I live with a Trekkie. I, on the other hand, am a mild fan.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks, the girlfriend and I find ourselves on the couch watching old episodes of Star Trek, The Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine on Pluto TV.
There are two or maybe three entire channels dedicated to these shows and thousands, it seems, of others based on old sitcoms, movies and the like.
There's even a Bob Ross channel, if you can believe that.
According to Nielsen, the odds are good that your streaming reruns too. Suits, The Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Supernatural, NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, and Heartland were all in the top 10 streaming shows last year. Most of them have been off the air for at least a decade.
In my mind, this says more about the current state of television than it does the past. The current formula of 10 or 11 episode seasons isn't working for the most part.
We've moved into the TV writing as a solitary act phase of history.
This means smaller writing rooms, fewer brains ideating on what could be, and duller TV.
What do you think? And are you watching reruns too?
Tell me in a comment and support my work at jamesbrowntv.substack.com or email me at jamesbrowntv@gmail.com.
You can also leave me a message at 585-484-0339.
On that note, I'm James Brown, and as always, be well.
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