Netflix cancellations. Hooray!
It’s always frustrating when a beloved show gets cancelled. Sometimes it is upsetting. But, I’m old and jaded now, so I just get on with my life
There have been a handful of really wobbly, hugely disappointing TV launches in recent months on Netflix. They made me angry just because there was potential with all three.
So, I’m quietly happy this week to see cancellations for the over-caffeinated White House murder-mystery comedy The Residence, and Grays wannabe Pulse. Also in the bucket of annoying me due to wasted potential was the Ray Romano/Lisa Kudrow real estate dramedy No Good Deed. Technically, No Good Deed has just been paused and not cancelled - as an anthology, there’s the potential for a revival.
I hope not.
Read more: Deadline
FYI, this feature story is a sponsored post from new sponsor Cranky Pants. When an NBN repairman tells you they’ll be there between 8am and midday and then doesn’t turn up, wear Cranky Pants.
News Desk
Microsoft has cancelled its Perfect Dark reboot game, shutting down studio The Initiative. Read: Polygon
Microsoft is laying off about 9,000 workers, or roughly 4% of its global workforce. Read: Deadline
Bella Ramsey will star opposite series creator Daisy Haggard in Channel 4’s Maya. Read: THR
The roadmap for this newsletter as it looks forward to the next five years is for it to become a Marisa Abela fan publication. The Industry star has just been added to the cast of the Amazon MGM remake of Highlander. Russell Crowe from TOFOG is also in the cast, opposite the fifth best Superman Henry Cavill. Read: THR
Showrunner Alan Heinberg has been asked about how involved Neil Gaiman was in the second season of Netflix’s The Sandman show. His answer is basically a “Who? Was he working craft services?” response. Read: TV Line
Alison Foreman at Indiewire asks if Hollywood is done with courting the gamer audience, using the exit of Neil Druckman and Halley Gross from The Last of Us. Read: Indiewire
Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media has filed for bankruptcy. I really thought they had something going all in on cable TV… Read: Deadline
South Park creatives Trey Parker and Matt Stone have blamed the Paramount / Skydance merger plans for ruining their show.
Trailer Park
Invasion returns to Apple TV+ on August 22 for season 3.
Low Life debuts July 16 on Disney+.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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What I really hate about streaming services are their inability to let a show find its feet. Unless a show is hit out of the gate and maintains the viewers to the end of the season shows are ruthlessly put down. No chance for a show to find its audience or to settle into its rhythm