Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Friday, December 10th, 2021
It's winter here in Minnesota...
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, December 10th, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities, where AllYourScreens HQ is preparing for the foot or so of snow coming our way tonight. So a slightly shorter newsletter than normal.
MICHAEL NESMITH, DEAD AT 78
Michael Nesmith, member of the 1960s-era made-forTV music group The Monkees died Friday at the age of 78. The news was announced via a statement issued by his family:
"With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time and we thank you for the love and light that all of you have shown him and us."
Nesmith left the group in 1970 to pursue his solo career and had a Top 40 hit with the song "Joanne." He also wrote the song "Different Drum," which was a hit for Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Ponys. In 1981, Nesmith won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long television show, Elephant Parts.
He didn't participate in The Monkees 20th Anniversary celebration album and tour, but he did do a series of concerts in 1989 and recorded a new album of material with the other three band members in 1990. The band did a brief tour in the U.K. the following year, which was the last time the original band members played together live. He contributed to the 2016 Monkees 50th Anniversary album and while he didn't participate in the tour with the rest of the band, he did sit in for the ailing Peter Tork on a couple of dates.
In 2018, Nesmith and Dolenz toured together as a duo for the first time under the banner "The Monkees Present: The Mike and Micky Show". The duo also did a 2021 tour together called "The Monkees Farewell Tour," and the final date of the tour was at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on November 14th, 2021.
YET ANOTHER REASON WHY BROADBAND BUILD-OUT IS TOUGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
Compared to most of Europe and Asia, broadband access in the United States is pretty terrible. It's very expensive and there are still plenty of places in the country where it's not available at any price. There are a lot of reasons for this, but it turns out that one problem is the complexity of the fiber permitting process:
He said organizations that embark on a fiber deployment project to unserved areas may have to interact with multiple federal, state and local agencies, none of whom coordinate together, and none of whom are at all concerned about the time-value-of-money for the company that has capital on the line.
Herrgott gave some examples of issues that might come up during a fiber project. While the team is waiting for a licensing decision from the NTIA, it may have to get a water analysis from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But, the Fish and Wildlife Service, which has jurisdiction over trout, might have to do an analysis because the fiber trench needs to cross a small stream. But, if that stream is near the ocean, the National Marine Fisheries Service may have to get involved. And there could be an endangered species act issue. These are just some potential issues that might arise because of a small stream.
“They’ll all have their separate biologists and separate contractors all evaluating the same project with no coordination,” said Herrgott. “And you know who pays for those documents? The project sponsor.”
He added, “No one in the last 30 years has gone in and taken a hard look at the overlapping nature and redundancy of these statutes that hold capital back and raise the cost of debt equity for those that are actually operating in the telecommunications broadband.”
According to Herrgott, the current cost for a simple fiber project that’s alongside an existing right-of-way is about $30 million a mile. “It shouldn’t take six months to get that initial approval from the Department of Transportation that it’s OK to do an initial trench dig in an existing right-of-way that has no environmental impacts,” he said. “That should be turned around in a week.”
I believe in environmental controls and the need for government oversight. But six months of approvals and $30 million a mile is insane.
A BIT OF NEWS FROM CBS
CBS is doing a virtual press event for TCA members today and I'm listening in while I write this. Here are the highlights so far:
* A new sitcom is premiering on Thursday, March 31st. How We Roll is based on the life of professional bowler Tom Smallwood and it stars Pete Holmes, Katie Lowes, Chi McBride, Julie White and Mason Wells.
* The 33rd season of The Amazing Race premieres on Wednesday, January 5th. The show was three episodes into the new season when production was shut down due to the pandemic. Production resumed this spring and here's a look at the new cast:
Akbar Cook Sr. (45) and Sheridan Cook (44) - Married educators from Martinsville, N.J.
Anthony Sadler (29) and Spencer Stone (29) - Childhood friends from Sacramento, Calif.
Arun Kumar (56) and Natalie Kumar (28) - Father and daughter from Detroit, Mich.
Caro Viehweg (23) and Ray Gantt (25) - Dating from Los Angeles and Toms River, N.J., respectively.
Connie (37) and Sam (39) Greiner - Married couple from Charlotte, N.C.
Kim (45) and Penn (47) Holderness - Internet personalities from Raleigh, N.C.
Marianela “Lulu” (37) and Marissa “Lala” (37) Gonzalez - Twins and radio hosts from North Bergen, N.J.
Michael Norwood (36) and Armonde “Moe” Badger (42) - Singing police officers from Buffalo, N.Y.
Raquel Moore (31) and Cayla Platt (30) - Flight attendants from Chicago, Ill. and Gulf Breeze, Fla., respectively.
Ryan Ferguson (37) and Dusty Harris (38) - Best friends from Columbia, Mo.
Taylor Green-Jones (38) and Isaiah Green-Jones (31) - YouTube sensations from Portland, Ore.
A STREAMER FOR WINE EHTHUSIASTS
There are more small, niche streamers out there than seem possible. And while some of them have a business model that feels dubious at best, there are also some really interesting small streamers that deserve more attention.
I just spoke with Jason Wise, the CEO of SOMM TV, a streaming service targeted to wine enthusiasts. It sounds like a programming niche that is way too specific, but the service is creating most of its own content, including a new competitive cooking series called Sparklers.
It was a very informative conversation and it will be live on AllYourScreens.com on Sunday. I'll also link to it in Monday's newsletter.
ODDS AND SODS
* Cinedigm announced on Friday that it has renewed its agreement with Prime Video Channels for five of its most popular streaming channels: Fandor, Screambox, Dove Channel, CONtv and Docudrama.
* HBO is looking into reviving Six Feet Under. Which should be interesting, since that series had an ending that didn't leave a lot of room for a revival.
WHAT'S NEW FOR FRIDAY
Here's a quick rundown of all the new stuff premiering today on TV and streaming:
A Daughter's Deceit (LMN)
A Dickens Of A Holiday (Hallmark)
Anonymously Yours (Netflix)
Aranyak (Netflix)
A Thousand Fangs (Mil Colmillos) (HBO Max)
Back To The Outback (Netflix)
Crossing Swords (Hulu)
Dafne and the Rest (Todo lo otro) (HBO Max)
Encounter (Amazon)
Expense Season Six Premiere (Amazon)
Family Dinner Season Premiere (Discovery+/Magnolia)
For Auld Lang Syne (Apple TV+)
Holiday In Santa Fe (Lifetime)
How To Ruin Christmas: The Funeral (Netflix)
LOL: Last One Laughing Mexico (Amazon)
Paper & Glue (MSNBC)
Play-Doh Squished (IMDb TV)
Punk'd Season Two Premiere (Roku)
Shaman King (Netflix)
Saturday Morning All-Star Hits! (Netflix)
Still Out Of My League (Netflix)
Summer Camp Island (HBO Max)
The Expanse Season Premiere (Amazon)
The Housewives Of The North Pole (Peacock)
The Unforgiveable (Netflix)
Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story (Netflix)
Twentysomethings: Austin Series Premiere (Netflix)
Two (Netflix)
Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.
SEE YOU MONDAY!
If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.