Apple + Paramount bundle / "Reeves" scores P+'s top premiere / Geico and Leo ad / "Only Murders" on ABC

Plus the weekend calendar, "Virgin River" S6 details, "Halo" free on YouTube, Schumer to star in "Kinda Pregnant," and more

Inside Streaming For December 01, 2023

Happy Friday and thanks for reading the Inside Streaming news brief! Paramount has put the full 9-episode first season of "Halo" on YouTube for free, so if you were at all curious about the high-profile Xbox series adaptation... now is the time to check it out. I thought the show was kind of unremarkable, but not TERRIBLE. I think the bigger problem than just overall quality was that it didn't feel very much like playing a "Halo" game. I have no idea if it's faithful to the wider universe that's been established across all the games, the novels, and other extended universe kind of media, but when you hear "they're making a Halo series," you picture a lot of hard-hitting super-soldier vs. alien combat. The show was weirdly heady and contemplative, and what little action there was felt pretty slapdash. It just didn't mimic the experience of the gameplay at all, and tried too hard to do its own thing, I think. That's not what fans are looking for in 2023. Thanks for reading and enjoy today's issue. Have a great weekend! Lon p/lon-harris

1 According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple and Paramount have discussed potentially bundling their streaming services together. The combined Apple TV+/Paramount+ offer would cost less than signing up for both services individually. More: The discussions reportedly remain in early stages. As competition in the streaming marketplace heats up, many smaller streamers are seeking an extra edge against their more established rivals. A bundle would not only make subscriptions cheaper and thus more appealing for consumers, but one sign-up for multiple services could also cut down on churn. Verizon is already offering a deal bundling Max and Netflix subscriptions together; Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has discussed potential bundle offers with other streamers as well.

2 According to the streamer's internal figures, the Western drama series "Lawmen: Bass Reeves" had the most-watched season premiere of any 2023 Paramount+ original. Based on Paramount Global's data, the first two episodes were seen by 7.5 million viewers during their first 7 days on Paramount+, along with a broadcast on CBS. More: According to Nielsen's figures, around 3.5 million viewers watched the CBS premiere of "Bass Reeves," suggesting that Paramount+ views essentially doubled this amount. The first two "Bass Reeves" episodes aired on CBS on November 12, right after an old episode of the cable hit "Yellowstone." The series stars David Oyelowo as the real-life Deputy US Marshal, who famously arrested more than 3,000 outlaws during his legendary career. Both "Yellowstone" and "Bass Reeves" are produced by Taylor Sheridan. "Lawmen" is intended as an anthology series; new seasons will relate the stories of different iconic figures from the Old West.

3 WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 CANDY CANE LANE: Christmas comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as a dad who makes a deal with an evil elf (Jillian Bell) in the hopes of winning his neighborhood's home decorating competition, but then quickly loses control of the situation. Tracee Ellis Ross, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, and Chris Redd co-star. Reginald Hudlin, who previously collaborated with Murphy on 1992's "Boomerang," directed. [Amazon] MAY DECEMBER: 2023 drama feature from director Todd Haynes ("Carol"). Julianne Moore stars as a one-time tabloid sensation who became romantically involved with a minor, who's now her husband (Charles Melton). Natalie Portman co-stars the actress preparing to recreate their infamous affair in a new film. The movie debuted this year at Cannes, where Netflix acquired the rights. [Netflix] RADICAL WOLFE: Documentary profile of writer Tom Wolfe, whose unique, personal style reshaped America's approach to journalism and non-fiction in the mid-20th Century. It's based on a Vanity Fair article by Michael Lewis, and features select readings by Jon Hamm. Richard Dewey ("Burden") directs. [Netflix] SWEET HOME: The Korean action-horror series -- based on the internet comic by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan -- returns this week for a second season. Song Kang stars as a lonely teen whose life changed overnight when the people around him began transforming into savage monsters. [Netflix] FISK: The Australian comedy series from co-creator, co-writer, co-director, and star Kitty Flanagan returns to Netflix in the US this weekend for a second season. Flanagan stars as corporate lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk, who upends her entire life and moves from Sydney to Melbourne after the collapse of both her personal and professional lives. [Netflix] COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION: On the BET+ reality series, celebrities take a break from their normal lives to re-focus on their educations, living and studying alongside real students at an HBCU. Season 2 is set at Alabama State University, and features Ray J, Tiffany Pollard, Joseline Hernandez, O'Ryan, Kwaylon "Kway" Rogers, Amber Rose, Iman Shumpert, and Parker McKenna. It debuted earlier this year and hits Netflix today. [Netflix] SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS: 2023 DC Comics superhero film, following up on 2019's "Shazam!" Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his heroic alter-ego (Zachary Levi) take on a pair of Ancient Greek goddesses, the daughters of the Titan Atlas. It comes to Netflix today along with a collection of DC Comics film adaptations. [Netflix] WHO WE BECOME: 2023 documentary from ARRAY and filmmaker PJ Raval, exploring the Filipino concept of shared identity, known as kapwa. The film profiles three young Filipino women who are on a journey of self-discovery, and developing a political consciousness. [Netflix] WOMEN ON THE EDGE (NO ME ROMPAN): Spanish-language comedy feature from Argentina, about two women who meet in an anger management support group, then join forces to expose a sketchy plastic surgeon. Carla Peterson and Julieta Díaz co-star; Azul Lombardía (Según Roxi) directed. [Netflix] GAJEN NAD: PROFESSIONAL MIXED BREED: Debut hour-long stand-up special from the Malaysian comedian and influencer. [Netflix] POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN: The crime drama series -- a prequel to "Power" set in the 1990s, and following the early life and criminal career of Kanan Stark (Mekai Curtis) -- returns this week for a third season. Patina Miller, London Brown, Malcolm Mays, and Joey Bada$$ co-star. [Starz] INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY: This 2023 action-adventure film is the fifth and final installment in the "Indiana Jones" series, and a direct sequel to 2008's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." In 1969, the globe-trotting archaeologist joins his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) on a quest to find Archimedes' famed Antikythera. Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, and Toby Jones co-star; James Mangold ("Logan") directs. [Disney+] TIMELESS HEROES: INDIANA JONES AND HARRISON FORD: Feature-length documentary, produced specifically for Disney+, looking back on the development and history of the Indiana Jones character, and its essential connection to star Harrison Ford. Director Laurent Bouzereau has spent years producing behind-the-scenes content about filmmaker Steven Spielberg and the "Indiana Jones" films. [Disney+] THE SHEPHERD: Scripted period drama short, based on the novella by Frederick Forsyth. Ben Radcliffe stars as a young Royal Air Force pilot flying home on Christmas Eve who's rescued by a mysterious stranger (John Travolta) when his radio and electricity both cut out. Iain Softley ("Hackers") directs; Alfonso Cuarón and Travolta executive produced. [Disney+] THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER: 2023 "Exorcist" sequel -- the franchise's sixth overall film -- serving as a direct follow-up to the 1973 original. When two girls vanish for three days, then return mysteriously changed, a collective of experts from various faiths will attempt to free them from malevolent spirits. Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Ellen Burstyn, Lidya Jewett, and Olivia O'Neill co-star. David Gordon Green ("Halloween Ends") directs; Jason Blum executive produced. [Peacock] COMMITMENT TO LIFE: Documentary examining the pivotal role activists and organizers from the city of Los Angeles played in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The film features interviews with Karamo Brown, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Melissa Rivers, Bruce Vilanch, and others; Jeffrey Schwarz ("Tab Hunter Confidential") directed. [Peacock] DREAM MOMS: 2023 Hallmark drama about two moms with former Broadway aspirations who get a second chance at fame by entering a TV talent competition. Chelsea Hobbs and Tamera Mowry co-star. [Peacock] IT'S A WONDERFUL KNIFE: Holiday horror-comedy, inspired by the Frank Capra classic "It's a Wonderful Life," from director Tyler MacIntyre ("V/H/S/99") and "Freaky" screenwriter Michael Kennedy. Jane Widdop stars as the lone survivor of a brutal Christmas Eve slasher attack who wishes that she'd never been born, then visits the grim alternate reality where the killer remained active. Joel McHale, Justin Long, and Katharine Isabelle co-star. [Shudder] THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW: Season 6 of the unconventional parody chat show aired on Adult Swim over the summer and hits Hulu in the US today. Guests include Lil Nas X, Mia Khalifa, Jaleel White, Jon Hamm, Tinashe, Chet Hanks, Natasha Lyonne, and Raven-Symoné. [Hulu] UNEXPECTED: Documentary short from filmmaker Zeberiah Newman about activists in the American South creating a support network for women living with HIV; "Abbott Elementary" star Sheryl Lee Ralph produced. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO FOOTBALL: Five-part docuseries from Showtime Sports looking at soccer fandom in five countries -- Brazil, the US, the UK, France, and Qatar -- and how it interacts with political and social issues facing fans and players. Trevor Noah narrates and executive produced along with Gotham Chopra's Religion of Sports. [Paramount+] SPONGEBOB: TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE SPONGEMAS: 2022 half-hour "SpongeBob" animated holiday special, in which the character and his friends recall some highlights (and lowlights) of Christmas Eves past. [Paramount+] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 DOCTOR WHO: WILD BLUE YONDER: The second of three 2023 holiday season "Doctor Who" specials finds The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) abandoned by the TARDIS in the midst of a chaotic fight, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance. [Disney+] THRILLER 40: Documentary from Showtime commemorating the 40th anniversary of Michael Jackson's landmark "Thriller" album, featuring never-before-seen footage and candid interviews. Nelson George ("Say Hey Willie Mays!") directs. The film is exclusively available for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers. [Paramount+] SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: The NBC musical variety series returns this weekend with a new episode, featuring host Emma Stone and musical guest Noah Kahan. (This marks Stone's fifth time as host.) [Peacock] MY NORWEGIAN HOLIDAY: Holiday romantic drama from Hallmark, starring Rhiannon Fish as a grieving young woman who's whisked away on a spontaneous, healing Norwegian vacation by a charming local (David Elsendoorn). [Peacock] WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI: Debut romantic comedy series from Korea, about two childhood friends from Jeju Island who are unexpectedly reunited as adults. Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun co-star. [Netflix] SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE: Animated adventure comedy from "Minions" studio Illumination, based on the iconic Nintendo video game franchise. Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) get sucked into a magical pipe and transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where they help Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to defeat the monstrous Bowser (Jack Black). [Netflix] A NOT SO ROYAL CHRISTMAS: Hallmark holiday rom-com starring Brooke D'Orsay as a tabloid journalist who's desperate to interview a reclusive Count, but ends up getting close to a palace groundskeeper (Will Kemp) instead. [Peacock] THE JINGLEBELL JUBILEE: Holiday rom-com, produced for the Great American Family network, about a city manager who joins forces with a childhood friend to plan a Christmas charity event. Erin Agostino and Marshall Williams co-star. [Hulu]

4 A new ad for Geico insurance features the company's Gecko mascot alongside the Netflix animated character Leo. The 30-second spot, produced by The Martin Agency, is the first-ever co-branded ad to stream on Netflix. More: The campaign debuted on November 21, to coincide with the release of the animated musical comedy "Leo." Adam Sandler voices Leo in both the film and the Geico ad; in the spot, he enlists the Geico Gecko as an on-set consultant. The ad is part of a wider marketing campaign; there will also be social media spots featuring the Gecko and Leo getting coffee together. Netflix has previously made co-branded ads for TV, including a Super Bowl spot with General Motors that aired earlier this year, but this is the first time one of the campaigns has streamed on Netflix's ad-supported tier.

5 The first season of Hulu's mystery-comedy series "Only Murders in the Building" will get a broadcast run on ABC in January. ABC won't have strike-delayed original shows ready to air until February, so the Hulu original will help fill in the gap in their schedule; both ABC and Hulu are controlled by Disney. More: The network has been working with the show's producers on required edits, to bring them in accordance with FCC regulations; no edits for timing will be needed. All 10 episodes will air on ABC, in groups; the first three will all run on Tuesday, January 2. ABC's regular Tuesday night line-up returns on February 20, and includes "Will Trent," "The Rookie," and "The Good Doctor." "Only Murders" is the most-watched Hulu original comedy series in history; it stars Steve Martin (who also co-created), Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as neighbors in an upscale Manhattan apartment complex who host a true-crime podcast.

6 The upcoming sixth season of "Virgin River" will go back to having just 10 episodes. The fourth and fifth seasons of the romantic drama both featured 12 episodes. More: The first 10 "Virgin River" Season 5 episodes were released in September; the final two, both holiday-themed, arrived this week. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith decided, after two years of doing the "holiday specials," he preferred to go back to the original format. According to Smith, there will be a considerable time jump between the close of Season 5 and the start of Season 6; the new episodes start production in the first half of 2024. Though the show has only been renewed through Season 6, both Smith and star Alexandra Breckenridge have suggested that it will likely continue into Season 7 and beyond. The romantic drama series follows the lives of residents of a remote Northern California town; it's based on novels by author Robyn Carr.

7 The full first season of Paramount+'s "Halo" series is now free to stream on YouTube. Paramount's posted YouTube descriptions indicate that the sci-fi action series returns for a second season on February 8, though this has not yet been formally announced. More: When it debuted in March 2022, the "Halo" series had the most-watched premiere in Paramount+ history; no actual viewership numbers were provided. The series -- based on a popular franchise of Xbox games -- is set in the 26th Century, and centers on a military conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as The Covenant. Pablo Schreiber stars as a genetically engineered super soldier known as "Master Chief."

8 QUICK HITS Competitors are killing your efficiency. Read how Greenhouse gained $85mil in revenue from reps who used Klue over non-Klue users.* Amy Schumer will star in and produce the feature comedy "Kinda Pregnant" for Netflix, about a woman who meets the man of her dreams while wearing a fake baby bump; Adam Sandler's Happy Madison developed the project, which will be directed by "The Out-Laws" vet Tyler Spindel. The cast of the stage show "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" previewed their favorite sets and moments for Entertainment Weekly. A new update to Roku's home screen makes popular content easier to find; the update also includes a new hub dedicated to food and cooking shows. Netflix dropped a trailer for the second half of "The Crown" Season 6; the royal drama's final six episodes debut on December 14 At the Comic Con Experience 2023 event in Brazil, HBO released the first two posters for "House of the Dragon" Season 2, premiering Summer 2024; a "first look" at the new episodes hits the internet this weekend. Netflix, Viacom18, and other streaming companies have joined forces to lobby the Indian government against passing a new broadcast bill; the law would form "content evaluation committees" to review and sign off on streaming shows before they debut on local platforms. According to Amazon's internal numbers, "Bye Bye Barry" -- a profile of hall-of-fame running back Barry Sanders -- has now surpassed "Kelce" as the most-viewed sports documentary in Prime Video history. Peacock grabbed the US rights to the documentary "We Dare to Dream," about the Olympic team made up of refugees that competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo; Syrian journalist Waad Al-Kateab ("For Sama") directed, while producers include John Legend, Angelina Jolie, and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia. Actor Alberto Rosende, who plays firefighter Blake Gallo on "Chicago Fire," will exit the series after the Season 12 premiere; Kara Killmer, who co-stars as paramedic Sylvie Brett, previously announced plans to depart at the end of Season 12. Monica Aldama, the cheerleading coach featured on Netflix's docuseries "Cheer," announced her retirement from Navarro College after three decades; following the Netflix series, Navarro Cheer was embroiled in multiple controversies, including allegations that Aldama helped to cover up sexual assault allegations. Michael Jackson's "Beat It" is the latest music video to cross the 1 billion view threshold on YouTube. *This is sponsored content

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Lon Harris Writer Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." This newsletter was edited by Lon Harris

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