One consequence of the Paramount Skydance/WBD merger is that there a growing sense that legislation needs to be approved to erect consumer-friendly guardrails for any future big mergers, including laws designed to prevent (or at least slow down) future White House interference with the process.
Rep Jamie Raskin has introduced an important piece of legislation to begin the process of making antitrust less susceptible to corruption. The bill proposes a number of common sense policies (listed below). Enacting this legislation should be one of the many priorities for an upcoming Democratic-controlled Congress:
Remembering The Career Of Patrick Stewart
We learned yesterday that Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart had passed away and while his best known role was as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the sci-fi series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the subsequent movies and TV shows, he had a career of more than 60 years on stage and screen, and received numerous accolades, including two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Grammy Award, as well as nominations for a Tony Award, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama in 2010.
His movie and television career reflects the variety of his acting, ranging from voice work on documentaries and animated films to obscure action movies and works of Shakespeare. The one that stuck out to me is 1999’s Safe House, where Stewart plays retired US black ops agent who gets Alzheimer's.
This newsletter isn’t long enough all of this work. But I wanted to highlight some lesser-known works of his, and where you can stream them.
Antony And Cleopatra (1974) (Fandango/Kanopy)
After the murder of her lover Julius Caesar, Egypt's Queen Cleopatra needs a new ally. She seduces his probable successor Mark Antony. This develops into real love and slowly leads to a war with the other possible successor, Octavius.
Hennessy (1975) (DirecTV Stream/Fubo/MGM+/Tubi)
Hennessy is an Irishman who believes in peace, but who has had connections to the I.R.A. After his family is killed he plots revenge, setting out to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.
Hamlet (1980) (Kanopy/Pluto)
Hamlet suspects his uncle has murdered his father to claim the throne of Denmark and the hand of Hamlet's mother, but the Prince cannot decide whether or not he should take vengeance.
The Plague Dogs (1982) (Cineverse/Kanopy/Plex/Pluto TV/Shout TV!/Tubi)
Two dogs escape from a laboratory and are hunted as possible carriers of the bubonic plague.
Dune (1984) (Tubi)
A Duke's son leads desert warriors against the galactic emperor and his father's evil nemesis to free their desert world from the emperor's rule.
Lifeforce (1985) (Fawesome/Pluto TV/Prime Video/Tubi)
A race of space vampires arrives in London and infects the populace, beginning an apocalyptic descent into chaos.
Wild Geese II (1985) (Tubi)
A group of mercenaries is hired to spring Rudolf Hess from Spandau Prison in Berlin.
Lady Jane (1986) (DirecTV Stream/Fubo/MGM+/Pluto TV)
The story of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for only nine days.
Liberation (1993) (Pluto TV/Prime Video/Roku Channel/Tubi)
Liberation tells the dramatic story of the battle waged on two fronts during World War II - the Allied campaign to liberate Europe and Hitler's genocidal campaign against the Jews.
Jeffrey (1995) (Cineverse/Fandango/Fawesome/Pluto TV/Prime Video/Shout TV!/Tubi)
A poignant romantic comedy about the quest for love and intimacy in the age of AIDS. A story of a thirtyish gay actor/waiter who decides to become celibate...the risk of AIDS has taken all the joy from sex.
The Canterville Ghost (1996) (Pluto TV/Prime Video/Roku Channel/Shout TV!/Tubi)
When an American family moves into a haunted mansion in England, the family's teenage daughter could be the key in fulfilling a prophecy and finally set the house's ghost free.
Conspiracy Theory (1997) (DirecTV Stream/Hoopla/Howdy/Plex/Roku Channel/Tubi)
A taxi driver with a penchant for conspiracy theories becomes a target after one of these theories turns out to be true. Unfortunately, to save himself, he has to figure out which theory it is.
Moby Dick (1998) (Pluto TV/Shout TV!/Tubi)
The sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his Captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.
Safe House (1998) (Cineverse/Fawesome/Pluto TV/Roku Channel)
A retired US black ops agent gets Alzheimer's, while other ex agents are being killed. He has incriminating data on a presidential candidate.
Animal Farm (1999) (Coneverse/Howdy/Prime Video/Roku Channel)
The animals of a farm successfully revolt against its human owner, only to slide into a more brutal tyranny among themselves.
Boo, Zino & the Snurks (2004) (Prime Video)
The beautiful world of Gaya is home to a community of creatures, who are much smaller than humans, but who have an uncanny resemblance to them. But the Gayans are facing imminent danger. Someone has stolen the magic stone called Dalamite without which this world is doomed. Two Gayans named Boo and Zino embark on a dangerous mission to track down and recover the stone. As they attempt to find the stone, their journey takes them into another world that is strange and frightening.
The Game Of Their Lives (2005) (Fandango/Fawesome/Pluto TV/Prime Video/Roku Channel)
Based on a true story, this film tells the tale of the 1950 U.S. soccer team, who, against all odds, beat England 1 - 0 in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Although no U.S. team has ever won a World Cup title, this story is about the family traditions and passions which shaped the lives of the players who made up this team of underdogs.
Eleventh Hour (2006) (BritBox/Pluto TV/Prime Vidoe/Shout TV!/The CW App)
A TV series that in which Stewart stars as science professor Ian Hood, who works for the Home Office as a consultant on special dangerous cases that involve deadly viruses, cloning experiments etc. Special Branch agent Rachel Young is his partner.
Earth (2007) (Plex)
Feature-length version of the documentary TV series Planet Earth (2006), following the migration paths of four animal families.
The Captains (2011) (Fandango/Pluto TV/Prime Video/Roku Channel/Shout TV!/Tubi)
The Captains is a feature length documentary film written and directed by William Shatner. The film follows Shatner as he interviews the other actors who have portrayed Starship captains within the illustrious science-fiction franchise.
Hunting Elephants (2013) (Plex/Prime Video/Roku Channel/Tubi)
In Jerusalem, a bullied teen befriends his grandfather and long lost uncle and soon they decide to solve their financial problems by robbing a bank.
Chaos On The Bridge (2014) (Hoopla/Pluto TV/Prime Video/Roku Channel/Shout TV!/Tubi)
The story of the struggle to create the television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
Journey To Space (2015) (Tubi)
An unveiling of a new era of unprecedented deep space exploration in dramatic giant screen film format.
Match (2015) (AMC+/DirecTV Stream/Kanopy/Sundance Now/Philo)
As a Juilliard professor is interviewed by a woman and her husband for her dissertation on the history of dance in 1960s New York City, it becomes increasingly clear that there are ulterior motives to the couple's visit.
Christmas Eve (2015) (Fandango/Fawesome/Plex/Pluto TV/Roku Channel)
Hilarity, romance, and transcendence prevail after a power outage traps six different groups of New Yorkers inside elevators on Christmas Eve.
Sir Patrick Stewart: A Knight Of Comedy (2016) (Tubi)
Sir Patrick Stewart turns up his legendary wit to 11 to host this Just For Laughs gala, featuring popular stand-up performers Jim Breuer, Russell Howard, Kyle Kinane, Sebastian Maniscalco, Gina Yashere and Pete Zedlacher.
The Wilde Wedding (2017) (Fandango/Peacock/Prime Video/Roku Channel/The CW App/Tubi)
A retired film star's wedding to her fourth husband brings chaos when their families (and her ex-husband) show up for the festivities.
Spark: A Space Tail (2017) (Shout TV!/Prime Video)
Spark, a teenage monkey and his friends, Chunk and Vix, are on a mission to regain Planet Bana, a kingdom overtaken by the evil overlord Zhong.
Death Zone: Cleaning Mount Everest (2018) (Pluto TV/Prime Video)
The dramatic self-documented story of 20 elite Nepali climbers who venture into the "Death Zone" of Mount Everest to restore their sacred mountain and the contaminated water source of 1.3 billion people.
#NoJoke (2019) (Prime Video/Tubi) (Prime Video/Tubi)
A musician's journey to create a song with some of the biggest stars in the industry. Along the way, he faces up to his painful past, while giving viewers a deep personal insight into the issue of bullying.
Coda (2020) (Fandango/Hoopla/Kanopy/Prime Video/Roku Channel/Tubi)
A famous pianist struggling with stage fright late in his career finds inspiration with a free-spirited music critic.
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The Story Behind That Viral ‘Jonestown’ Clip
Marisa Kabas at The Handbasket talked to Tom, the viral “Jonestown” Trump rally guy and it’s great to hear the story behind a viral clip:
KABAS: So what do you think made that Fox News reporter want to talk to you?
HOYLE: I think because there's a certain stereotype of white guys with some sort of facial hair and a ball cap on, and I fell into that. They don't understand that I'm what you call a daywalker. I look like you, but I'm not like you. I'm the vampire during the day—come talk to me and watch yourself get bitten. They thought I looked like that, and other white people have done that over the decades. They'll think I'm one way and say something, and then I remind them where I grew up two miles from here in a mostly Black neighborhood. It doesn't matter where I grew up, but I've got a special, let's just say, perspective on things that makes me a little hypersensitive to it.
KABAS: Did you stay for the rest of the event after that?
HOYLE: No, a few minutes later, the Secret Service came up and said they wanted to talk to me, and I said, about what? And they didn't identify themselves as Secret Service, and I'm the type of guy—I don't know who you are. Go away from me, dude. I got stuff to do here. So anyway, they said, can we talk to you for a minute? I said yeah, you're talking. Go right ahead. And the guy said, we want to talk over here. I said, well I don't want to go over there. And then the guy said, well, we do. I said, who's we? And they were all—you know, I'm not a small person. That video probably doesn't relay it, but I'm probably about 6’2”, 210 pounds. And I said, well, I don't want to go anywhere with you. Then the guy said he's with Secret Service, and I said, oh, is this about the concession stand? and he said, what'd you do at the concession stand? I said nothing, but it was closed super early and I'm starving. And uh, he didn't like that. And then they walked me out.
Odds & Sods
Bravo’s first microdrama Charmed By A Southern Monster premieres Monday, November 9th, on the Peacock mobile app. Here is the official logline: “Starring Craig Conover as Hunter Caldwell and Nicole Mattox as Maeve Marchant, the series blends soapy romance, workplace rivalry, and small-town mystery. The story follows Maeve, a brilliant corporate fixer sent to convince and seduce Hunter, a rumored murderer, into selling his family’s estate. But when she discovers that the town’s most feared man may actually be its most misunderstood, and the only person who can protect her from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Maeve becomes entangled in Hunter’s world. As family secrets and a billion-dollar development deal threaten to unravel their growing connection, she must confront her past and decide how much she’s willing to risk for love.“
Netflix has ordered a third season of Haunted Hotel.
CSPAN is streaming two YouTube creators as part of its election night coverage
Netflix has renewed The Diplomat for a fifth season.
Abbott Elementary Janelle James star will succeed Chelsea Handler as host of the Critic’s Choice Awards are scheduled to air Sunday, January 3rd live on E! And USA Network.
The documentary Primetime Preacher$ premieres Friday, November 20th on Netflix.
Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed Shakespearean actor best known for playing noble starship Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation and, in recent years, on Star Trek: Picard, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles of Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his official Instagram account announced.
Obsession filmmaker Curry Barker has dropped Mama Bear, a surprise five-minute short he wrote, directed, and edited, on his That’s a Bad Idea YouTube channel.
Byron Allen’s Allen Family Capital has unloaded its entire stake in Starz Entertainment, according to a new SEC filing. The company acquired the 1.8 million shares for about $25 million from a fund owned by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and sold them for about $45 million.
Appeals Court Orders New NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Damages Trial
The National Football League is facing renewed legal challenges over its Sunday Ticket broadcasting package after a federal appeals court reinstated a jury verdict finding the league liable for antitrust violations. However, the court has ordered a new trial to determine the financial damages, leaving the ultimate cost of the dispute unresolved.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a lower court judge improperly overturned the jury's 2024 decision against the NFL. The original verdict awarded approximately $4.7 billion to residential and commercial subscribers who alleged that the league's distribution agreements restricted competition and drove up the price of watching out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
The lawsuit, brought on behalf of millions of customers, centered on the NFL's arrangement with DirecTV, which distributed Sunday Ticket for years. The subscription package allowed viewers to watch games that were not available through their local television broadcasts.
Subscribers argued that the league's approach to selling broadcast rights limited consumer choice and forced fans to pay inflated prices to follow teams outside their local markets. Businesses, including bars and restaurants that purchased the package to show games to customers, were also included in the litigation.
A jury sided with the subscribers in June 2024, concluding that the NFL had violated antitrust laws. The award included roughly $4.6 billion for residential subscribers and nearly $97 million for commercial customers. Federal antitrust law can allow damages to be tripled, potentially exposing the league to a substantially larger financial liability.
However, a federal district court judge subsequently set aside the verdict, citing problems with the economic analyses presented by the plaintiffs' expert witnesses and questioning how the jury calculated damages. The subscribers appealed that decision.
The appeals court's latest ruling revives the finding against the league but does not automatically restore the original financial award. Instead, a new proceeding will determine the appropriate amount of damages, leaving the final outcome uncertain.
The case carries significant implications for the economics of professional sports broadcasting. The NFL has long relied on collective negotiations to sell media rights, arguing that its distribution model gives fans multiple ways to watch games, including free local television broadcasts.
The league has also moved its Sunday Ticket distribution to YouTube TV, following the end of its longstanding partnership with DirecTV.
As the litigation continues, the dispute could influence how sports leagues package broadcast rights, set subscription prices and distribute games across traditional television and streaming platforms.
ICYMI: Just Posted On TooMuchTV And Forbes
Here is a rundown of other stories recently posted on TooMuchTV.com and Forbes:
One of the more interesting microdrama newcomers is Rommi, a micromovie studio targeting the romance community. For its first rom-com microdrama, Drive Me Mad, Rommi teamed up with Bookish Media, a media and production company founded by Morgann Book and Thomas Johnston. Bookish Media focuses on all things books, including its weekly podcast, Off the Shelf: The Bookish Club.
Welcome to Nocturne, Apple TV’s latest ten-course meal of murder, misery, and exquisitely photographed human deterioration. Bring your own antidepressants.
What’s Coming Tonight And Tomorrow
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH:
Akka Series Premiere (Netflix)
Apocalypse Z: New World (Prime Video)
Avatar: Seven Havens Season Two Finale (Paramount+)
Collision Course (Netflix)
Dark Matter Season Two Finale (Apple TV)
Dead-End Job Series Premiere
Dexter: Resurrection Season Two Premiere (Paramount+)
Great Performances – Jimmy Webb: American Songwriter (PBS)
How To Ruin Diwali Series Premiere (Netflix) - (trailer)
LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines (Prime Video)
Nocturne Series Premiere (Apple T
SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of (Netflix)
The Birthday Gift (Netflix)
Who’s Coming For Christmas? (Hallmark)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST:
Adopting St. Nick (Hallmark)
A Very Arctic Christmas (Great American Family)
We’re Getting Out Of Here Alive (Lifetime)