Screw conformity. The bonus Stranger Things that wasn’t.
ALSO: Can an evening news show find success dumping integrity while pivoting towards viewers on the right?
Always Be Watching readers were into the Stranger Things finale. Those of you who voted in a poll I ran on Friday last week either loved it or were happy-enough with what they saw.
There were clearly fans desperate for more, however, with a rumour gaining steam in recent days that January 7 would see a bonus episode of the show released on Netflix. The thinking was that this, unannounced episode, would reveal that everything we saw in the finale was a lie.
Once you get past all the logical reasons why this would a) not ever happen; or b) that it just doesn’t really feel like a Stranger Things thing to do, you still had a bunch of fans expecting something extra on platform yesterday.
Spoiler: There are no new episodes. The finale was the finale.
Part of the confusion, which has come to be known as Conformity Gate, is related to Netflix teasing “What Next,” which we know was actually just a tease for its upcoming 2026 release slate, as seen in yesterday’s ABW.
Netflix addressed the concerns by updating its social media bio to read: ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING.
In a piece by The Guardian explaining Conformity Gate, it does talk up the many outstanding questions at raised by the finale. And, to be honest, I’d kind of like some answers on these too.
Certainly, there were mistakes. The doorknob, the dial and the missing scars were simply continuity errors. Meanwhile, we were expected to believe that Hopper returned to his job as police chief in spite of having killed that many US soldiers? Why did we never get to see the comeuppance of Linda Hamilton’s dastardly Dr Kay? And what became of poor Vickie, Robin’s erstwhile girlfriend?
The controversial new CBS Evening News
How have the ratings been for the revamped Tony Dokoupil-hosted CBS Evening News?
Viewership is slightly above average with a 9% lift, but still trailing NBC and ABC’s evening news. On Monday 4.37 million viewers tuned in, with NBC at 7.21 million and ABC leading with 8.24 million. They both doubled CBS’ 25-54 demo too.
Just as an FYI, Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, which airs against CBS Evening News, averages around 2.7 million viewers a night. Just keep that in mind as you do the math on whether viewers are after a news program with a political slant, or whether there is more upside in chasing a centrist middle (which CBS Evening News, until this past week, had been doing a great job at).
Of course, it’s a marathon and not a race. *cough*
Worth reading is a clear-eyed article by CUNY journalism professor Jeff Jarvis who wrote at Katie Couric Media about the many questionable editorial choices made with the CBS Evening News with the appointment of its new host.
He concludes the article with this:
So should we even care about the ruin of the Tiffany network? Yes, to the extent that legacy news organizations still employ qualified journalists, and so long as big, old media still act as both source and amplifier for public discourse.
But the future will not be televised. YouTube and TikTok are where anyone under the age of, say, 50 watches a new kind of news. Independent sites like the one you are reading now play an important role in the new news ecosystem, alongside countless newsletters, community websites, podcasts, and blogs.
The age of mass media was a temporary phenomenon. At the turn of the last century, in 1900, New York City alone boasted 46 daily newspapers, alongside scores of weekly and monthly publications. That, I believe, is a more natural state of media in a pluralistic society. That is what we are returning to: messy, spiky, chaotic, and more representative of the nation we live in.
Very few people will watch Dokoupil’s and Weiss’s CBS Evening News. After the current fuss dies down, as fusses do, very few will talk about it. What is being done to a once-proud institution is a crying shame. But in truth, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Clearly the pressure of the ratings and the very loud criticism of CBS Evening News this week is being felt. A few hours ago it was announced that the show’s number 2 producer Javier Guzman was let go from the show. Kim Harvey remains on as the show’s EP.
From Variety:
Then on Tuesday, the show was also criticized for an unusual sign-off by Dokoupil — which featured a quite unconventional tribute to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Whatever you think of his politics, you’ve got to admit it’s an impressive résumé,” Dokoupil said before showing AI memes casting Rubio in other jobs such as the prime minister of Greenland, the head of Hilton Hotels and the Michelin man. The move was seen as tone deaf given the current global unrest and uncertainty over the U.S.’ actions in Venezuela.
Insiders say Guzman’s departure is unrelated to any of this, but comes as the new telecast restructures. Guzman had just taken on the role of senior broadcast producer at the CBS Evening News in August. He had previously served as a senior producer on the newscast since January 2018.
News Desk
To no surprise, HBO Max’s Emmy award wining hit The Pitt has been renewed for a third season ahead of today’s season two return. Read: thefutoncritic
Spotify has confimed that it is no longer running ICE recruitment ads on platform. Read: Variety
I really like dogs. I have two at home. But I do think it is about time that we all agree that the Puppy Bowl is TV’s dumbest event each year and as it approaches its 22nd year, we should all acknowledge that the creative has never matched the amusing concept. Today the lineup for this year’s event was announced. Read: Deadline
Somehow it is 2026 and Disney+ is only now talking about being focused on mobile. It announced at CES plans to introduce vertical short-form content to the platform and AI video generation for advertisers. Read: THR
Meanwhile, YouTube will now let you filter out shorts from search results. Read: The Verge
Yellowstone spin-off Y: Marshals has been given a new-title. It will now be more boringly-titled ‘Marshals.’ Read: THR
Here’s your wrap-up of the best TVs displayed at CES. Read: The Verge
Former The Hills star Spencer Pratt has announced his intention to run for Mayor of Los Angeles. Read: Complex
There’s speculation Mare of Easttown will film a second season in 2027. And the person doing the speculating: Kate Winslet. That would be a six year gap since the show went to air. Read: Deadline
Director General Tim Davie has explained that the BBC is under continued pressure to leave X, formerly good as Twitter. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man debuts on HBO Jan 22.
One of Hollywood's most daring satirists from the early years of television sketch comedy through his film and stage hits, Brooks has held a funhouse mirror up to the human condition and used laughter as a path to resilience, connection, and joy for nearly a century.
Cross returns to Prime Video for season 2 Feb 11.
Finding Her Edge debuts Jan 22 on Netflix. A heterosexual drama on the ice? Bold storytelling.
A former ice dancer returns to the rink with an exciting new partner while holding onto feelings for her old one - her first love.
It’s Not Like That debuts on Prime Video Jan 25.
From the writers of Life As We Know It and Parenthood, comes a story of two families who find the courage to begin again. Malcolm is a widowed pastor raising three kids. Lori is newly divorced with two teens. Their families once shared everything. Life looks different now. Grief, change, and responsibility shape every decision.
Canada Shore debuts on Paramount+ Jan 22.
The second and final season of HBO’s Like Water For Chocolate debuts Feb 15.
Apple TV’s Drops of Gold returns for season 2 Jan 21.
The Wrecking Crew debuts Jan 28 on Prime Video.
The Big Fake debuts Jan 23 on Netflix.
An aspiring artist becomes a master forger for criminal gangs lurking in the underbelly of 1970s Rome in this drama film inspired by true events.
That’s the newsletter for the today. Boy, what a week.
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