MIKE ON TV: How the Coronavirus Pandemic is Impacting Summer and Fall TV

I was on Canada's CTV Newschannel last Friday to discuss how the production shutdown is impacting summer and fall TV schedules... and the short answer is, no one still quite knows when or how TV shows will return. Watch above.

Right now the industry is still in a bit of a holding pattern, especially given the spark in COVID cases. Several of the networks have announced fall schedules that feel like optimistic pipe dreams, as production really needs to be underway by August. Networks like Fox and The CW have stockpiled already-produced content, including international shows, to bide their time in the fall before (hopefully) having new episodes of their shows ready in January. The streamers are in better shape, obviously, since they have more content in the can, but even that will run out at some point. Talk shows have continued from home, and are slowly becoming more elaborate -- with some looking at ways to move back to a studio without audience (like "Conan"). Then there's still the question of the Emmys, which take place on Sept. 20, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and what that might look like.

As for those of us covering television, it's perhaps never been busier. The business has been impacted by COVID in so many different ways that it's hard to keep up with all the angles. The national conversation about systemic racism in the country and its impact on popular culture also has many ramifications on the business. Add that to the ongoing business of television -- deals are still happening, shows are still being picked up/renewed/canceled, executives are still being hired and fired... and also, this is the year that multiple streaming services have launched, including HBO Max, Peacock and Quibi, further disrupting an already completely disrupted industry.

Our Neighborhood's Show of Support for Black Lives Matter

Every evening we walk through our neighborhood, and over the past few weeks it's been heartening to see so many signs of support for Black Lives Matter and making the country a better place. Just some of the signs:

Sunday Spin: A Complete List of My Weekly Vinyl Listens

 

 

 

Last year I began chronicling my #sundayspin listens via Instagram... but it soon dawned on my that I had lost track of what I had already posted. To avoid any repeats, here's the list of what I've logged, with much more to come!

2019
June 1, "Labrador" single, Velocity Girl (1994)
June 16, "If You're Feeling Sinister," Belle and Sebastian (1996)
June 23, "Quiet is the New Loud," Kings of Convenience (2001)
August 18, "Lockjaw," Dance Hall Crashers (1995)
August 25, "Some Great Reward," Depeche Mode
September 8, "The Story of The Clash," The Clash (1988)
September 15, "Best of Sade," Sade (1994)
September 29: "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" (maxi-single), Depeche Mode (1987)
October 13: "The Muffs," The Muffs (1993)
October 27: "Copacetic," Velocity Girl (1993)
November 3: "The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death," The Housemartins (1987)
November 10: "Ciao! Best of Lush," Lush (2001)
November 17: "Violator," Depeche Mode (1990)
December 1: "Moon Safari," Air (1998)
December 8: "Give Up," The Postal Service (2003)
December 15: "Substance 1987," New Order (1987)
December 22: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack, Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965)
December 29: "1999," Prince (1982)

2020
January 5: "Solid Gold Hits," Beastie Boys (2005)
January 12: "I Learned the Hard Way," Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (2010)
January 26: "xx," The xx (2009)
February 2: "Unknown Mortal Orchestra," Unknown Mortal Orchestra (2011)
February 9: "Low Life," New Order (1985)
February 16: "This Land," Gary Clark Jr. (2019)
February 23: "Stankonia," Outkast (2000)
March 1: "Violet Street," Local Natives (2019)
March 8: "Rosé," Bran Van 3000 (2007)
March 15: "Good Thing," Leon Bridges (2018)
March 22: "Eponymous," R.E.M. (1988)
March 29: "Dummy," Portishead (1994)
April 5: "Kalapana," Kalapana (1975)
April 12: "Vide Noir," Lord Huron (2018)
April 19: "Love is Dead," Chvrches (2018)
April 28: "Circus," Erasure (1987)
May 10: "Electronic," Electronic (1991)
May 17: "Simpatico," Velocity Girl (1994)
May 24: "Pretty in Pink" soundtrack (1986)
June 14: "American Top 40" (June 1, 1985)
June 21: "The Best of Earth Wind & Fire," Earth Wind & Fire (1978)
June 28: "Around the World in a Day," Prince and the Revolution (1985)
July 5: "Standing on a Beach," The Cure (1986)

Social Distance Road Trip: An Escape to the Beach in Malibu

The hope this year was a return visit to Hawai'i, and we probably would have been heading there this weekend. But then, alas, COVID got in the way. So instead, we drove to Malibu and found a less crowded part of the beach to enjoy the outdoors. The water was cold, alas, so it's definitely not Hawai'i. But the Blogger Kid 2.0 and I still waded in it for quite a while. And both kids (above and below) had fun chasing the waves and making various sand creations.

The big highlight, however, was the dolphins. We saw an entire school of them, and they put on a show for us — leaping out of the water, swimming through waves, going back and forth. Definitely made the $15 parking worth the price of admission. It was hard to capture the dolphins in photos, but you may see a few in the ones below.

HiFi Kitchen Bake Sale Supports the Black Lives Matter Movement

We headed to the HiFi Kitchen in Historic Filipinotown yesterday to grab some baked goodies for a good cause: Proceeds from the treats went to the Black Lives Matter movement. By the time we got there, alas, almost everything was sold out, so alas, no ube dessert for us. We still bought a few donuts. Next time we'll get there early! Below, you'll see Jacks also joined us to show some support.