Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Thursday, February 11th, 2021

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, February 11th, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by lots and lots of coffee.

DISNEY EARNINGS ARE OUT
The Q4 numbers are just being released now and by the time you read this newsletter, you probably will have already seen a lot of the highlights.

But I did want to pass along the Disney streaming numbers: 146 million total paid subscribers. Broken down by unit, Disney+ has 94.9 million, Hulu SVOD has 35.4 million, ESPN+ has 12.1 million and Hulu Live has 4 million.

It's worth noting that the biggest growth driver for Disney+ was Latin America, which likely is part of the reason why that region is also the next place HBO Max is targeting for expansion.

WAITING FOR PARAMOUNT+
A few details are beginning to slip out at what new programming might be coming to the Paramount+ streaming service. We are supposed to get the full rundown at an Investor Event on February 24th. But as was thinking about the service today, I'm struck by how amorphous the service is in my head. Going into presentations before the launch of Peacock and HBO Max, there were some tentpole TV shows and movies that were already being touted as reasons to subscribe. And so far, the mission statement from Paramount+ seems to be "we'll have a lot of stuff. Yes, some of it was really popular in the 90s and you can see it other places. Bid we mention there will be a lot of stuff."

I've been told on background that there will be some new programming announced and all I can say is that based on what I've been told, Paramount+ will be digging deep into Viacom/CBS IP mines. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I just haven't heard anything that screams "must subscribe." Paramount+ seems to be shooting for the same niche as Peacock. People who look at the variety of programming available and say "well, it's only a few dollars a month, so what do I have to lose?"

As readers of this newsletter already know, I've been extremely critical of Viacom/CBS's policy of being a content arms dealer. The company needs a steady stream of revenue and is willing to license off just about anything (albeit mostly on a non-exclusive basis) if they can make some money. But the downside of that is they end up licensing some of the best catalog to rivals who are wringing all the value out of it. As I write this, two Nickelodeon shows (Henry Danger & iCarly) are on Netflix's Top Ten most-viewed list. The fact that this is coming so soon before the launch of Paramount+ seems like a bad thing.

ABOUT THAT BEAR GRYLLS INTERACTIVE SPECIAL FOR NETFLIX
In yesterday's newsletter, I mentioned the upcoming Bear Grylls interactive special that hits Netflix in a few days. I posted a review of the special last night and among other things, I pointed out that the special seems to have a programming error which can force you to repeat parts of the episode you have already completed. You can read the entire review here. 

ODDS AND SODS
Bloomberg is reporting that CBS is making a spinoff of 60 Minutes for Paramount+, which may or may not resemble the version it made for Quibi.

TODAY'S PREMIERES

1) Capitani (Netflix)
Detective Luc Capitani investigates the mysterious death of a teenager after her body is found in the forest near a village in northern Luxembourg.

2) Chris Gethard Beautiful/Anonymous Series Premiere (Topic)
Based on the popular podcast of the same name, host and comedian Chris Gethard tweets out a phone number and has a half hour conversation with whoever gets to him first and the conversation will be illustrated by different imagery such as still photos and video footage. Chris' innate curiosity about people and their lives as well as his ability to disarm all of those he speak to, leads to a conversation you never knew you wanted to experience but are so glad you had. What unfolds could be a shocking confession, a therapeutic discovery, a philosophical debate about an opposing view or a series of funny and relatable stories. Past podcast episodes have revealed a survivor of the Las Vegas mass shooting who turned tragedy into positive action, a mother calling from a Children's Hospital awaiting the results of her daughter's cancer scan and the pride of a young woman who not only came out to her family but got her Trump-supporting neighbor to help her hang a pride flag out her front door.

3) Clarice Series Premiere (CBS)
A year after rescuing Catherine Martin from the horror of Buffalo Bill’s basement, FBI Agent Clarice Starling (Rebecca Breeds) gets an urgent assignment from Catherine’s mother, Attorney General Ruth Martin (Jayne Atkinson), to join the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) in the investigation of three serial killings.

4) For My Man (TV One)
Real woman in real relationships that will do anything for their man.

5) Layla Majnun (Netflix)
While in Azerbaijan, Layla, an Indonesian scholar, falls for Samir, an admirer of her work — but her arranged marriage stands in the way.

6) Lovers' Lane Murders (Oxygen)
A look at murders that take place...on lovers' lanes.

7) Never And Again (BET+)
The movie portrays the budding romance between Kevin (Jackie Long) and Jasmine (Denise Boutté) which sparked during their teenage years. Years later, they cross paths again; but are the wounds from the past hurt too much to reconcile what they once had, or will they trust each other and allow fate to prevail?

8) Red Dot (Netflix)
On a hiking trip to rekindle their marriage, a couple find themselves fleeing for their lives in the unforgiving wilderness from an unknown shooter.

9) Squared Love (Netflix)
A celebrity journalist and renowned womanizer starts to rethink his life choices after he falls for a mysterious model who leads a double life.

10) The Bridge Series Premiere (HBO Max)
Narrated by BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe®-nominated James McAvoy, THE BRIDGE features twelve strangers from across the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland, who set out for a cabin nestled deep within the British wilderness with no knowledge of what they’ll be doing – only that £100,000 is at stake. This reality competition series places a massive cash prize on an island in the middle of a lake – but to reach the money, contestants must construct an 850-foot bridge with their bare hands and limited supplies. Given only 20 days to complete this gargantuan task, the competitors must figure out how to work together, though only one can take home the prize. Wild and unpredictable, THE BRIDGE is an adrenaline-packed, physically grueling adventure filled with mind games and power plays.

11) There Is No "I" In Threesome (HBO Max)
The series is about a New Zealand couple who decide to open up their relationship.

12) They Call Me Dr. Miami (Discovery+)
Fans come from all over the country to take selfies with him, and rap artists name-drop him in lyrics. At the same time, he has been condemned by the medical establishment. Dr. Miami aka Michael Salzhauer is America’s most controversial and famous plastic surgeon; his meteoric fame built on live streaming graphic procedures on social media to millions of followers, blurring the lines between entertainment and surgery.

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.

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