Has Covid-19 INFECTED the film industry?
Between the total closing of movie theaters to their most recent limited capacity openings, more theatrical films are STREAMING on the small screen, so why go out? Folks are comfortable sitting in front of their 50 -inch screen vs the 50- foot screen– much to the displeasure of a bevy of top actors who made deals to appear in films based on their theatrical release, just talk to Scarlett Johansson who has a lawsuit pending with Disney Plus regarding her financial loss on the film “Black Widow.” She may not be happy, but the rest of us can see her flick for one flat price whenever we want.
Although (as of August) AMC and Warner Bros. struck a deal to have the studio’s movies stay exclusive to theaters for 45 days, instead of being immediately available to stream. But will people go to the theater? With so many streaming choices out this fall, it’s hard to predict.
Apple Plus has some great original content: Jon Stewart is hosting a new current affairs series; “The Morning Show” with Aniston and Witherspoon is back (and if it’s anything like season 1, you will be bingeing it.) A documentary about the rock band The Velvet Underground premieres, and if you’re a Tom Hanks fan, he stars in “Finch,” an apocalyptic survival story.
HULU (which carries the much-lauded “The Handmaid’s Tale”) is making noise with “The Premise,” a character-driven anthology series that covers a wide range of topical issues.
If you love documentaries, Netflix presents “Blood Brothers,” the story of Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali. The final season of “Lucifer” drops, along with the final season of the comedy “Dear White People.” If you love horror, “Midnight Mass” will ruffle your choir robe. And if Broadway is your bag, see “Diana: The Musical.”
Amazon Prime: Season 2’s “Modern Love” (available now) is not to be missed; “Goliath” returns for season 4; and Amazon film originals presents “The Voyeurs,” and “Everybody’s Talking about Jamie.”
HBO also has a dizzying line-up including additional seasons of: “Succession,” “West World” and “Black Lotus” along with new episodes of “Barry,” “Insecure,” and “The Black Lady Sketch Show.”
There is so much to watch, it can be overwhelming, but in the end, the fear of missing out is now silenced. New films, original series’, unique themes– they are all available for a small fee, and you don’t have to wear your pants to watch, streaming is the way to go!
And remember TV shows? Here’s a list of some of the best TV — and streamers — coming soon.
- “A.P. Bio” (Peacock)
- “Billions” (Showtime)
- “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
- “Lucifer: The Final Season” (Netflix)
- “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC), this time with the show’s first-ever same-sex dancing pair
- “The Voice” (NBC)
- “9-1-1” (Fox)
- “Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS)
- “NCIS” (CBS)
- “The Resident” (FOX), now with less Emily VanCamp
- “FBI” and “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS)
- “New Amsterdam” (NBC)
- “Survivor” (CBS)
- “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med” (NBC)
- “Masked Singer” (FOX)
- “The Goldbergs” (ABC), which is kicking off with a tribute to the late George Segal
- “The Conners” (ABC)
- “A Million Little Things” (ABC)
- “Dear White People” (Netflix)
- “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC)
- “Dateline” (NBC)
- “The Simpsons” (FOX)
- “Bob’s Burgers” (FOX)
- “The Rookie” (ABC)
- “The Good Doctor” (ABC)
September 30
- “Station 19” (ABC)
- “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
- “Big Sky” (ABC)
- “Succession” (HBO)
- “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
- “Blue Bloods” (CBS)
- “Magnum P.I.” (CBS)
- “S.W.A.T.” (CBS)
- “Call the Midwife” (PBS)
- “Tough As Nails” (CBS), but I wish it was “Amazing Race.”
- “Young Sheldon” (CBS), who in season 5 can’t be all that young anymore
- “Bull” (CBS)
- “Shark Tank” (ABC)
- “Nancy Drew” (CW)
- “Leverage: Redemption” (IMDb TV)
- “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS)
- “SEAL Team” (CBS)
- “Project Runway” (Bravo)
- “You” (Netflix)
- “Fear the Walking Dead” (AMC)
- “The Blacklist” (NBC)
- “Walker” (The CW)