Not Worth a Thread: TV Edition

[nacho]

How did I miss that there was a remake of Rosemary's Baby with Zoe Saldana showing on NBC last night?

Further to this, and your post about NBA advertising for hopelessly mediocre shows, let's talk about the somewhat new phenomenon where we're totally exhausted, bored, and disinterested in the show, months before it airs, because the ad campaign saturation level is so high. 

[RottingCorpse]

How did I miss that there was a remake of Rosemary's Baby with Zoe Saldana showing on NBC last night?

Further to this, and your post about NBA advertising for hopelessly mediocre shows, let's talk about the somewhat new phenomenon where we're totally exhausted, bored, and disinterested in the show, months before it airs, because the ad campaign saturation level is so high. 

I call it Amazing Spider-Man 2 syndrome.

It means we can get sick of Constantine months before it premieres as well:

[nacho]

I'm still recovering from the movie!

[nacho]

I was just thinking the other day how bizarre and insane UFO was and if it could exist as a remake today...but then I realized that the Danger 5 folks are sort of doing a spiritual remake of all things early-era-Anderson:

[RottingCorpse]

1980 was so... groovy.

[nacho]

1970's version of 1980, at least. Strange that Gerry Anderson then changed his tune and 1975's version of 1999 is an ultra-modern political nightmare fiercely divided by a nuclear waste problem.

[RottingCorpse]

So... he envisioned 2014 then.

[nacho]

I can't keep track of what's coming out or when, so here's a post collecting my "watchlist" shows.

Last Ship: June 22nd

Defiance: June 19th

Danger 5: TBA (rumor says August, SBS says "mid-2014," and they have confirmed that filming is complete)

Doctor Who: August, TBA

Utopia (UK): The season two DVD is up for pre-order in the UK. This means we'll certainly get it anytime between June and August. My money is that they'll ride Doctor Who's genre coattails.

Utopia (US): TBA (rumored to be closely linked to GoT's next season -- April 2015)

Falling Skies: June 22nd

The Leftovers: June 29th

The Strain: July 13th

Ascension: November 14th

TWD: October, TBA

The Expanse: 2015

The Last Man on Earth: 2015

PS -- I have no idea why more people aren't talking about Ascension!

[nacho]

This is the big news this week!

http://www.wired.com/2014/05/reading-rainbow-kickstarter/

(And I almost gave money myself -- but he reached his goal in, like, 3 seconds.)

Reading Rainbow is coming back, on computers and in the classroom. As of today, a Kickstarter to bring the show back has raised more than double its initial goal of $1 million. That’s enough cash to bring the educational program back as a cross-platform app, complete with a digital library, interactive resources, and virtual field trips—and to offer it for free to cash-strapped schools.

Hosted by actor LeVar Burton (aka Star Trek‘s Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Reading Rainbow ran on PBS from 1983 through 2006, and for another three years in reruns, garnering a Peabody and a staggering 26 Emmys, and leaving an indelible impression on generations of kids. Burton continued to advocate for childhood literacy, and in 2012, Reading Rainbow returned as an iPad app. By January of this year, it was the No. 1 educational and kids’ app for iPad. With the new Kickstarter, Burton wants to extend the app’s reach, making it platform-agnostic and putting it in the hands of kids without access to tablets or computers at home.

There’s something a little sad about seeing Reading Rainbow on Kickstarter—even if, as Burton points out, the program has always been made possible by the support of viewers. At the same time, though, its success is a striking commentary on both the project’s continuing relevance—and the joint power of nostalgia and altruism.

“The fact that so many people have become a part of this, and are donating $1, $5, $10—this is, I believe, a response to the need for people to feel like they can make a difference,” Burton wrote in a Reddit AMA earlier today. “It’s been interesting, because along this journey we have heard from many people in terms of our business model—do you think Reading Rainbow is still relevant? Yesterday proved beyond the shadow of a doubt the relevancy of Reading Rainbow‘s mission.”

The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter will be active through July 2. Check out Burton’s reaction to the campaign hitting its $1 million goal in the video below.

[RottingCorpse]

There's been so much this week that's given me hope for humanity. It's nice.

[nacho]

I can't keep track of what's coming out or when, so here's a post collecting my "watchlist" shows.

Last Ship: June 22nd

Defiance: June 19th

Danger 5: TBA (rumor says August, SBS says "mid-2014," and they have confirmed that filming is complete)

Doctor Who: August, TBA

Utopia (UK): July!

Utopia (US): TBA (rumored to be closely linked to GoT's next season -- April 2015)

Falling Skies: June 22nd

The Leftovers: June 29th

The Strain: July 13th

Ascension: November 14th

TWD: October, TBA

The Expanse: 2015

The Last Man on Earth: 2015

Updated with Utopia news! July airdate for season 2... And something happening at 2:20am Monday morning...

[RottingCorpse]

Can I get a resounding, "Hell yes?" And let's get Gervais and company to do the voices.

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2014/06/17/bbc-to-revive-danger-mouse/

BBC to Revive ‘Danger Mouse’

Brace yourselves, ’80s animation fans: The BBC has announced it’s dusting off Danger Mouse, with some help from FreemantleMedia and Boulder Media.

Few details were revealed, but FreemantleMedia said that the super-spy’s familiar eye patch will be replaced by an updated i-patch featuring all kinds of technological goodies.

Originally airing from 1981 to 1992, Danger Mouse followed the exploits of the world’s best secret agent and his timid assistant Penfold, who had a tendency to get in the way or, worse, get kidnapped.

The series and its spinoff Count Duckula aired in the United States on Nickelodeon.

“The thrills, spills and comedy of this landmark international animated series are all still here but this rebooted version will be brought up-to-date for today’s tech-savvy and content-hungry kids,” Freemantle’s Rick Glanker said in a statement. “In this new 21st-century version the laughs are set to be even louder as the world’s smallest secret agent faces mightier missions, voracious villains and knee-trembling threats.”

The new Danger Mouse will debut in 2015 on CBBC.

[nacho]

Tyrant!

The younger son of a Generic Middle Eastern Country has fled amicably, apparently, from his father's oppressive, opulent regime to marry a blonde, have a normal family, and become a pediatrician in California.

He's lured back to their little kingdom or whatever it is because his mom is Alice Krige and you don't say no to Alice Krige or else she eats your eyeballs. While back, his dad drops dead, and his insanely evil brother gets his dick bitten off and knocked out of commission. Now our reluctant (anti?)hero is facing the potential inheritance of their fractured, about-to-Arab-Spring-into-hell kingdom, and must also deal with his own internal demons.

Begin soap opera....see you next week. Very enjoyable.

[nacho]

I can't keep track of what's coming out or when, so here's a post collecting my "watchlist" shows.

Last Ship: Episode two still strong -- reviewed in the PA Tv thread.

Defiance: More of the same. More Julie Benz sideboob.

Danger 5: TBA (rumor says August, SBS says "mid-2014," and they have confirmed that filming is complete)

Doctor Who: August 23rd!

Utopia (UK): July! The DVD release is slotted for August 25th, and season two is six episodes.

Utopia (US): TBA (rumored to be closely linked to GoT's next season -- April 2015)

Falling Skies: Why am I watching this show?

The Leftovers: Bad. Forget it.

The Strain: July 13th

Ascension: November 14th

TWD: October 12th

The Expanse: 2015

The Last Man on Earth: 2015

Updated!

[RottingCorpse]

JLC is soooooooooo cute.