The HBO Max brand is butts and beyond
Netflix released a movie last week called Fall For Me. Apparently it was an erotic thriller. I didn’t see it the movie, but I did see this review:
I wasn’t surprised. Despite a handful of movies and shows promising adult content, Netflix is a remarkably conservative streaming service. It’s pretty rare that any Netflix originals get too extreme in terms of its content - most of it all feels pretty much like US broadcast TV-level raunch when it does go in that direction.
And that’s fine. It is what it is.
In terms of adult-orientated content, looking at the competition from other streamers, it doesn’t seem that different. Paramount, Disney (obviously), and Prime Video all seem pretty locked in to values that align with US sensibilities. It all feels broadcast TV safe.
Despite being streamed (and not subject to broadcast license restrictions), you’re just not likely to find too much nudity, drugs, sexual content, extreme violence, gore, or anything else that is especially adult in tone on most streaming services.
HBO Max seems to be defining itself by going in the opposite direction.
HBO has long been associated with adult-orientated content with shows like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Sex & The City, and other titles where it is kind-of expected that there will be nudity, sex, violence, and other subject matter that is fun for adults to watch. But, HBO Max has felt really neutered since it launched, taking the HBO brand with it.
That seems to be changing. On the weekend we saw DC Comics antihero show Peacemaker return with a very graphic drug-fuelled orgy. And then in my inbox today I found promotional images for the new Rachel Sennott show I Love LA. It debuts in early November and this is how they are promoting the show:
You’re not finding this on Disney+ anytime soon.
News Desk
Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg are in early talks to adapt Knight Rider for Universal Pictures. My feelings on a Knight Rider film adaptation are well known: Team Knight Rider, or GTFO. Read: The Wrap
Season 2 of the King of The Hill revival is already in the can. It’ll debut next year. Based on the huge streaming numbers and uplift it gave to the original episodes of the show on Disney+, I’d expect to hear about the show going back into production sooner than later. Read: Vulture
Apple has announced an event for September 9, which will be when it unveils this years new phones. But there’s also talk we may see a refreshed Apple TV. My 10 year-old ATV could really use replacing. Read: Macrumors
Deli Boys has been renewed for a second season at Hulu with Fred Armisen joining the cast. Read: thefutoncritic
Netflix has canned the pretty awful The Waterfront after just one season. Read: THR
There’s a contemporary Wizard of Oz show in development at Prime Video with Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, and creator Gina Matthews involved. I reckon this will go just as well as every other effort to bring Oz to the screen since that one good movie. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
The Lowdown debuts on FX Sept 23.
The series follows the gritty exploits of citizen journalist Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a self-proclaimed Tulsa "truthstorian" whose obsession with the truth is always getting him into trouble.
Play Dirty is the new film from Shane Black. It debuts on Oct 1 on Prime Video and is based on the Parker series of books.
An expert thief rolls out the biggest heist of his life in Play Dirty, an action-packed thriller from director Shane Black. Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob in this gritty, clever caper.
Jessica Chastain stars in The Savant, debuting Sept 26 on Apple TV+.
An undercover investigator known as The Savant balances life at home with tracking online hate groups to stop domestic extremists before they act.
The Woman in Cabin 10 debuts, appropriately, on Oct 10 on Netflix.
A travel writer stumbles upon a gruesome secret while traveling aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is streaming October 16 on Peacock
From 1972-1978, thirty-three young men were kidnapped, murdered and buried in a crawl space beneath their killer's house. And no one was the wiser. Not for all those years. Why? He was charming and funny. Had a good, All-American job. Was a community leader. He even volunteered to entertain sick kids...while dressed as a clown.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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I hadn’t noticed but you’re right. Streaming services are broadcasting within an American paradigm. I guess that’s not surprising since they are all based in the USA.