2020 award nominations prove broadcast TV is dead. Here’s why.

One. That’s it.

Between the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, only one broadcast show, “This Is Us,” received a nomination.

Giving the streaming platform growth, this isn’t surprising. Broadcast nominations have been waning for years, but 2020 is proving to be a new low.

Is it worth broadcast shows even trying anymore? They’re fighting an uphill battle against cable and streaming.

Here are issues broadcast networks deal with:

Limits

Comedies have to be 22 min. Dramas are 44 min. Two-hour reality shows have 30 minutes of ads. And there’s no wiggle room. Remember when “Friends” had extended episodes? Not a thing anymore.

Watch any Netflix half-hour series and the times, and you’ll notice all sorts of fluctuation. One episode will run for 34 minutes, 23 minutes, 38 minutes, 26 minutes. The time is based on the story, not the ads.

There’s also the language limit. You can’t swear (unless you work with “The Good Place” forking model). Broadcast networks have to work with certain standards (thanks, FCC), when cable and streaming do not.

Revenue

Ads still run king in media, but subscriptions are providing more and more revenue.

Netflix has hiked its prices steadily over the last few years, and it doesn’t even have ads. Hulu has an ad-free service. I’m waiting for Disney+ to add more/any ads. Apple TV+ doesn’t have ads, but it also doesn’t have that much content yet.

Advertisers follow the money. One screw up and you’re done. In an age when one Tweet can cause an upheaval, for better or worse, it can be a domino effect.

Networks have to rely on ad dollars, which is why when the Roseanne debacle happened it was handled within hours, before more reputation damage could be done.

Creativity

Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes, two network juggernauts, signed Netflix deals in the last year.

Why? Creativity. They can expand their work without any constraints. It’s no-holds-bar in the best kind of way.

Now, do I think Murphy’s “The Politician” is a great piece of TV? No. (In fact, I found all the characters irritating and plot way too overdone.) But, it’s different, and no one can deny that.

After 10+ years of dominating ABC and being the center of TGIT, Rhimes can leave the set plots behind and explore, even past the confines of “Scandal.”

Can you blame them?

Fall TV 2019: ‘Nancy Drew,’ ‘Almost Family’ disappointing

Broadcast TV really isn’t what it used to be.

Here are my quick takes on the lastest new fall TV shows (spoiler, it’s not great):

Kids say the darndest things

8 p.m. Sundays on ABC

You’d think this show would be cute, but it feels stale and even Tiffany Haddish can’t fully save it.

Proceed with caution

Almost family

9 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox

This dramedy seemed heartwarming, but the premise is so disgusting it ruined the potential sweet moments.

Skip it

Batwoman

8 p.m. Sundays on the CW

While the next in the CW superhero show in the lineup is formulaic, the pilot ends on a shocking (to me) twist that could make future episodes enjoyable.

Proceed with caution

Nancy Drew

9 p.m. Wednesdays on the CW

This show, based on the book series, is basically “Riverdale” but with a true mystery focus…and bad acting.

Skip it

Let’s hope the cable/streaming new shows are better (I’ll be checking out “The Politician” soon)

Fall TV 2019: ‘Unicorn,’ ‘Stumptown’ worth a watch

No one has time to watch all the new fall TV shows, so I’ll help you out.

Course, many of them weren’t worth watching.

Here are my quick takes.

Bob ❤️ ️Abishola

8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS

The only part of this show that doesn’t feel outdated is the emoji in the title.

Skip

Prodigal Son

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

“White Collar” meets “CSI” with a father/son version of “Bates Motel.”

Proceed with caution

All Rise

9 a.m. Mondays on CBS

It’s “Drop Dead Diva” without the soap-opera feel but with commentary on race and women in the workplace.

Proceed with caution

Bluff City Law

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

I would’ve rather wasted another half-hour on this father-daughter courtroom melodrama as part of a TBS Saturday movie marathon than watch an entire series.

Skip

mixed-ish

9 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

This overdone spinoff basically mimics “black-ish” with B-list white actors (looking at you, Gary Cole).

Skip

Emergence

10 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

While this sci-fi, crime and mystery show had a lot of hype around it, it would’ve been better as a limited series.

Skip

Stumptown

10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC

Clearly ABC wants this graphic novel-based show to succeed (its music budget alone must be huge with all the 80s hits), and it’s nice to see a woman leading the chase.

Try

The Unicorn

8:30 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

I’m not the right audience for this, but this new-phase-of-life comedy seems to have some heart.

Try

Perfect Harmony

8:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

A Simon Cowell type gets a glee club filled with so many archetypes you won’t care about many of them.

Proceed with caution

Carol’s Second Act

9:30 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

“Scrubs” meets the movie “Second Act” with a lot of stars you’ll recognize.

Skip

Sunnyside

9:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

This political comedy is supposed to be about immigration and citizenship, but it has nothing new to say, especially with its cast of caricatures.

Skip

Evil

10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

The creators of “The Good Wife” thought they’d take a stab at religion, and all we got is a courtroom drama with a heavy dose of “The Exorcist.”

Skip

Bless the Harts

8:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox

Animation Domination gets another flop in this “The King of Queens” meets “The Simpsons” comedy.

Skip

Which shows have you watched?

Emmy Awards 2019: How ending shows fared during the boring telecast

Let’s be real, here, last night’s Emmys weren’t good.

The show took a risk with no host a la the 2019 Oscars. And while that worked at the Oscars, it bombed here.

I was so bored during the broadcast that I looked up the venue that my friend’s cover band is performing at this weekend, not that it really mattered, and bridesmaid dresses for my friend while texting her about the show’s lack of excitement.

Yes, there were upsets (hello, hi and hey to Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Yes, there were some funny moments (Bill Hader calling limited series canceled TV shows comes to mind). But overall, the cadence lagged and it wasn’t entertaining.

And seriously, who thought it was OK to make jokes about Roseanne and Bill Cosby? Yes, it was done in the vein of “Family Guy,” which isn’t PC per se, but still, too soon.

But since we said goodbye (assuming no reboots, which, let be real, is totally possible given our TV culture these days) to a few shows, let’s see how they fared.

GAMES OF THRONES

Number of nominations: 32

Number of wins: 12

As I predicted, the HBO drama won many creative Emmys, with only two during the telecast.

But it did win Best Drama, which I, again, stand by the idea that it’s more about the show as a whole, not the last season.

FLEABAG

Number of nominations: 11

Number of wins: 6

More than 50 percent of this Amazon show’s nominations pulled through for a win, which no one saw coming but many seemed happy for.

Waller-Bridge is still saying there will not be another season, but we’ll see with all the buzz since last night’s upsets.

VEEP

Number of nominations: 9

Number of wins: 0

This was the upset of the night. Everyone expected Julia Louis-Dreyfus to win since she has comedy prowess and personal triumph.

But “Fleabag” took the two seemingly guaranteed awards for “Veep.” It’s a bit sad for Louis-Dreyfus, but she has won other times (this is the first time she’s lost in this role).

SCHITT’S CREEK

Number of nominations: 4

Number of wins: 0

For this show, it was simply an honor to be nominated.

HOUSE OF CARDS

Number of nominations: 3

Number of wins: 0

As I mentioned before, most people forgot about this show.

And with all the scandal, it’s no surprise voters stayed away from the Netflix drama.

What did you think of the 2019 Emmys?

Summer TV 2019: Watch, Try or Skip

Summer season is for being outside, not inside.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t try or catch up on some TV shows.

Here are my quick takes:

Holey Moley

I tried this clearly made for summer TV show, but it was about as dumb as I thought it would be.

It’s “Wipeout” meets putt-putt with appearances by Kenny G and Stephen Curry in the pilot.

It’s mind-numbing entertainment that at least kind of pokes fun at itself, but that’s about it.

Skip it

Younger

I’ve heard good things about this TV Land show, and it lived up to the hype.

Hilary Duff gracefully stepped into a more adult role, and Sutton Foster rocks as a 40-year-old moonlighting as a 26-year-old. I wish they’d sing more, but it would be pushing the realism, which it’s already doing.

Is it a far-fetched concept? Yes, but at least it’s funny and the characters are charismatic. I watched the first five seasons within two weeks and I’m already ready for season six to come out on Hulu.

Watch it

Dead to Me

Why the Emmys are calling this a comedy is beyond me, though from what I’ve heard it’s solely because it’s a half-hour show. What a rule.

I figured out the maybe not-so-obvious twist by episode 2, so it wasn’t quite the nailbiter I wanted it to be. It was hard to root for most of the characters, but I did root for the friendship between Christina Applegate’s Jen and Linda Cardellini’s Judy.

Try it

Nailed It

I started watching this last summer, but recently fully caught up.

This Netflix show can’t survive much longer, because it’s so obvious the contestants are set up to fail. The times are too short, the designs are too intricate and the directions are vague at best.

But watching three people epically crash and burn in 25 minutes is pretty laugh-out-funny.

Watch it (with friends and alcohol if you can)

UnREAL

I hope this parody of “The Bachelor” is more parody than real, because if it’s more real than parody, yikes!

Without spoilers, the drama, created by an ex-Bachelor producer, contains so many crazy twists and turns that every character is terrible in one way or another.

Season 4 was a Hulu exclusive, and it was so incongrous with the rest of the show I wouldn’t recommend watching it. But if you’re a Bachelor fan, I’d recommend it since it is similar to hate-watching the reality show.

Try it

What shows are you watching this summer?

Let’s talk about sex…and faith on ‘The Bachelorette’

“So let’s talk about sex.” The words that ruined a relationship, and opened up a heated conversation.

Who would’ve thought “The Bachelorette” was the show that could ignite all this?

But first, let’s back up. Hannah B. is this season’s “The Bachelorette,” the 15th season of the ABC reality dating competition.

She wasn’t what most people expected. The ex-beauty queen was more known for not talking in complete sentences than her sweetness.

She’s proven she’s a grown-ass woman with a voice of conviction, but I’m not sure anyone could’ve predicted what happened.

Viewers are always told, “It’s the most dramatic season yet.” It’s a little bit like the boy who cried wolf this far into the franchise’s tenure. This time, it was kind of true.

We were told the villain of the season was a new type. He came in the form of Luke P.

How was he a villain? Let’s allow his words to paint to a picture:

Luke S. wanted me to come here and tell you I think he’s here for the right reasons.
You are not going to mess this up!
I can understand a slip up, but with all of them?
Can I just cut you off for a second?

You get the idea.

Obviously, we can all agree that the show’s producers push people to extremes and that everything is highly edited. However, what Luke P. said on this show highlighted some horrible double standards, and brought faith into the conversation like never before.

Luke P. and Hannah B. say they are Christians. Before the season aired, they had Bible verses as part of their Instagram bios. Not that that means anything, per se, but just painting a picture.

Hannah would casually mention wanting to marry a man of faith, but she’s been the first Bachelorette to talk about it on a regular basis, in part because of Luke P.

His cross necklace was visible most of the time. His hometown visit featured a Bible study. He (almost) always claimed he loved Hannah, even saying in episode 2 that he was already falling for her, and said God had brought them together.

On the other side, Luke P. was unliked by all in the house for what was portrayed as manic emotions and lashing-out behavior. Boy, did Hannah get duped.

Cut to fantasy suite week, where yes, many contestants have sex. But not all, especially since it’s the only time they’re away from cameras.

Luke P.’s fantasy suite was aired last, but it’s unclear whether it was actually last or just shown that way.

And that’s when “let’s talk about sex” came in.

Yes, in the Christian faith, it is expected that you wait to be intimate until marriage. But just like many people eat shellfish or swear, not every Christian waits.

And viewers knew Hannah wasn’t a virgin, as she openly talked about sex when she competed on the Bachelor last season. So for Luke to be judgemental about this, after saying he fell in love with Hannah while watching her on TV, doesn’t make sense.

To top it off, he wasn’t a virgin either. So why is it that his come-to-Jesus moment (in the shower, by the way) made his lack of virginity OK and hers not?

Bachelorettes have been slut-shamed before (ex: Kaitlyn Bristowe), but Hannah’s Christian faith brought in another level.

Should we judge Christians at a higher standard? Some say yes, because they choose that faith moniker.

But faith is also about grace. Which Hannah personified in her “Jesus still loves me” catchphrase.

Admittedly, it’s frustrated to see Hannah get slut-shamed just because she also identifies as a Christian. The faith has taken enough hits in today’s society for many reasons, but this, to me, crosses a line.

Women can have sexual desire. It’s part of life. And Hannah was OK with having her desires shown on TV, which is refreshing.

When Hannah got angry at the contestants for fighting and not being honest, it’s because she wanted something real.

She gave grace to Luke P. time and time again, even when his actions weren’t admirable, and to Jed on tonight’s finale after he apologized for his lack of honesty about his past relationships.

Yes, she’s not perfect, a fact she willingly admits. But she wanted to find love, and boy did she try, pushing to have tough conversations even when she struggled to find “clarity.”

What I give producers credit for is at least having these conversations on camera.

My co-workers and I have had long, in-depth conversations about Luke and Hannah. We didn’t always agree, but in general, we believed:

Luke’s backpedaling was childish.
Luke showed no forgiveness nor learning from his time on the show.
Hannah speaks her mind.
The whole situation was overdone and irritating.

Now, Hannah…she is the Bachelorette. You know she’s going to date, kiss and possibly sleep with multiple guys. And that’s 100% her choice. It’s not just the nature of the show, it’s being a human.

Even as a person of faith, she can make her own decisions. How she works through her faith is HER CHOICE and HER PROCESS. And I appreciate how open she is about her process, struggles and all.

Now does it stink that the one confirmed person she slept with got eliminated after fantasy suites? Yes, because it doesn’t paint the best picture. But it’s still HER CHOICE. And she’s owning up to her decisions, which is more than most can say.

So let’s keep talking about sex. Because we all need grace … and Jesus still loves us.

It’s the last hurrah for some at the 2019 Emmys

The Emmy nominations are here, and it’s time to say goodbye (officially) to so many shows.

Now the question is: Will the awards love continue with wins?

In a word: doubtful.

Let’s look at some of these shows and see what their chances could be.

Games of Thrones

Number of nominations: 32

The fantasy saga has concluded, while the books’ future is TBD.

But this final season was uneven at best, with critics and fans less than happy with the outcome. If it wins for Best Drama, it will be based on the series as a whole, not these last 6 episodes.

For its more technical award nominations, it’s more likely the show will win, especially considering how tough it was to shoot the long episodes.

The Emmys were nice and nominated many of the cast members. Unfortunately, the cast is too big for the number of acting categories.

With the supporting categories half-filled with GoT actors, it’ll split the vote and leave them all empty-handed. Congrats on the pity nominations.

Fleabag

Number of nominations: 11

This little hit snuck its way in, much to critics’ happiness.

With only two short seasons, it’s a quick watch, but the characters reel you in. (There are currently no plans for a third season.).

I don’t know if it has enough traction or presence to win best comedy, but an actress win for Phoebe Waller-Bridge would be the Emmys version of Olivia Coleman winning at the Oscars.

Veep

Number of nominations: 9

This is the rally cry comedy needs.

Veep wasn’t in Emmy contention last year since it was off the air while Julie Louis-Dreyfus took care of her health after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

But it came back strong for its final episodes, even if it didn’t get the buzz GoT did. (It also didn’t get the criticism GoT did, so there’s that.)

The lead actress category is a tough one, but with this well-recieved, multiple-Emmy-winning comedy ending, voters could be inclined to reward it one last time, especially for the beloved actress who conquered cancer.

Schitt’s Creek

Number of nominations: 4

It’s the little engine that could. Or this show is finally paddling with the creek’s current and with a paddle.

While this isn’t a Netflix show, Netflix certainly helped this Canadian comedy get some traction.

And now that the creator Dan Levy has announced the show will end with season six, it seemed to time to finally honor the quirky cult show.

Will it win? Probably not, but like they say, it’s an honor to be nominated.

House of Cards

Number of nominations: 3

Did anyone remember this show aired?

Crowded in controversy after Kevin Spacey’s dismissal, the show’s final season quietly premiered on Netflix.

And then no one cared.

Robin Wright could sneek in a win just for making it through the last season with grace, but that seems unlikely.

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 on Fox.

2019 Golden Globes: Let’s enjoy the fun moments

It’s about time we made an awards show fun again.

Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh hosted the Golden Globes on Sunday, and it was an enjoyable, well-paced night.

Here are my top 3 reasons why the night made me smile.

Family thanks

How sweet was it to see all the thanks to families? And not just the typical thanks, but genuine moments.

Sandra Oh’s dad giving her a standing ovation when she won for “Killing Eve.” How cute was he? He clearly adores his daughter.

Darren Criss thanked his mom while reminding the audience how America is made up of immigrants…after he fan-boyed a bit.

And Mahershala Ali thanked all the women in his life. He knows who helped him grow up.

Those priceless reactions

Two of these belong to Rachel Brosnahan. When she won for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” for the second year in a row, the music started and she sweetly started trying to wrap it up while pointing out the music was playing.

Then, when she was leaving the stage, she almost went the wrong way, so when she was directing to exit the correct side, she awkwardly hopped off the stage.

The last funny reaction belongs to Gina Rodriguez of “Jane the Virgin.” When Dick Van Dyke came out on stageto help introduce a clip for “Mary Poppins Returns,” everyone gave a standing ovation, but the kid-like glow in Rodriguez’s eyes was priceless. Clearly she looks up to him.

Bringing a youthful exuberance

Jeff Bridges won the Cecil B. DeMille award this year, and he used his time to semi-tearfully thank his family, colleagues and friends.

But he ended by bringing about a point, as many do in speeches.

As he encouraged people to get out and do something in the world, he said “tag, you’re it” to the audience, pushing them to take that next step.

It made the moment not heavy-headed, but joyful.

What were your favorite moments of the Golden Globes?

Fall TV 2018 Round 2: Skip it, watch it or give it another chance

I can’t believe I’m bored with new TV.

The new crop of shows is mediocre at best.

Here’s my short take on the latest new shows:

(Note: I didn’t include reboots or remakes since those feel like their own category.)

“The Neighborhood“

8 p.m. Mondays on CBS

Verdict: Give it a chance

This comedy has the potential to become a show that has laughs and good lessons about race and relationships. If not, it’s just a show where Schmidt (Max Greenfield, playing a dad whose family moves to a black neighborhood) smiles way too much.

“Happy Together“

8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS

Verdict: Give it a chance

While the premise is completely ridiculous (a celebrity moves in with his accountant and his wife), this comedy has some laughs, especially with the cast’s physical comedy.

“All American“

9 p.m. Wednesdays on the CW

Verdict: Skip it

This drama is “Friday Night Lights” meets “The Blind Side” meets a soap opera (the pilot’s cliffhanger ending was so obvious). Also, pretty sure the main character wouldn’t be able to afford Beats by Dre headphones, but OK…

“The Alec Baldwin Show“

10 p.m. Sundays on ABC

Verdict: Skip it

If you think “Inside the Actors Studio” is dry, stuffy and impersonal, run away very quickly from this talk show. The format is stale, there’s no audience for feedback, and Alec Baldwin acts like he’s interviewing his guests for a job interview, not a talk show.

“The Kids Are Alright“

8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

Verdict: Skip it

This 70s-set show doesn’t make Catholics look great. The semi-happy conclusion happened too fast. I have no idea what compelled someone to produce this show.

“The Rookie“

10 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

Verdict: Watch it

Yes, this may be a procedural, but it has heart. The pilot smartly showcased a snippet of every character to develop them in an interesting way without feeling overly expository.

What shows are you enjoying?

Fall TV 2018: Skip it, watch it or give it another chance

I’d say fall TV season is like Christmas for TV enthusiasts, but these shows aren’t that great, so if it does feel like Christmas, it’s disappointing.

Many new broadcast shows have premiered this month, so here’s my short take on each:

(Note: I didn’t include reboots or remakes since those feel like their own category.)

“Rel“

9:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox

Verdict: Skip it

This show feels like a 90s sitcom, and not in a good way. Plus, its identity seems conflicted between the newly single dad main character’s friends and his children, who were unseen in the pilot.

“I Feel Bad“

9:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

Verdict: Give it another chance

While the workplace setting of this Amy-Poehler-produced sitcom is embarrassingly bad, the show has a funny, honest take on being a woman and wife in a time when we’re supposed to have everything at our disposal. It could develop into something funny.

“Manifest“

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

Verdict: Watch it

What could have been a cheesy take on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is actually a poignant look at family, relationships, grief and faith.

“FBI“

9 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS

Verdict: Skip it

Nothing is compelling about this procedural from producer Dick Wolf. While the pilot case was timely, the outcome was predictable.

“New Amsterdam“

10 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

Verdict: Skip it

This drama, unfortunately, feels like it has a white-savior complex that’ll just make you roll your eyes through all the disjointed storylines. And if I heard Ryan Eggold’s hospital director character say “How can I help you?” one more time during the pilot, I might have thrown something at the TV.

“Single Parents“

9:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC

Verdict: Skip it

This poorly conceived show filled with stereotypes gives the stars (including Leighton Meester, Brad Garrett and Taran Killam) nothing to work with, except for one scene featuring a “Moana” song. Don’t waste your time.

“A Million Little Things“

10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC

Verdict: Skip it

ABC’s answer to “This is Us” misses the mark with unlikable characters stuck in a sad story without any uplifting spirit.

“God Friended Me“

Sundays on CBS

Verdict: Give it a chance

It’s too bad Violett Beane picked this show over playing Jesse Quick on “The Flash,” because her earnestness is the only thing that carries this cheesy show that would’ve been better executed as a movie.

“The Cool Kids“

8:30 p.m. Fridays on Fox

Verdict: Skip it

Nothing is cool about this retirement-home-set show, especially with it’s anti-female and homophobic jokes.