Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, August 16th, 2021

Don't worry, Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone will be okay...

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, August 16th, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by two cups of uncomfortably strong McDonald's coffee.

THINGS I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED
If you have been reading this newsletter for awhile, you've likely noticed that it has been tweaked quite a bit. Most of the changes are due to the way that all of you consume the newsletter. I pay attention to open rates & when the newsletter is read, as well as lots of great (and not so great) feedback from some of you. The newsletter is now getting close to 17,000 subscribers, which is rewarding. But I am always learning new things. One of which is that when I sent out my first-ever weekend newsletter on Saturday (which was really just a delayed one from Friday), the open rate was nearly identical to what I would expect from my regular newsletters. I don't know what to make of that, but I do appreciate the fact that the open rate for the newsletter - which is how many subscribers open the email - averages 60% in the first 24 hours. And that is a pretty spectacular number, when compared to other similar newsletters. And if I look a week out, nearly 80% of the newsletters are opened with 7 days of being sent. So a sincere thanks to all of you.

DISCOVERY+ AT THE TCAS
Streamer Discovery+ presented some of its programming to TV critics on Monday and here are some of the highlights:

* HGTV & Discovery+ To Premiere 20 New Shows Before Year's End

* Discovery+ Orders 'Smartless' Docuseries

* Discovery+ Renews 'Well Done With Sebastian Maniscalco' For A Second Season

* Discovery+ To Stream New Limited Docuseries 'Last Chance Transplant'

THIS IS THE KIND OF DAY WE'RE HAVING
Texas Senator Ted Cruz and CNN PR are whacking away at each other on Twitter:

DON'T WORRY, SCARLETT JOHANSSON AND EMMA STONE WILL BE OKAY
I have read about a half dozen newsletters over the past few days that have focused on Disney's contractual wrangling with Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone. What will it mean to talent in Hollywood moving forward, etc.? And while that is a valid topic to pursue, it's worth noting that the people in Hollywood most impacted by the changes in the industry's business model are the people who also have the least leverage: writers, producers, script consultants, various assistants. All of the people who barely make enough to pay the bills in a perfect world. Now they're being confronted with short seasons, reduced opportunities and budget constraints that seem to mostly impact the people who can't afford to complain. To say nothing of Marvel's efforts to move production of its TV shows from the showrunner-centric model to one in which a director makes the final creative decisions (which is the way it is in movies). I hope that Scarlett Johansson gets everything she deserves financially. But I wish industry analysts would devote a bit of coverage to the changes talking place away from the limelight.

MAGNOLIA RENEWS NINE SHOWS, UNVEILS FALL PROGRAMMING SLATE
The not-quite-a-linear network yet Magnolia has renewed nine shows from its initial slate of programs and has announced some of its fall programming lineup, which will be streaming exclusively on Discovery+ until the linear Magnolia Network premieres in January, 2020. This is the first time someone has extensively promoted a network lineup before it has even had its linear launch:

Magnolia Network has handed out season two renewals for eight of its original series: Family Dinner, First Time Fixer, Homegrown, Inn the Works, The Lost Kitchen, Point of View: A Designer Profile, Restoration Road With Clint Harp and Super Dad. Flagship series Magnolia Table With Joanna Gaines has also been picked up for a fourth and fifth season, with a launch later this year likely.

Additionally, Magnolia Network has picked up three new titles that will launch on the Discovery+ platform in the fall: The Katie Button Project with four time James Beard Award-nominee chef Katie Button, An American Story and In With the Old. The trio beefs up a fall slate that also includes previously announced unscripted offerings including Art in Bloom With Helen Dealtry, The Established Home (previously known as Jean Stoffer Design) and Making Modern With Brooke and Brice.

ODDS & SODS
* Ovation To Premiere Season Four Of 'Frankie Drake Mysteries' On October 2nd

* ABC's Rebel fails to find new home, will not return for season two. And for those of you waiting, there is still no update from the Manifest camp.

SEE YOU TOMORROW
Tomorrow the various AMC networks as well as the A&E nets will be presenting to the TCA. 

If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.