Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, May 6th, 2024

Some thoughts about Bob (Hearts) Abishola.

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, May 6th, 2024:

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT BOB (HEARTS) ABISHOLA
Tonight is the series finale of the CBS comedy Bob (Hearts) Abishola and despite the fact the show has aired for five seasons, if you're reading the Hollywood trades today, you'd barely know that episode was airing. No retrospectives, no pieces celebrating an overall successful run.

Which is a shame, because I have always really enjoyed the series. And it has managed to be both consistently funny while also telling a story that is distinctive in today's broadcast TV environment.

I think that when it comes to the press, it had a couple of things going against it. Star Billy Gardell is one of those actors that isn't a trendy guy to talk about, he's not someone doing flashy work that will win a lot of Emmys. But he is consistently funny and engaging. And when the script called for it in Billy (Hearts) Abishola, he could be as subtle and moving as anyone in television comedy.

And there were always snarky complaints that a guy like Billy Gardell's "Bob" could never land an attractive woman like Folake Olowofoyeku's Nigerian-born "Abishola." I read all sorts of jokes about colonial fantasies or that the show was just an attempt to seem diverse in the least subtle way possible. And yet, this was a show that was co-created by Gina Yashere, a British comedienne with Nigerian parents who certainly has the knowledge and willingness to authentically write these characters in the manner they deserve.

And complaints about authenticity or the the couple's relationship usually told me those critics had never spent much time watching the show. One of the delights of Billy (Hearts) Abishola is that it didn't rush the romance. It showed all of the hesitations and doubts that come with any relationship between two very different people. Sometimes we fall in love with someone because we are just at that point where we can open ourselves up to the opportunity. Six months earlier and later and that would never happen. We all people who ended up with someone they never would have imagined if fate hadn't intervened.

The show also benefiting from having an absolutely killer ensemble, ranging from familiar faces such as Christine Ebersole to actors who have been plugging away doing great work for decades without receiving a lot of attention. Such as longtime actor Barry Shabaka Henley (Tunde), whose first primetime series role was on the 1991 Redd Foxx comedy The Royal Family. And there was a murderer's row of young actors, all of whom stepped up and were consistently strong each week.

I had the chance to meet some of the cast during a TCA set visit the Warner Brothers TV studios back in February and it was a bittersweet experience for me. While the show managed to wrangle an abbreviated 13-episode final season from CBS, it came at a cost to the cast. Everyone except for Gardell and Olowofoyeku were dropped during to recurring roles in order to save money. And I had heard rumors that both actors chipped in part of their salary for the season in order to make sure everyone could receive a proper send-off.

During the set visit, I asked Gardell about the changes for the then-upcoming season and you could tell that he was being diplomatic, even though he was supremely unhappy with the way things played out:

I think it brought us all closer together because look, business is business. But if we take a cut and some others are relegated to less episodes, but we keep all 150 people working, to me that’s a noble cause and that's a good reason to do that. And look, we’re in show business, the floor is always shifting. So, you adapt to the table and you keep playing. And I think we’re all grateful we’re still here.  

I'm going to miss Bob (Hearts) Abishola and I suspect it is one of those shows that audiences will be rediscovering a few years down the road. Honestly, if I were Netflix I would try and license the series run. It feels like a under-appreciated show that could find a Suits-level bump from the many people who didn't watch it the first time around.

And one last thought. I try not to publicly bash anyone's PR efforts. It's a tough job and if I do complain, it tends to be more general complaints rather than something specific. It's not fair and honestly, it's not all that much fun for me. I'm pretty resigned to my place in the industry pecking order and don't take it personally when I can't get the access I'd like sometimes. But I will say that I really wanted to write more about Bob (Hearts) Abishola than I was able to over the years. Getting access to interviews and feature stuff was basically impossible. I got over it - I had plenty of other things to write about. But the show could have used the press at times and I wish I had been able to help with that effort.

THIS IS WHAT THE FUTURE OF HGTV MIGHT LOOK LIKE
Despite the fact that WBD linear TV channels such as HGTV and Food are still doing relatively well in the declining linear TV market, there's still a strong case to be made that they should be looking more towards the future. What will the typical HGTV series look like in five or ten years? And will it be able to capture younger viewers or do the networks turn into haven for older (but much smaller audiences?

Home decor and DIYer's The Sorry Girls, led by Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright, have been creating on YouTube since 2010. 

Last August, the group received an undisclosed investment from Rhett and Link’s $5 million Mythical Creator Accelerator fund. Self-funded by Rhett and Link, the fund allows the pair to claim minority ownership stakes in up-and-coming creators from various platforms. 

The hope is the extra funding will help boost the profile of creators and in the case of The Sorry Girls, they've added new team members and launched a design course. 

They have also premiered some new series, including this new Saturday morning called From The Workshop Floor. 

I mention all of this for a couple of reasons. First, The Sorry Girls are just fun to watch. They are entertaining, informative and the vibe of their programs are so different than what you see on HGTV. Second, watching something like From The Workshop Floor is a reminder than despite some people's dismissive comments about YouTube video, there are a lot of very professionally-produced programs available on the platform.

But also, why isn't HGTV doing this? $5 million is a rounding error for WBD. But they could take that money and strategically invest in creators that could be the next generation stars for the network. And in the meantime, these creators could be contributing content to Max and other platforms as well as making guest appearances on the linear network.

ODDS AND SODS
* I can't honestly say that the new HGTV series Zillow Gone Wild is the worst new show I've seen so far this year. But it has a solid lock on the number two spot.

* Mint Mobile is offering all of its existing customers six free months of Paramount+. And if they already have a subscription, they can share the promo code with a friend.

I HAVE MADE MY SHARE OF MISTAKES, BUT THIS CORRECTION NOTICE IN POLITICO IS A BIT FRIGHTENING

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

MONDAY, MAY 6TH:
* Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (NatGeo)
* Bob (Hearts) Abishola Series Finale (CBS)
* NCIS Season Twenty-One Finale (CBS)
* NCIS Hawaii Season Three Finale (CBS)
* Next Baking Master: Paris Series Premiere (Food)
* OMG Fashun Series Premiere (E!)
* The Neighborhood Season Six Finale (CBS)

TUESDAY, MAY 7TH:
* Crimes Gone Viral Season Premiere (Investigation Discovery)
* Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (Peacock)
* Outdaughtered Season Premiere (TLC)
* Super Rich In Korea Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Other Mrs. Jordan Series Premiere (Britbox)

SEE YOU ON TUESDAY!