Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, November 20th, 2023.
A BRIEF PROGRAMMING NOTE
In observance of Thanksgiving, this week’s schedule will be lighter than normal. There will be a newsletter tomorrow (Tuesday), an abbreviated newsletter on Wednesday and then I'll be back next Monday. Unless there is some crazy breaking news. And honestly, after the last six months, nothing would surprise me.
This is also the time of year when those of us here in America are bombarded with "Black Friday" discounts and deals. And while my wife would be the first one to tell you that I am a bit of a contrarian, I am going with the crowd in this case and offering those of you who are interested a special Black Friday deal on a paid subscription. I already price my subscription lower than other entertainment industry newsletters and this deal will get you the newsletter for less than $3 a month.
Simply click the link below to receive a special discount that is available this week only.
I understand not everyone can afford a paid subscription, though. I totally get that — and, if that’s you, I’m so happy you’re here!
-Rick
I FINALLY WRITE ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT
There are a number of downsides to being your own boss. But one of my favorite upsides is that I get to decide what stories I cover and which ones I ignore. To a certain extent, that decision is prompted by the realization that if I want people to find my reporting, I need to choose topics that aren't already being covered by a hundred other outlets. Or at the very least - as I did in the case of my Hollywood strike coverage - find a unique angle for my coverage.
i don't think I've ever written about Taylor Swift, even though she's had TV specials and other media projects that would be in my wheelhouse. I like her music just fine - I happen to think she's very talented. But I am more fascinated by the business side of her career. She and her team are adept at using the press to craft a specific vision of her for fans, and every public move seems to be as much a branding exercise as anything else. There are stories there to be told, but a journalist would have to expend a lot of time developing sources. And as is almost always the case with these stars, you are always one story away from having the weight of marketing machine slam you into a formless puddle of goo.
As a result, while there are hundreds of outlets expending editorial space on her personal life or some recent social media message, there is scant deep reporting on the more serious parts of her career.
You might have seen stories over the weekend of Swift's ill-fated concerts on Rio De Janeiro. The weather has been oppressively hot and a 23-year-old fan named Ana Clara Benevides reportedly died on Friday from what appears to be heat exhaustion.
So the entertainment press was filled with stories over the weekend highlighting Swift being "devasted" over the death and most of the coverage was just lightly rewritten comments from Swift's statement on Instagram:
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show. I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this. There’s very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young."
But while the entertainment press coverage focused on Swift's feelings, other looming questions about the concert and I haven't read any in-depth examination of them in the often-fawning trade outlets.
First, despite Swift's statement that Benevides died "before" the concert, statements from local law enforcement as well as people who attended the concert with her stated she fainted early in the concert. And she was not the only one.
Local press reports state the heat index at the venue topped 135 degrees. Outside water was banned and the only option for fans was overpriced water sold by vendors inside the venue. And based on some local reporting, much of that quickly sold out. Promoters reportedly covered the grass of the field with sheets of metal to protect it. And thanks to the heat, the metal became so hot that it began burning some fans.
Rio's Fire Department said that more than 1,000 people were treated at Friday's concert after they fainted. There were also complaints that despite the heat and requests from fire officials, Swift's team set off her usual round of pyrotechnics inside the stadium, reportedly causing other injuries.
Despite the death and multiple injuries, Saturday's concert was canceled until three hours before start time, leaving thousand of fans who had been inside the hot stadium for hours irate and confused.
Predictably, most of the press and nearly every hard-core Swift fan is treating the death and other injuries as the fault of the venue and I have no doubt that contributed to the problem. But Taylor Swift has a well-oiled machine that provides extensive guidelines and conditions for venues. Having spoken to people in the past who have at venues that have hosted Swift concerts, her team is very aggressive about making sure that everything is in place and just the way they have contractually guaranteed. It seems unlikely to me that Swift's team seemed unaware of the potential problems ahead of the concert. So some percentage of the fault for the chaos has to fall on Swift and her professional team.
And yet, without journalists who are able to ask the difficult questions, we will likely never know. Perhaps the venue did completely fool Swift's team and there was no way they could have known what might have happened. But maybe not. And I'd like to see an answer to why it took so long for that Saturday concert to be rescheduled.
USA Today famously just hired a reporter whose job it is to report solely on all things Taylor Swift. But given the reporter also admits to being a huge fan of the singer, I suspect we'll have to look elsewhere for the hard-hitting reporting this story needs.
Maybe the Wall Street Journal will take on the challenge:
Never mind.
NBC ANNOUNCES ITS ABBREVIATED SPRING SCHEDULE
NBC announced the delayed season premieres of many of its scripted shows today, with a few exceptions. The final two episodes of Magnum P.I. have been pushed from late December until early 2024. Return dates are also to be decided for the final season two episodes of Quantum Leap, as well as the return of Lopez vs. Lopez, That's My Jam, Password, The Wall and The Weakest Link.
Here is the complete rundown of what was announced today:
Saturday, December 23rd:
8 pm Extended Family (Series premiere)
8:30 pm Night Court (Special holiday episode)
Monday, January 1st:
8 pm America's Got Talent: Fantasy League (Series premiere)
Tuesday, January 2nd:
8 pm Night Court (Time period premiere)
8:30 pm Extended Family (Time period premiere)
Tuesday, January 9th:
9 pm La Brea (Final season premiere)
10 pm Found (First of final two episodes of season)
Wednesday, January 17th:
8 pm Chicago Med (Season premiere)
9 pm Chicago Fire (Season premiere)
10 pm Chicago P.D. (Season premiere)
Thursday, January 18th:
8 pm Law & Order (Season premiere)
9 pm Law & Order: SVU (Season premiere)
10 pm Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season premiere)
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M SORRY I MISSED THIS PARTY
I've lived in a number of places over the years, and one reason I enjoy living in the Twin Cities now is that it gives me perspective. Living in L.A. means living in a company town, with all that entails. And living in New York City means you almost inevitably begin seeing the city as the center of the universe. Which can lead to some coverage that is so inside that you'd have to take a few steps back for it to be seen as incestuous.
The Daily Beast's Confider column spends a lot of time focusing on the inner workings of the NYC media scene, so I suppose it's fitting that the latest edition recounts the talk that surrounded the recent NY Times profile of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav:
The two-part profile was a hot topic at Brian Stelter’s book party last Wednesday at Michael’s in Manhattan, not least because several guests featured heavily in the piece. CNN COO David Leavy, a Zaz whisperer and one-fourth of CNN’s much-talked-about “quad,” held court in one corner of the room as former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and his partner, former CNN comms chief Allison Gollust, made the rounds. WarnerDiscovery spin doctor Nathaniel Brown, who helped massage the Times pieces, was also in attendance, as were Jim Stewart and Ben Mullin, the Times writers he presumably tangled with. And of course what would a party full of journalists be without the presence of Confider’s favorite dial-a-crisis specialist Risa Heller, who represented Zucker following his ouster from CNN.
I will admit, however, Confider had one bit of snark today that made me laugh out loud when I read it:
Meanwhile, for anyone who cannot get enough of the Zaz storyline, buzzy media start-up Puck, which is in part financially backed by glamorous roofing company Standard Industries, offered a “last minute flash sale” on Friday touting they have three correspondents—Dylan Byers, Bill Cohan, and Matt Belloni—documenting Zaz’s every (bowel) move. Using the promo code “ZAZ21” netted subscribers a generous 21-percent discount. Elephant rides not included.
TWEET OF THE DAY
ODDS AND SODS
* The eight-episode docuseries BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star premieres Wednesday, December 20th on Disney+.
* PBS is launching PBS Food, a new FAST channel focused on food, which will be available on Freevee, The Roku Channel and some other outlets.
* CBS is ending Blue Bloods after fourteen seasons. The final season will be split into two parts: ten episodes will air this spring beginning on February 16th and the final eight episodes will air in the fall of 2024.
* The MSNBC Union has reached a tentative agreement with management on a first contract.
* The Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo dramedy Unprisoned was renewed by Hulu for a second season.
* King Charles, the new one-hour primetime series hosted by Gayle King and Charles Barkley, will debut next Wednesday, November 29th on CNN.
WHAT'S NEW TODAY AND TOMORROW:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH:
* Spellbound (Hulu)
* Stamped From The Beginning (Netflix)
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST:
* Bye Bye Barry (Prime Video)
* Fargo Season Five Premiere (FX)
* Hard Knocks: In Season With The Miami Dolphins Season Premiere (HBO)
* Killing JFK: 60 Questions (Reelz)
* Leo (Netflix)
* Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man And The Pool (Netflix)
* Nick Cannon Presents: Future Superstars Series Premiere (VH1)
* Obituary Series Premiere (Hulu)
* The Choice Is Yours (Paramount+)
Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.
SEE YOU THURSDAY!
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