Tag Archives: Longmire

Dec 14 2014

The Best & Worst of 2014! People Mags December 22 Issue

People Magazines Best & Worst of 2014 Dec. 22 Cover

People Magazines Best & Worst of 2014 Dec. 22 Cover

When this issue hits our mailbox at work, I always make sure to read it cover-to-cover. Most of the other People Magazines that arrive in the mail I just page through, but the Best & Worst is always interesting and since I don’t pay for the subscription, that’s even better.

This year-end issue they usually forecast who will be HOT in the coming year and they didn’t disappoint … They mention Kathy Griffith taking over for the late Joan Rivers on Fashion Police. I never watched that show, so I could give a rat’s ass who takes over. Up and comers versus backstabbers is the daughters of Melanie Griffin and Don Johnson, Dakota Johnson, who we’ll be seeing in the adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey. That girl has strong acting genes on both sides of the bloodline.

Katy Perry will be headlining the half time show at the Super Bowl in 2015 (Feb. 1), which is just a week before the Grammys (Feb. 8). I wonder if Taylor Swift feels snubbed.

On page 50 they list the Top 10 “Your Faves” Pop Culture’s Most Wanted, Streamed, Watched and Read of 2014. Under Prime-Time Cable, #8 was… yep, you guessed it … Longmire. The show A&E dumped and the show Netflix has now picked up and put into filming for Season 4. That was the only A&E show listed. The Walking Dead was #1 (of course) followed by Game of Thrones (HBO); American Horror Story (FX); Sons of Anarchy (FX); Rizzoli & Isles (TNT); Major Crimes (TNT); The Last Ship (TNT); Longmire (A&E); True Blood (HBO); The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo).

Movies, Most Streamed Songs on Spotify, Kindle Bestsellers, Increase in Twitter Followers, and some other social media garbage is also listed.

I also use this issue to see if I missed anyone in my 2014 list of obituaries. People, of course lists the really big celebrities who died, but they also included some of the lesser known celebrities.

I’ll be putting up my list starting on Friday, December 19.

 

 

Nov 27 2014

‘Longmire’ Renewed On Netflix For Season 4

‘Longmire’ Renewed On Netflix For Season 4; Deadly Season 3 Cliffhanger To Be Resolved.

Yes, it’s official, Netflix has saved Longmire, just like they saved other shows like Arrested Development and The Killing. Why … because Netflix could give a rat’s ass about advertising dollars like A&E and other networks.

In case you need a refresher, Longmire was The most watched “original scripted show on A&E” with an average of 5.6 million viewers. A&E felt that those 5.6 million viewers were more of the over 50 crowd, which wasn’t what they were looking for.

They wanted more viewers in the 18-49 age bracket, hence, Longmire wasn’t renewed for a fourth season.

The good news, the entire cast is returning … but what about the Season 3 cliff hanger? Apparently Season 4 will pick up right where Season 3 ended. So maybe the entire cast may not be returning. I guess you will just have to wait and see.

Right now, Netflix says March is the month new episodes of Longmire will begin to stream.

 

Oct 21 2014

The Posse Rides Again – @LongmirePosse

This morning I received a tweet from the @LongmirePosse with a link to sign a petition: longmire.epetitions.net (you should copy the link and paste it into a new browser window if you want to sign the petition).

I of course, quickly went there to sign the petition because I, of course, have been and will continue to be a big fan of both the series and the books (written by Craig Johnson).

I myself have been a little vocal about A&E stomping all over the specific demographic that I myself are located in (55+). It’s no secret that A&E wants to distance themselves from the baby boomers even though Nielsen, AARP and several others continue to release tons of data that, in a nutshell, state that the (Nielson) 50-plus market that many advertisers ignore (or insult) is not big: IT IS ENORMOUS.

The AARP October, 2014 Bulletin

The AARP October, 2014 Bulletin

David Wallis wrote a great article that’s published in the newest AARP Bulletin entitled “Selling Us Short.” The deck of the article says: People 50+ have bucks, but advertisers don’t seem to care.

In this article he talks about advertisers that are either ignoring us, or insulting us. Take Esurance as an example and that extremely idiotic commercial starring Beatrice who tapes her recent vacation pictures to her “wall” and unfriends her friend (literally) or the woman who plays candy crush with actual candy using a hammer on her dining room table (3-in-a-row, level 2).

I’m not into rolling my eyes at stupid, insulting commercials. I just hit the 30-second fast-forward button on my DirecTV DVR remote and zap it into outer space.

No thanks Esurance, I’ll stick with my cute gecko telling jokes on the ferry.

Signing the petition isn’t just registering your vote to get a quality show like Longmire back on television. It’s also exercising your right as a 55+ demographic that many networks don’t take seriously.

The same Nielsen study found that the 50-plus market many advertisers ignore (or insult) will control 70% of the country’s disposable income by 2017. Nearly 60% of homeowners over 65 are no longer weighed down by a mortgage compared with just 11% of 35-44 year olds. Baby boomers account for 80% of America’s luxury travel spending.

And here’s a fact for Esurance – consumers over 50 buy nearly five times as many new cars (which require insurance) than does that prized 18-34 demographic.

Now armed with those facts and figures, mosey on over to that petition signing site and exercise your rights. And if you have insurance with Esurance, and you’re a baby boomer, consider cancelling and going with someone who doesn’t insult your intelligence with stupid commercials.

Amen to that! Long Live Longmire!

 

Oct 4 2014

Dead Again – Winner … Joe Schillaci – Alive & Kicking

I admit, I have been more than pissed at A&E for dumping Longmire and insulting my intelligence with Love Prison. I mean I watch and write about TV for a living. I understand demograpics. I’m in the demographic range that they no longer want anything to do with.

But how many 18-49 year olds do you know are buying expensive cars and saving for retirement? I’m quite sure Longmire will land on it’s feet where it will be more than appreciated and bring its 5.7 million fans* with it.

But there are shows on A&E that I’ve been watching since Day 1. The First 48 is one of those. From Miami to Memphis to Birmingham to New Orleans to Dallas and Harris County, I’ve seen them all. I own both “Best of the First 48” DVDs. I’ve laughed and I’ve cried. I’m a very loyal fan and I bet the demographic category I fall in is too.

Joe Schillaci has always been one of my favorites. He openly admitted one morning when having breakfast with two colleagues that he was metrosexual. When I discovered he was taking part in a Dick Wolf crime show called “Dead Again” I was really excited.

Executive Producer Dick Wolf has gone from showing us some of the fictionalized dramas of America’s real cases in Law & Order to Cold Justice on TNT (I’m a fan) and now to A&E with Dead Again.

Joe Schillaci, Kevin Gannon, Michele Wood - the team of Dead Again. © AETV.

Joe Schillaci, Kevin Gannon, Michele Wood – the team of Dead Again. © AETV.

Wolf has assembed a team of experts: Joe Schillaci (Retired Deputy Commander, Miami), a 30 year veteran with a background in homicide and undercover work and a fan-favorite from The First 48; Kevin Gannon (Retired Detective Sergeant, NYC); and Michele Wood (Homicide Detective, Chicago, 13 year veteran).

The 60-minute series uses these experts in their field to re-examine controversial murder cases in which serious unresolved questions still linger long after the verdict was determined.

The episodic premiere was Thursday, October 2. I watched it twice. I’m still thinking about it and today is Saturday. The case and how it ended is haunting me.

Like The First 48, the eight cases Schillaci and the team re-investigate will not be resolved when the 60-minutes is up. The first episode of Dead Again ended so abruptly, with no known resolution, that I believe that’s why it’s still effecting me.

But I guess you can’t watch year after year of true crime murder cases and not have it effect you. But what really marvels me is the difference between Cold Justice and Dead Again.

Cold Justice reopens unsolved murder cases with the consent of local law enforcement and has a go at re-examining the evidence in an attempt to solve the murder.

The premise behind Dead Again is totally fascinating when you seriously think about.

* Longmire fans 5.7 million viewers when DVR views get added in over 7 days. Multichannel News (8/28/14) Updated

Sep 19 2014

A&E Greenlights ‘Love Prison’ Reality Series, 3 Others – TheWrap

A&E Greenlights ‘Love Prison’ Reality Series, 3 Others – TheWrap.

Well, fall is here and so are the new shows. I managed to watch two episodes of A&E’s social experiment called “Love Prison” yesterday and was shocked they could find advertisers for that crap.

Reading some of the advanced press online, they stated one out of every three relationships begins online. Really? I did do a little bit of research on my own and unfortunately the state of online dating is not a happy one. There are just as many online dating commercials as there are bladder leakage ones.

Serviss and Siegel, contestants on Love Prison. © AETV.

Serviss and Siegel, contestants on Love Prison. © AETV.

The two episodes I watched were train wrecks … I couldn’t look away. Serviss (42) and Siegel (39) were dating for six months. Siegel is from California; Serviss from Long Island.

The other episode I watched was about Rosie, an LA party girl and Chris, a computer nerd from Iowa. They had been dating online for two years. She was wishy washy and he was way to passive. To give you an example, residents of the Love Prison get one phone call during the week – he called his mother.

All I could think about the entire time I was watching … they dumped Longmire for this … crap. Just to get a better skew in the 18-49 demographic. Yikes!

Rosie and Chris, contestants in Love Prison. © AETV

Rosie and Chris, contestants in Love Prison. © AETV

There is hope, however. Some of the other shows they have planned will appeal to the cerebral part of that demographic.

Dogs of War is about a nonprofit organization that pairs veterans with PTSD with adopted dogs who help the veterans transition back into regular life.

Mark Wahlberg (yes of “The Wahlburgers”) is executive producing a show for A&E entitled Big Brew Theory that follows four quirky MIT grads as they pursue their dream of opening a home-grown micro brewery. I bet their parents are proud.

The “Godfather of Pittsburgh” takes a fascinating look at a truly original character who finds it hard to walk the ‘straight and narrow’ and still succeed in business. (That’s their write-up, not mine.)

Other shows in the works include 8 Minutes (working title) which really sounds promising, The Unproduceables, which sounds hysterical and the new show by executive producer Dick Wolf, Dead Again that has a premiere date of Thursday, Oct. 2 at 9pm CT.

I’m covering Dead Again in another post.

Many say that the unscripted “reality” show came out of the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike when all 12,000 screenwriters and TV writers in the guild went on strike. It started on November 5, 2007 and ended on February 12, 2008.

I would think that by now networks would realize that America has had its fill of reality shows. Love Prison airs on Monday nights, 9pm CT.

Jun 22 2014

Summer Shows – Where are They?

Longmire, The Bridge, Major Crimes, Rizzoli & Isles … those are just a few of the one-hour dramas that have returned for the summer. There’s a list of new shows that will be joining those in the coming weeks. . . you should be checking to see if you have room on your DVR.

And there are some that won’t be returning. One that I guessed wouldn’t be coming back, even as I watched the season finale was The Glades. In case you don’t remember (spoiler alert) Matt Passmore was “killed” in every sense of the word, on his wedding day.

You can see him in his new USA Network drama Satisfaction coming up July 17. Kiele Sanchez moved on to the new DirecTV drama Navy St. 

The Bridge on FX has a new showrunner, which is probably a good thing. It lost it’s way slightly toward the end of the first season. The new season begins Wednesday, July 9. It is set in and filmed in El-Paso, Texas.

Major Crimes on TNT is two episodes into its new season and promises to be just as gutsy and thought provoking as its two previous seasons. Jon Tenney will make some recurring appearances this season as Agent Fritz Howard and Tom Berenger will again guest star as Capt. Raydor’s estranged husband.

Rizzoli & Isles is one episode into its fifth season and will use the second episode to dramatically say goodbye to Lee Thompson Young (Det. Barry Frost), the actor who committed suicide in 2013.

Michaela Gray Wolf (Faye Viviana) demonstrates the best way to dress a deer as part of the Miss Cheyenne pageant.

Michaela Gray Wolf (Faye Viviana) demonstrates the best way to dress a deer as part of the Miss Cheyenne pageant.

Longmire on A&E has picked up where it left off, with Henry Standing Bear in jail and Branch recovering from being shot. Ever wonder how they get everything “right?”

In episode 3, Henry asks Walt to sit in as a judge at the Miss Cheyenne pageant, which is interesting as all hell. Hulu has a 6 minute web exclusive video about The Cheyenne World and Marcus Red Thunder, who is the advisor to the show.

Shows are always better when they do their homework, and Longmire would never be accused of not staying up all night studying. It’s one show that makes coming in the house on a summer evening worth it.

Jun 1 2014

Canceled – But Rated High? Shows Returning in June.

From The Wrap

From The Wrap

How is that possible? Well it happens all the time, especially in that golden 18-49 demographic. Here is a chart of the 20 highest rated but canceled broadcast shows of 2013-2014 in that magic 18-49 demographic.

Robin Williams return to the small screen brought some bittersweet ratings. His show Crazy Ones was number 1 on the list with a 2.7 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, but it was still canceled.

It tied with FOX’s Almost Human which took up space on my DVR and I never watched a single episode. I usually watch anything with Karl Urban in it. Oh well.

But that 18-49 demo isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. For example, FOX’s Bones‘ runs around a 2.4 but it’s an enduring show that has proven its value to the network.

The Mentalist on CBS is another show earning a 2.0 but it also survived the cut. So it’s easy to say that numbers aren’t the only thing taken into consideration when shows are on the chopping block.

Here’s a list of what’s returning this month (June):

Longmire (Season 3) — A&E (June 2)

Mistresses (Season 2) — ABC (June 2)

Major Crimes (Season 3) — TNT (June 9)

Royal Pains (Season 6) — USA Network (June 10)

Graceland (Season 2) — USA Network (June 11)

Suits (Season 4) — USA Network  (June 11)

Dog and Beth: On the Hunt (Season 2)  — CMT (June 14)

Perception (Season 3) — TNT (June 17)

Rizzoli & Isles (Season 5) — TNT (June 17)

Rookie Blue (Season 5) — ABC (June 19)

Defiance (Season 2) — Syfy (June 19)

Wipeout (Season 7) — ABC (June 22)

True Blood (Season 7; final season) — HBO (June 22)

Falling Skies (Season 4) — TNT (June 22)

Teen Wolf (Season 4) — MTV (June 23)

Covert Affairs (Season 5) — USA Network (June 24)

Big Brother (Season 16) — CBS (June 25)

Unforgettable (Season 3) — CBS (June 29)

Last Tango in Halifax (Season 2) — PBS (June 29)

Under the Dome (Season 2) — CBS  (June 30)

Some canceled shows I know of include Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and Mind Games (ABC) and Greg Kinnear’s Rake (FOX) which seemed to end before it even began.