Tough ones or fun ones: TV turns to mysteries
For TV people, the problem is clear: Their audiences are smaller and older and less-engaged.
And one solution? Try more mysteries.
Americans are pretty good at making mysteries; the British and their colonists are great at it. Such shows — less action, more thinking — can be done on TV’s tightening budgets.
So now there’s an abundance, including two streamers (Acorn and Britbox), the Sunday stronghold on PBS and scattered shows elsewhere.
On Sunday (Sept. 28), PBS wraps up three of its mysteries, including the richly layered “Unforgotten.” The next day, Acorn starts an engrossing six-parter, “Murder Before Evensong” (shown here). The following Sunday (Oct. 5), PBS introduces one of its best shows, “Maigret.” And in between, there’s more, led by Fox’s “Murder in a Small Town” and CBS’ “Elsbeth.” Let’s take a chronological look: Read more…
