Day: September 1, 2021

News and Quick Comments

Next month, “Seinfeld” has its Netflix moment

I don’t usually reprint press releases here.
Come to think of it, I NEVER reprint press releases. But this one is too good to ignore.
The basic background: “Seinfeld”(shown here in its wonderful Chinese-restaurant episode – which is, of course, the best comedy in television history – will move to Netflix on Oct. 1. Instead of sendig a standard release, Netflix dispatched the following:
Hollywood, CA — Netflix will launch 180 episodes of a situational comedy called ‘Seinfeld,’ created by rising New York comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, who wrote for Saturday Night Live for a single season. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 1, 2021
News and Quick Comments

“Guilt” is our new non-guilty pleasure

Scrambling to fill pandemic holes, TV people searched internationally.
Occasionally, they found winners. NBC had Canada’s “Transplant”; CW has Canada’s “Coroner” and New Zealand’s “Wellington Paranormal.” And PBS discovered a couple four-hour gems – England’s “Us” and now Scotland’s “Guilt” (shown here).
The latter aired two years ago, as the first original project for the new BBC Scotland. Now it runs in two-hour chunks (9-11 p.m.) Sept. 5 and 12 on PBS’ “Masterpiece,” filling a drama dead zone. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 1, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 3: Feel-good CBS, feel-mean CW

1) All night, CBS. Don’t look for cop shows tonight; CBS is fullyin feel-good Friday mode. That starts at 8 p.m. with “Secret Celebrity Renovation”; Boomer Esiason helps renovate the home of his high school football coach. At 9, Cedric the Entertainer hosts the amiable “Greatest #AtHome Videos.” And at 10, Jane Pauley hosts a “Pet Project” (shown here)special, viewing people and their pets. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 1, 2021
Stories

It’s “Trek” and beyond, for expanding Paramount+

Somewhere under the Starfleet’s shadow, Paramount+ stretches for an image … and for an audience.
It has the pieces: In virtual press conferences with the Television Critics Association, it introduced a cartoon series for grown-ups, a “Star Trek” for kids (shown here), a drama from the “Yellowstone” creator and two comedy-dramas – one of which seems eternal.
\“What is it – three different networks now?!?” Devvon Gregory said. He’s the new head “The Game,” a pro-football series that had three seasons on CW … took a year off … had six more on BET … then was dormant for six more. Now it starts a new season Nov. 11 on Paramount+. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 1, 2021