Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, February 1st, 2021

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, February 1st, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by iced coffee and orange bread.

IT'S CLEAR HOLLYWOOD SUPPORT STAFF DESERVE MORE MONEY
I spend a lot of time talking about the big picture issues of television. It's easy to forget that whether it's traditional broadcast television or the streaming industry, all of this wouldn't be possible without all of the support staff who make it all possible. The smartest producer or most talented actor won't get very far without the work of the people who do all of the work that no one outside the industry sees. Even before the pandemic hit, pay for support staff was embarrassingly low. And even those low salaries were under pressure from studios and streamers who saw support staff pay as an "easy" place to cut when they wanted to rein in budgets. Shorter seasons means less money and more time spent trying to find your next job. And then the pandemic shutdown hit Hollywood's support staff especially hard, since they often did have the financial support to weather a prolonged period without a paycheck.

#PayUpHollywood today released its second annual survey of the challenges faced by entertainment industry support staff, and the results are pretty grim. A total of of 1,014 participants took the survey, and they included current or former assistants at studios, talent agencies, production/development companies, and in-house production and post-production departments.  Here are some of the highlights, but you should really read the entire survey:

I don't usually devote an entire newsletter to one topic. But as an industry, we can't afford to have so many of our support staff living at the poverty level. We talk a lot about representation and expanding the pool of people who get a chance to make television. But if we make the lower rungs of the industry so difficult to survive that only the well-connected or well-to-do can afford to take those jobs, we will never get the diversity we all say we want.

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW
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.