they're not giving the film a theatrical release, while keeping the talent somewhat happy.
That being said, some of the proposed details I've seen being floated in the various articles are nuts. There is close to a zero chance that IMAX is going to give The Chronicles Of Narnia film a three or four-week run. Those screens are very competitive and while it's not impossible, I'll argue that it's extremely unlikely.
But I also am growing weary of talent who sign a deal with Netflix, knowing the streamer's attitude about theatrical releases. They then both want the extra money they'd receive upfront under a streaming-only release while still wanting the film to spend more time in theaters. If you want a theatrical release for your film, then don't sign with Netflix. But time and time again, various creatives manage to convince themselves that they are the ones who can change Netflix's mind.
REMEMBERING TERI GARR
I am the age where I was almost destined to fall in love just a little bit with Teri Garr. She was everywhere in the 70s and 80s, starring in a series of hit films while being a constant presence on television variety shows, as well as The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson and the various David Letterman talkers. She was funny and flirty and seemingly working without a filter. She was attractive in a very accessible way and while she didn't always have the opportunity to show off her acting chops, when she did she was an impressive presence.
Her early career was as a dancer and she appeared in the background of five Elvis Presley films. But after spending the later part of the 1960s and early 1970s plugging on television, she put together a string of really impressive theatrical roles: Young Frankenstein, The Conversation, Close Encounters Of Third Kind, One From The Heart, Honky Tonk Highway, Tootsie, Mr. Mom and After Hours. She received an Academy Award for Tootsie, but she never quite received the appreciation for her acting that she deserved.
Her recent years had been physically challenging. She was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1983 and suffered a brain aneurysm in 2006. But she continued to work intermittently over the past couple of decades, with her final role in 2011.
ODDS AND SODS
* Elkhorn, INSP’s period drama about a young Theodore Roosevelt (played by Mason Beals), has been renewed for a second season. It's set to premiere in the fall of 2025.
* Apple TV+'s Presumed Innocent is coming back a second season, but apparently it will have little connection to season one. It will have a female lead and will be based on unrelated upcoming book Dissection of a Murder.
* The documentary Decoding Beauty premieres Thursday, November 14th on Curiosity Stream. Here is the official logline: "The documentary is a 360 degree look at the role of beauty in our lives, from the perspective of evolutionary biologists, neuroscientists, plastic surgeons, chemists, models, heads of modeling agencies, beauty influencers, sociologists, activists and consumers. Decoding Beauty exp
* The sci-fi series Earth Abides premieres Sunday, December 1st on MGM+. Here's the official logline: "When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction. The series is based on George R. Stewart’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name."
* Season ten of Southern Charm will premiere Thursday, December 5th on Bravo.
* The second season of The Empress debuts Friday, November 22nd on Netflix.
* The new series Sold On SLC premieres Wednesday, December 4th on Bravo. It's real estate agents in Salt Lake City and blah, blah, blah.
* The new series Primeval premieres Thursday, January 9th on Netflix. Here is the official logline: "This is America…1857. Up is down, pain is everywhere, innocence and tranquility are losing the battle to hatred and fear. Peace is the shrinking minority, and very few possess grace — even fewer know compassion. There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival."
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH:
* Last Bite Hotel Season One Finale (Food) - [photo gallery]
* Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour (Netflix)
* One Shot: Overtime Elite (Prime Video)
* Tom Papa: Home Free (Netflix)
* Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Series Premiere (Disney) - [first look video]
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH:
* Buy It Now Series Premiere (Prime Video)
* Children Of The Church Steps (Netflix)
* Go Ahead, Brother Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Martha (Netflix)
* Max & The Midknights Series Premiere (Nickelodeon)
* The Law According To Lidia Poët (Netflix)
* The Manhattan Alien Abduction (Netflix)
* Time Cut (Netflix)
* You Would Do It Too (Tú También lo Harías) Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY!