Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, September 30th, 2019

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, September 30th, 2019. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities, where AllYourScreens HQ is running on coffee....lots of coffee.

A Breather...For Now
Last week brought a tsunami of new fall premieres. If you combine broadcast television, cable and streaming, there were 70 premieres from Monday though Friday. Not counting specials, show finales and other stuff. And while we're just one week into the new season,  the ratings outlook for this year's crop of new shows is inching very close to "bloodbath" status.

Here are the final broadcast primetime live + same-day ratings for the 11 broadcast TV shows that premiered between Monday and Thursday of last week:

Here is the list of new shows, arranged by the ratings for just the audience of 18-35:

1) Prodigal Son (Fox-Monday) 1.0/4 share - 4.05 million
2) Bob (Hearts) Abishola (CBS-Monday) 0.9/4 share - 5.89 million
3) mixed-ish (ABC-Tuesday) 0.9/4 - 3.91 million
4) The Unicorn (CBS-Thursday) 0.8/4 share - 6.04 million
5) Emergence (ABC-Tuesday) 0.8/5 share - 4.12 million
6) Carol's Second Act (CBS-Thursday) 0.7/4 share - 5.97 million
7) Stumptown (ABC-Wednesday) 0.7/4 share - 4.61 million
8) All Rise (CBS-Monday) 0.7/3 share - 6.03 million
9) Evil (CBS-Thursday) 0.6/4 share - 4.56 million
10) Perfect Harmony (NBC-Thursday) 0.5/3 share - 2.63 million
11) Sunnyside (NBC-Thursday) 0.4/2 share - 1.77 million

And here are the shows arranged by the total audience size:

1) The Unicorn (CBS-Thursday) 0.8/4 share - 6.04 million
2) All Rise (CBS-Monday) 0.7/3 share - 6.03 million
3) Carol's Second Act (CBS-Thursday) 0.7/4 share - 5.97 million
4) Bob (Hearts) Abishola (CBS-Monday) 0.9/4 share - 5.89 million
5) Stumptown (ABC-Wednesday) 0.7/4 share - 4.61 million
6) Evil (CBS-Thursday) 0.6/4 share - 4.56 million
7) Emergence (ABC-Tuesday) 0.8/5 share - 4.12 million
8) Prodigal Son (Fox-Monday) 1.0/4 share - 4.05 million
9) mixed-ish (ABC-Tuesday) 0.9/4 - 3.91 million
10) Perfect Harmony (NBC-Thursday) 0.5/3 share - 2.63 million
11) Sunnyside (NBC-Thursday) 0.4/2 share - 1.77 million

No matter how you parse this numbers, this is bad. But to be fair, it matches a trend we're seeing across the board. Whether it's broadcast television or cable, year-to-year ratings on the majority of shows continue to slump. And while the financial effects of that trend can be mitigated for awhile, at some point the audience is so small that it's difficult to support original scripted programming. Cable networks such as Syfy & USA has essentially bailed on their scripted shows, unless the cost can be offset with a secondary stream of revenue from a streaming service.

And in the short term, maybe that is the future of broadcast television. With same day audiences declining, most new shows won't happen unless there is a guaranteed streaming deal as part of the package. That is already the way CBS has offset the costs of their summer scripted dramas such as "Blood & Treasure." And with the coming debut of new streaming services by Disney & NBC Universal, then maybe one of the unintended side effects of those services is that they will provide a financial lifeline to their sister broadcast network's struggling scripted television lineup.

Here's a rundown of the modest amount of television and streaming stuff premiering today:

1) Back Home Series Premiere (Acorn TV)
A car accident lands family man Fausto (Alessio Boni, The Name of the Rose) in a coma for five years, who then awakes to find that everything has changed. His wife is with his best friend, his children are grown, and his business is nearly bankrupt. As Fausto strives to regain his life, he discovers sinister parts of his past that may ruin his efforts to start anew.

2) Mo Gilligan: Momentum (Netflix)
Comedian Mo Gilligan blends smooth moves and sharp humor as he riffs on humble beginnings, family dynamics and the complex art of dancing in the club.

3) POV: The Silence Of Others (PBS)
Filmed over six years, The Silence of Others reveals the epic struggle of victims of Spain’s 40-year dictatorship under General Franco, as they organize a groundbreaking international lawsuit and fight a “pact of forgetting” around the crimes they suffered. A cautionary tale about fascism and the dangers of forgetting the past.

4) Show Offs Season Two Premiere (BYUtv)
The hilarious, interactive musical improv series "Show Offs" gives its cast, along with a special celebrity guest, the chance to "show off" by performing a spontaneous improvised play or musical, prompted by random ideas from the studio audience and accompanied by a live band.    

5) Street Outlaws: Memphis Season Premiere (Discovery)
When it comes to the meanest, fastest and highest stakes in street racing, nobody does it better than Memphis. JJ Da Boss and his team of Memphis drivers are gearing up for another racing season.  This time, they’re bringing true grass-roots racing back into the game. Taking on some of the best competitors in the country, from Detroit to Texas and everywhere in between, the Memphis Outlaws will be tested like never before to prove they’re the best racers around. As always, it’s Memphis against the world.

6) Studio C Season Premiere (BYUtv)
A viral phenom with nearly two billion views on YouTube and past guest stars including Emmy winner Kenan Thompson, "Studio C" derives universally-loved humor from everyday life through endlessly watchable and shareable sketches that offer comic perspective on commonplace scenarios and pop culture commentary.

7) The Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Challenge (TLC)
It all began in 2003 when two sisters with a dream, Susan Bain and Laura Gawne, owners of Charm Weddings, transformed a folksy bridal-shower game into an annual world-wide competition. Fast forward to today, thousands of aspiring designers clamor to enter with only 12 lucky finalists getting the opportunity to share their beautiful creations, and TLC is there for the first time to capture all the action. From the bathroom to the craft room, the contestants compete to create a wedding gown and headpiece using only four unconventional materials – tape, glue, thread and toilet paper – with the dream of winning fame and a cash prize. With more than 116,000 sheets of Quilted Northern®toilet paper and over 5,514 hours of toiling over every detail, these unbelievably delicate designs are nearly indistinguishable from gowns made with more traditional materials. The jaw-dropping creations span the style spectrum, with the designers bringing as much variety and pizazz to their dresses as one might find in a bridal salon.

8) Tricked Season Three Premiere (BYUtv)
Tricked drags magic off the stage and onto the streets as master magician Eric LeClerc goes undercover with hidden cameras, posing in a variety of guises to pull super sneaky pranks on unsuspecting people.

For a rundown of all the new episodes of television premiering tonight, click here.

TOO MUCH TV REALLY IS A THING
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.

And if you're a glutton for punishment (or just want to know what you've missed), check out this list of all the shows that have premiered so far in 2019.

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.