Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, December 23rd, 2024:
PRODUCTION NOTES
We're headed into the holidays, which is the only time where there is even a small lull in TV, streaming and overall media news. After today's newsletter, the plan is to do an abbreviated newsletter tomorrow, and a short one on Friday with links to reviews for shows that are embargoed until they premiere (Squid Game, Doctor Who, etc). Then on Monday, December 30th, the newsletter will be focused primarily on the announcement of our Global TV Awards. I promise that you'll be surprised by some of the winners. Then things will return back to normal on Thursday, January 2nd. And as always, this may all change if there is some massively surprising piece of breaking news.
THE MOST-READ PIECES OF 2024
Like everyone else tasked with cranking out pieces close to the holidays, I am reminded that this is a great time to revisit the most-read pieces from this year. It's especially important this year because about 40% of the people reading this newsletter weren't subscribed this time last year. The newsletter reaches well over 100,000 people a day now and it's easy to forget that many readers may have missed things along the way. So here is a quick rundown of the most read pieces of 2024, in no particular order:
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- Netflix Isn't A Movie Studio, It's The Costco Of The Streaming Industry
I wrote a lot about streaming and this is the piece that generated the most positive and negative feedback from readers. The interesting part for me was that TV critics and the general public seemed to really disagree with my premise. But I heard from a number of people who work in the industry who thought it was very on point with the reality of the streaming business and Netflix's role in it. - Michael Feeney Was Minnesota's 'Quiet On Set' Moment
Obviously the fact that reporting on this story ended up winning me a national investigative reporting award makes it a big deal for me. But even more important to me what that it highlighted a story that deserved more attention. And reminded readers that despite all of the press coverage of sexual abuse of underage actors, the laws and guidelines surrounding child actors has not changed at all. - Deep Streams: 'Building Outside The Lines'
One of the most popular types of reviews I write are the ones in which I highlight some obscure show that no one noticed when it premiered. This review of the gentle and heartwarming father/daughter home rehab series generated a crazy number of thank you messages from people who learned about the show through the review and then fell in love with it. Sadly, I don't think Magnolia Network series will return for a second season. - Forget Chasing Non-Partisanship, CNN Should Embrace Populism
Being thought of as a non-partisan cable news network sounds great in theory. But aside from the difficult challenge of convincing viewers who think they know which way your network leans that they're mistaken, what does "non-partisan" even mean in 2024? In the case of CNN (and if press reports are to be believed, MSNBC), the default answer is to add a few contentious conservative on-air voices. However, I had a different suggestion - Netflix And The Moneyball Of Streaming
One of the ongoing games in the entertainment news press is to try and determine the "success" or "failure" of a Netflix original by comparing its viewing numbers to every other title that has come before it. But I write in this piece, the real way to determine success is by taking a Moneyball approach to keeping a subscriber base satisfied and engaged. - Review: 'Matlock'
While I liked the underlying long con premise of the show, I found the idea of calling this series "Matlock" was done more as a marketing gimmick than anything else. Which to be honest, annoyed the crap out of me. A lot of people read this review, but not many people agreed with it. - The Cowardice Of Bob Iger
The CEO of Disney has convinced himself that if he just strips away any culturally-sensitive elements from the company's TV show and movies, conservative critics will leave Disney alone. He's in for a rude surprise. - Review: 'Ultraman: Rising'
You might not expect for an animated film based on the iconic Ultraman character to be as much about what it means to be a father as it is about kicking some kaiju behind. Which is why this was one of my favorite films of the year. - Q&A: PBS Chief Digital and Marketing Officer Ira Rubenstein
I really love doing long-form interviews that allow me to dig deep into an executive's role and use that as a way to highlight the overall business model and challenges of that organization for my readers. I really enjoyed this interview, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was a conversation that a lot of people enjoyed and passed around to co-workers. - Review: 'Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer'
One thing I learned this year is that when you write a negative review of Dave Chappelle, you will hear from his fans. Although for the most part, their complaining emails reminded me a lot of what I disliked about this Netflix special: a lot of misplaced anger and the need for some serious copyediting and pruning.
- Netflix Isn't A Movie Studio, It's The Costco Of The Streaming Industry
ODDS AND SODS
* Hallmark+ has renewed Finding Mr. Christmas for a second season.
* Netflix has released a first trailer for the upcoming Robert DeNiro limited run series Zero Day, which premieres on Thursday, February 20th, 2025. 2024
* Max has picked up a second season of Creature Commandos, the adult animated series from DC Studios and Warner Bros Animation.
* And in the category of "I can't imagine a comedy special I am less interested in seeing," HBO is premiering Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This? on Friday, January 10th.
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23RD:
Bad Sisters Season Two Finale (Apple TV+)
Christmas On The Farm With Jill Wagner & Family (Great American Family) - [first look video]
47th Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)
Get Millie Black Season Finale (HBO)
Queen Woo Series Premiere (Paramount+)
2024: Back That Year Up With Kevin Hart & Kenan Thompson (Peacock)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH:
ChiefsAholic: A Wolf In Chiefs Clothing (Prime Video)
Christmas With Andrea Bocelli And Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special (CBS)
Your Friend, Nate Bargatze (Netflix) - [first look video] - [photo gallery]
SEE YOU ON TUESDAY!