Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!
The biggest TV news story of the week (besides the Netflix-Dave Chappelle debacle which is more TV-adjacent than actual TV news) concerns something that may or may not actually happen. For months we've been closing in on the possibility of a strike by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) which would shut down TV and film productions just over a year after the pandemic shut everything down. There's a deadline of Monday for a potential strike if a deal isn't reached but there were reports of progress being made. For months, I have believed they will figure out a deal when push came to shove but time is running short so we'll see what happens over the weekend.
This was news that dropped last Friday but it was after my post went up and this week was a fairly quiet TV news week. Netflix announced that That 70s Show will be revived as That 90s Show with Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith reprising their roles as Kitty and Red Forman. The series will center on their grandchild living with them in Point Place for the summer in the 1990s. Other cast members of the original are expected to appear as well so it could be something like Fuller House with a mostly new cast and a few appearances by original members. I think the premise is workable and Kitty and Red were two of the best parts of the original show so count me as someone who's a little skeptical but mostly excited. Hopefully it goes better than the epic bomb That 80s Show.
The first full season orders were handed out this week and they went to two CBS franchise shows as CBS picked up NCIS: Hawaii and FBI: International for full seasons. Between COVID protocols and the pending IATSE strike, a full season may not be 22-24 episodes as usual but it will be whatever a full season equates to in the 2021-22 season. The two shows have gotten off to OK starts. No new show has broken through but NCIS: Hawaii does pretty well with total viewers and FBI: International fits in really well with the other two FBI shows. Among the other CBS new shows, CSI: Vegas is eyed as a limited 10 episode run while Ghosts got off to a good start last week.
#4 - APPLE TV+ ORDERS JASON SEGEL COMEDY
The most interesting series order this week came from Apple TV+ as they have picked up the series Shrinking. The project will star Jason Segel who is also a writer and executive producer. The other auspices are Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fame. The series will have Segel playing a therapist who decides to start telling clients exactly what he thinks. Considering how great Ted Lasso is and how much I liked Segel on How I Met Your Mother, I am intrigued by this.
#5 - SCRIPTED PREMIERES THIS WEEK
Here's a look at this upcoming week's scripted premieres!
Today: Amazon drops I Know What You Did Last Summer just in time for late October. The horror series has four episodes released today and the next four released weekly. It's the right time of year for this but I don't think that brand name really means much anymore. Netflix has the third season of You, a series that famously was much more popular on Netflix than its original network, Lifetime.
Sunday: The biggest release on Sunday is the third season of Succession on HBO. Season 2 ended way back on October 13, 2019 so it's been a long time for the acclaimed series and 2020 Emmy winner for Outstanding Drama. Also returning is the second season of Hightown on Starz and the seventh season of Fear the Walking Dead on AMC.
Tuesday: The last of the big four network fall premieres arrive with Queens on ABC. The drama, about a 90s girl rap group reuniting has gotten a lot of promotion but it seems like to premiere around the same ratings levels as other middling network premieres though it could get more online attention.
Thursday: NBC has the return of The Blacklist for its ninth season. The series seems like it has been on its last legs for awhile and former co-lead Megan Boone is not returning so this might actually be the final season. Peacock has the supernatural teen drama The Girl in the Woods. It's hard to imagine a show like this doing what most other Peacock originals haven't been able to do - break through.
My pick for the week: It's an easy answer for me for this week - it's the return of Succession. The second season earned eight nominations and two wins for my Benjamonster Awards and I've been eagerly awaiting the third season. I'll probably give Queens an episode or two and I may check out I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Check back next week for a new week of blog posts!
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