When might Pittsburgh viewers get to watch Spectrum’s ‘Manhunt: Deadly Games’?
Post-Gazette TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions online every Friday in Tuned In Journal blog at post-gazette.com/ tv. Here’s a selection of recent queries.
Q: Is there any way to find out how long Spectrum Originals will keep filmed-in-Pittsburgh “Manhunt: Deadly Games” exclusive to its Spectrum cable customers and if there is another cable buyer that will show it later?
— DAVE VIA EMAIL
Rob: We reported last year that Spectrum Originals has a nine-month exclusivity window on its shows, and after that the production company that owns the show can resell it elsewhere for a second window. (Spectrum Originals are available on Spectrum cable systems; Spectrum has no cable systems in Western Pennsylvania.)
With “Manhunt: Deadly Games” debuting in February, that suggests production company Lionsgate could sell the show in a second window as early as November. (It’s unclear if that’s nine months from the debut of the first episode in a season or the debut date for the last episode in a season.)
With last week’s announcement that Fox will air Spectrum’s “L.A.’s Finest” this fall — the first season of that show debuted in summer 2019 — it seems to increase the odds that some outlet will pick up the second window of “Manhunt,” perhaps even a broadcaster. And it’s possible, through negotiations, that Spectrum might allow the show to appear elsewhere sooner because everything in our pandemic world seems to be open to renegotiation.
I’ve emailed my Lionsgate contacts several times this month requesting an update on the state of a second window sale for “Manhunt,” and they have not responded, which may also suggest gears are turning behind the scenes.
Q: Because “Big Brother” is pretty much a game about being quarantined, don’t you think this is the perfect summer for it? Just test everyone, throw them in the house and continue to monitor them every day. What are your thoughts?
— BILL, EAST LIVERPOOL
Rob: My understanding is CBS still plans to move forward with “Big Brother” when network executives feel the time is right. The question is when and what variables constitute the right timing: the health crisis or CBS’s schedule needs or both?
I do think Bill is correct: You could quarantine players for 14 days before they enter the house. Do the same with the production crew (who would then have to remain quarantined for the duration of the show’s production). Have frequent fever and coronavirus tests (if the production can acquire such tests) and you’ve got yourself a show as long as the California stay-at-home guidance allows for it.
What I’m wondering at the moment is if CBS is debating whether to put such a thing on in the summer or hold it for fall because it seems unlikely the network will have original episodes of scripted programming then. At the moment, I suspect network execs are leaning toward the latter.
Q: I saw you wrote about the “Grant” miniseries premiering May 25 on History in your summer TV preview. Is it based on the Ron Chernow book I happen to be reading now?
— STEVEN VIA VOICEMAIL
Rob: Essentially, yes. Chernow is an executive producer on “Grant” alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, whose Appian Way production company made the program.
Q: Read your article on returning shows and did not see “Younger.” Is it scheduled to come back for the summer?
— MARILYN VIA EMAIL
Rob: Nope. The show had not started filming its new season before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Star Debi Mazar contracted the coronavirus but has since recovered.
Q: My friends and I love “Letterkenny,” a Canadian show on Hulu/ Crave. They were doing live shows in the U.S. this year.
Can they confirm about the 40 episodes they allegedly got back in Season 5? Will there be another 20 episodes or so planned?
— JOHN VIA EMAIL
Rob: Hulu announced in summer 2019 it had acquired “Letterkenny,” and it would be a Hulu Original series. “Letterkenny” premiered its seventh season on Hulu in October followed by season eight on Dec. 27. Hulu confirmed a ninth season will air in 2020. The new season was in post-production when the global pandemic hit.
Q: Will “The Village People” be returning to NBC?
— PHYLLIS VIA EMAIL
Rob: I think Phyllis means 2019’s “The Village” — not the music group The Village People — but the TV show won’t be back. It was canceled last summer.
Q: AMC teamed with ITV to produce “Quiz,” a three-part series about the “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” scandal in the U.K., starring Michael Sheen, Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford. When will it air?
— LINDA VIA EMAIL
Rob: “Quiz” airs at 10 p.m. May 31, June 7 and June 14 on AMC. And it’s really good.