Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Friday, September 23rd, 2022

The downside? Unhappy Yankees fans. The upside? Unhappy Yankees fans.

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, September 23rd, 2022.

My apologies. I realized after the fact that I had sent the morning “10 Stories You Should Know” email to the entire “Too Much TV” mailing list by mistake. It’s been a Friday….

CONSTANCE WU SAYS SHE WAS SEXUALLY HARRASSED BY 'FRESH OFF BOAT' SENIOR PRODUCER
Actress Constance Wu has a new book coming out, and in Making A Scene, she tells the story of her life in the form of 18 different essays. In one, she describes a prolonged period of sexual harassment she endured while a cast member of the ABC comedy Fresh Off The Boat:

In her book, Ms. Wu alleges that during her first year on “Fresh Off the Boat,” she was sexually harassed by a senior member of the production team. Naming him only by an initial, she writes that he controlled her, demanding that she run all her business matters past him and telling her what to wear.

Ms. Wu put up with it. In the beginning, she tried to see him as her friend and protector. But she was also afraid of the consequences if she didn’t.

One evening, she writes, after she and the man attended a sporting event, he placed his hand on her thigh, his hand ultimately grazing her crotch. She found a way to politely stop him from touching her again, and the two seemingly brushed off the incident as if it had never happened. This was in 2015, she reminds the reader, before #MeToo.

By the time season two arrived, Ms. Wu began to feel more secure on the job. The show had garnered her fame and accolades. She felt empowered to say no to his demands. In the book, she recalls that after an explosive argument over whether or not she would attend a film festival with him, their relationship soured. Soon, they were no longer on speaking terms.

But the book is much more than those allegations and I am looking forward to reading it. Based on the New York Times piece, it seems to be very honest and self-aware. And I have always been a fan of her work.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO STREAM THIS WEEKEND
Netflix has an abundance of really solid original films that premiered today, spread across a number of genres. Since this is Netflix, I didn't get screeners for some of them (i.e., the ones produced outside the U.S.), but having made my way through all four films, there isn't a dud amongst them. It really gets down to your tastes and what subject matter you're willing to absorb at this point in the work week:

A Jazzman's Blues
"Tyler Perry's sweeping tale of forbidden love unspools 40 years of secrets and lies soundtracked by juke joint blues in the Deep South."

After watching it, I'm not sure I can say I loved the film. But I was glad I watched it and it does offer a very specific type of story that is underrepresented in Hollywood.

Athena
"Hours after the tragic death of their youngest brother in unexplained circumstances, three siblings see their lives thrown into chaos."

This French-produced film has just an amazing opening that is so good, it's worth watching the film just to see it.

The Girls At The Back
"Five women in their 30s, friends since high school, gather for their annual getaway. But this year, one of them has just been diagnosed with cancer."

This Spanish-produced film has such a specific vibe and while there are moments that are staggeringly sad, there is also a friendship and longing that cuts across cultural lines.

Lou
"Thinking she’d put her dangerous past behind her, Lou (Allison Janney) finds her quiet life interrupted when a desperate mother (Jurnee Smollett) begs her to save her kidnapped daughter. As a massive storm rages, the two women risk their lives on a rescue mission that will test their limits and expose dark and shocking secrets from their pasts."

I never thought I'd write that Allison Janney makes a great late-career action star. But seeing her in this film makes me wish they could find an action project to team her up with Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

MLB'S GREED WITH APPLE TV+ DEAL NOW BITING THEM IN THE....BUTT
The New York Yankees are hosting the Boston Red Sox for a four-game series, but this edition of the teams’ fierce rivalry has different stakes than usual. Rather than win-loss records or the playoff race, the main focus this time will be whether Yankees slugger Aaron Judge sets an American League record for home runs. And, to the consternation of media watchers and many Yankee fans, tonight’s series opener will only be available on Apple TV+, not on the YES Network or anywhere else on the linear TV dial:

Apple and Major League Baseball in March announced a multi-year deal for Friday Night Baseball, with the tech giant paying a reported $85 million per season for exclusive rights to stream the weekly showcase. Unlike the norm for Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN+ or other sports streamers, Apple isn’t requiring viewers to pay to see the games, as they would to watch Ted Lasso or its other original programming. But the free pass isn’t stopping Yankee fans from flooding local sports-talk radio and social media with their gripes about not being able to watch history on traditional TV.

While regional sports networks are under stress, ratings on YES have surged during this rousing season for Judge and the division-leading Yankees. The formerly Fox-run network — which now is controlled by the team along with Amazon, Sinclair Broadcast Group and private equity investors — held talks with Apple about a potential swap that would allow it to air tonight’s game. One scenario even had them sending lead play-by-play announcer Michael Kay in to the Apple booth to deliver his signature “See ya!” call in the event of Home Run No. 61 or 62. Because of its commitment to growing a presence in live sports, and sensing the opportunity to use Judge as a lure for new viewers, Apple was not willing to budge.

YES does have rights to Saturday’s game, which could see the record set, though ESPN will have exclusive rights to Sunday’s series finale. If the chase lingers into the weekend, rival networks will be contractually allowed to do live look-ins to show Judge’s at-bats as they happen, but the Apple deal precludes such a move tonight, barring any last-minute arrangements.

TWEET (S) OF THE DAY

ODDS AND SODS
* AsThe Waltons turns 50, The Federalist TV critic Josh Shepard takes a look at the 10 Must-See episodes to watch with your family.

*  The Jetsons,now 60 years old, is iconic. That's a problem.

* FX’s Fleishman Is In Trouble, based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s critically acclaimed, best-selling novel, will premiere Thursday, November 17th exclusively on Hulu. 

WHAT'S NEW FOR FRIDAY:

Here's a quick rundown of all the new stuff premiering today on TV and streaming:

A Jazzman's Blues (Netflix)
Athena (Netflix)
Haunted Scotland (Discovery+)
Jamtara - Sabka Number Ayega (Netflix)
Lou (Netflix)
Mija (Disney+)
Minions: The Rise Of Gru (Peacock)
On The Come Up (Paramount+)
Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (Netflix)
Section 8 (AMC+)
September Mornings (Prime Video)
Shark Tank Season Premiere (ABC)
Sidney (Apple TV+)
The Girls At The Back (Netflix)
20/20 Season Premiere (ABC)
What Happened To My Sister? (LMN)
Who's Talking To Chris Wallace? Series Premiere (HBO Max)

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

SEE YOU MONDAY!

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