Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, April 8th, 2025:
PRODUCTION NOTES
Just a reminder that I am getting a medical procedure done and there won't be a newsletter or anything else tomorrow or Thursday. I should be able to do a newsletter Friday, assuming things go well. I probably also won't respond to much of my email until the weekend.
I know the listings are a popular feature, so I am including the listings for those missing days at the bottom of this newsletter.
I'll see you on Friday.
EXCLUSIVE: WHAT IF THE WORLD DIDN'T LOVE HOLLYWOOD ANYMORE?
I don't think it's hyperbole to say that America is not the most popular country in the world right now. And that anti-American sentiment is likely to grow if the ongoing tariffs spark a global recession.
This is a problem for U.S.-based entertainment companies who are accustomed to having brands beloved across the world in large part because they are headquartered here. So how do they respond if that changes?
According to several sources I've heard from, both Disney and Netflix have created working groups that are trying to game out how to respond to a more negative reaction to American entertainment titles. Obviously, Disney's worldwide footprint in multiple entertainment verticals is extremely exposed to negative reactions, but Netflix and other global streamers will have their own significant issues.
There are several ideas I heard have been discussed by the Disney working group, including country specific marketing that highlights Disney's connection to the region, ranging from highlights of original content to surfacing the stories of employees and stars who come from the various regions.
All of this will likely depend on whether or not consumer sentiment changes substantially in the upcoming weeks and months. There seems to be a growing consensus that might happen. But no one has a handle on how challenging the environment might be for America's global entertainment giants in the upcoming months, much less how they should respond.
MORE TARIFF TROUBLES IN HOLLYWOOD
Status is reporting that in a note to some employees, Warner Bros. Discovery said on Tuesday “the market volatility and reduced consumer confidence are causing increased economic uncertainty” and that “in response” it is enacting a plan “to minimize discretionary spending.” One immediate result: “Effective immediately, all travel that is not business-critical should be cancelled. This includes travel for team meetings, off-sites, events, conferences, and office visits.”
Like the budget-cutting that helped lead to the shutdown of the planned Television Critics Association tour, travel and other non-core expenditures are going to be cut to the bone as the world works its way through the consequences of these tariffs. Of course, the irony is that WBD CEO David Zaslav - like many media executives - was almost giddy contemplating the wonderful business-friendly environment that a second Trump Administration would bring.
THE CHALLENGES OF NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL REPORTING
As you likely know, I've been writing quite a bit about cable TV news and the challenges of trying to stay "non-partisan" in a news environment where every decision about what stories you do or don't cover becomes a partisan choice.
I recently spoke with ex-CNN and Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza about this issue and while I'll post a longer piece this weekend, I wanted to pull out this part of the discussion, because I think it provides an interesting look at how he approaches this issue:
You make a big point of talking about how you're focusing on the balls and strikes of politics. You're not picking a side.
But it seems like the challenge of that is, if you're going to do that, the temptation is to focus on the politics of decisions because that's fairly non-partisan. But then you run the risk of going down this road where there's an alien invasion and you find yourself saying, "well, you know, if the Dems embrace the alien overlords, that's going to be good for them in the midterms." So how do you navigate that?
I think it's hard. I mean, for my whole career, that's been the criticism of me, which is that I am too focused on the ups and down, not enough focused on the consequences. I'm mindful of it.
I think it's more challenging now than ever before because to hear one side tell it, Donald Trump is making America great again. To hear the other side tell it Donald Trump is making America Nazi Germany. But it seems to me the truth is usually in between those two poles, day to day.
So, broadly, I try to be mindful of the fact of two things. One, and I mean, I've written about this, but not everything is a mountain that Donald Trump does. There are molehills, too. If everything he does is the worst thing ever, then saying something is the worst thing ever loses all meaning. Number one. Number two, his actions, just like any president's actions, have real consequences.
And I think it's important to always kind of go back to this basic fact, which is like him or hate him, he is saying and doing things in the Presidency, both his first term and this term that have not been done before. They are well outside the norm of the continuing continuum from Republican or conservative to liberal or Democrat.
They are outside of that norm. And again, some people love him for that. Some people hate him for that.
But I think it's important to say, look, we've never seen this before. Like the terror thing is a good example. He is trying to reorder the kind of trade and broader economic realities that have governed the U.S. and its allies and trading partners since World War Two. Again, I'm not sure he was elected to do that thing, but he was elected to do things radically differently. So I think some people are resistant to it. It’s always my view that look, I think we have to document it.
I think we have to when it when it strays from what past presidents have done. We have to note that when he says something that's a lie. We have to note that at the same time.
I mean, it is it is a tough balance because there are real stakes. It's not a game.
I LIKE THIS IDEA A LOT
The Criterion Channel is offering a live stream of screenings of what the service describes as a collection of "all-time favorites from the Criterion Channel’s library. Anyone in the U.S. or Canada can tune in, with or without a subscription."
Wednesday 4/9
6 p.m. ET - 8 ½ (Federico Fellini, 1963)
9 p.m. ET - THE DAYTRIPPERS (Greg Mottola, 1996)
10:30 p.m. ET - EO (Jerzy Skolimowski, 2022)
12 a.m. ET - HOUSE (Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977)
Thursday 4/10
6 p.m. ET - THE TRIAL (Orson Welles, 1962)
8:30 p.m. ET - EVIL DOES NOT EXIST (Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2023)
10:30 p.m. ET - MISHIMA: A LIFE IN FOUR CHAPTERS (Paul Schrader, 1985)
Here is the link where you can watch the screenings.
ODDS AND SODS
* I wrote a review of the premiere episode of Netflix Kill Tony and let's just say that I wasn't impressed.
* Predator: Killer of Killers is a three-episode anthology written and co-directed by Predator: Prey director Dan Trachtenberg. It premieres Friday, June 6th on Hulu and here is the trailer.
* Paramount+ has picked up season three of Colin From Accounts.
* The fourth volume of the animated anthology series Love, Death + Robots will premiere Thursday, May 15th on Netflix. Here are some first look photos from the episodes.
* CBS has renewed the daytime drama The Bold & The Beautiful for three more seasons. The renewal will take the show through Season 48 in 2028.
* Lifetime announced the new biopic I Was Honey Boo-Boo will premiere on Saturday, May 17th. The film will be narrated by Alana Thompson, famously known as “Honey Boo Boo."
* The new FX ensemble comedy series Adults will premiere on Wednesday, May 28th. All eight episodes of the season will be available on Hulu the following day. Here is the logline: "Created by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), the show puts a slightly heightened twist on the wins, losses and humiliations of starting out in the adult world. Whether they’re trying to get ahead at work, navigating the healthcare system, hosting a dinner party or dating in the age of Find My Friends, the group is finding that nothing about the real world is simple, and all their best intentions tend to make things worse."
* Fox has renewed MasterChef for a 15th season. Host/judge Gordon Ramsay and longtime judge Joe Bastianich will be joined by a new judge this season - Top Chef alum Tiffany Derry.
* The stand-up special David Spade: Dandelion will premiere Tuesday, May 6th on Prime Video.
* The series Next Gen NYC will premiere Tuesday, June 3rd on Bravo. According to the network, the series "follows a tangled web of friends raised in the spotlight — or at least close enough for good lighting — as they stumble into adulthood one brunch, breakup and spontaneous decision at a time. Whether stepping out of their parents’ shadows or creating their own legacies from scratch, these twentysomethings are determined to conquer Manhattan — if they can figure out how to adult first. Together, they’ll navigate friendships, careers and romance, proving that trouble runs on espresso martinis and questionable decisions."
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND THIS WEEK
TUESDAY, APRIL 8TH:
All Access PD: Grand Rapids Series Premiere (Investigation Discovery)
Apocalypse Hotel Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
Fixer To Fabulous Season Finale (HGTV)
Forever Series Premiere (Netflix)
How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) Season Premiere (Netflix)
Kian's Bizarre B&B Series Premiere (Netflix)
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Series Premiere (Prime Video)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman (Netflix)
Spy High (Prime Video)
The Clubhouse: A Year With The Red Sox (Netflix)
The Handmaid's Tale Season Six Premiere (Hulu)
The Shiunji Family Children Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH:
Bad Influence: The Dark Side Of Kidfluencing (Netflix)
Berlin ER Season One Finale (Apple TV+)
The Dad Quest (Netflix)
Unicorn Academy: Legendary Summer (Netflix)
THURSDAY, APRIL 10TH:
A Ninja And An Assassin Under One Roof Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
Black Mirror Season Seven Premiere (Netflix)
Frozen Hot Boys (Netflix)
Gremlins: The Wild Bunch (Max)
G20 (Prime Video)
Hacks Season Premiere (Max)
Moonrise Series Premiere (Netflix)
North Of North Series Premiere (Netflix)
Our Last Crusade Or The Rise Of A New World (Crunchyroll)
Pop The Balloon Live Series Premiere (Netflix)
The First 48 Presents Critical Minutes Season Premiere (A&E)
FRIDAY, APRIL 11TH:
CheckMate (Tubi)
Got To Get Out Series Premiere (Hulu)
Just A Bit Outside: The Story Of The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (The Roku Channel)
Meet The Khumalos (Netflix)
Pets (Disney+)
Shadow Of God (Shudder)
Teogonia Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
The Gardener Series Premiere (Netflix)
The Great American Baking Show Season Premiere (The Roku Channel)
There's No Way Out (LMN)
Titanic: The Digital Resurrection (NatGeo)
Your Friends & Neighbors Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!