The TV thread

Really really good final episode of the season for Sherlock. They went all-in on character development and non-linear storytelling in this season. It was too fan-servicey and self-indulgent at times, but the more I think about the season as a whole, the more I like it. Even though it's only three episodes a season, it is extremely impressive when you consider that each episode is basically a movie. The showrunners seem to be realizing more and more with each season that that format gives them room to play around with things and I like that they seem to be having fun with it and are willing try out some new things.

 

Do they ever show repeats of those?

 

There are PBS apps for iPad and Roku where you can watch its shows. I'm way behind on Sherlock so I don't know if the latest episodes are up or will be soon.

 

The first six are on Netflix, and the three new ones will air on PBS beginning Sunday.

 

Season 3 premieres this Sunday on PBS. The first two seasons are on Netflix. One note on the PBS versions is that they cut out a few scenes to fit them in to a 90-minute time slot. The first two episodes of season 3 are short enough that they'll probably only have to cut a couple minutes, but will probably have to cut 5-7 minutes from episode three.

 

All of the first six episodes were at least 10 minutes too long, though.

 

Disagree a little. I would say probably about half of them were, but I wouldn't have cut either finale or the first episode of season 2. And really, I wouldn't have cut much from the first season premiere.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/showbiz/tv/the-newsroom-ending-hbo-ew/

That's good news. I'd read that they might not even have the third season.

The final episode of season two felt like a finale and it was a damn good one for a show that was kind of up and down. I hope Sorkin can top it.

 

I watched "Don't Trust Andrew Mayne" last night. I was probably more interested than I should have been. Definite guilty pleasure material...

 

How are you watching this show?

 

Finished watching "The Thick of It" on Hulu. So good. Can't believe Peter Capaldi is the next Dr. Who. I'm guessing there will be fewer f-words.

 

I can think of a few reasons not to go to 13-episode seasons. First off, that would mean the networks would have to come up with twice the amount of shows to fill the schedules. A 13-episode season starting in September is done by the end of the year. Now what do they put on from Jan. to May? Or do they have two "seasons" in a calendar year? That actually means 26 new shows in a year for a series vs. the 22 now. The networks are having enough trouble finding quality shows as it is.

Also, 13-episode seasons mean you have to last eight seasons to reach that magic 100 number for syndication (8 x 13 = 104), which is where the real money is for series producers and creators.