TV shows you are watching right now

YosemiteSam · Feb 8, 2020

Three episodes into Star Trek: Picard

It's got a decent story-line thus far, but I do have to say. It's moving quite slowly. The old Star Trek TV shows, the entire story consisted of a single episode. These newer Star Treks shows / season take the entire season for the story-lines to play out. They are more like mini-series than normal Star Treks. Picard will only be 10 episodes. I think Discovery was like 14 season one and 15 in season two. I would prefer to go back to 26 episodes per season damnit!

Reality · Feb 8, 2020

YosemiteSam said:
Three episodes into Star Trek: Picard

It's got a decent story-line thus far, but I do have to say. It's moving quite slowly. The old Star Trek TV shows, the entire story consisted of a single episode. These newer Star Treks shows / season take the entire season for the story-lines to play out. They are more like mini-series than normal Star Treks. Picard will only be 10 episodes. I think Discovery was like 14 season one and 15 in season two. I would prefer to go back to 26 episodes per season damnit!

It's hard to understand in this day and age why these networks are still trying to dictate how consumers consume their media.

There are so many TV shows to watch in batch that most people are not going to watch one show per week, especially if the series is new or they have never seen it.

Sure there are shows with well known IP like Picard, Mandalorian, etc. but those only draw in mostly already established fans to watch them rather than new viewers when they are published one episode per week.

The networks and even some bloggers out there love to bash the binge-watching netflix crowd but how many shows have people watched on Netflix because whole seasons were available that they would not have done so had they been forced to watch one episode per week?

So many good shows have been canceled after one season over the last several years simply because they did not pick up a satisfactory number of viewers week-to-week. How many of those would have survived had people been able to watch entire seasons at a time? I suspect several of them. If nothing else, several would have been wanted by other streaming networks like Netflix and continued on somewhere else.

Personally, I have rarely watched shows week-to-week since the 1990s. Back then instead of digital/streaming versions, I waited until seasons were released on DVD and then watched them over a few days when it best fit MY schedule.

Even shows I tried to watch weekly were completely dependent on the first one or two episodes. If they were slow or boring, I would quickly forget about them. Many of which I really enjoyed when I watched years later seasons at a time when I had a chance to let it keep going long enough to maintain my interest.

Runwildboys · Feb 8, 2020

Reality said:
It's hard to understand in this day and age why these networks are still trying to dictate how consumers consume their media.

There are so many TV shows to watch in batch that most people are not going to watch one show per week, especially if the series is new or they have never seen it.

Sure there are shows with well known IP like Picard, Mandalorian, etc. but those only draw in mostly already established fans to watch them rather than new viewers when they are published one episode per week.

The networks and even some bloggers out there love to bash the binge-watching netflix crowd but how many shows have people watched on Netflix because whole seasons were available that they would not have done so had they been forced to watch one episode per week?

So many good shows have been canceled after one season over the last several years simply because they did not pick up a satisfactory number of viewers week-to-week. How many of those would have survived had people been able to watch entire seasons at a time? I suspect several of them. If nothing else, several would have been wanted by other streaming networks like Netflix and continued on somewhere else.

Personally, I have rarely watched shows week-to-week since the 1990s. Back then instead of digital/streaming versions, I waited until seasons were released on DVD and then watched them over a few days when it best fit MY schedule.

Even shows I tried to watch weekly were completely dependent on the first one or two episodes. If they were slow or boring, I would quickly forget about them. Many of which I really enjoyed when I watched years later seasons at a time when I had a chance to let it keep going long enough to maintain my interest.

There are some shows I actually don't mind waiting for, like Vikings or GoT. Honestly, when they're that good, it's sometimes nice to be able to watch it and let it settle for a while before watching the next episode.

Reality · Feb 8, 2020

Runwildboys said:
There are some shows I actually don't mind waiting for, like Vikings or GoT. Honestly, when they're that good, it's sometimes nice to be able to watch it and let it settle for a while before watching the next episode.

Yes, but did you feel that way immediately after one or two episodes?

I watched GoT originally for one character who was killed rather quickly and I did not watch the show again until after season 3 I believe.

There are good shows out there that may be worth waiting week to week for some people, but there are a lot of good shows that don't make it because they didn't generate enough viewers early on because they are week to week.

If you go back and look at the popularity of shows like Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Walking Dead, Vikings, Breaking Bad, etc. you will see their viewership surged in subsequent seasons.

Now, imagine ALL of those shows had not made it past one season because not enough pre-surge viewers watched them early on.

Runwildboys · Feb 8, 2020

Reality said:
Yes, but did you feel that way immediately after one or two episodes?

I watched GoT originally for one character who was killed rather quickly and I did not watch the show again until after season 3 I believe.

There are good shows out there that may be worth waiting week to week for some people, but there are a lot of good shows that don't make it because they didn't generate enough viewers early on because they are week to week.

If you go back and look at the popularity of shows like Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Walking Dead, Vikings, Breaking Bad, etc. you will see their viewership surged in subsequent seasons.

Now, imagine ALL of those shows had not made it past one season because not enough pre-surge viewers watched them early on.

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I kind of like it that some shows are only on once a week. There are some that I enjoy binge watching, but for me personally, they're not all like that. Shows that don't have a continuous storyline for instance are better for me, because it's easier to separate individual episodes.

Reality · Feb 8, 2020

Runwildboys said:
I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I kind of like it that some shows are only on once a week. There are some that I enjoy binge watching, but for me personally, they're not all like that. Shows that don't have a continuous storyline for instance are better for me, because it's easier to separate individual episodes.

Of those shows you watch weekly, have you ever wanted to watch next week's show immediately after watching one episode? (For example, because it was a cliff-hanger or you simply had more free time to fill)

As a kid, I didn't watch shows week to week then either. I waited until they were syndicated daily and even then, I record daily episodes on VHS and would go back and watch several episodes in one sitting.

Apple iTunes completely dismantled the firm grip RIAA had over music consumption rates and methods among consumers.

RIAA worked hard to place restrictions on iTunes and especially other less DRM-based music sellers, then Spotify came along and kicked them to the curb again by providing consumers with an all-you-can-consume-whenever-you-want-it option.

Blockbuster and other chain-based DVD rental places did the same thing with MPAA and movies.

Netflix did the same thing with network TV shows.

Just like RIAA tried to do with music post-iTunes launch, networks are now trying to convert post-evolution consumption habits of consumers (viewers) back to the pre-internet days of weekly based episodic content.

While some older (35+ year olds) people may be okay with it, that game has been lost with the younger generation. The sooner the media publishers accept they lost this battle, the sooner they can build a new profitable business model that appeals to all demographics.

In the meantime, it just means consumers will continue to get screwed because shows they like get cancelled after (or before in some cases) one season because they did not generate enough initial viewers.

Never mind the fact that had the show released an entire season, it could have developed a following that made it last for years along with a healthy syndication revenue stream.

Runwildboys · Feb 8, 2020

Reality said:
Of those shows you watch weekly, have you ever wanted to watch next week's show immediately after watching one episode? (For example, because it was a cliff-hanger or you simply had more free time to fill)

As a kid, I didn't watch shows week to week then either. I waited until they were syndicated daily and even then, I record daily episodes on VHS and would go back and watch several episodes in one sitting.

Apple iTunes completely dismantled the firm grip RIAA had over music consumption rates and methods among consumers.

RIAA worked hard to place restrictions on iTunes and especially other less DRM-based music sellers, then Spotify came along and kicked them to the curb again by providing consumers with an all-you-can-consume-whenever-you-want-it option.

Blockbuster and other chain-based DVD rental places did the same thing with MPAA and movies.

Netflix did the same thing with network TV shows.

Just like RIAA tried to do with music post-iTunes launch, networks are now trying to convert post-evolution consumption habits of consumers (viewers) back to the pre-internet days of weekly based episodic content.

While some older (35+ year olds) people may be okay with it, that game has been lost with the younger generation. The sooner the media publishers accept they lost this battle, the sooner they can build a new profitable business model that appeals to all demographics.

In the meantime, it just means consumers will continue to get screwed because shows they like get cancelled after (or before in some cases) one season because they did not generate enough initial viewers.

Never mind the fact that had the show released an entire season, it could have developed a following that made it last for years along with a healthy syndication revenue stream.

On the other hand, I imagine some may find it safer to make one episode at a time, to see how viewers react.

I'm sure you're right about certain generations preferring to get everything at once, but it's possible we don't always know what's best for us.

Sorry for the delayed response. Apparently I didn't hit the Post Reply button hard enough.

Tabascocat · Feb 8, 2020

The wife and I are liking this new drama Lincoln Rhyme-Hunt for the Bone Collector :thumbup:

Runwildboys · Feb 8, 2020

Watching SNL right at the moment. Justin Bieber is the musical guest, for some reason. At first, I thought he was doing a skit in which he played some type of disheveled porn star, because he's got the most ridiculous mustache I've ever seen, and his hair is just......stupid. Can't really describe it properly, but he looks very strange.

Reality · Feb 9, 2020

Runwildboys said:
On the other hand, I imagine some may find it safer to make one episode at a time, to see how viewers react.

I'm sure you're right about certain generations preferring to get everything at once, but it's possible we don't always know what's best for us.

Sorry for the delayed response. Apparently I didn't hit the Post Reply button hard enough.

You could always watch them however you want including one episode per week even if they released the entire season at the same time.

My problem is that my free time is sporadic and my media interests change regularly. This week I may want to watch one tv show genre and next week a different genre.

In the end, media that can be (meaning non-live content) should be consumable when it best fits the viewers schedule and interests.

Runwildboys · Feb 9, 2020

Reality said:
You could always watch them however you want including one episode per week even if they released the entire season at the same time.

My problem is that my free time is sporadic and my media interests change regularly. This week I may want to watch one tv show genre and next week a different genre.

In the end, media that can be (meaning non-live content) should be consumable when it best fits the viewers schedule and interests.

Are you suggesting the networks change the way they do their programming as well, or just Netflix, Hulu, etc.?

Reality · Feb 9, 2020

Runwildboys said:
Are you suggesting the networks change the way they do their programming as well, or just Netflix, Hulu, etc.?

I am more focused on streaming services like Disney, Hulu, etc. but that includes streaming network tv as well.

For me, its all about convenience. Watching tv shows one week at a time is not convenient for me which is why I have not done that since the 90s.

In fact, I not only usually wait until the first season of a show has aired, I also usually wait until they announce that it has been renewed for a second season as well.

CouchCoach · Feb 9, 2020

I am spoiled by having access to the episodes when I want them. Hell, I can even remember what night some shows are on and had to keep up with The Madolarian when they'd release it. I waited until all of The Morning Show was out and I record episodic shows on HBO like Watchmen and watt until it's complete to start watching.

I like to get on one thing and watch it right through, I do not do well balancing episodes released weekly and trying to keep up with different shows. Netflix and Amazon have got it down for me. I wonder when HBO begins their Max streaming service if they'll do it like they do or go with their HBO model? If you've noticed the ones that are doing episodic releases one at a time are pushing the complete season is out when it is available and that must be getting signups because they're continuing to promote that.

Don't spoon feed me, if I am hungry, I want to eat.

Sammy · Feb 9, 2020

Weekly epis are more social. I remember when everyone talked about Seinfeld or Lost or Friends the next day. Discuss what happened and espeically with stuff like Lost, make wild guesses about what it means and what's gonna happen next.

Now that so many people binge watch, you try to talk about a show and half of the people get mad at you for spoiling it because they're too busy bingeing another show and haven't watched it. The other half watched it too long ago to care because they're on to the next binge.

CouchCoach · Feb 9, 2020

BooBooBear said:
Weekly epis are more social. I remember when everyone talked about Seinfeld or Lost or Friends the next day. Discuss what happened and espeically with stuff like Lost, make wild guesses about what it means and what's gonna happen next.

Now that so many people binge watch, you try to talk about a show and half of the people get mad at you for spoiling it because they're too busy bingeing another show and haven't watched it. The other half watched it too long ago to care because they're on to the next binge.

Which leads me to the status of anti-social. Talking about TV shows here is as far as I want to take it. And we discuss more of them in their entirety than by episode.

If I spend time discussing TV episodes, how will I have time for cat videos?

Reality · Feb 9, 2020

BooBooBear said:
Weekly epis are more social. I remember when everyone talked about Seinfeld or Lost or Friends the next day. Discuss what happened and espeically with stuff like Lost, make wild guesses about what it means and what's gonna happen next.

Now that so many people binge watch, you try to talk about a show and half of the people get mad at you for spoiling it because they're too busy bingeing another show and haven't watched it. The other half watched it too long ago to care because they're on to the next binge.

That's the one argument I hear but that's not valid at all.

You are more than welcome to watch a show one week at a time even if the entire season is released at once. Forcing other people to do the same because you want to talk about it is not social but rather self-centered.

When I hear people talking about weekly episodes (outside of GoT), I hear, "I haven't watched that episode yet" way more often than hearing an actual conversation about an episode.

I prefer letting consumers choose what, when and how to consume content and media. If you and your friends, family, etc. want to watch one show per week, that's awesome. However, a lot of people simply do not have the time or interest to do that.

There are some weeks where I rarely watch anything other than a few youtube videos because of my schedule. Then, there are other weeks where I'm doing a lot more mundane tasks and can watch a couple of seasons of TV shows on a second monitor.

Netflix gets it and that's why it will still remain competitive even as other media rights owners (Disney, NBC, etc.) launch their own services and try to force outdated viewing/business models on consumers.

CouchCoach · Feb 9, 2020

Reality said:
That's the one argument I hear but that's not valid at all.

You are more than welcome to watch a show one week at a time even if the entire season is released at once. Forcing other people to do the same because you want to talk about it is not social but rather self-centered.

When I hear people talking about weekly episodes (outside of GoT), I hear, "I haven't watched that episode yet" way more often than hearing an actual conversation about an episode.

I prefer letting consumers choose what, when and how to consume content and media. If you and your friends, family, etc. want to watch one show per week, that's awesome. However, a lot of people simply do not have the time or interest to do that.

There are some weeks where I rarely watch anything other than a few youtube videos because of my schedule. Then, there are other weeks where I'm doing a lot more mundane tasks and can watch a couple of seasons of TV shows on a second monitor.

Netflix gets it and that's why it will still remain competitive even as other media rights owners (Disney, NBC, etc.) launch their own services and try to force outdated viewing/business models on consumers.

Netflix isn't taking the late comers to streaming lightly, they are pushing out some product.

The last piece of research I saw on streaming noted that the number of streamers is capped at 4 with a monthly expense of $40. Amazon didn't get counted in that by Prime members as they see that as a bonus and I agree.

I think Netflix anticipated they would be losing some of these franchises like The Office, Seinfeld and access to theatrical releases and see their battle as original content. They've got some interesting things cooking on the back burners and they will be 1 of the 4 and will eat up more than their fair share of that $40.

I am awaiting that shoe to drop that's just dangling out there of releasing theatrical releases at the same time they premier in theaters. The PPV model for movies. I think Disney will be the first. Got a lot of families with small children and taking them to a theater can be a real hassle and nerve wracking for the parents of restless kids.

Reality · Feb 9, 2020

CouchCoach said:
Netflix isn't taking the late comers to streaming lightly, they are pushing out some product.

The last piece of research I saw on streaming noted that the number of streamers is capped at 4 with a monthly expense of $40. Amazon didn't get counted in that by Prime members as they see that as a bonus and I agree.

I think Netflix anticipated they would be losing some of these franchises like The Office, Seinfeld and access to theatrical releases and see their battle as original content. They've got some interesting things cooking on the back burners and they will be 1 of the 4 and will eat up more than their fair share of that $40.

I am awaiting that shoe to drop that's just dangling out there of releasing theatrical releases at the same time they premier in theaters. The PPV model for movies. I think Disney will be the first. Got a lot of families with small children and taking them to a theater can be a real hassle and nerve wracking for the parents of restless kids.

If I were Netflix, I would invest more in tv show drop-catching from other networks.

In other words, review and go after a lot of cancelled shows on other networks like they have done sparingly in the past.

That way, they already have a test run of several episodes or more to judge the show's potential for additional seasons after the first Netflix season.

A lot of TV shows are not owned by the networks themselves but licensed, so when they cancel them, the studios who created the shows are freely able to negotiate deals with streaming services like Netflix.

The only issue is trying to secure as much as of the cast to new contracts prior to them signing on with other shows, movies and projects.

CouchCoach · Feb 9, 2020

Reality said:
If I were Netflix, I would invest more in tv show drop-catching from other networks.

In other words, review and go after a lot of cancelled shows on other networks like they have done sparingly in the past.

That way, they already have a test run of several episodes or more to judge the show's potential for additional seasons after the first Netflix season.

A lot of TV shows are not owned by the networks themselves but licensed, so when they cancel them, the studios who created the shows are freely able to negotiate deals with streaming services like Netflix.

The only issue is trying to secure as much as of the cast to new contracts prior to them signing on with other shows, movies and projects.

I read where Friends and The Office were Netflix's most watched items but both of those were home runs and mass appeal.

I think the development of their own franchises like HBO has done is the better way to go and not be compared to other streamers. I read a rumor several months back that Netflix was negotiating to get all of HBO's content but the On Demand access part of HBO kept them from moving on that and then they decided to just take the streamers on. And I am interested to see how Max differs from their regular HBO.

I really don't have a lot of interest in old TV shows; however, I never watched The Office or Parks and Rec on commercial TV as I don't like sitcoms but I had fun with those. I get why some people wouldn't get them because it helps to get in a silly state of mind to watch them and some people just can't get silly. Watching those got me onto Brooklyn 999 and I am hooked on that silliness. I like it when they take a serious actor like Andre Braugher and make him wacky. Reminds me of what they did with Leslie Nielsen.

Reality · Feb 9, 2020

CouchCoach said:
I read where Friends and The Office were Netflix's most watched items but both of those were home runs and mass appeal.

I think the development of their own franchises like HBO has done is the better way to go and not be compared to other streamers. I read a rumor several months back that Netflix was negotiating to get all of HBO's content but the On Demand access part of HBO kept them from moving on that and then they decided to just take the streamers on. And I am interested to see how Max differs from their regular HBO.

I really don't have a lot of interest in old TV shows; however, I never watched The Office or Parks and Rec on commercial TV as I don't like sitcoms but I had fun with those. I get why some people wouldn't get them because it helps to get in a silly state of mind to watch them and some people just can't get silly. Watching those got me onto Brooklyn 999 and I am hooked on that silliness. I like it when they take a serious actor like Andre Braugher and make him wacky. Reminds me of what they did with Leslie Nielsen.

I wasn't suggesting they stop producing their own shows. They are already allocating over $1b per year to doing that.

I'm saying because services like NBC, Disney, etc. are pulling their own shows from Netflix for their own services, Netflix should focus on drop-catching cancelled TV shows to compensate.

Their new shows have higher risks of failure but are still worth it. However, from a business standpoint they could mitigate the failures by picking up not-quite-successful-enough-for-limited-prime-time-slots TV shows that were cancelled by network TV networks.

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