Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, September 12th, 2022

Is this the last season for "Extra?"

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, September 12th, 2022.

PROGRAMMING NOTE
Today's newsletter is a bit shorter than normal thanks to my need to cover tonight's Emmy Awards. I look forward to tomorrow's headlines in the trades claiming that either HBO or Netflix had a bad night and are now creatively struggling.

ARI EMANUEL DOESN'T SEE SLOWDOWN IN CONTENT SPENDING
I have been arguing for weeks that the conventional wisdom about a huge slowdown in content spending is overblown. Yes, spending is being trimmed industrywide. But that is as much a reflection of a soft global economy as it is some seismic shift in the way the streaming business is structured. Still, it's a hard impression to change in the industry and it's rare to see any piece written about streaming that doesn't reference spending contents in the industry. And the picture is even more muddied by the actions at Warner Bros. Discovery, which is cutting spending on everything from content to branded water bottles in an effort to pay down some of the debt it inherited during the recent merger.

As it turns out, I am not the only person who is skeptical of this theory. Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel recently spoke at the Goldman Sachs conference, and he said he also doesn't believe we're seeing any notable slowdown in spending:

Films take 18 months to two years to make, while most TV shows take a year or more. With Endeavor’s representation of actors and writers and directors, the company is seeing the demand pipeline full two years out. And while companies like Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery may be becoming more selective with where they spend their cash, they still spend billions of dollars annually, and much of that still flows to A-list talent. Peacock and Paramount+ meanwhile appear poised to increase their content spend.

And tech giants like Apple and Amazon are also significantly increasing their spend, while new players like Roku continue to enter the space.

He also had a bit to say about streaming services and theatrical windows. And go figure, there is no hard-and-fast approach to the question:

But that doesn’t mean everything is A-OK with Hollywood’s traditional business lines. Theatrical film distribution will change, with fewer titles in theaters and new windowing options, Emanuel said, adding that WME is negotiating with companies like Amazon and Netflix about how and when their films will see theatrical releases.

“We are having conversations with Amazon about, is it going to be 15 days, 25 days, day and date? There is no one way or another,” he said. “Certain movies even on Netflix now, they are going to do 4 weeks in theaters … There is no set model right now, because they are still figuring it out.”

PARAMOUNT+ BUTTON ADDED TO NEW ROKU EXPRESS REMOTE
Today Roku announced two new products in their device lineup, the Roku Express player and Roku Wireless Bass. This is not the type of news I would normally include in this newsletter, but I thought it was interesting because the just released photo of the new Roku Express remote shows that the Hulu quick access button on the remote has been replaced by one for Paramount+.

I've seen some speculation already that this is another indication that Disney plans to roll Hulu into Disney+, so the button would no longer be needed. I think it's more likely that Paramount is paying for the position or it was part of the recent negotiations that took place between Roku and Paramount+ over a variety of access and advertising issues.

Regardless, it's an interesting move. I'm not convinced this helps drive subscriptions. But I can see it being a convenience that helps keep subscribers engaged.

IS THIS THE LAST SEASON FOR 'EXTRA?'
The Daily Beast Confider newsletter is reporting that the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine Extra may be heading into its final year. Multiple sources told Confider roughly 15 people were recently laid off from the show. And recent drama surrounding the long-running show continues to plague the show:

Longtime executive producer Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey called it quits this summer, just months after The Daily Beast reported about a “toxic” workplace culture at the show, which staffers said she ran like the “mafia.” While employees told Confider that the staff is “hopeful” under current executive producers Theresa Coffino and Jeremy Spiegel, they also fear the show’s fate may have already been decided. “It’s no big secret this could be the final renewal year,” one current staffer said. “It’s the fact they put Theresa and Jeremy just to replace [Gregorisch-Dempsey]. There’s no new leadership.” This source added that the layoffs, which cut about 10 percent of the show’s workforce, has “less to do with Lisa” and “more to do with the merger"

From an editorial standpoint, it's been at least a decade since Extra really mattered. But it apparently still makes money, albeit maybe not enough for WBD executives.

TWEET OF THE DAY

ODDS AND SODS
* Starz is producing a pilot for an interview series with rapper Fat Joe as the host and Sean "Diddy" Combs attached to executive produce.

* The Muppet Christmas Carol is being restored for Disney+ and it will include a song that was deleted from the theatrical release.

* I recently talked to The Serpent Queen star Samantha Morton.

WHAT'S NEW FOR MONDAY
Here's a quick rundown of all the new stuff premiering today on TV and streaming:

Access Season Twenty Seven Premiere (Syndicated)
Ada Twist, Scientist Season Three Premiere (Netflix)
Days Of Our Lives Season Premiere (Peacock)
Dr. Phil Season Twenty One Premiere (Syndicated)
Emmy Awards (NBC)
Ghostober Preview Party (Travel)
Halloween Baking Championship Season Premiere (Food)
Hot Bench Season Nine Premiere (Syndicated)
Independent Lens: Hazing (PBS)
Inside Edition Season Thirty-Five Premiere (Syndicated)
Jeopardy! Season Thirty-Nine Premiere (Syndicated)
Love It Or List It Season Premiere (HGTV)
Monday Night Football Season Premiere (ABC/ESPN)
90 Days: The Single Life Season Premiere (TLC)
Pictionary Series Premiere (Syndicated)
Rachael Ray Season Seventeen Premiere (Syndicated)
Relative Justice Season Two Premiere (Syndicated)
Sherri Series Premiere (Syndicated)
The Drew Barrymore Show Season Three Premiere (Syndicated)
The Jennifer Hudson Show Series Premiere (Syndicated)
24 Words Or Less Season Four Premiere (Syndicated)
War Of The Worlds Season Three Premiere (Epix)
Wheel Of Fortune Season Forty Premiere (Syndicated)
You Bet Your Life With Jay Leno Season Two Premiere (Syndicated)

Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.

SEE YOU TUESDAY!

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