Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Going viral is a very weird experience

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, August 22nd, 2024:

GOING VIRAL IS A VERY WEIRD EXPERIENCE
Given the fact that I have been working online since the dinosaur days of Compuserve, I have seen a lot of situations in which someone's post, tweet or video just explodes into virality. But until last night, I had never had the experience first-hand.

While I am not super-partisan, I am a political junkie and was watching the DNC. Honestly, my attention was only somewhat on the speeches because I was also trying to do a bit of work on my laptop at the same time. But when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz started his speech, I paid closer attention because I live in Minnesota and I've been fascinated by his rise to national prominence. 

And I was fine until Walz explained that his wife and two kids meant the world to him. And as the cameras cut to his family, viewers saw the 17-year-old Gus Walz in tears, standing up to point to the stage as he shouted to everyone seated near him, "That's my Dad! That's my Dad!." And watching that moment prompted this tweet from me:

I went to bed not long after posting that and woke up this morning to discover the tweet had exploded. More than five million views, and more than 200,000 likes. I'm no social media expert, but when Mark Hamill retweets you, you've gone viral.

I spent most of today juggling emails and requests from media to talk about my tweet and I also agreed to write a piece about what it like as a father to help parent a child with special needs. And while I make a point in every interview of stressing that it is a partnership with my wife, I think a lot of people are fascinated by my admission that I cried. Or that I had deep emotions when I talk about my son and the challenges he's overcome.

While I suppose I understand that reaction in the abstract, it's sad that reticence for men to share their emotions publicly is so novel. I can't imagine not being able to admit that I cried when I saw a young man who reminded me so much of my son. It was impossible to watch Gus Walz and not think of my son Sam. I saw some of the same things in his response that I've seen in my son. The unbridled joy, the emotion that quickly builds to the point where he's almost vibrating with feelings he can't control. 

I cried watching it not because I was sad or even because I was reminded of my son. I cried because I know from personal experience how difficult that moment likely was for young Gus Walz. But watching him overcome the nervousness, publicly accept the love of his father and giving it back to him without hesitation...it was a beautifully pure moment. 

Today's newsletter is going to be very short. I've barely had a moment to think about television today. And to be honest, I really feel the need to binge release some love on my wife and son.

See you tomorrow for a regular edition.

TWEET OF THE DAY

ODDS AND SODS
* While I don't always find industry conferences and events to be all that useful, I have to admit that I wish I had a reason attend the Edinburgh TV Fest. Given my interest in the global television market, it's hard to imagine a better place to learn and network. So if anyone out there would like to invite me onto a panel for next year's fest, I can predict that I'll say yes.

* Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to the crime thriller M.I.A., written and executive produced by Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque.

* Apple TV+ has ordered a second season of Criminal Record, which is a thriller set in the heart of contemporary London, featuring the return of the two brilliant detectives (played by Peter Capaldi & Cash Jumbo) clashing once more in a complex murder investigation.

* Syndicated daytime talker The Drew Barrymore Show has been given an early renewal for a sixth season on CBS Stations, taking it through the 2025-2026 season. The renewal comes ahead of the show’s Season 5 premiere on Monday, September 9th.

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21ST:
* Back To 15 (Netflix)
* Cursed Gold: A Shipwreck Scandal (NatGeo)
* Icons Unearthed: Harry Potter (Vice)
* Like A Girl (Fuse)
* Nice Girls (Netflix)
* PBS News Special: Democratic National Convention (PBS)
* Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Accident Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Time Bandits Season One Finale (Apple TV+)
* Wyatt Earp And The Cowboy War (Netflix)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND:
* Avoidance (Britbox)
* Baby Fever (Netflix)
* Bonds Will Be Broken (LMN)
* Classified Series Premiere (Freevee)
* Fifteen-Love Series Premiere (Sundance Now)
* GG Precinct Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Mermaid Magic Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (Netflix) - [first look video]
* Reasonable Doubt Season Two Premiere (Hulu)
* Secret Lives Of Orangutans (Netflix)
* That 90s Show Season One Part Three Premiere (Netflix) - [first look video]
* Unbelievably Vegan With Chef Charity (Max)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH:
* A-List To Playlist Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Breathless Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Inside The NFL (The CW)
* K-Pop Idols Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
* Lavender Fields Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Deliverance (Netflix)
* The Serpent Queen Season Two Finale (Starz) [TCA summer 2024 photo gallery]
* (Un)lucky Sisters (Netflix)

SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!