Syfy’s ‘12 Monkeys’ taking advantage of binge viewing
Q. Syfy just had all 10 episodes in the 2017 season of “12 Monkeys” over a threeday weekend instead of weekly.
Do you know why it was shown this way?
A. The network tried to take advantage of the appetite for binge viewing, in which an entire season of a show is released at once and fans can devour as much or as little as they want at one time.
(The 10 episodes are also on Syfy.com and available on demand.)
Executive producer Terry Matalas told TVLine.com that “this is how people like to consume this show. More and more, people just want to get it all at once, and this is a story (where) it’s great to have all the puzzle pieces fresh in your mind as you move on to the next episode.”
Q. I heard that ABC is dropping “Last Man Standing.” Tell me it is not true. I do love the show.
A. The network has indeed dropped the Tim Allen sitcom after six successful seasons, with Allen tweeting that he was “stunned and blindsided” by the decision.
ABC was criticized about the cancellation, especially by people who believed Allen’s outspoken conservatism was the reason for its demise.
Allen’s politics were known long before this and had not kept the show from running longer than most.
But he brought more attention to the issue when he compared liberal Hollywood to 1930s Germany because “you get beat up if you don’t believe what everybody else believes.” Still, ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey pointed to other reasons for the show’s end, such as ABC deciding not to program comedies on Friday night (where the network also dropped “Dr. Ken”) and the ownership of “Last Man Standing.” As the Washington Post noted, “‘Last Man Standing’ is also produced by outside studio 20th Century Fox TV, and not ABC Studios, which means there’s less potential financial reward for ABC’s parent company, Disney.”
Q. I don’t understand why “Chicago Justice” was canceled. I believe the problem was putting it on Sunday evening and not during the week like the companion shows.
Why did they not try changing the day and time before canceling?
I liked the show and actors and it would have fit well on, say, Thursday evening.
A. I had hopes for “Justice,” but found it a wan addition to NBC’s “Chicago” shows “Fire,” “Med” and “P.D.,” all renewed for next season.
It was also meant to be a successor to “Law & Order” (which like the “Chicago” shows came from producer Dick Wolf), but it never quite got a tone that matched either that or the “Chicago” shows. The ratings were only so-so — the lowest for any “Chicago” branded series.
As for the time slot issue, NBC did try “Justice” in different times, including with the hit “This Is Us” as a lead-in, although that may have just caused viewer confusion.
In addition, a network schedule can be a difficult puzzle, where you have to figure out your best opportunity in every time slot, and NBC didn’t see that with “Justice” on a weeknight. And it had to put something on Sunday.
Q. I am wondering if you know if the show “Murder in the First” on TNT will be returning.
A. It is not. TNT decided to drop it after three seasons.
Q. Is the AMC program “The Tyrant” returning?
A. I think you mean “Tyrant,” which aired on FX. It has ended after three seasons.