Television history is often divided into the following periods
Pre War Broadcasting (1920 to 1946)
Fewer than 1 million US households have a television.
The Golden Age (1947 through 1960s)
By 1960, 88% of US households have a television.
Soap Operas, Sitcoms, Family Entertainment & Game Shows flourish.
The Network Era (1960s through 1980s)
ABC, NBC, CBS provide most of the content. (CBC in Canada)
Multi-Channel Era (1980s through 1990s)
Cable channels boom.
24-hour networks for news, sports & music arrive.
New Golden Age (Prestige Era) (1999 through 2010s)
Starting with The Sopranos, the era of prestige drama arrived, reinventing the television viewing experience.
Established film actors, writers, directors and production teams begin to make rich, layered, lengthy dramatic series with complex but captivating characters, including anti-heros Tony Soprano, Don Draper (Mad Men) or Walter White (Breaking Bad).
The Streaming Era (Niche Television) (2010s to the present)
Streaming subscriptions boom from 1% of the US population to 86% in ten years.
Netflix, HBO/Crave, Prime Video, Disney+ and others control the entertainment landscape.
For some, the Streaming Era is a third Golden Age as online network services aggressively compete for consumer attention. For others, this is the era of niche television, a time when the content is so plentiful that every viewer can find programs specific to their tastes.
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Perhaps you have noticed this shift when in casual conversations, perhaps with co-workers or friends at a dinner party. There was a time when nearly every adult was tuning into the same television programs and water cooler conversations naturally gravitated to next day comparisons about the latest episode of M*A*S*H or “Who shot JR?” on Dallas, or the brilliance of John Ritter’s physical comedy as Jack on Three’s Company.
Even as a kid I felt this “water cooler camaraderie” when my classmates would imitate Horshack from Welcome Back Kotter, debate who the hottest Charlie’s Angel was, or…discuss the brilliance of John Ritter’s physical comedy on Three’s Company.
Nowadays, if you ask someone what they are watching, it is likely you have never seen the show and, in some cases, never even heard of it. Consequently, the inevitable follow-up question is:
“What is that on?”
With that being said, I invite you to my 2022 assessment of niche television. In no particular order, I offer up my favourite 10 television shows from the past year and list the streaming service that has each program for Canadian viewers. I also include a link to a trailer. Here goes:
The Bear (First Season - Disney Channel)
A young chef from the world of fine dining returns to Chicago to take over the family sandwich shop after his brother’s suicide. As he struggles to keep the failing business afloat, he is forced to come to terms with the fractures in both his life and his family’s.
Episode seven is a frenetic firestorm of restaurant chaos. Miscommunication, backlogged orders and an accidental stabbing are filmed in a single. 18-minute take. To add to the relentless tension, Spiders (Kidsmoke), by alternative rockers Wilco, serves as the disquieting soundtrack. As a former restaurant worker, it brought back the electrifying yet thrilling anxiety/energy that comes with a chaotic shift when the team is “in the weeds”. (Series Trailer)
Better Call Saul (Final Season - AMC)
When a prequel to Breaking Bad featuring sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, was first announced in 2014 I was cautiously optimistic. Could creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould find lightning in a bottle twice – in the same fictional universe? Moreover, could a television series built around a greasy, loathsome and seemingly one-dimensional character like Saul Goodman sustain my interest for several seasons?
My trust was rewarded and, for seven years, the “GilliGould” production team has delivered engaging writing with interesting cinematography that are punctuated by award-worthy performances from a top-tier cast. They also managed to “stick the landing” with a surprising, but satisfying ending.
The only question that remains is: “Will Rhea Seehorn, who played Saul’s love interest Kim Wexler, finally receive the Emmy she has deserved repeatedly since season two? (Series Six Trailer)
Peacemaker (First Season - HBO/Crave)
In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) kicked off with Iron Man featuring Robert Downey Jr. in the role of billionaire, playboy/industrialist Tony Stark and his superhero counterpart, Iron Man. The film was a massive success because it seemed to find the perfect blend of action, drama and comedy to attract a diverse audience.
In 2013, Marvel’s rival, DC comics, began their foray into this lucrative cinematic world with the release of Man Of Steel, a reboot of the Superman franchise. The film received a lukewarm response from audiences. Many critics pointed out that it was “brooding and heavy” and lacked the “sense of lightness” or “pop joy” that MCU movies provided.The rivalry between the two companies has continued for nearly a decade. The MCU has flourished while the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) has struggled to find an audience. However, in 2020, the executives made the clever decision to hire James Gunn to direct the film The Suicide Squad. Gunn, who had already experienced success at MCU with the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise, delivered a film that was pulpy, outrageous and ridiculously fun.
The follow-up from Gunn and the DCEU was Peacemaker, a riotous eight- part series which debuted last January. Picking up five months after the events in The Suicide Squad movie, the viewers are re-introduced to Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, recovering in hospital. The opening scene, including the hysterical credit sequence, re-establishes the plot for new viewers. This is exactly what the DCEU needed – a goofy and action-packed rollercoaster ride of over-the-top characters, explosions, off-colour humour, slapstick violence…and Peacemaker’s bird sidekick, “Eagley”. Pure popcorn pleasure, with a hair-metal soundtrack to boot! (Opening Credits)
White Lotus (Season 2 - HBO Crave)
The first season of The White Lotus premiered in the summer of 2021. Had I written a top ten blog last year I would have put that series near the top of the list – likely #1. The White Lotus is a fictional chain of high-end, resort hotels located throughout the world. The series focuses on both the diligent, but jaded, staff and the uber-wealthy guests who travel to exotic locations to escape the “hurly-burly” of their privileged lives.
The next twelve episodes focus on a week in the lives of these paradise-seeking, filthy rich elites as their lives and indiscretions mingle with the hotel staff and locals. The dark comedy provides, in mixed measure, mystery, intrigue, social commentary, sex and farce set to stunning cinematography, and a hypnotic score composed and curated by Canadian/Chilean composer Juan Cristobal Tapia de Veer. (Season Two Trailer)
Hacks (Season 2 - HBO/Crave)
The idea that art inspires life fascinates me. Such is the case with Season 2 of HBO’s Hacks, a series that focuses on aging, stand-up comedian Debroah Vance whose legendary Las Vegas residency is coming to an end to make way for “new acts”, intended to attract a younger audience.
Vance’s management team decides to pair her with a younger comedy writer, Ava Daniels, from their stable of talent. Daniels, who has already been pigeon-holed in the industry as arrogant and difficult, is desperate for employment after posting an insensitive joke on Twitter. The unlikely pair bond slowly through season one. Daniels helps Vance take more risks with her comedic material and Vance returns the favour by helping Daniels with her personal issues.
Season one of Hacks received critical acclaim and a second season was greenlit for 2022. Actor Jean Smart, who plays Vance, was also a big star in the 80s and 90s, with a starring role on television’s Designing Women. Like many female actors over the age of 40, leading roles began to disappear. Despite the career setback, she continued to work – as a voice actor, on stage in summer theatres, as a guest-performer in television sitcoms, and in Hallmark romantic-comedies geared toward a 50+ audience. Then, much like her character in Hacks, her career has been revitalized with a leading role that allows her to flex her sizable comedic and dramatic talents. So, is that art imitating life or life imitating art? Who cares really…and yes, Hacks has been greenlit for a third season. (Season Two Trailer)
Thanks for Reading…What are you watching?
Part Two Next Week.
Barry is another amazing show!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it is in the next 5 for sure.
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