32 Comments

Interesting news about Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I liked Glover and Erskine together, so was hoping for more of them. We'll see where it goes.

Random idea: wouldn't it be interesting if Glover/Erskine popped up in the Moura/Posey roles in season 2?

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Can't say I'm all excited about a season two of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. without Glover and Erskine. Their chemistry was the only thing that dragged me to the season finish. The "Smithverse" isn't much more than a collection of dumb, spy tropes. It makes little sense even on its own terms.

I'm very interested in where they go with another season of Shogun. I can't see more good stories coming out of the S1 Shogun timeline, especially since my two favorite characters are dead, although I'd be happy to be proven wrong. I'd love to see more stories set in Japan with most of the original cast returning to play different characters.

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Anyone else think the headline was a reference to The Sign (Bluey)?

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Realize this news probably broke right as Alan was writing this newsletter, but ABC will also air a Kaitlin Olson show: https://deadline.com/2023/05/high-potential-abc-series-kaitlin-olson-drew-goddard-upfronts-1235367759/. Saw a trailer for it with last night's Abbott Elementary.

Still, only two scripted shows does seem quite low, even with the strikes affecting things.

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I’m going with the presumption that scripted shows will reappear circa Fall 2025, because this upcoming 2024 season bumped up to the edge of the double union strikes when premises and scripts were theoretically developed. Is this silly to think?

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That's what I would hope. But the problem is that once you condition the audience to not look to your network(s) for this kind of content, the audience will stop looking for it, and you won't be able to succeed if you bring it back.

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This is how I feel. Then again, once shows were intentionally disappeared from streaming services, there’s nobody to trust anywhere.

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I’m hoping the new season or maybe season 3 of Smith will bring back Glover & Erskine and have them working to take the organization down.

Also, agreed The Fall Guy was a blast and I think it’s a sign of people not having as much money to spend on movies.

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I had a feeling that was the route "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was going to got based on how the season started. I guess the challenge will be who takes the roles for the next season. I wonder if the writing team will stay attached?

The Fall Guy was fantastic. I really urge people go see if if they haven't.

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Ive got a kids in elementary school and it so hard to find scripted shows to watch with them. It sucks so much that networks have abandoned sitcoms because those are the perfect family viewing vehicle, just long enough to get a decent funny story, and hopefully they are on early enough (though with time shifting this doesn't really matter) that the kids get into their beds at a decent time.

Anyway I'm rambling. What are folks watching with their kids? I'm going to need something new now that Animal Control is over for the year.

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Surprised you didn't mention Chris Pine reacting to the comments Patrick Rush made in your book!

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First I've heard of it!

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Poor Chris Pine. I didn't want to traumatize anyone!

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Something tells me he'll be okay.

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Didn't love the season finale of Sugar, I just feel like the show's premise doesn't do much to merit the big reveal nonsense; it could easily just be the same basic show without any of the extra. I can see how the extra might work but I'm not excited for the S2 they're headed for.

I'm going to try and remain open-minded about the Shogun news, maybe its going to become the Clavell anthology show we discussed. Not sure if that will work either but less frought than extending S1's narrative.

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Sugar went out like a wet fart...such a disappointing show.

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Any chance you'll be attending the Halt and Catch Fire panel, Alan?

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That panel is right after the one I’m doing with the Rosenthal family, so I may not be able to

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Ah, fair enough! Thanks for the response.

Would that I could, but being in Ireland, it's not really an option!

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I know that CBS sitcoms aren't cool and Chuck Lorre sitcoms definitely aren't cool, but "Young Sheldon" final episodes were outstanding. The cast, especially Annie Potts, and writers deserve Emmys but won't get any nominations.

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My wife loved BBT, but didn't have much enthusiasm for this, so I only watched it a handful of times over the years. Liked what I saw, but never made a habit of.

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I have been trying to go see The Fall Guy but my towns o let movie theater closed so I have to plan for a 30-45 min drive on top of show time. I would gladly pay money to see this! I fully expect it to be a streaming blockbuster and I’ll be so sad to have missed it on the big screen 😤

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Is The Fall Guy another example of a good movie that Hollywood doesn't know how to market as something to see in theaters instead of on streaming, like Confess, Fletch was?

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seems like. FWIW, the trailers were really bad, and in no way properly conveyed what the movie was about nor how fun it was.

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^This reminds me of another Emily Blunt movie that had the same marketing issue, Edge of Tomorrow.

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What is going to be on ABC if not… TV shows?

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Unscripted TV shows! Abbott's going to air at 9:30 p.m., in between The Golden Bachelorette and a true crime docuseries called Scamanda.

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May 17Liked by Alan Sepinwall

All of network TV will be like TLC and Bravo eventually I suppose…

Btw, ita with your review of One Day. The middle part! Gah. I was so bored. Such charming, lovely leads a bit wasted in this project, but I seem to be in the minority, so, oh well. Can’t love everything!

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Can't love everything, indeed. I wish I was loving more things this year, but I'll still have a pretty good top 10 list for when we get to best of mid-year in late June/early July.

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Looking forward to it! (I’ve loved Shogun and Ripley so far, and once again was at odds with my peers of Baby Reindeer…)

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Reality TV has ruined so much.

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