Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!
Netflix has a new hit on their hands with Wednesday. The Addams Family-universe series starring Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman with direction by Tim Burton did not get great reviews, but it quickly became a hit with viewers. According to Netflix, it set an English language series record for hours viewed in its first week with 341.23 million hours viewed. That beats the first week for the most recent season of cultural icon Stranger Things though the record holder when factoring in international shows is Squid Game. Even though Netflix's numbers are always hard to verify, it's clear this show has gotten into the cultural conversation. A Season Two renewals feels like it will be coming very soon.
Another recent series premiere that has quickly gotten into the conversation is Tulsa King. The Paramount+ drama starring Sylvester Stallone and from producer Taylor Sheridan got a preview after the season premiere of Sheridan's Yellowstone on the Paramount Network and now drops new episodes on Sundays. The linear premiere topped the year among cable premieres and it reportedly helped drive a record day for sign-ups at Paramount+. It was renewed this week as everything Sheridan touches turns to gold. Next up for the successful creator is the Harrison Ford-Helen Mirren Yellowstone prequel, 1923, premiering December 18.
In a Thursday night development, Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy are leaving their longtime home of Netflix after inking a new deal with Amazon. The creators have been responsible for spooky shows that have premiered every October since 2019 - The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass and this year's The Midnight Club. While reception to these shows seems to be having diminishing returns, they have a proven track record to deliver hits and now will try to do so for Amazon. Netflix, in turn, announced an official cancellation of The Midnight Club. The only show in the Flanagan universe I got into was Bly Manor, but I'll probably continue to check out his shows.
#4 - OSCAR CATEGORIES RETURNING TO TELECAST
After last year's brouhaha (before the slap) of the Oscars not including every category on the live telecast, the eight Oscar categories that were excluded last year - original score, makeup and hairstyling, documentary short, film editing, production design, animated short, live action short and sound - will return to the telecast in 2023, which will air on March 12 and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. I thought the uproar was a whole lot of nothing. I don't discount the work of the people involved in these categories but the reality is the show goes too long as is and other award shows also relegate some awards to other venues like the Creative Arts Emmys. But the pressure from the creative community was felt and back the categories go to the main telecast. Now, how to make them interesting?
#5 - SCRIPTED PREMIERES THIS WEEK
Here's a look at this week's scripted premieres!
Today: Amazon has the premieres of two shows that both have a European flavor. Three Pines is a French-set mystery drama starring Alfred Molina and based on the Chief Inspector Gamache book series. Riches is a co-production with ITV that is centered on a black-owned cosmetics empire. Speaking of British, Apple TV+ has the new season of Slow Horses, this one subtitled Dead Lions. The first season only aired back in April so this is a quick turnaround and it has already been renewed for two more seasons. Finally, Netflix has Part 1 of the two-part second and final season of Firefly Lane. The second half will air in 2023.
Sunday: Showtime premieres George & Tammy, a limited series about the relationship between Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon, the series was originally tied to Spectrum and then Paramount Network before landing at Showtime. It doesn't have a lot of buzz but Chastain always has the chance of being an awards bait.
Monday: HBO has the premiere of the third and final season of His Dark Materials, which is a bigger draw overseas. Lots of British shows premiering this week!
Thursday: HBO Max has the fourth season premiere of Doom Patrol, which once aired on DC Universe but has so far survived the HBO Max purging that has happened to so many properties. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the final season.
My pick for the week:
There's nothing too exciting for me this week so I guess I'll go with George & Tammy because I like Jessica Chastain. I'm not super interested in the subject matter though. I may check out Three Pines if there's any buzz.
Check back next week for a new week of blog posts!
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