Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Friday, March 29th, 2024
Speaking of 'Jolene'
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, March 29th, 2024:
PRODUCTION NOTES
A bit of an uncharacteristically quiet day in the media, even for a Friday. As a result, today's newsletter is shorter than normal, giving all of us a much-needed break going into the holiday weekend.
SPEAKING OF 'JOLENE'
For me, one of the most fascinating things about show business is that if someone sticks around long enough, they can successfully reinvent themselves in a way that allows them to gloss over the mistakes they made when they were younger. Snoop Dogg went from someone who was in and out of jail when he was younger, narrowly dodged more jail time after facing first-degree murder charges and has been sued twice for alleged sexual assault to a family friendly weed fan who spends time as the TV on-camera foil of Martha Stewart.
But no one has managed to carefully control her public image more than Dolly Parton. Take, for example, the song "Jolene."
That song has been covered numerous times in recent years and today Beyoncé's aggressive remake of the song dropped as part of her new album. And like it was all planned ahead of time, Parton's people released a statement that included Parton's support of the song. "Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!”
The funny thing about all of this love for the song is that it doesn't mean what people younger than 50 or so think it means. In recent interviews, Parton describes the song as one she wrote as she compared herself to some hussy that didn't care whose man she took.
But I'm old enough to remember that early in her career, it was understood that "Jolene" was likely not some mysterious beautiful woman. Instead, it was written by Parton about herself, or more to the point, the way that then musical partner Porter Wagoner's wife saw Parton.
Parton had joined Porter Wagoner's TV show in 1967 and in less than a year, Porter and his wife of twenty years separated (although they weren't officially divorced until the mid 1980s). Parton and Waggoner released a string of successful duets, and although Parton has always laughed off suggestions the two were involved, it was a very open secret in Nashville. (On a side note, I'll mention my mom once spotted them making out in a booth at a restaurant she managed).
In fact, in recent years, Parton has frequently told the story of finding an old tape that had "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" together because she had written them on the same day. She's never admitted the song was written about anyone in particular, but it's notable the song came out as she was preparing to leave Wagoner's show and kick off the next phase of her solo career. Some interviews Parton did around that time suggested the song was about her professional break with Wagoner. But the lyrics certainly seem more intimate than that.
And all of this endlessly fascinates me. There have been all sorts of stories over the years about her personal life. But as she got older and became more of a cultural icon, those have faded away. She has started explaining that "Jolene" was written about a female bank teller who was flirting with her husband. Which might be true. But given that's not the way she described it early on, I'm a bit skeptical.
No one wants to hear unpleasant stories about Dolly Parton in 2024. She's reinvented herself into this larger than life pop culture institution. Which feels strange at times.
This isn't at all related to television. But it is a media story and I suppose a tale about how - when it comes to celebrities - we see what we want to see.
ODDS AND SODS
* AMC has announced the new series Orphan Black: Echoes will premiere June 23rd.
* And in the proof that The Food Network can take any great idea and make it worse, the network announced today that Selena Gomez will test her cooking skills in some of LA’s best restaurants in new Food Network series Selena + Restaurant.
* Hulu has canceled the Mandy Patinkin-led drama series Death And Other Details after a single season. The series, however, is expected to remain on the platform.
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH:
* Dennis Quaid's Fallen: A Gospel Record For Sinners (UP tv)
* Fraggle Rock: Back To The Rock Season Two Premiere (Apple TV+)
* Fright Crewe (Hulu/Peacock)
* Heart Of The Hunter (Netflix)
* Is It Cake? Season Three Premiere (Netflix)
* Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show Series Premiere (Max)
* Madu (Disney+)
* Renegade Nell Series Premiere (Disney+) - [first look video]
* Spermworld (FX)
* STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces (Apple TV+)
* The Beautiful Game (Netflix)
* The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs (Shudder)
* The Wages Of Fear (Netflix)
SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH:
* An Easter Bloom (Hallmark)
* Beyond The Aggressives: 25 Years Later (Showtime)
* Border Security: Canada's Front Line Series Premiere (NatGeo)
* Living With My Mother's Killer (Lifetime)
* That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (Crunchyroll)
* Unholy Homicide (Investigation Discovery)
SUNDAY, MARCH 31ST:
* A Gentleman In Moscow Series Premiere (Showtime)
* Parish Series Premiere (AMC)
* The Hill Sunday With Chris Stirewalt Series Premiere (NewsNation)
* The Real Housewives Of Potomac Season Eight Reunion Part One (Bravo)
* The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season Finale (AMC)
* Writing A Love Song (UP tv)
MONDAY, APRIL 1ST:
* All-American Season Six Premiere (The CW)
* Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (Peacock)
* For Her Sins (Acorn TV)
* Lovers & Liars Series Premiere (The CW)
* Re:Monster Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* RoOT/Route Of OddTaxi Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac - Battle For Sanctuary (Crunchyroll)
* Spice And Wolf: Merchant Meets The Wise Wolf Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* The Banished Former Hero Lives As He Pleases Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* The Magic Prank Show With Justin Willman Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Train To The End Of The World Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards (Fox)
* Vanderpump Villa Series Premiere (Hulu)
SEE YOU ON MONDAY!