The one reality show I genuinely love and recommend to all who will listen
I don’t talk much about factual or reality in this newsletter largely because I don’t really watch much of it. But, I do have a couple of reality shows that know how to turn my head.
First, there’s no not-as-secret-as-it-should-be shame: I really like Bar Rescue. Oh man, to watch the bar every week struggle, then have a terrible night in front of Jon and his crew of professionals, only to watch them whip the bar into shape… I am delighted every time I land on it.
But, at the more credible end of what’s a pretty small pool for me, is a show that I genuinely think is great: This Old House.
This is a show that is 47 seasons in, launching back in 1979, and made for PBS.
I don’t think it is a show that we have ever gotten here in Australia (some episodes are sitting on Tubi), so a good portion of the ABW audience probably don’t really know it.
Every episode host Kevin O’Connor works on house refurbs with his crew of face-for-radio grizzled construction experts (in Australia we’d just call these guys ‘tradies’).
What I really like about the show is that there’s no razzle dazzle in the show. We don’t spend a lot of time on the lives of the people whose homes are being refurbed, nor is there flashy editing and music. It’s a stripped back show where they consider construction challenges and show the audience the hows and why of finding building solutions.
It’s very relaxed and genuinely informative. I love it dearly and have lost many afternoons to binge watching episode after episode.
Roku in the US has just announced a spin-off show, aimed at younger audiences.
This First House follows two Millennial and/or Gen Z families as they navigate the process of buying their first home and learn essential skills for maintaining and improving their property. Guiding them through this journey will be the husband-and-wife team, Zack and Camille Dettmore, alongside their experts from real estate, mortgage, legal, and construction sectors.
I’m keen to check out the new show (souring a Roku original from outside the US is a challenge). But also, it really has me wondering why I’ve never seen a local format adaptation of This Old House in Australia.
Bluey: The Movie sets the date
Not since The Simpsons Movie has there been so much anticipation around the release of a cartoon show adaptation. Today we learned Bluey is being released to cinemas on 6 August, 2027. (read more: Mediaweek)
The almost 4 year-old little person in my house has asked me at least thirty times a day when her upcoming birthday is for the past fortnight. The longer I can stretch out her not knowing this movie exists will be important to my ongoing mental health.
Netflix hunting global rights
One of the buzzier shows this year has been The Hunting Wives. But the road to a second season is going to require a whole lot of lawyering.
This is a series that was originally made for Starz by Lionsgate, but Starz opted against going ahead with it. Lionsgate then went and sold the show around the world, with buyers including Stan in Australia, Crave in Canada, OSN in the Middle East, and HOT in Israel. Oh, and after that, some company called Netflix in the US.
The show broke out huge on Netflix in the US, Lionsgate kept on selling the show. There’s another 10 territory sales brokered since.
And now Netflix want a season 2… as a global original.
Here’s Deadline on the wrangling:
It’s complicated and it takes time but both Lionsgate and Netflix are motivated following The Hunting Wives‘ breakthrough that few saw coming as the series struck a chord with viewers across the country — and across the political spectrum — with its Starz-style steamy romance set against the background of “MAGA country” and “Coastal elite” culture clash.
Since launching with little fanfare and no formal promotional campaign on a Monday, the series has been a staple on Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 for six weeks running, including a stint at No.1, and also spent its first five weeks in the Global Top 10 despite not being available outside of the U.S..
News Desk
Another too-famous-for-TV movie actor has just signed up for a Taylor Sheridan show. This time it is Overboard star Kurt Russell (who has recently done the Apple TV+ Godzilla TV show). He will be in the new Yellowstone show The Madison. Read: Deadline
Keifer Sutherland will be dead in the ground and will still looking for a way to bring back Jack Bauer for another go. Read: TV Insider
NCIS and prequel series NCIS: Origins will crossover in November. Still no NCIS: Sydney crossover, Paramount? Read: Deadline
John C. McGinley has also signed on to the Scrubs revival. Read: Variety
HBO has just renamed most of its US cabl;e channel names. As THR correctly argues, this is because the channels were badly named. HBO2 is now HBO Hits, HBO Signature is now HBO Drama, HBO Zone is now HBO Movies, MoreMAX is now Cinemax Hits, ActionMAX is now Cinemax Action and 5starMAX is now Cinemax Classics. Read: THR
US Paramount staffers are being ordered back to work 5 days a week. Read: THR
SAS: Rogue Heroes has been renewed for a third season by the BBC and MGM+. Read: Deadline
Warner Bros is suing Midjourney over copyright infringement. I have absolutely used Midjourney to create an image of Batman for this very site. Sorry Warner Bros. Read: THR
Disney Entertainment Television is launching companion video podcasts for multiple TV shows including Only Murders in The Building, which I mention for the obvious reason. Read: Variety
Alan Cumming and David Morrissey are set to star in Russell T Davies‘ new Channel 4 show Tip Toe. Read: Variety
France seems to be where The White Lotus season 4 is off to. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
John Candy: I Like Me debuts on Prime Video Oct 10. I’m beyond keen to press play on this doco.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story debuts on Netflix Oct 3.
The Forsytes debuts on PBS Masterpiece in 2026.
This lavish reimagining of the Nobel Prize-winning tale of love, ambition, and betrayal follows the wealthy Forsyte family in 1880s London. Inspired by John Galsworthy's celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes portrays events that take place before those covered in Galsworthy's books.
Left-Handed Girl debuts on Netflix Nov 28.
When a mother and her two daughters relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall, they try to adapt to their new life while maintaining family unity.
The Reluctant Traveller returns for season 3 on Apple TV+ Sept 19.
The eight-episode season follows host Eugene Levy as he sets out to discover what the "ultimate travel bucket list" is all about, and he gets a little help from a very special guest, the Prince of Wales.
Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order debuts on AMC Oct 26.
The six-episode first season focuses on a secretive society called the Talamasca, comprised of the men and women responsible for tracking and containing the witches, vampires, and other creatures scattered around the globe.
Smiling Friends returns to Adult Swim for season 3 on Oct 5.
Crutch will debut November 3 on Paramount+.
Set in the world of the CBS Original Comedy The Neighborhood, CRUTCH centers on its titular character Francois "Frank" Crutchfield (Tracy Morgan), who goes by "Crutch," a brash, yet beloved Harlem shop owner whose world is turned upside down when his highbrow son and free-spirited daughter move back into the family home.
Landman returns Nov 16 for season 2 on Paramount+.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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