KCRW's The Spin-Off: The Year in TV, and Debating the Usefulness of TCA Press Tour

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I were joined by Variety's Oriana Schwindt, and we discussed the big TV stories of the year -- plus previewed the upcoming Television Critics Association press tour:

Earlier this month, four out of the five broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox) announced they would not be holding executive panels at January's upcoming Television Critics Association press tour. Fox later backtracked and said they would be there after all. The Spin-off crew discusses the utility of the TCA press tours in the age of Twitter, and whether it matters that outlets like Netflix and Amazon are skipping it all together.

Then, we dive into the sliding ratings of this season of The Walking Dead, as well as other shows that experienced a year-end dip. Finally, a year-end Download where we look ahead to 2017, give a shout-out to some of our favorite holiday episodes from across the decades, and pour one out for the TV moms and dads we lost this year, including Growing Pains' Alan Thicke.

Listen below!

KCRW's The Spin-Off: Comic-Con, TCA and Always Be Marketing (LISTEN!)

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I were joined by TV Guide Magazine's Marisa Roffman, and we talked about the just-finished Comic-Con and the upcoming Television Critics Association press tour:

Michael Schneider and Marisa Roffman have been to Comic-Con many times before, but this year managed to elicit some moments of actual emotion and surprise, including when it was announced that it would be the final season for Vampire Diaries, and when we learned Rihanna would be cast in a crucial role for the final season of Bates Motel.

Compared to last year, Roffman says it felt like there was more news to actually announce, but scheduling issues still prove problematic for the ever-growing fest.

In terms of what's coming up at the Television Critics Association, there are high hopes for HBO's Westworld, but over at the broadcast networks, the fall pilots have not inspired much confidence.

And Joe Adalian breaks down a recent article he wrote about how TV marketers are having to be more creative and more relentless when promoting their shows, due to the continuing evolution of the way people watch television.

Plus, summer TV! What's working? Game shows. What's not? Everything else.

Listen below!

KCRW's The Spin-Off: Recapping the TV Critics Association Press Tour, and Looking Ahead at 2016

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I chat with Diane Gordon about TCA and what to expect in 2016 inside the TV biz:

At this winter's TCA gathering , there's been talk on perennial topics like diversity and women in front of and behind the camera. But there's also been a focus on how people watch television and how those methods are rapidly evolving.

One surprising moment came during NBC's presentation when they revealed numbers from some of Netflix's biggest shows.

The stats showed that millions of people are watching these shows, but some were confused when NBC focused on the 18-49 demo, when Netflix doesn't even deal with demos because they have no ads.

We also talk about what can be learned from the Netflix sensation Making a Murderer. The docu-series shows that content doesn't have to be overproduced and that people actually are patient enough to watch a long, thought-provoking story if it's well told.

Listen below!

KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: Press Tour Roundup, and Is There Really Too Much TV? (LISTEN NOW!)

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I are joined by The Surf Report's Diane Gordon:

The TCA press tour used to look a lot different, with the broadcast networks spending three days each promoting virtually everything on their schedules. But as the broadcast networks pull back, the number of networks have grown, and especially as more digital players have gotten into the game, the schedule has ballooned to accommodate everyone. We do our best to break it all down and give you the most pertinent points from this year's gathering.

Remember the good ol' days of 2013? That's when a little show called House of Cards premiered on Netflix.

And now, just two years later, Netflix is looking at 36 original shows. Netflix was actually one of the first presentations at TCA this year, and Ted Sarandos -- a name not very many people knew not very long ago -- emphasized just how much the company is in it to win it. They've got A-list talent and production budgets to make buzz-worthy and critically acclaimed shows.

Other digital outlets like Hulu and Amazon made presentations as well, and everyone is stepping up their original content game.

If it seems like there's officially "too much TV," you're not alone in your thinking. During FX's day on the stage, John Landgraf, the head of the network, gave a talk that resonated with a lot of people. He pointed out the the current TV glut is not sustainable. In the future there has to be some kind of slowing in the rate of increase of new shows.

Listen below!

MIKE ON RADIO: Previewing Fall TV on KROQ's Kevin & Bean

I joined Kevin and Bean back at the KROQ studios on Friday to recap the TV Critics Association press tour and talk all things fall TV. We chatted about the good ("Fargo" season 2!) and the not-so-good (um, "Boom"). I also got to meet new sidekick Allie McKay. Listen below!

KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: January 2015 Edition (Listen Now!)

It's the January edition of our monthly TV podcast on KCRW, The Spin-Off! This month, Joe and I are joined by THR's Lacey Rose, and we recorded it all together in a hotel room at Pasadena's Langham Huntington Hotel! Here's what we discuss:

Coming to you from the home of the winter TCA gathering, we take a look at big news out of the conference so far. Last year at this time, ABC looked like they might be in trouble, but their investment in diversity on their shows has really paid off. And cable network AMC has a big year ahead as they say goodbye to Mad Men, and hello to Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul.

We also take a minute to reflect on this year's Golden Globes winners in the TV categories. Amazon's Transparent and Showtime's The Affair both had big nights, while HBO's True Detective got totally snubbed, to the surprise of many. And newcomer Gina Rodriguez was recognized for her role in the CW's Jane the Virgin. Do the results actually say anything about the direction the industry is heading, or are all bets off when it comes to the Globes?

Then we zero in on one network that's seen a lot of change over the past year. Fox has new leadership and their vision for the network is starting to become clear. The network is off to a strong start in 2015 with their hip-hop soap opera Empire.

Finally we go around the horn for our Download segment and share the stories or shows that are top of mind this month.

Listen by clicking below!

MIKE ON KCRW: Golden Globes and the TV Critics Press Tour

Another busy week at KCRW. On this Monday's edition of The Business, Kim Masters and I bantered about several topics including:

- The Golden Globes are a few days away. What used to be a smaller awards show has become a must-attend affair.
- The Television Critics Association holds its semi-annual gathering. The big topic so far: what to do about cord cutters.
- Just a few weeks ago, Sony was on the brink of disaster and the jobs of the studio's top executives seriously at risk. But as of right now, it looks like Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton will be able to hang on to their positions.

Listen by clicking below:



Or here:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked all about the Television Critics Association press tour, happening now in Pasadena:

Twice a year the Television Critics Association gathers to hear presentations from network heads and showrunners of upcoming programs. This winter's gathering is just getting started, but so far the big topic is the continued unbundling of cable and the ever increasing options for over the top streaming services, which networks are hoping appeal to millennials who aren't interested in a cable subscription. HBO and CBS announced standalone streaming services last year, and this week, Dish Network announced a $20 a month streaming service called Sling TV. The big difference with Sling is that their over the top bundle will include ESPN, the sports network frequently cited as the reason for hanging on to cable.

Listen below:





On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, I called in from the TCA to talk more about the press tour, plus the Golden Globes:

Last night’s Golden Globes ceremony is getting so-so reviews today. Many people say they were more staid, a.k.a. boring, than usual. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who were showered with praise for their previous hosting stints, weren’t on the stage as much this time around. We hash out the highlights and lowlights, and preview what the networks are cooking up this year in our weekly TV segment.

Listen below: