The Broadcast Network of the Year Is …
The end of yet another tumultuous year for the television industry is fast approaching -- and it's no surprise that it has proven particularly punishing for the broadcast sector. This was supposed to be the year when television finally rebounded from the punishing blow of the COVID pandemic. But historic (and historically damaging) twin strikes by members of the WGA and SAG/AFTRA demolished any hopes of returning to the old normal … or even the "new" normal that had begun to take shape toward the end of the pandemic.
"Primo" and the Unrelenting Charm of a Chaotic Family
How do you find yourself within your own family? The pilot season of Primo finds high schooler Rafa struggling to answer this question when he finds out that his standardized test scores are high enough to make college a real possibility for his future. Already being pulled in every direction by his mother and five uncles as they try to advise him on what to wear and what to say to the girl he likes, Rafa (known to his uncles as Primo) finds himself working to figure out how he makes decisions of his own.
Hulu's "Reboot" Is a TV Person's TV Show
Every once in a while, a show comes along that's pretty much already the best version of itself the first time you see it. Most often, any given series will take a season or two to "get on its feet" or "find its legs" or whatever lower extremity-related colloquialism is most appropriate. But, from time to time we are lucky enough to be blessed by a series that knows exactly what it is and who it's being made for right from the start. One such series is one of Hulu's newest comedies, Reboot.
"Grand Crew" Is Black Gold
"Cabernet and sauvignon, team is here and now it's on / Carry on and Carignan, sippin' on Perignon / Fine wine got notes like a cello, Pull up in the spot like hello / If you got me, then I got you, this is the vibe, this is the crew!" Those are the lyrics to the surprisingly catchy intro of NBC's new sitcom Grand Crew, and, like said intro, GC is chock full of wine, wit and wordplay to boot.
"Cowboy Bebop" is Anime-to-Live-Action Done Right
What do you get when you cross a sassy group of misfits, space and the sensibilities of an old western? A Star Wars movie, usually. In this case, however, the mix yields a show called Cowboy Bebop, and it follows a small and eclectic group of bounty hunters on their futuristic misadventures. Originally a beloved anime of the same name, Bebop is now a live-action Netflix series directed by Alex Garcia Lopez and Michael Katleman, and starring John Cho, Mustafa Shakir and Daniella Pineda as Spike Spiegel, Jet Black and Faye Valentine, respectively.
Village Soapbox: Pritchard's BackFront, Effectv, Hulu, a4, Cinema, ARF, Ageism and More
Whether this will go down as a watershed moment in advertising history is still a TBD, but there is no doubt that the talk of the town is Marc Pritchard's announcement that P&G is dealing directly with the networks and will no longer be participating in an "Industry Upfront." While Pritchard did say that the media agencies still have a role, he was not clear what that role is. It also appears that P&G is definitely intent on moving their media buying to a calendar year cycle versus the traditional September – August broadcast year. Whether other large marketers will follow and what impact this will have on the buying clout of agencies is to be seen, but it definitely has the industry abuzz.
Hulu Gets “Woke”
Hulu’s new comedy series Woke, set to debut on September 9, will for many reasons likely be one of the most talked-about new programs of the fall, and it won’t be a surprise if it ends up as one of the most honored (or, at least, most nominated) shows come the next award season. It couldn’t be a more timely project: The storyline kicks off when its central character -- a laid-back, up-and-coming Black cartoonist named Keef -- has an intense, life-altering encounter with the police, in this case officers from the San Francisco police department.
