Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, June 7th, 2021
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, June 7th, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by green chile tamales.
PARAMOUNT+ ROLLS OUT LOW-COST TIER
As had been expected, streaming service Paramount+ rolled out its new $4.99 a month subscription tier, which includes advertising.
At the same time, the service released a number of the 1,000 movie titles it plans to add to the service on Thursday. And according to a press release, it expects to add an additional 1,500 titles this summer.
The titles come from two different places. Some of the titles come to Paramount+ as the result of a reworked output deal it negotiated with the movie channel Epix. But the majority of the titles are ones that Paramount has been licensing to other streaming services, generally rolling them from one service to the next every few months.
So in a lot of cases, these "new" titles are going to be familiar to most streaming subscribers, who have seen them show up everywhere from Netflix to the AVOD Filmrise service. So while having these new titles isn't a negative, I'm interested to see how much it helps Paramount+ with subscriber churn and engagement. It certainly will help beef up the service's movie sections, which often seem paltry for a service that is supposed to include the catalog of one of Hollywood's iconic studios.
To be honest, I would be more impressed if there was a major overhaul of the Paramount+ UX, which is built in large part on top of the old CBS All-Access framework. So it is clunky and non-intuitive and lacks some of the basic features you would expect to find on a major streaming service.
'THE NEIGHBORHOOD' GETS NEW SHOWRUNNER, WRITING STAFF
The CBS comedy The Neighborhood is going into its fourth season and it's been doing well in the ratings - at least by current broadcast TV standards. But like a number of CBS shows, it has had a lot of behind-the-scenes turmoil, with showrunner and series creator Jim Reynolds leaving at the end of last season due to non-specified comments and other "race-related issues." Upon his exit, Reynolds put out a statement, which read in part, "At this moment, in light of everything going on in the world, I had concluded that I am not the right person to continue to tell these stories. I am excited to see the show thrive and wish everyone involved the very best."
Meg DeLoatch has been named the new showrunner for The Neighborhood and she is replacing all but one of the writing staff from last season. She was most recently the creator and showrunner of Netflix’s Family Reunion, which returned with the first half of its second season on April 5th. If Netflix picks up that series for another season, DeLoatch will step back from those showrunner duties but will remain as an executive producer.
ODDS AND SODS
* Peacock is coming to Samsung Smart TVs on June 8th.
* Discovery+ has ordered three more Luda Can't Cook specials, starring rapper and and successful restaurateur Chris "Ludacris" Bridges.
TODAY'S PREMIERES
1) American Greed Season Premiere (CNBC)
Everyone knows “El Chapo” – a.k.a. Joaquin Guzmán Loera, billionaire drug lord and for years the world’s most wanted man. But few are familiar with the betrayal that helped land him in American custody. Meet the Flores twins, Chicago-born drug dealers who earned the trust of the boss of the Sinaloa cartel – then helped the Feds put him away for life. Today, the twins are in hiding, but for the first time on television their wives sit down to share what life was like at the heights of the drug trade.
2) Cartel Crew Season Premiere (VH1)
Set in Miami, Fla., “Cartel Crew” takes a deep look into the lives of eight descendants of the Cartel life as they navigate adulthood and the effects the legacy has had on their upbringing. Now disconnected from their past, they want to make a name for themselves outside of the drug world, but find that escaping the shadows of their ancestors will come with a price. Money, friendships and love are on the line in this redemption story about life after narcos.
3) Infamy: When Fame Turns Deadly (VH1)
Hosted by R&B singer Monica, the series explores celebrity cases where notoriety and fame turn fatal.
4) Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries (Acorn TV)
A spinoff of the Australian sensation Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, the swinging 1960's crime series Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries follows the fearless and spirited Peregrine Fisher (Logie Award-nominated Geraldine Hakewill, Wanted), the niece of world-class adventuress and private detective Phryne Fisher, as she inherits a windfall from her famous aunt and sets out to become an exceptional sleuth in her own right.
5) The Bachelorette Season Premiere (ABC)
Katie Thurston sets off on her journey to find love with her charm, wit and take-no-nonsense attitude that fans fell in love with during her time on “The Bachelor.” With the help of former Bachelorettes and mentors Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams by her side, Katie is ready to meet her men; with 30 lucky potential suitors pulling out all the stops, props and moves in hopes of catching her eye before the first rose ceremony.
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.