I really was started to think that episodic TV was mostly dead, outside of the endless array of network procedurals/doctor/lawyer shows that all feel like copies of the same show. Beyond sit coms (live action or animated), the format has either been replaced by anthologies (which I've grown fairly weary of) or faux episodic shows like The Witcher season 1, where it started episodic and then morphed into serialized TV before it's first season even ended. I'm looking forward to Poker Face just because someone needed to take a big swing at bringing the format back for mystery of the week.
Everything you lay out in this newsletter going forward is GREAT, and maybe the Friday release schedule will be a boon because we'll all have had ample opportunity to see new episodes and think on them before seeing your thoughts.
Thanks for the upcoming short recapping/reviewing of Poker Face. Listened to a Vulture podcast of an interview with Rian Johnson and was impressed with his reverence and love for the genre dating back to Rockford, et al. Though should not have been surprised given the virtuosity of Knives Out and Glass Onion. Can we just have a requirement that Graham Yost and Rian Johnson make at least a show or 2 per year?
Oh that sounds fun. Happy you will be doing some recapping here. I like case of the week TV with maybe some light serialization, usually character based. It’s ironic that it’s that kind of TV that I binged quite a bit of in the early Netflix era when they had all the shows.
I am heartened to hear that critics (I noticed many of your colleagues were also enthusiastic) like The Last of US. I am not a gamer so happy to hear it works as a TV show.
I really enjoyed your piece on Poker Face; I happily would've read another 4,000 words on it!
Not sure if you can answer, but is this embargo something Johnson implemented, like how Matt Weiner was notorious from preventing details to leak out ahead of Mad Men seasons? Or some corporate suit at Peacock? I agree that only lifting an embargo 24 hours before a streaming series begins is not a great way to build buzz. Honestly, not even really sure what the point of an embargo is on a show like this where each episode is standalone anyway.
Some time ago I noted that the "Man on the run" genre of TV shows, like The Fugitive and The Incredible Hulk, seemed to have vanished. It's neat to see that Poker Face returns to this very episodic style of storytelling.
As someone who loves reading your thoughts on television but is terrible about keeping up with said television, let me assure you there is at least one person who doesn't mind waiting a couple days for the newsletter version of your thoughts.
I really was started to think that episodic TV was mostly dead, outside of the endless array of network procedurals/doctor/lawyer shows that all feel like copies of the same show. Beyond sit coms (live action or animated), the format has either been replaced by anthologies (which I've grown fairly weary of) or faux episodic shows like The Witcher season 1, where it started episodic and then morphed into serialized TV before it's first season even ended. I'm looking forward to Poker Face just because someone needed to take a big swing at bringing the format back for mystery of the week.
Everything you lay out in this newsletter going forward is GREAT, and maybe the Friday release schedule will be a boon because we'll all have had ample opportunity to see new episodes and think on them before seeing your thoughts.
Thanks for the upcoming short recapping/reviewing of Poker Face. Listened to a Vulture podcast of an interview with Rian Johnson and was impressed with his reverence and love for the genre dating back to Rockford, et al. Though should not have been surprised given the virtuosity of Knives Out and Glass Onion. Can we just have a requirement that Graham Yost and Rian Johnson make at least a show or 2 per year?
Rian and I discussed Columbo at length. Some of it is in the feature linked above, some will be in the Q&A running next week.
Twitter today is debating the best SNL cast member. Sounds a like a job for Alan!
Oh that sounds fun. Happy you will be doing some recapping here. I like case of the week TV with maybe some light serialization, usually character based. It’s ironic that it’s that kind of TV that I binged quite a bit of in the early Netflix era when they had all the shows.
I am heartened to hear that critics (I noticed many of your colleagues were also enthusiastic) like The Last of US. I am not a gamer so happy to hear it works as a TV show.
I really enjoyed your piece on Poker Face; I happily would've read another 4,000 words on it!
Not sure if you can answer, but is this embargo something Johnson implemented, like how Matt Weiner was notorious from preventing details to leak out ahead of Mad Men seasons? Or some corporate suit at Peacock? I agree that only lifting an embargo 24 hours before a streaming series begins is not a great way to build buzz. Honestly, not even really sure what the point of an embargo is on a show like this where each episode is standalone anyway.
As someone who has been in a bit of a TV lull and didn’t gravitate to White Lotus as the show of the moment, I’m looking forward to both of these!
Inquiring minds want to know if mushroom zombies are weirder than Doom Patrol's Butt Zombies.
Some time ago I noted that the "Man on the run" genre of TV shows, like The Fugitive and The Incredible Hulk, seemed to have vanished. It's neat to see that Poker Face returns to this very episodic style of storytelling.
I am here for it.
Alan you need to come up with a code that us on Substack get but without breaking your embergo! 😀
As someone who loves reading your thoughts on television but is terrible about keeping up with said television, let me assure you there is at least one person who doesn't mind waiting a couple days for the newsletter version of your thoughts.