Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Friday, March 19th, 2021

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, March 19th, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by coffee made by my 15-year-old son & a BLT.

FIRST, SOME HOUSEKEEPING
Thanks to a mention of one of my pieces by Brian Stelter in last night's "Reliable Sources" email, I have quite a few new subscribers. So welcome and as an FYI, this newsletter goes out M-F and in theory it should hit your inbox in early afternoon U.S. time (for those of you somewhere else in the world, adjust accordingly). Each newsletter generally has two components: part one is some commentary, along with links to stories and opinion pieces I think are important. Part two is a rundown of all the new shows premiering that day on linear TV as well as the various streaming services. And Friday newsletters tend to be lighter on the news/commentary part due to the larger number of new shows premiering at the end of the week.

As far as the editorial philosophy, this newsletter - like the AllYourScreens web site - isn't trying to cover everything. Instead, I try and cover stories and shows I think you should know more about.

BTW, this is the piece Brian linked to: TV Criticism In The Age Of COVID-19.

THE CASE FOR BINGEING: 'DEBRIS' EDITION
I've written several times in this newsletter about the new NBC sci-fi drama Debris in recent weeks and the fact that I've given the show more attention here than anyone else has in their news coverage gives you a sense of how things are going for the series. I like the cast and the premise a lot, but I've been frustrated by NBC's lackluster support of the show. 

But seeing the coverage of the new Disney+ series The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (which premiered today), it reminded me that while some shows like "Falcon" work well on a "one episode a week" release schedule, Debris is an example of a series that would have fared better on Peacock, with the entire season being dropped at once.

Part of the reason comes down to content. A mystery/mythology-based series such as Debris works better in a binge setting. It's easy to keep up the momentum of the story arc and hold the viewer's attention over multiple episode viewing so they get sucked into the show.

But there are practical reasons as well. Shows such as Debris have a pretty horrific survival rate on broadcast television. Two or three similar shows premiere each year and other than NBC's Manifest, I don't think any of them have survived past one season. Not only does that high failure rate make audiences skittish about committing time to a show that likely won't survive, it makes it tough to build social media buzz each week in such a crowded media environment. Releasing an entire season at once provides a better chance to break through the clutter, even if it is for just a week or two.

'FRIENDS' WAS THE MOST-WATCHED COMEDY ON BROADCAST OR CABLE TV IN 2020
USA Today has an exclusive look at 2020 viewing data from Nielsen, which shows that the pandemic sparked a new interest in older TV comedies last year:

Last year, NBC's "Friends" – which ended its 10-year run in 2004 – was the most-watched comedy on broadcast or cable TV, with 96.7 billion minutes viewed, a 30% jump from 2019. "Andy Griffith" grew 29%, to 58.3 billion viewing minutes, while ABC's "Roseanne" saw a 70% viewing surge to 20.1 billion minutes.

Behind "Friends" is CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" (2007-19) and "Two and a Half Men" (2003-15), according to Nielsen, which did not include streaming in its ranking. But that's one reason why "Friends" (along with "Big Bang") is a cornerstone of new streaming service HBO Max, which still plans to air a cast reunion after nearly a year's delay due to pandemic restrictions.

One interesting tidbit is that some of the biggest viewing increases came from shows that have a more diverse cast:

Year-to-year viewing of ABC's "Family Matters" (1989-1998), which focuses on a Black family, skyrocketed, recording 11.4 billion viewing minutes for a 392% increase from 2019. So, yes, Urkel, you did do that. "George Lopez" (2002-07), built around a popular comedian of Mexican-American heritage, recorded nearly 11 billion viewing minutes, a 113% jump, while "The Bernie Mac Show" (2001-06) was up 71% to 3.3 billion minutes.

Audiences increased for a selection of other older sitcoms, too: "I Love Lucy" (9.3 billion minutes, up 8%); "Full House" (7.2 billion minutes, up 35%); "Good Times" (6.9 billion minutes, up 24%); and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (6.7 billion minutes, up 13%).

I know the business reasons why the various streamers haven't leaned more into classic television - especially lesser-known titles. But I think it's a mistake to ignore those shows. Because there is obviously an audience for pre-1990 TV programs and even factoring in the costs of music clearances and other technical issues, classic TV has the financial advantage of already having been produced. 

ODDS AND SODS
Netflix's Paris Theater in NYC reopens today, showing The Trial Of The Chicago 7 and Monk. And there's free popcorn!

Four studio executives speak with The Hollywood Reporter about the shattering of the theatrical window and the streaming tsunami that has changed the industry forever.

TODAY'S PREMIERES
1) Alien TV (Netflix)
Alien reporters Ixbee, Pixbee and Squee return to Earth, where they learn about more odd human customs and inventions like trains and fashion.

2) A Tiny Audience (HBO Max)
In this series of intimate music specials, Latin musicians reveal a personal secret to the "tiny" audience before them and perform a pair of songs that are meaningful to them.

3) Calls Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
Told through a series of interconnected phone calls, this series chronicles the mysterious story of a group of strangers whose lives are thrown into disarray in the lead-up to an apocalyptic event.

4) Country Comfort Series Premiere (Netflix)
An aspiring young country singer finds the band she's been missing when she takes a job as a nanny for a musically talented family.

5) Deadly Excursion: Kidnapped From the Beach (LMN)
Foiled kidnappers return to finish the job as an unsuspecting woman and her daughter vacation in Florida.

6) Double Cross With Blake Griffin (truTV)
A guy is caught with his pants down when his girlfriend raids his prank; a prankster becomes a dead man walking when the tables are turned and a boyfriend's prank falls two stories short.

7) Everything But The House Series Premiere (HGTV)
A woman wants to retire in Aruba, so she, her son and his girlfriend try to auction off as many possessions as possible to make money for the move.

8) Formula 1: Drive To Survive Season Premiere (Netflix)
During a shortened 2020 season, Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and other top drivers pursue checkered flags as COVID-19 turns the world upside down

9) Gold Rush: Dave Turin's Lost Mine Season Three Premiere (Discovery+)
Miner Dave Turin is on a mission to find gold in a long abandoned mine.

10) Mama June: Road To Redemption Season Premiere (WE tv)
Mama June's quest for self-discovery will redefine who she is as a woman, mother and lover.

11) Sky Rojo Series Premiere (Netflix)
On the run from their pimp and his henchmen, three women embark on a wild and crazy journey in search of freedom. From the creators of "Money Heist."

12) The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Series Premiere (Disney+)
The series stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. The pair, who came together in the final moments of “Avengers: Endgame,” team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience.

This newsletter is called "Too Much TV" because....well, it's hard to keep track of all the new television premiering everyday. To help you prioritize your viewing, click here to see our list of more than 400 upcoming television premieres, movies and finales. You'll find listings from more than 70 networks, as well as streaming services and web shows.

I'll be back with another one Monday. If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.