Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, March 22nd, 2021

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, March 22nd, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by Diet Rite and shrimp cocktail.

My apologies for the lateness of this newsletter. When you want your newsletter to be sent to subscribers, it's helpful to actually hit the send button when you're ready. Luckily, it only took me two hours to realize my mistake.

I MAY HAVE FOUND MY NICHE
Long-time readers of this newsletter know that I spend a lot of time discussing the user interfaces of various streaming services. To be honest, more often than not I'm complaining about them in some way.

Apparently a few people have noticed, because someone from HBO Max reached out to me earlier today to make sure I knew that they had just announced they are adding a customizable profile image feature. I noted in a recent newsletter that while services such as Netflix and Disney+ allowed users to customize their profiles with a picture from one of the service's more popular titles, HOB Max limited the customization to a name and a choice of which color ring that wrapped around the profile. But that is changing and HBO Max is upping every other service's efforts by also allowing user to upload a picture of themselves for their profile:

HBO Max today announced the launch of a new feature that allows users to customize their profile images, either by uploading a photo of their own -- a first of its kind feature among streaming platforms -- or by choosing an avatar from a selection of more than 120 iconic characters. HBO Max is committed to providing a personalized experience, and this new feature, which launches today and rolls out across all supported partners by March 26, allows users to express their identity through a creative lens and further connect with the stories and characters they love on the platform. 

Users can choose their favorite characters from classics like “Game of Thrones,” “The Sopranos,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and new favorites such as “Insecure,” “The Flight Attendant,” “Lovecraft Country,” “I May Destroy You,” “Watchmen,” “Westworld,” “Succession,” “Raised By Wolves,” and more. Avatars from these titles were specifically curated with content partners to identify the most popular characters across several demographics.

One interesting option (and it is a really smart one) is that not only will HBO Max offer a number of kid-safe profile image choices, the child will only see age-appropriate avatar options based on their parental control settings.

On the other end of the profile arms race is the entertainment-centric streaming service Philo, a service that I am constantly recommending to people as a low-cost alternative to traditional cable. But as much as I like Philo (which runs $20 a month), it doesn't include any profile capability at all. Which seems a bit insane for any streaming service in 2021.

BOB IGER ON HIS PLANS TO LEAVE DISNEY AND THE LAUNCH OF DISNEY+
Disney Executive Chairman, Bob Iger joined SiriusXM Business Radio host Alan Fleischmann of ‘Leadership Matters’ on Monday and the interview offered up some good insight about the impact that timing had on the successful launch of the Disney+ streaming service:

Well, timing is everything. We were, as you know, intent on launching a direct to consumer television movie service, which became Disney Plus, and we bought control of Hulu as part of the Fox acquisition and infusing on the Disney Plus side with all of our great content, which was a tremendous pivot strategically from licensing to third parties and putting the content on traditional platforms to taking it completely off third parties and traditional platforms and putting on this new shiny direct to consumer platform. And thank goodness we did that when we did it. We launched it in November of 19. And so in March of 20, when we shut everything down, we at least had that. And I think the struggle for the year, aside from closing all the traditional businesses, including our theme park business and ESPN losing its live sports, et cetera. But the struggle was how do we get production going again so that we can fuel the platform? Which we just had so much in the can, so much shot. And I must say at the company, if anyone deserves credit for getting us through this, it's everybody that worked on the creative side to keep some television and movie production going, or finishing some and their entire movies were finished. "Soul" was one, that Pete Docter who runs Pixar and directed it, finished completely during COVID. I mean, that's incredible to think about that. All the animators are working from home. No one was going to work but, we're very, very fortunate that we won, had the foresight and had the guts and had the support at the board level to go into this new business. And so that when COVID hit, we at least had something to turn to, and I think it kept the company. It kept the company vibrant because there was a beacon of hope.

Iger also spoke about his decision to serve as the company's "executive chairman" prior to his departure from Disney:|

I am excited about life after Disney. After, as I said, 47 years at ABC Disney, I felt very strongly in moving on, and just seeing what was on the other side. It had nothing to do with being tired. It had nothing to do with frustration. I come to work every day and now of course I'm working from home, but with just as much excitement and energy and engagement and commitment that I had throughout. And that makes me feel great, but I did not want to overstay my welcome. I really wanted to leave at a time that felt good, that I had accomplished a lot, that I had not hit too many speed bumps, or suddenly that my luck rent would run out or all of those things. I wanted the timing to be right, and 15 years felt like enough. And so what I proposed to the board, I know it felt abrupt because we kept this very quiet, but some months before the announcement I proposed to the board that I would stay on through the end of my tenure, which is the end of 21, but in a different role. And that would accomplish a few things. One, it would immediately name my successor, meaning put someone new in the job at a time that I was still around so that I could spend time helping the person who succeeded me be successful, which is in my own best interest, but in the best interest of so many people. And also focus in that period of time, since I would no longer be running the company day-to-day, on our creative endeavors, which at Disney really the entire value proposition of the company, no matter what business we're in, starts with creativity and emanates from creativity. So I thought the best thing I could possibly do for the company would be one, make sure that we succeed at succession, and that my successor is successful. And then second, leave the company and my successor with the greatest possible hand created creatively. A pipeline of movies, and television shows, and theme park attractions, and lands, and you name it that would power the company for many years to come. And I can only do that, spend all of my time on it, if I could spend all my time on it.

TODAY'S PREMIERES
1) Breeders Season Premiere (FX)
The kids are growing up fast - Ava is now 10 and Luke is about to turn 13. With their burgeoning independence comes the question of whether Paul and Ally's parenting style still works. Clue: no.

2) Hoarders Season Premiere (A&E)
Eric is forced to deal with his emotional grief as the cleanup process uncovers the beautiful interior design left by his late wife.

3) Navillera (Netflix)
A 70-year-old with a dream and a 23-year-old with a gift lift each other out of harsh realities and rise to the challenge of becoming ballerinos.

4) People Magazine Investigates Season Premiere (ID)
In 1992, a college student disappears after her car breaks down on the highway. Family and friends join the police in a frantic search that hits one setback after another. It may take new advances in DNA technology to finally crack the stubborn case.

5) Return To Amish Season Premiere (TLC)
The pandemic has forced Jeremiah, Carmela, Ada and Sabrina to come together in Florida. Sabrina prepares for the arrival of her second child while Jeremiah and Jethro must make peace. Rosanna and Maureen decide to leave their Amish communities.

6) Seeking Sister Wife Season Premiere (TLC)
The Snowdens have a new girlfriend; the Merrifields take drastic measures to bring their Brazilian bombshell into their family; after their first wife left, the Joneses are ready to seek again and the Clarks have turmoil in their plural kingdom

7) The Attache (Acorn)
This ten-part contemporary series charts the turbulent impact of a family’s move from Tel Aviv to Paris, starring the series creator, director and writer Eli Ben David (Buba Shel-Medina).  Avshalom, an Israeli-Moroccan Jew, and Annabelle, his Parisian wife, navigate the dramatic changes in their lives, and their relationship, as their individual paths diverge in their new home.

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.