Too Much TV: Let Me Tell You How Much I Hate Tudum

Netflix's Tudum Live event takes place Saturday night. And it might as well be called "screw all you entertainment journalists"

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, May 30th 2025:

SIGH. YES, TOMORROW IS THE LIVE STREAM OF 'NETFLIX TUDUM 2025: THE LIVE EVENT'
As longtime readers know, I watch and write about Netflix a great deal. I have a lot of respect for people working there. I have perhaps surprisingly good relationships with some of its executives and publicists.

But it's also true the streamer has a passive-aggressive relationship with the industry's reporters and television critics. Many Netflix executives believe deep down in their souls that reviews and most press coverage is at best a marginal help when it comes to promoting a show. They have a great deal more faith in the platform's ability to push viewers to new shows and convince them to click and binge.

And you know what? That's fine. I happen to think they're wrong, especially when it comes to non-A list English language originals and most global titles. But that is something I can work with.

What continues to irritate me to the point of near anger is Netflix's decision to launch a direct competitor to reporters like myself and then feed it "exclusives" ahead of all of us non-Netflix employees. Tudum.com is named after the sound subscribers hear when they log-in and while there isn't much "reporting" to be found on the site, it is jammed with interviews, photos, video and other information about Netflix projects. And they generally have it before anyone else.

Receiving email blasts announcing a new Netflix original series, which includes a link to a Tudum story featuring exclusive photos and comments from the showrunner and actors just feels insulting. It's a bit like receiving an email from your girlfriend asking you to promote the new project from her other boyfriend, who she sees before she comes over to your house.

And on Saturday, we will reach peak Tudum with the live event Tudum Live, Netflix’s global fan event which will take place at the Kia Forum in L.A. Saturday evening. It will also stream live globally on Netflix.

Now there's nothing wrong with having a fan event. But what is troublesome is that the streamer will be announcing a number of new projects during the event, with Tudum getting the exclusives ahead of time. And this is just not my opinion. Here is the official description of the event:

"This must-see event will feature Netflix’s biggest stars, can’t-miss performances, jaw-dropping reveals, and unforgettable moments. Tudum.com remains a year-round destination for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and deeper connections to Netflix’s most beloved titles."

Yes, that is a plug for Tudum.com in the explanation of the event. Sigh.

Now, I have no leverage to push back against this and while my fellow TV critics are as unhappy as I am, most of them are wary about picking a public fight with the biggest streamer in the world. And it won't keep them from breathlessly reporting every tidbit of news from the event. In large part because there isn't much else going on this weekend.

But this sucks. It's insulting and unnecessary for Netflix to use its size and power to go around journalists who are just trying to do their jobs.

THE ROKU CHANNEL PICKS UP OLD SEASONS OF 'THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF,' PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE
If you are in America and unsure of just which early seasons you watched of The Great British Bake-Off, it is not your fault. Both PBS and Netflix have labeled seasons into "collections," which only vaguely correspond to what viewers would have seen in the UK. For instance, both services debuted two completely different Season 5s, neither of which was actually Season 5, within ninety days of each other.

The Roku Channel is looking to rectify that confusion thanks to a new deal it just made with BGGO producer Love Productions. The service has picked up the entire BBC run of The Great British Bake-Off, including the first two seasons, which have never been available in the U.S. It also has picked up every special and spinoff that aired on the BBC, including the BBC seasons of the GBBO aftershow, An Extra Slice, hosted by Jo Brand, the never-before-seen special The Great British Wedding Cake, as well as the first two "Festive Specials" the BBC produced.

Viewers will also be able to watch seasons 1-9 of The Great British Baking Show: The Professionals as well as seasons 1-8 and the holiday specials of The Great Canadian Baking Show.

The deal also includes a wide range of other peripheral BBC shows, including the 2013 series Paul Hollywood: Bread, all the Baking Show: Masterclass specials Mary did with Paul Hollywood, as well as all the seasons of the Celebrity Baking Show charity specials, both the BBC and Channel 4 episodes.

Also coming to the service are seasons 6 & 7 of The Great Pottery Throwdown, The Great Pottery Throwdown Christmas Specials, seasons 1-10 of The Great British Sewing Bee and The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Special.

The Roku Channel will also include a new season four of The Great American Baking Show (the first three seasons aired on ABC), as well as The Great American Baking Show Celebrity Holiday Special, The Great American Baking Show Big Game, The Great American Baking Show Celebrity Summer and The Great American Baking Show Celebrity Halloween Special. It will also produce two new seasons of The Great British Baking Show: Juniors.

THE NEVER-ENDING LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN DAN SCHNEIDER AND WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY
If you want to see what a lot of money and some high-end lawyers can get you in court, look no further than the ongoing battle between former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider and the producers of Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV.

Following the release of the documentary last May, Schneider filed a defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns Investigation Discovery), Maxine Productions (which produced the docuseries), Sony Pictures Television (which owns Maxine Productions), docuseries producers Emma Schwartz and Mary Robertson, along with 50 unnamed Does. One of whom I suspect is me, since I was interviewed for the documentary.

In the complaint, Schneider argued the documentary implied that he was knowledge and/complicit in the allegations of sexual abuse included in the series. A charge the producers and lawyers for Warner Bros. Discovery have denied.

The case has been winding its way through the courts ahead of a possible trial and that process was delayed yet again today in LA Superior Court.

The initial focus of the battle had been an effort by the defendants to have the case dismissed under California's anti-SLAPP statute.

SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation and refers to lawsuits brought by individuals and entities to dissuade their critics from continuing to produce negative publicity. The defendants in this case have argued Schneider's lawsuit fits this description and should be dismissed with prejudice (which means it can't be filed again).

After a series of interviews with possible witnesses that would be heard from in the trial as well as the delivery from Schneider of a statement categorically denying all allegations of sexual misconduct, Judge Ashfaq G. Chowdhury ruled the case can move forward last November.

In the months since, the two sides have apparently continued to talk while preparing for an eventual trial. A status conference took place today (Friday) in L.A. Superior Court with Judge Chowdhury speaking with Schneider attorney Gerry Silver via a video conference call. The two men conferred regarding the status of the case, with a new status conference now scheduled for Monday, June 30th at 08:30 AM in Department E at Glendale Courthouse. It's not known what was discussed at today's conference, because while the discussion would have been public if it had taken place in court, details aren't released if the discussion takes place virtually.

So for those of you keeping track, the case has been ongoing for more than a year, with no trial date in sight. Honestly, I don't think either side wants to see what would be a very public trial dominate entertainment news headlines for days. So I won't be surprised if we see a settlement of some sort, which would likely include some sort of clarifying statement from WBD as well as some enhanced disclaimers on the documentary.

ODDS AND SODS
* Friday was Lester Holt's last night as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News and he wrapped with these final words: "I’m so grateful for your trust around here. Facts matter, words matter, journalism matters, and you matter."

* Issa Rae's Sweet Life: Los Angeles premiered on HBO Max in 2021 and ran for two 10-episode seasons. OWN has licensed the episodes, but is expanding them with 5 to 7 minutes of new cast commentary. The new episodes will premiere Friday, June 13th on OWN. Here is the official logline of the show: "The series offers a unique look at what it means to be young, Black, ambitious, and in constant pursuit of one’s dreams. Exploring themes of loyalty, legacy and love, this coming-of-age series follows a group of longtime friends in South Los Angeles as they navigate the relatable, chaotic mid-20s moments at the quarter-life mark and propel each other into adulthood success.”

* Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the TV series M*A*S*H, died Friday at her home in New York City. She was 87.

* TheDesk.net is reporting that Nexstar removed references to its diversity, equity and inclusiveness programs from its website and social media profiles.

* Alf Clausen died Thursday of Parkinson’s disease at the age of 84.. He won a pair of Emmys as composer for The Simpsons from 1990-2017 and also composed music for Moonlighting, ALF, The Critics and many other TV shows and films.

* King Of The Hill is returning to television after fifteen years and the new 10-episode season premieres Monday, August 4th on Hulu. Season fourteen picks up with Hank and Peggy Hill are now retired and return to a changed Arlen after years of working in Saudi Arabia. Bobby is 21 and living his best life while navigating adulthood as a chef in Dallas.

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY, MAY 30TH, 2025:
A Widow's Game (Netflix)
Bono: Stories Of Surrender (Apple TV+)
Lost In Starlight (Netflix)
Lulu Is A Rhinoceros (Apple TV+)
Mama June: Family Crisis Season Seven Premiere (We TV)
The Heart Knows (Netflix)

SATURDAY, MAY 31ST:
Good Boy Series Premiere (Prime Video)
Mountainhead (HBO)
Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event (Netflix)
The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy (Lifetime)

SUNDAY, JUNE 1ST:
BBQ Brawl Season Premiere (Food)
Duck Dynasty: The Revival Series Premiere (A&E)
The Mega-Brands That Built America Season Premiere (History)
The Mortician (HBO)

MONDAY, JUNE 2ND:
American Ninja Warrior Season Premiere (NBC)
Below Deck Season Premiere (Bravo)
Harry Wild Season Four Finale (Acorn TV)
Relative Secrets Series Premiere (Acorn TV/BBC America)
The Quiz With Balls Season Premiere (Fox)

SEE YOU ON MONDAY!