The biggest *IT SHOW* since The Wire
It’s been a minute since we had a truly hip TV show at the level of The Wire. The sort of show where everyone wants to attach themselves to the phenomena.
Do you remember there was that time period just as The Wire exploded on DVD and everyone became obsessed with the show, with every TV show casting actors from The Wire in guest starring roles? That show created character actor careers for so many actors along with a couple of bona fide superstars.
We haven’t really seen a phenomenon like it. It’s not like in the huge breakout success of Ted Lasso we saw the supporting cast of unknown actors suddenly become massive. Yeah, Juno Temple seems to have done well out of it. But, it just isn’t quite the across-the-board enthusiasm that we saw with The Wire.
It got me thinking about the ensemble cast of The Pitt. That, to me, feels like a show that has engendered widespread interest and love from viewers and the industry alike, but we haven’t seen many of those guys appearing on other shows.
Where, for example, is the three-episode arc with Gerran Howell on Elsbeth, or Taylor Dearden guesting on Abbott Elementary?
The Pitt actor Shawn Hatosy is reportedly appearing in an upcoming episode of Fire County. A single guest-appearance a trend does not make, but his appearance is what got me thinking about this. He’s also the only actor where the timing of the breakout success of the show and his schedule was open enough to outside roles. After all, by the time The Pitt broke, the cast were gearing up to return back to work.
News Desk
Michael Longfellow is exiting SNL ahead of season 51. He’s the third castmember to leave in the last week or so, following Devon Walker and featured player Emil Wakim. I remember a day where even when you weren’t a viewer of SNL, you had still heard of these people. Read: THR
Wait, scratch the above thought. Heidi Gardner is also out after eight seasons. As a non-SNL viewer, I couldn’t tell you what she looks like or anything about her, but I know the name. Read: Variety
The BBC has licensed the first three seasons of Apple TV+ show Trying (which is now in season 5). It is the start of Apple TV+ licensing out its shows, so expect to see more of this happening. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
Wayward debuts on Netflix Sept 25.
A small-town cop suspects that the local school for troubled teens - and its dangerously charismatic founder - may not be all it seems.
Diary of a Ditched Girl debuts on Netflix Sept 11.
Hook-ups, app encounters and chaotic men - dating isn't easy for Amanda. But despite being dumped by half of Malmö, she still isn't ready to give up.
Robin Hood debuts on MGM+ November 2. It’s exciting that someone is finally trying to adapt Robin Hood to the screen…
Ruth & Boaz debuts Sept 26 on Netflix.
A talented singer leaves the Atlanta music scene and starts over in small-town Tennessee, where she finds love and new purpose but can't escape the past.
Improv comedy sketch show The Hospital debuts on BET Sept 10.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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