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Predictability is bad for Netflix and HBO, but great for network television

Adriene Hill and Hayley Hershman May 19, 2017
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Reboots of old shows is the theme this upfronts season. Keystone Features/Getty Images

Predictability is bad for Netflix and HBO, but great for network television

Adriene Hill and Hayley Hershman May 19, 2017
Reboots of old shows is the theme this upfronts season. Keystone Features/Getty Images
HTML EMBED:
COPY

It’s upfronts season — that time when television networks showcase their new fall shows for advertisersUnlike Netflix and HBO, networks have to appeal to the broadest audience possible to get the most advertising dollars. This means feel-good, predictable shows are king. This season there are a lot of reboots and spin-offs of old shows. Marketplace’s entertainment correspondent Adriene Hill ran us through the latest line up of fall television. 

Some re-booted shows include “Roseanne,”  “American Idol” and a “Big Bang Theory” spin-off called “Young Sheldon.” Plus, a revival of “Will & Grace”:

There are also some new, family-friendly shows coming this Fall. One that might interest public radio fans is a Zach Braff sitcom called “Alex, Inc.,” which is based off of Gimlet’s Alex Blumberg’s journey in creating the podcast “Startup” and subsequent podcast network:

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Alex Blumberg’s name.

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