Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Wednesday, March 5th, 2025:

THOSE DARN REVIEW EMBARGOES
One of the worst standard practices in the streaming era are the embargoes for reviews and social media reactions that are set to expire once a show premieres on its respective streaming service. 

I understand the marketing and promotional reasoning about it. There's a belief that talking about a new show before it premieres is counterproductive, because viewers won't remember the show or where it is streaming when it's available. I happen to think it's incredibly misguided, but it's also distressing to the creative people who worked on the show and who wonder why they don't see any publicity about the show before it premieres.

That being said, I want to put a couple of shows on your radar which are premiering in the next couple of days. Reviews won't be posted until the shows premiere on Friday, but put these suggestions in your head for the weekend. They are both global shows, but I think you'll find both of them very accessible:

When Life Gives You Tangerines (Netflix)
Logline: When Life Gives You Tangerines follows the adventures of Ae-sun, “the remarkable rebel,” and Gwan-sik, nicknamed “unyielding iron,” through four vibrant seasons on Jeju Island. (and yes, I am well aware the logline doesn't tell you anything helpful at all)
Here is the trailer - and a photo gallery from the show

When No One Sees Us (Max)
Logline:  During Holy Week in 2024 in Morón de la Frontera, a village in Seville located next to the U.S. army base area, the American way of life coexists naturally with the traditions of the Andalusian countryside. Lucía Gutiérrez (Maribel Verdú) is a Civil Guard sergeant investigating the unusual suicide of a neighbor and strange events that occurred during the first Easter procession. Magaly Castillo (Mariela Garriga) is a U.S. Army special agent sent to the Morón de la Frontera base to find out the whereabouts of a missing American soldier who seems to be linked to the hidden business of Colonel Seamus Hoopen (Ben Temple), head of the base area.

The lone military policeman, Sergeant Andrew Taylor (Austin Amelio), accompanies Magaly in her investigations and they soon discover that the two investigations are connected and the case is far more complex than they had assumed, involving both Morón residents and American military personnel from the nearby base. 
Here is the trailer and a photo gallery from the show




THE CW ANNOUNCES ITS SPRING PREMIERE DATES
It's difficult for fans of the "old CW" to appreciate anything being done at the new Nexstar-owned iteration of the network. But while those DC superhero shows have all disappeared, the network is moving on with some new original shows, more in the line of old school breezy detective procedurals. And even more importantly, the network expects to be profitable, which in the end is what matters.

The CW has just announced its spring premiere lineup and here is a look at what to expect. All times ET/PT:

Wednesday, April 16th
9:00 pm Sherlock & Daughter (series premiere)
This mystery thriller series takes Sherlock Holmes (David Thewlis, The Artful Dodger, Fargo) out of his comfort zone, mysteriously unable to investigate a sinister case without risking the lives of his closest friends. Enter: young American Amelia (Blu Hunt, The Originals, The New Mutants). After her mother’s mysterious murder, she learns that her missing father may be the legendary detective. Despite wildly different backgrounds and attitudes, the pair must work together to solve a global conspiracy, crack her mother’s murder, and find out for sure if she really is Sherlock’s daughter. Dougray Scott (Batwoman, Crime) also stars as Holmes’ nemesis, Moriarty.

Sunday, April 20th
9:00 pm Remarkable Women (original special)

Wednesday, May 7th
8:00 pm Sullivan's Crossing (season three premiere)
Having finally confessed her love to Cal Jones (Chad Michael Murray, One Tree Hill) and still reeling from the aftermath of Rob’s diner fire, Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan, When Hope Calls) makes the decision to leave her career as a neurosurgeon behind to help run her father, Sully Sullivan’s (Scott Patterson, Gilmore Girls) campground. But trading the adrenaline of the OR for a slower paced life at the Crossing won’t be easy and Maggie will be faced with many challenges as she continues her journey from the Head to the Heart.


A&E MEDIA (AKA NETWORKS) ANNOUNCES 2025-26 UPFRONT SLATE
The various A&E networks made a number of Upfront-related announcements earlier today and here is an overview of what to expect. There are links to various press releases and info if you're interested.

A&E Network
Beer Budget Reno  - New Series
Logline: Everyone dreams of a home makeover, but budgets often get in the way. Enter Kristen Coutts, who specializes in life-changing renovations for those told they can't afford them. Armed with clever, cost- saving hacks, she transforms outdated spaces into fresh, functional homes—proving no budget is too small for a stunning upgrade.

48 Hours To Buy - New Season
Logline: Follow couples in a high-stakes race to find a home in just two days. Whether relocating for work or facing personal pressures, they must make life-changing decisions under intense time constraints - turning house hunting into a fast-paced challenge.

Million Dollar Zombie Flips - New Series
Logline: James Dainard and his team transform neglected "zombie" houses in Seattle into stunning million-dollar homes. James partners with other flippers, funding their projects while they handle the renovation process. If they succeed, they split the profit 50/50—but if they fall short, James takes over and keeps it all for himself.

Storage Wars - New Season
Amazingly, this show returns for a 15th season. The only big change is that each of the season's ten episodes now run one hour in length.

The Mother Flip - New Series
Logline: Best friends and savvy flippers Kristy Etheredge and Rebecca Franchione, along with contractor RoySalinas, transform the worst homes in Texas’ Hill Country into big profits. With all-cash deals and strategic renovations, they take bold risks to turn rundown properties into real estate gold—splitting the massive payday three ways.

Willing To Flip - New Series
Logline: Home flipper Mary and her realtor husband, Jon Pierre Tjon-Joe-Pin assist families who have inherited homes but are unsure how to move forward. In the end, the families must make the ultimate decision— keep the home and preserve its history or flip it and move on.

WWE LFG (Legends & Future Greats) - Season Two
Logline: Season two of “WWE LFG” raises the stakes as sixteen new WWE hopefuls battle for the ultimate prize: a coveted spot on NXT, WWE’s premier developmental brand showcasing the industry's brightest rising stars. With even tougher challenges, grueling in-ring matches, and behind-the-scenes access, viewers will witness the rigorous journey required to make it in WWE. This season will once again feature world-class coaching from legendary WWE icons, offering unparalleled mentorship and insight into what it truly takes to earn a place in the squared circle.

WWE's Greatest Moments - New Season
Logline: WWE’s Greatest Moments offers fans a chance to count down the most iconic events in WWE history. Hosted by legendary play-by-play announcer Michael Cole, each half-hour episode will feature WWE Superstars and Legends—including Cody Rhodes, The Bloodline and John Cena – and highlights unforgettable moments from some of the biggest events in WWE history including Money in the Bank, SummerSlam and WrestleMania.

Zombie House Flipping - New Season
Logline: The flippers take on dilapidated homes in Tampa, transforming them into stunning designer properties while navigating hidden costs, tight budgets, and unexpected challenges. In the high-stakes world of house flipping, every project is a race against time to turn a profit.

FYI
Global Soul Kitchen - New Season
Logline: Best-selling author and chef Deborah VanTrece introduces her “global soul food” style of cooking by combining traditional Southern American soul food and different international influences. With dishes like smothered chicken meatballs over herb truffled spaetzle to paella macaroni, her dishes create something both familiar and unique

Instant Italian - New Series
Logline: Join chef, cookbook author, recipe developer, and culinary influencer Anna Francese Gass in the kitchen as she brings a new spin to beloved Italian dishes to make them quick and easy for modern home cooks.

Jake Makes It Easy - New Season
Logline: Chef and bestselling author Jake Cohen proves entertaining can be effortless. Inspired by his Jewish heritage and Middle Eastern influences, he shares stress-free, celebratory dishes perfect for any occasion.

Lakefront Luxury - New Season
Logline: Lakefront Luxury follows couples as they hunt for the ultimate home on a lake. Whether it’s a vacation property or a primary residence, life is better on the lake.

Oceanfront Property Hunt - New Season
Logline: Who doesn't dream of living by the ocean? We'll follow prospective buyers who make their dream of living by the ocean a reality as they hunt for unique oceanfront properties along rugged coasts in search of spectacular ocean views.

Rachael Ray In Tuscany - New Season
Logline: Viewers will join Rachael Ray in the kitchen as she brings delicious Italian specialties from her very own kitchen into her Tuscan villa, utilizing the best local ingredients from the region with her own personal twists.

Rachael Ray's Meals In Minutes - New Season
Logline: Rachael demonstrates her creativity and flair from her personal home kitchen, cooking a complete meal in minutes from comfort
food to sophisticated fare for entertaining.

The Chef's Garden - New Season
Logline: The Chef’s Garden joins Farmer Lee Jones on his farm, the Culinary Vegetable Institute, as he meets with renowned chefs from across the country to celebrate fresh produce and regenerative agriculture with aspirational, creative dishes.



History
History’s Deadliest With Ving Rhames - New Series
Logline: Each hour-long episode will uncover the grisly backstories of the astonishing people, places, things, and events throughout history that have killed in the most shocking ways. Expert interviews, rare archival footage and compelling graphics will provide historical context, analysis and insights into how it all happened and the shocking consequences.

Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling - New Documentary
Logline: It will follow the parallel lives and careers of African American heavyweight champion Louis and German heavyweight champion Schmeling, who overcame significant social and political obstacles while going toe-to-toe in two of the most legendary boxing ring matchups of all time. With World War II on the horizon, the fights symbolized the broader social and political conflicts between the democratic United States and fascist Nazi Germany and would see these athletes forge an unlikely lifelong friendship, and a legendary place in history.

Secrets Declassified With David Duchovny - New Series
Logline: Over the past century, the US government has declassified hundreds of thousands of documents. From black sites, dark science, surveillance technology, medical experiments and covert weapons of mass destruction – government agencies all over the world carry out extraordinary policies in the name of national interest. In this new ten-episode series, Duchovny investigates some of the most bizarre and disturbing government activities in history and reveals the latest facts behind these astonishing secrets. Each one-hour episode showcases expert interviews to uncover the truth behind famous declassified stories – like the mystery of the Area 51 conspiracy and the real-life story behind the Hollywood film Argo.

Lifetime
Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story - New Film
Logline: From a young age, Monique Smith always felt out of place in her family. Living in constant fear of abuse from her mother and others, she dreamed of finding people who loved her and a place that truly felt like a home. Because of the abuse she suffered, she felt she could never embrace her family and especially wanted to know her origin story once she became a mother herself. After realizing she didn’t have proper documentation, including a birth certificate or social security card, she goes on a decades-long search to discover who she really is. Monique began questioning her family members, submitting her DNA for biological matches and looking everywhere for an answer to her biggest questions; who she is, and is there anyone out there looking for her?

The Judd Family: Truth Be Told - Documentary
Logline: The project reveals the complex story of the Judds’ including their triumphs and tragedies across several decades. From Naomi’s beginnings in Kentucky as a young teen mom, then known as Dianna, struggling to survive with her young daughters, the doc illustrates
how the famous country music mother-daughter duo of Naomi and Wynonna Judd came to be and where Ashley stood at the height of Naomi and Wynonna’s fame. Untold truths emerge, illustrating what tied them together, and what also drove them a part. Featuring intimate
interviews with many Judd family members, including Wynonna, Ashley, and Naomi’s widower Larry Strickland, the doc also speaks to Naomi’s closest friends and colleagues including Reba McIntire and Don Potter. Exclusive access to rare family footage and photos, unreleased songs, and voicemails that the Judd women left for one another further illustrate the unique relationship between mothers and daughters, the cyclical nature of generational trauma and the strength of familial bonds.

ODDS AND SODS
* A first look at season three of the delightful Netflix series Love On The Spectrum. Given that I have a teenage son on the spectrum, I find this series equal parts inspirational and frightening. 

* NBC News Now anchor Tom Llamas will succeed Lester Holt as anchor of NBC Nightly News. Llamas, who has been with the network since 2021, will continue to anchor Top Story, nighttime show on NBC News Now that runs from 7-8 p.m. ET, immediately after Nightly News.

* A bill to stop funding National Public Radio and the PBS Newshour might seem like a slam-dunk to pass a Republican-controlled Congress. But it's not so simple, says U.S. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso.

* Paramount+ has officially renewed Criminal Minds: Evolution for a fourth season. The early pickup for the Criminal Minds sequel comes ahead of the crime drama’s Season three premiere on Thursday, May 8th.

* Former CNN correspondent Chris Cillizza has signed on to be a contributor on NewsNation. His first appearance in that role will be on Wednesday's On Balance with Leland Vittert primetime show.

* The Wall Street Journal laid off a number of editorial people today, including reporters Asa Fitch, Aaron Tilley, Alexa Corse, Miles Kruppa, Tom Dotan and Sarah Needleman. Also laid off were editors Liz Wollman, Tom Gryta, Ben Fritz, Eric Bellman and Jason Dean.

* Also laid off today was Brandon Katz, former Senior Entertainment Industry Strategist at Parrot Analytics. A smart guy and hopefully someone will pick him up.

TWEET OF THE DAY



WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH:
Just One Look (Netflix)
Medusa Series Premiere (Netflix)
The Amazing Race Season Premiere (CBS)
The Leopard (Netflix)

THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH:
Beauty In Black Season One Part B Premiere (Netflix)
Deli Boys Series Premiere (Hulu)
Doctor Odyssey Spring Premiere (ABC)
Douglas Is Cancelled Series Premiere (Britbox)
Dylan's Playtime Adventures Series Premiere (Max)
For The Win: NWSL Series Premiere (Prime Video)
Grey's Anatomy Spring Premiere (ABC)
Jellystone (Max)
Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta (Netflix)
Lil Kev Series Premiere (BET+)
Love Is Blind: Sweden: After the Altar Season Premiere (Netflix)
9-1-1 Spring Premiere (ABC)
Picture This (Prime Video)
32nd Annual MovieGuide Awards (Great American Family)

SEE YOU ON THURSDAY!