Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Thursday, October 20th 2022

If I ran CBS...replacing James Corden

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, October 20th, 2022.

IF I RAN CBS....REPLACING JAMES CORDEN
Even in better times, replacing a late night TV show host is a risky and stress-filled experience. Hosting is a singularly specific skill set and until someone does it for awhile, there's no real way of knowing whether or not they'll be any good at it. On paper, Pat Sajak and Dennis Miller were safer choices than Jimmy Kimmel or even David Letterman. And we know how those decisions turned out.

But when it comes to replacing the soon-to-depart James Corden, CBS is facing all sorts of added complexities. 

First, there is a general sense in the industry (and with the public) that whoever gets the hosting job, it should not be another doughy white male. And while I certainly agree with the idea of bringing a bit of diversity to broadcast television's late night lineup, simply doing The Late Late Show with a diverse James Corden isn't going to work. Late night talkers are facing some extinction level problems, and simply swapping out Corden for an equally talented diverse face is a bit like hiring a non-white guy to head up your struggling polka band. It might look more diverse, but it won't help you convince anyone that they need to om-pa-pa the night away with some accordion music.

The overall audience for late night talkers has collapsed substantially in the past few years and other than a few clips that surface the next day on YouTube, the shows tend to have the same pop culture zeitgeist as the average season of Guy's Grocery Games. There is an audience for the shows, but it’s small and viewers don't feel any compulsion to watch it live.

Things are even more grim in the 12:30 ET hour, where NBC had apparently strongly considered giving that hour of programming back to affiliates and moving Late Night With Seth Myers to Peacock. While that didn't happen, the fact it was even being seriously considered indicates the 12:30 ET timeslot is endangered.

There haven't been a lot of leaks about what CBS might have in mind for the timeslot, other than a couple of stories that network executives are taking pitches from a variety of people and are hoping to find a concept that is cheaper and more social media friendly. Hopefully that doesn't mean a traditional-ish looking talk show with a few more interns cranking out Tik Tok videos on the side.

So what would I do if I was running CBS and had to make the decision? It feels as if the network has two choices: a cheap retrenchment or one last swing at the fences.

The cheapest option would be to just go back to the past and do a Tom Snyder-type interview show which focuses on younger guests and plenty of musicians. It would be cheap and while it's not going to have many breakout moments culturally, it would likely grab enough of an audience to make it financially worthwhile. It's what broadcast networks used to do in that timeslot and it's certainly the safe choice.

But I suspect I would opt for the big swing. CBS probably has one last chance to define a new format for the hour before being forced into turning it over to affiliates. So why not do something new, unexpected and risky? If it fails, it fails. But if it works, there is a massive upside and the chance to create something that would also have a life on Paramount+.

First, drop the Late Late Show name, which will reinforce the idea that this is something new. Go with a hipper vibe. something along the lines of CBS After Hours.

Do the show live from Chicago. Yes, I know the rationale for doing late night talkers in New York or Los Angeles. The studios are already built out and the celebrities are much more available. But Chicago has some studios that can be converted relatively easily. And here's the thing about celebrity access. This is 2022 and in 90 percent of the cases, having a panel of celebrity guests doesn't earn you much from the audience. Between nervous celebrity publicists and production staffs that want every interaction sketched out ahead of time, most celebrity segments have the heft of a bad interview on E!. You can still grab some celebrities as they come through Chicago, but that is not what is going to make this show hum.

I'm not going to suggest any specific people as possible hosts, but I will suggest the show have a primary host with 2-3 semi-hosts sidekicks. You need a primary voice to wrangle the conversations into place, but the show should feel more like a combination of the best TV writer's room conversation ever mashed together with table talk at your favorite late night diner.

The show's set should have a very specific feel. A slightly renovated warehouse, with a few audience members. A circle of comfy chairs and couches for conversation, a performance space or two. A kitchen that can be used when needed. A look that is defined by the time we're living in. Have you ever seen episodes of Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark? It had a casual feel that is just perfect for this idea. Of course, without all of the creepy groping and Playboy Bunnies serving drinks.

And here is the thing about Chicago. It is lousy with super talented people looking for a national showcase. Comedians, Second City alumni, a thriving live theater scene. And musicians of all kinds, from 80-year-old Blues singers to cutting edge rappers to twentysomething Americana bands. In an era where musical acts struggle for airtime & recognition, the show can showcase the "best music you've never heard."

Everything about the show should break the rules. Instead of an opening monologue, open with a comic, live performance or taped video bit. Have actual freaking conversations with guests, interact with the audience, go out into the streets for bits. Have fun with the world and the format of the show. That now infamous webcam of a head of lettuce from the past week? That's just the vibe I'm looking for with the show.

Don't worry about creating viral moments, those will come naturally. Create a show that has three goals: don't be boring, don't follow the rules and put together every show as if you'll be fired tomorrow.

I won't keep going on about this anymore, this has already turned into a novella. But it's worth noting that broadcast television executives are more risk-adverse than most television executives and given the general state of the industry, that is saying a lot. 

Here's the thing. No one is expecting this to work. So if it doesn't, you haven't lost anything. But if it does connect, a lot of people's careers are going to be built around this show.

ODDS AND SODS
* All around the world, the medium of soap operas is struggling and in some cases facing oblivion after decades on the air.

* The four-part documentary Shaq will premiere Wednesday, November 23rd on HBO.

* An analysis of four of the largest internet providers in the country found they provide vastly different download speeds for the same price to different customers, and that a key contributor to that pricing fluctuation is the income level in the areas of service.

* Wicked Kitchen, a startup that makes plant-based foods, announced it raised $20 million in bridge funding, thanks in part to an investment from Woody Harrelson.

* Netflix has developed a fraud and abuse detection framework for streaming services, based on artificial intelligence models and data-driven anomaly detections trained on the behavior of the users. Super technical article, but really interesting.

* Starz has ordered a ten-episode third season of its drama P-Valley.

* Season two of The Game premieres December 15th on Paramount+.

WHAT'S NEW FOR THURSDAY:

Here's a quick rundown of all the new stuff premiering today on TV and streaming:

American Gold: The Legend of Bear Gulch Season Two Premiere (Fox Business)
Duck Family Treasure Season Premiere (Fox Business)
Inmate To Roommate Season Finale (A&E)
Inside Amy Schumer Season Premiere (Paramount+)
Legacy (HBO Max)
One Of Us Is Lying Season Two Premiere (Peacock)
60 Days In Season Finale (A&E)
The Fastest Woman On Earth (HBO)
V/H/S/99 (Shudder)

Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.

SEE YOU FRIDAY!

If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.