Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Thursday, November 7th, 2024

An update on the Dan Schneider libel case.

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, November 7th, 2024:

AN UPDATE ON THE DAN SCHNEIDER LIBEL CASE
As I reported last month, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has tentatively dismissed former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider's libel case against the producers of the documentary Quiet On Set: Dark Side Of Kids TV.

In plain English, Schneider had to prove two things: that the allegations were false and that a reasonable viewer would believe he had committed sexual abuse after watching the documentary. Judge Chowdhury noted Schneider had never denied the allegations in court, instead leaving that to witnesses and surrogates.

He also noted that the prime evidence submitted by Schneider that viewers might believe he had committed sexual abuse was primarily drawn from social media posts and comments posted on YouTube videos, an approach the judge described as a "slippery slope."

The case was tentatively dismissed, with an oral argument on the decision scheduled for Friday, November 8th.

But there have been several developments since then.

Dan Schneider has filed a statement with the court denying any allegations of sexual misconduct with a child:

A motion to strike hearing was scheduled for Friday, November 8th, but both side have filed a stipulation to continue the hearing a week, until Thursday, November 14th.

It's not clear what led to the delay of the hearing. Although in many situations, the delay is the result on ongoing out of court negotiations between the two parties.

I find it incredibly perplexing that none of the Hollywood trades have been covering this trial at all. 

A COUPLE OF NEW SHOWS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR
There is almost always a flurry of new streaming shows coming at you each week. Here are a couple that I think are worth checking out.

Citadel: Honey Bunny (Thursday, Prime Video)
I suspect about twenty times more people have made Citadel jokes than ever actually watched the series. 

The original Russo Brothers-produced series Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as super spies who find themselves struck by amnesia and when it premiered in 2023, the reaction was a collective "meh." There wasn't much of a connection between the leads and there were plot holes so big you could drive a 16-wheeler through them sideways.

But while Citadel: Honey Bunny is technically set in the Citadel television universe, this Indian Hindi-language is everything that the original series was not. Directed by Raj & DK, who co-wrote the season with Sita R Menon, the action is taut and imaginative without sliding into the action porn that often plagued Citadel. The series shifts between two central timelines, one in 2000 and the other in 1992. That allows the show to touch on some of the storyline of Citadel while still carving out its own path.

However, the best reason to watch Citadel: Honey Bunny is the on-camera chemistry between Honey ( Samantha Ruth Prabhu) and Bunny (Varun Dhawan). They are the focus of every scene they're in and if I have a complaint about the show, it's that their connection tends to drown out every other character in the show.

And without spoiling anything, I'll warn you that the season ends on a massive cliffhanger, which is annoying. But based on what's on the screen, it's likely Citadel: Honey Bunny will be back for a second season. But until then, check out the recent Italian take on the franchise, Citadel: Diana. It's not quite as compelling as Honey Bunny, but well worth watching. 

The Day Of The Jackal (Thursday, Peacock)
The original 1973 film The Day Of The Jackal was loosely based on an actual assassination attempt against French Prime Minister Charles DeGaulle, by a mysterious killer nicknamed "The Jackal." That adaptation of the 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name is widely regarded as a classic of the genre.

This new Peacock adaptation isn't nearly at that level of excellence, but it's a well-made thriller that might not be inventive, but it's put together with all the precision of an expensive Swiss watch.

In this series The Jackal is played by Eddie Redmayne, an assassin who successfully makes shots that seem impossible. He's being pursued by Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), who brings a lot of freshness and nuance into a character that could have been quite predictable.

In the end, that's what the series worth watching. None of the characters are given the trite characteristics you'd find in a lesser show and the underlying themes of global economic inequities and powerful men seeking to control things behind the scenes resonated a bit too well right now. 

ODDS AND SODS
* The Tennis Channel is launching a direct-to-consumer streaming service, which will cost $9.99 per month or $109.99 annually.

* CBS has given full season orders to Poppa’s House and NCIS: Origins, which means the network has picked up full seasons of all four of its new broadcast TV shows.

* The three-part docuseries Snoop’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne's Story will premiere Thursday, December 5th on E! The series "follows Cori Broadus, entrepreneur and daughter of globally recognized superstar Snoop Dogg, and her fiancé, Wayne Duece, as they plan the wedding of the century. However, with four months to plan, a growing guest list and pending to-do’s before their I do’s, life does not always go as planned. "

* The theatrical film Alien: Romulus will drop on streaming November 21st on Hulu.

* The new HBO comedy special Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This? will tape in Chicago and be released in January 2025.

TWEET OF THE DAY

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH:
* A Christmas Miracle (BET+)
* After The First 48 Season Premiere (A&E)
* Alaska PD Season Premiere (A&E)
* Born For The Spotlight Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Christmas Cookie Challenge Season Premiere (Food)
* Citadel: Honey Bunny Series Premiere (Prime Video)
* Countdown: Paul Vs. Tyson (Netflix)
* Eat Slay Love Series Premiere (Peacock)
* Five Gold Rings (Hallmark Movies Network)
* Interrogation Live Season Premiere (A&E)
* Outer Banks Season 4B Premiere (Netflix)
* 10 Days Of A Curious Man (Netflix)
* The Day Of The Jackal (Peacock)
* Until I Kill You (Britbox)
* Unwrapping Christmas: Tina's Miracle (Hallmark+)
* Who's Stalking My Family? (LMN)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH:
* Bank Under Siege (aka Asalto al Banco Central) Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Black Cab (Shudder)
* Cold Case Files: The Grim Sleeper (A&E)
* Every Minute Counts (Cada Minuto Cuenta) (Prime Video)
* Gold Rush Season Premiere (Discovery)
* Honest Renovations: A Holiday Home Makeover (The Roku Channel)
* The Cage Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Fiery Priest (Hulu)
* Trivia At St. Nick's (Hallmark)
* Umjolo: The Gone Girl (Netflix)
* Vijay 69 (Netflix)

SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!