Television

As summer TV looks sad, if not bleak amidst reruns and a lack of original programming due to the pandemic shutdown, there seems to be a clearer picture emerging as to what themes speak to audiences and may continue to thrive in the fall. The average number of new shows on network TV in the past three summers was roughly 50.

Can live shows survive without being live? For the past almost three months, networks have been exploring that exact question while experimenting and trying different ways in which to keep existing shows on the air and planning for an uncertain future.  The late-night o talk shows were the first to come back because, well, we all know they are not really live anyway but taped in the afternoon.

Atmospheric, moody, and addictive: Nordic Noir has emerged as a vibrant and prolific genre in film and series. Ricky Gervais says he watches two hours of it every night.

The (tiny) percentage of female directors in film has been a persistent Hollywood sore spot. Meanwhile, it is TV that has been making the biggest strides in equality.

The Neapolitan Quartet novels, written by Elena Ferrante from 2011 to 2014 were translated into English and became bestsellers in the United States. The first season of the television adaptation, co-produced by national broadcaster RAI-TV and HBO, My Brilliant Friend, aired in November-December 2018.

Despite the fracturing of television audiences around the world, the holiday season is one in which broadcasters and online platforms can count on increased viewership in December as people take off from work and those in cold countries stay home in front of the television. In a survey done by globalwebindex.

HBO’s Chernobyl has become an international sensation of sorts, garnering accolades – and stirring controversy – worldwide. The fictionalized story of the worst nuclear disaster ever has ignited debate in the US, Europe and, perhaps not surprisingly, in the countries of the ex-Soviet Union, which were most affected and where the miniseries was set and shot.

One of the most iconic TV- sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory, ended last Thursday. After 12 seasons and just shy of 300 episodes, Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Raj, Howard, Amy, and Bernadette took a final bow.

When twice Golden Globe winner Transparent was rocked by the sexual harassment allegations against the show’s star Jeffrey Tambor, it caused a lot of grief. When he was finally fired from the show, the fourth season seemed destined to be the show’s last.

As the sprawling saga created by author George R. R.