A new crime drama will premiere on ABC this March.
“Deception” stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Cameron Black, a superstar magician whose career falls flat. Black turns to the FBI to solve crime using his skills of deception, influence and illusion. His FBI counterpart is Kay Daniels, played by Ilfenesh Hadera.
If the series sounds a bit like the 2013 blockbuster film “Now You See Me”, it may be because the film’s illusionist, David Kwong, will co-produce the ABC show.
A supporting character in the show is Jordan Kwon, played by Justin Chon who I am very excited to see on network television. Chon received recognition for his independent film, Gook (2017). I have also met him at a local ice cream shop in our hometown of Irvine, California, where we attended the same high school!
As for “Deception”, Chris Fedak (Chuck) will act as writer and executive producer, with other EP’s Greg Berlanti, Martin Gero and Sarah Schechter.
The new show’s Twitter account is young, created in May of 2017. It is not very active yet, with only 26 tweets–most being retweets of potential fans and current magicians, excited for the premiere.
“Deception” will premiere on Sunday, March 11 at 10/9c on ABC.
On February 11th, the official version of the preview for The Catch was released on its Facebook page. Its previously noted that another preview was released on Imdb.com that did not feature Peter Krause from NBC’s Parenthood. In the false preview, the character Keiran Booth is played by Damon Dayoub. The two previews are very similar. They both portray Mirelle Enos as a PI who searches for people who have committed high profiled fraud and that her fiancé embezzles millions from her then disappears. This questions the credibility of Imdb.com as a source for it does allow access for anyone to update the information similar to Wikipedia. Another website that premiered the promo video was tvseriesfinale.com which has articles about cancelled, new, and renewed shows. They published their information about The Catch from ABC.com and had the same promo video that Facebook had. Peter Krause has been confirmed to play Keiran Booth on this site as well. Under The Catch blog on ABC.com, there is the official trailer for the show as well published by Derek Wong.
Further research revealed that there was a major recast of the show back in May 2015 where Damon Dayoub and Bethany Joy Lenz were no longer part of the show. This was confirmed by variety.com, usmagazine.com, and tvwise.com.uk. The trailer on imdb.com has not been updated since the change last year which has been giving viewers old content.
As the premiere for Grandfathered grows closer, Fox Executives and show creators are looking to create better buzz for the show. This past week, Grandfathered was a part of PaleyFest, the Paley Center’s fall event in Los Angeles. This event allows networks to promote their shows for the upcoming season by showing screeings of the premiere and conversations with the casts and creative teams. Grandfathered seized this opportunity for promotion with the hope of creating more publicity for the show.
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This event provided fans and future fans with the opportunity to hear about the show from the actors themselves. John Stamos alongside creator Danny Chun answered questions about the show and discussed their perspective on its role in the Fall Season. Throughout the interview, their statements were put onto a live twitter feed, which provided the feeling of a first-hand encounter for fans that were not in the actual audience. This kind of multi-media promotion is extremely important in this day in age because it creates a sense of connectivity for viewers and hopefully draws them in week-to-week.
As Grandfathered prepares for its premiere on Tuesday September 29th, Fox must consider this show’s competition for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, Grandfathered will be directly competing against the CW show, The Flash. The Flash is known for being one of the first Superhero TV show hits in recent years. This along with Jane the Virgin helped boost ratings on CW Network last year. This show and network are targets younger viewers in their teenage years, so Grandfathered might lose some younger viewership to this program.
Also, Grandfathered will be competing against NCIS, which has long-standing viewers that tend to be older. NCIS, draws in a solid following, but their viewers could be becoming bored with their average content and might look to some new programming like Grandfathered. Completely different genres, but hopefully Grandfathered can steal some of this viewership.
ABC will also be premiering a new show at this time, The Muppets. The Muppets, always a fan favorite might cause some shifting in this Tuesday night lineup and it will be interesting to see what age demographic ABC will be targeting.
On Sunday, March 1st CBS will launch Battle Creek the 10pm EST time slot as a mid-season replacement for CBS rating stalwart CSI. The show boasts an impressive stable of talent, starring Josh Duhamel (Transformers) as the flashy new FBI agent playing foil to the incumbent police detective played by Dean Winters (30 Rock) in Battle Creek, Michigan. The ensemble is rounded out by Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar) and Oscar nominee Janet McTeer.
After laying dormant for over a decade, Vince Gilligan’s “Battle Creek is finally getting its shot with CBS.
The creative pedigree of the show is even more star-studded than the cast, with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator, Vince Gilligan, and House creator, David Shore giving the hour-long black comedy at least a fighting chance to gain traction in a time slot with limited competition outside of ABC’s Revenge. Sony will produce.
The Slap premiered last Thursday to less than stellar ratings. It earned a 1.1 rating, with a 4 share in the 18-49 group. Its total viewership was 5.1 million overall. It had a decent amount of competition, which is important to consider. It went up against ratings powerhouse The Big Bang Theory, which got higher numbers despite being a repeat. On Fox and ABC, it was up against American Idol and Grey’s Anatomy respectively, two shows with a loyal and established audience. On the bright side, The Slap was NBC’s second best regular programming timeslot result this season. Time will tell if it get gain an audience in the coming weeks.
As far as reviews for the show, it currently holds a 5.4/10 on IMDb. The reviews themselves are mixed, but most find the characters to be terrible people which could prove to be problematic. They also praise NBC for taking a risk and making a show one would expect to see on Showtime or HBO, not broadcast.
With a recent trend towards limited series and event television, NBC is premiering The Slap next week. The 8-week series follows a group of family and friends in the aftermath of one fateful party, where one man slaps another couple’s child. Based on the Australian mini-series of the same name, it has a star-studded cast, including Peter Sarsgaard, Zachary Quinto and Uma Thurman. The controversial storyline could be a risk for network television, which rarely delves into this kind of psychological show. NBC hopes the edgy subject matter will bring viewers in, even if just out of curiosity.
As far as publicity, NBC has a trailer on its site, as well as YouTube, where it has almost 4 million views. The show has a Twitter account (@TheSlap), mostly comprised of character bios and retweets from excited viewers. As the premiere date gets closer, more and more interviews and articles about The Slap are popping up. No reviews are up yet, so there’s no telling if it will be the awards darling the Australian series was. Even if it isn’t, it’s clear that NBC is pushing the boundaries of their usual content.
Programming has traditionally been made up of two dominant genres, the drama and the situational comedy (or sitcom). In a typical week’s prime time schedule, the major five broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, and NBC) air a combined 43 hours of dramas and 18 hours of comedy. Another notable genre in the current schedule is reality and competition shows which currently make up 14 hours of the broadcast schedule. When looking into the broader scope of television, more and more genres begin to emerge. Currently on cable and premium networks, dramas and sitcoms also dominate the schedule but they are accompanied by more diverse programming such as mini-series, more reality, and developing genres such as mock reality. Schedules are constantly changing and adapting as new programs are developed and programs begin to come off the air. The development process is unique for each genre and the current season has already showed some success and failures.
Drama
The beginning of any drama series typically happens in one of three ways. Either a writer-producer meets with the network and a concept emerges which then turns into a script or a writer-producer already has a script and pitches it to the network. The third common way for a show to develop is for a highly regarded star to decide they want to do a television program and a team is assigned to develop something which fits their needs. Once a script is written and the network approves along with a cast and crew, a pilot is produced and shown to the network. How many pilots are commissioned is dependent upon the networks overall tone, for example The CW is unlikely to produce a large amount of comedy pilots since their schedule is dominated by dramas, along with their current needs. If not many dramas survive the season, more are likely to be commissioned for the next season.
In the current pilot season, Vulture magazine has already spotted several programming trends. One of which is franchise programming. Shows such as NCIS, The Vampire Diaries, and Chicago Fire all have related pilots being worked on. Going off of the success of Once Upon a Time, there is also a tendency towards magical or supernatural themed programs. Vulture predicts a rise in “House” type characters as well as many bigger name stars following Kevin Bacon back to the smaller screen. Much of this is based off of the successes of this past season and an effort to keep promising trends rolling.
One of the more successful launches this Spring was Fox’s The Following starring Kevin Bacon. The show has already been picked up for a second season and has been consistently winning it’s time slot.
A significant drama which went off the air this spring was The CW’s Gossip Girl. While not a major player in the ratings, Gossip Girl was still influential in it’s run on the CW as a trend setter for other programming. The network saw an uptick in the amount of programs focusing on the glamorous and elite such as 90210 and this season’s The Carrie Diaries.
Cable networks typically are more adventurous in their programming and have been seeing a lot of success lately.
Among the biggest successes is AMC’s The Walking Dead. It is a slightly nontraditional show that has garnered huge ratings for the cable network. It was a major Sunday night competitor this season despite not being on a major broadcast network.
Another major program this spring was The History Channel’s mini series The Bible. It received a lot of attention for it’s content and created a viewing war with The Walking Dead.
Comedies
Comedies are developed in a very similar way to dramas. Typically more comedy pilots are produced each year because they are shorter and quicker to make. However, more concepts are abandoned and there are different standards for determining what shows get picked up. A comedy will rarely be picked up just because it’s funny. Comedies are evaluated more based on the current schedule and where there are holes. If a current show is going off the air or needs a stronger lead in, then a comedy has a stronger chance of making it to air. There is also a different target demographic for comedies. They are intended to appeal to younger, typically less educated, and lower income than other types of programming.
NBC had a much hyped new series in 1600 Penn which was given an early release of the pilot. The show did not hold an audience well and saw continually declining ratings. NBC chose to end the season early by airing multiple episodes in a night. The scheduling change combined with declining ratings led to cancellation rumors.
A more successful show this spring has been ABC’s How to Live With Your Parents For The Rest of Your Life. It had a late premiere date but has still seen favorable ratings. It focuses on a single mom having to move back in with her parents and the struggles that ensue from her eccentric family.
This season will see the end of the long running NBC comedy The Office. The show was a hit for the network for many years and led to similar programs such as Parks and Recreation which is still on air. Show Runner Greg Daniels promises a heartfelt goodbye to match the series all around tone and characters.
Reality
There are four general rules that define reality television. The first is that they do not involve actors, at least in the traditional sense. Second, while they may be planned, they are not written in the way that comedies and dramas are. They are always produced on location, and finally they have some sort of special gimmick. When in development, these programs are judged more on the potential of the idea than the reputations of the writers or performers. Reality television has created a place for itself in the schedule over the past few decades. It is especially prominent on cable networks with networks such as E! and Bravo airing almost exclusively reality in their prime time slots. Bravo recently announced they have 17 new series being planned, nearly all of which are reality.
On broadcast networks, it is most common to see reality programming in the form of competition. The Voice saw a cast change this spring with Shakira and Usher replacing Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green as judges. The show has been seeing decent numbers with the new judges.
Emerging Trends
Mock Reality
Reality is clearly a genre which is here to stay. Over the years, reality programming has reached to some pretty extreme levels as far as the types of stories and characters that are put on the air. This has led to a new trend of mock realities, shows which are meant to look like reality shows but are scripted or improv and actually make fun of reality programming.
E! has an hour every week titled “Mock Block Monday” which features two of these Mock Reality Shows. The first is Burning Love which is an imitation of dating shows such as The Bachelor. The second is After Lately which is a supposed documentary of the office of Chelsea Lately, another popular program of theirs.
Other networks are picking up on this trend as well. MTV recently announced a new show, appropriately called Reality Stars, which will be about four friends who get involved in reality television. BET has committed to a second season of The Real Husbands of Hollywood. The show follows men of Hollywood in their “natural environment”.
Social Media
Nielsen announced earlier this winter that it plans to begin using Twitter to measure program popularity. This focus on the “second screen” could give more insight into what viewers are responding too and begin to dictate programming decisions. It can help programmers adapt to the growing social engagement of viewers and use social media trends to their advantage.
Regulation in the cable industry refers to who has the rights to distribute broadcast station signals, and to whom. Regulation of cable distribution first came about in the 1940’s, when cable television system operators placed antennas in areas with good reception, picked up broadcast station signals, and then distributed them by coaxial cable to subscribers for a fee.[1]
Today, the distribution systems are far more complex. Consumers now have the option to decide when they want to view television content, and if they want to “binge view” through video on demand programs. With a variety of mediums available to take in content, it has become difficult for broadcasters to manage and regulate how and where materials are being viewed.
With the invention of the Digital Video Recorder or DVR as well as Video on Demand technology, both consumers and companies have the power to record and disseminate live television. For many cable and network providers, this budding technology has threatened vital advertising and subscription revenues.
The Evolution of the DVR
Tivo and ReplayTV
In January 1999, TiVo unveiled it’s Personal Television Service at the National Consumers Electronics Show. After unveiling the first working prototype, and despite an estimated four to five months of work remaining to complete a real working product, the company shipped the first DVR on the planet on March 31, 1999. [2]
ReplayTV also premiered in 1999, and allowed viewers to record, rewind, and store cable and broadcast programs of the consumers choosing. [3]
Both TiVo and ReplayTV currently charge subscribers anywhere from $80 to $200 for their services. Additionally, the services act as a liaison between television signal providers and viewers. They interpret the signals from a provider and allow consumers to tell them what programs they want to record. [4]
As a result, there were no initial regulations placed on TiVo, as the content being recorded had to be obtained through a cable subscription.
Video on Demand
Television video on demand or VOD systems first came to prominence in the 2000’s. VOD’s either stream content through a set-top box, a computer, or smart device. With a VOD, viewers can either watch in real time on television, or download to an outside device for viewing at any time.
With the creation of internet VOD systems, companies looked to pen licensing agreements with media companies in order to provide viewers with a library of shows and movies that they could access at any time.
Netflix
In January of 2013, Netflix signed a multi-year licensing agreement with both Turner Broadcasting and Warner Brother’s Television Group.
The agreement includes episodes of shows from Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, Adult Swim, and TNT. The deal, which will only make content available to U.S. Netflix subscribers, went into effect on March 30, 2013. [5]
Additionally, in December of 2012, Netflix and Disney reached a first time licensing agreement that allowed the streaming of back catalog classic Disney films including Dumbo, Pocahantas, and Alice in Wonderland.
The Disney deal stipulated that by 2016, all new theatrically released films in the pay TV window will be able to be watched instantly. This includes all films produced by Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disneynature, Pixar Animation Studios, and Marvel Studios. [6]
New and Controversial On Demand Systems
The Hopper
Aereo
Backlash
Dish Network vs. Network TV
In September of 2012, Fox, NBC Universal, and CBS filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Dish Network. The lawsuit was in response to the release of new software called “The Hopper,” which allows subscribers of the satellite network to skip commercials during programs that have been previously recorded.
The broadcast networks asserted that new DVR technology is a violation of their copyrights and puts programming in danger by undermining advertisements which still make up a bulk of programming revenue.
In a court filing Dish Network said:
“This case is about freedom of consumer choice, individual families’ choice to elect, if they want, to time-shift their television viewing and watch recorded television without commercials.”
The Hopper system was officially released on May 10, 2012 and is only currently available to PrimeTime Anytime service customers.
While the lawsuit is being settled, Fox has refused to air any Dish Network commercials that feature the Hopper service. [7]
Aereo vs. Broadcast Networks
Last year, CBS Corporation, Comcast, News Corporation, and the Walt Disney Company filed two suits against Aereo, a start-up Internet service that streams stations without compensating them.
The lawsuits were first filed in March 2012, mere weeks before the service was set to premiere in New York. However, a district court judge denied the request for a preliminary injunction last summer. [8]
On April 1, 2013, a federal appeals court in New York upheld a ruling in favor of Aereo.
Aereo is able to stream broadcast stations by operating an array of tiny antennas that pick up over-the-air signals. Subscribers pay about $12 a month, and receive control over one antenna. Aereo basically turns the subscriber’s phone, computer or tablet into a small television set, but without the rabbit ears that would normally be needed. Subscribers can then select programming over the internet.[9]
An array of antennas in Brooklyn allow Aereo to avoid paying the retransmission fees that operators have traditionally paid for access to stations. Those fees are an increasingly important revenue source for the stations.
The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court ruling on April 1, in a 2-to-1 decision, saying that Aereo’s streams of TV shows to individual subscribers did not constitute “public performances,” and thus the broadcasters’ copyright infringement lawsuits “are not likely to prevail on the merits.” [10]
The Future
Looking ahead, Aereo’s win in court may make other companies more comfortable in joining the service. Some prospective partners include cable channels that want carriage (Bloomberg TV signed the first such deal with Aereo last year) and wireless providers. And the mere existence of the service may cause the broadcasters to speed up their own plans for streaming programming to phones and tablets.
Analysts suggest that some cable and satellite providers, such as those that pay billions of dollars in retransmission fees for the right to carry broadcasters’ signals, might start to mimic Aereo’s system to get around the fee requirements. Others predicted that the broadcasters might lobby Congress to change the law. [11]
The outcome of this case will undoubtedly influence the way future systems do business in the future. In the meantime, all we can do it wait, and watch for the next big thing to enter the market and revolutionize the business yet again.
Sources:
1. FCC Encyclopedia: “Evolution of Cable Television” http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/evolution-cable-television
3. ReplayTV: History http://www.replaytvupgrade.com/replaytvcompanyhistory.htm
4. Tivo Updated Payment Plans March 2013 http://www.tivo.com/abouttivo/policies/tivoservicepaymentplanstermsandconditions.html
5. CNN Money: “Netflix Scores Cartoon Network Adult Swim and More Time Warner Content.” http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/14/technology/netflix-time-warner/index.html
6. Bloomberg Online: “Disney’s Netflix Deal Gives Top Billing to Online Movies.”http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-05/disney-s-netflix-deal-gives-top-billing-to-online-movies.html
7. CNN Money: “Broadcasters Sue Dish Over Ad-Skipping DVR.” http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/25/technology/dish-auto-hop-lawsuit/index.htm
8. Newser Online: “Divided NY Federal Appeals Court Rejects Lawsuit, Giving Green Light to Aereo Live TV Service.” http://www.newser.com/article/da5cvfj81/divided-ny-federal-appeals-court-rejects-lawsuit-giving-green-light-to-aereo-live-tv-service.html#continuedBelow
9. A New Domain Blog: “Aereo: How It Works and How It’s Working So Far.”http://anewdomain.net/2012/04/06/aereo-has-launched-lets-hope-they-are-for-real/
10.The Wall Street Journal: “Court Denies Broadcasters’ Motion to Shut Down Aereo.”http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323296504578396543358747194.html
11. Bloomberg Online: “Diller-Backed Aereo Beats Network Bid to Close TV Service.”http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-01/diller-backed-aereo-beats-network-bid-to-close-tv-service.html
