Nielsen: "Fallout" still #1 / YouTube at the Emmys / Future unclear for "Family Guy" / "Shōgun" likely to return

Plus the weekend calendar, Amazon scraps "Spider Society," Peacock "Queer Planet" trailer, HBO MoviePass doc, Hulu adds stand-up hub, and more

Inside Streaming For May 17, 2024

Thanks for reading today's Inside Streaming! To me, it makes total sense that YouTube shows would now be nominated for Emmy Awards. Americans are watching more and more YouTube on their television sets every year, and for many of them -- if not most of them -- there's little to no daylight between network and cable TV shows and their digital media counterparts. Why wouldn't "Hot Ones" compete for awards directly with "Late Night with Seth Meyers"? They're similar shows with similar formats, similar guests, and similar production values. The fact that one airs on a TV network and one streams on a YouTube channel seems less relevant. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend! Lon p/lon-harris

1 Amazon's "Fallout" series remained #1 on the Nielsen charts between April 15-21. In its second week online, the series was viewed for an additional 2.6 billion minutes, only a slight drop from Week #1. More: This marks the first time any streamer other than Netflix has had a show pull over 2 billion minutes of viewership for two consecutive weeks. The last show to hit this milestone was "Suits" on Netflix, which had more than 100 episodes available to view, and was licensed from the USA Network. According to Nielsen, "Fallout" viewership is still skewed toward the earlier chunk of the season, indicating that it still has a few more weeks of massive popularity to go. The rest of the top four remained the same from last week: "Bluey" on Disney+ at #2, followed by network TV medical drama series "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Resident."

2 A number of YouTube original series have submitted themselves for consideration at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. The popular interview series "Hot Ones" successfully petitioned for inclusion in the Outstanding Talk Series category. More: Rhett & Link's daytime chat show "Good Mythical Morning" will also be allowed to compete in the Outstanding Short Form Comedy race; the duo submitted themselves for consideration in 2018 but were rejected at the time. Also competing in the Short Form category is creator Amelia Dimoldenberg and her popular talk series "Chicken Shop Date." In a recent guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan made the cast that the TV Academy should consider YouTube talent for Emmy Awards. A number of YouTube channels and personalities have won Creative Arts or honorary Emmys in the past, including the Pemberley Digital programs "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" and "Emma Approved," and Emmanuel Acho's series "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man."

3 WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, MAY 17 RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE ALL STARS: The drag competition series -- in which 8 queens face off to score $200,000 for a charity of their choice -- returns this week for a 9th season. Returning competitors include Angeria Paris VanMichaels, Gottmik, Jorgeous, Nina West, Plastique Tiara, Roxxxy Andrews, Shannel, and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. RuPaul hosts and judges along with Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and Ts Madison. Companion series "Untucked!" also returns with new episodes this week. [Paramount+] THE BIG CIGAR: Period drama series, inspired by a Playboy article by Joshuah Bearman, recounting a real 1974 incident in which film producer Bert Schneider helped fugitive Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton flee the US for Cuba. André Holland and Alessandro Nivola co-star as Newton and Schneider, respectively; "Winning Time" vet Jim Hecht created. [Apple TV+] THELMA THE UNICORN: Animated musical comedy feature, based on the kids book by Aaron Blabey, about a pony named Thelma (Brittany Howard) who poses as a unicorn in order to give her music career a much-needed boost. Will Forte, Jemaine Clement, Edi Patterson, Jon Heder, and Fred Armisen also provide voices; "Napoleon Dynamite" vet Jared Hess co-wrote and co-directed. [Netflix] POWER: Documentary feature from Oscar nominee Yance Ford ("Strong Island"), looking at the history of policing in America, and asking probing questions about corruption in law enforcement and whose interests the cops really represent and protect. "Power" premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival. [Netflix] THE 8 SHOW: Debut darkly comic thriller series from Korea, based on various digital comics by Bae Jin-soo. It centers on 8 participants in a strange and dangerous competition with life or death stakes, all taking place in a mysterious 8-story building. Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Woo-hee, Park Jeong-min, and Lee Yul-eum co-star; filmmaker Han Jae-rim ("Emergency Declaration") wrote and directed. [Netflix] 99: Sports docuseries looking back on Manchester United's historic treble-winning 1999 season, when the football club won major victories in the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League all within the span of 10 days. The film features new interviews with David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Peter Schmeichel, and many others. [Prime Video] NIGHTWATCH: DEMONS ARE FOREVER (NATTEVAGTEN - DÆMONER GÅR I ARV): 2024 horror film from Denmark, following up on the 1994 original "Nightwatch (Nattevagten)." Fanny Leander Bornedal stars as Emma, the daughter of original Copenhagen night watchman Martin (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who's investigating the tragedy that befell her parents 30 years ago. Alex Høgh Andersen, Sara Viktoria Bjerregaard, and Kim Bodnia co-star; original "Nightwatch" vet Ole Bornedal returned as writer/director. [Shudder] THE SWEET EAST: 2024 satirical coming-of-age comedy-drama from cinematographer and first-time director Sean Price Williams, following high schooler Lillian (Talia Ryder) on a string of episodic adventures in Washington DC after she wanders away from classmates during a school trip. Earl Cave, Simon Rex, Ayo Edebiri, Jeremy O. Harris, and Jacob Elordi co-star. [Hulu] BIRTH/REBIRTH: 2023 psychological horror film from first-time co-writer/director Laura Moss, inspired by Mary Shelley's classic novel "Frankenstein." Marin Ireland stars as a morgue technician who successfully reanimates the body of a young girl, but then must make a dark sacrifice to keep her creation alive. Judy Reyes, A.J. Lister, Breeda Wool, and LaChanze co-star. [Hulu] HE WENT THAT WAY: 2024 crime drama, inspired by a true story that was recounted in Conrad Hilberry's non-fiction book "Luke Karamazov." When a Hollywood animal trainer (Zachary Quinto) on a road trip with his chimpanzee picks up a hitchhiker (Jacob Elordi), he has no idea the stranger is in fact a serial killer. [Hulu] MY LOTTERY DREAM HOME: The HGTV reality series follows recent lottery winners as they search for lavish homes to purchase with their newfound fortunes. David Bromstad hosts. It's back this week on Max and cable for a 15th season. [Max] KILLER BODY COUNT: Original 2024 slasher film from "The Banana Splits Movie" vet Danishka Esterhazy. Cassiel Eatock-Winnik stars as a teen who's shipped off to an isolated strictly-religious rehab center by her devout father, only to discover a masked killer is wiping out the residents. Savana Tardieu, Khosi Ngema, and N'kone Mametja co-star. [Tubi] MOURNING IN LOD: Hebrew-language documentary feature from Israel, profiling three families whose lives became inextricably intertwined following a violent incident in the city of Lod, in which a Jewish settler killed a Palestinian local. Hilla Medalia ("The Reason Why") directed. [Paramount+] SATURDAY, MAY 18 DESIGN DOWN UNDER: Home renovation reality series from Magnolia Network, in which husband-and-wife team Richie Morris and Georgia Ezra create modern, customized living spaces for clients throughout Melbourne, Australia. It's back this week for a second season. [Max] FAMILY PRACTICE MYSTERIES: COMING HOME: Mystery drama feature from Hallmark, starring Amanda Schull as a former Army surgeon who joins a group of family practicioners, then begins investigating a new patient's strange death. Brendan Penny co-stars. [Peacock] SUNDAY, MAY 19 DREAM BIG: THE MICHELLE WIE STORY: NBC Sports documentary profiling professional golfer Michelle Wie West: the 2014 US Women's Open champion, and the youngest woman ever to compete on the PGA Tour. Maura Anderson ("Kickback") directs. [Peacock] EVERYTHING PUPPIES: Romantic comedy feature from Hallmark, starring Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes as a pioneering dog treat entrepreneur who finds crucial support from a handsome new business partner (Stephen Huszar). [Peacock] CIAO HOUSE: The Food Network cooking competition series is back for a second season this weekend. 10 chefs square off in a string of Italian cuisine-themed challenges, and form alliances and rivalries, while staying together in a lavish Tuscan villa. Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini host and serve as judges. [Max] GOLDEN KAMUY: 2024 period live-action adventure film from Japan, inspired by the classic manga by Satoru Noda, in which various groups hunt for a hidden stash of gold in early 20th Century Hokkaido. Kento Yamazaki, Anna Yamada, Yûma Yamoto, Gordon Maeda, and Ryôhei Ohtani co-star; Shigeaki Kubo ("High & Low: The Movie") directs. [Netflix]

4 Fox's decision to leave "Family Guy" off its fall schedule has raised questions about the animated comedy's future. Both Fox and Disney have an ongoing stake in "Family Guy"; it airs on Fox's TV network, but is produced by Disney's 20th Television Animation. More: Two other popular animated shows -- "The Simpsons" and "Bob's Burgers" -- also air on Fox while being produced by Disney. With 43 million cross-platform views, the show regularly ranks as the most-streamed TV show on Hulu. "Family Guy" remains popular on Fox and CEO Rob Wade indicated this week that the network has no plans to drop the show. Nonetheless, Hulu would likely snatch up rights to the full "Family Guy" catalog -- rather than settling for streaming episodes from the current season after they premiere on TV -- should they become available.

5 FX announced plans for two additional seasons of the breakout period drama series "Shōgun." Though no official renewal has been announced, a writers room will convene over the summer to resume work on the series. More: "Shōgun" was based on a novel by author James Clavell, and completed its story; it's unknown if the series will continue with an original narrative or adapt other works by Clavell. Co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are devleoping the new seasons along with executive producer Michaela Clavell and producer/star Hiroyuki Sanada. "Shōgun" was FX's most-watched series in history, based on total hours streamed internationally; the full first season is now streaming on Hulu. According to THR, FX has already submitted "Shōgun" in Drama categories for Emmys consideration, rather than Limited Series.

6 Amazon scrapped plans for a live-action Marvel Comics-themed series about superhero Cindy Moon. Sony apparently plans to shop the project, titled "Silk: Spider Society," around to other networks and streamers. More: Former "Walking Dead" showrunner Angela Kang developed the series. In 2022, Sony announced plans to create a franchise of TV shows based on supporting Spider-Man characters; the studio owns the rights to around 900 characters from Marvel Comics. In the comics, Cindy Moon is a young Korean-American woman who develops superpowers after being bitten by the same radioactive spider that infected Peter Parker. Amazon just announced plans for a separate live-action series in which Nicolas Cage will portray a different Marvel Comics character, Spider-Man Noir.

7 A new nature documentary from Peacock focuses exclusively on queer relationships among animals in the wild. "Queer Planet" is being billed as a "first-of-its-kind" documentary, exploring a full range of LGBTQ+ behaviors across the animal kingdom. More: The documentary hits Peacock on June 6, at the start of Pride Month. "Girls5eva" and "Big Mouth" vet Andrew Rannells provides narration. The film features expert commentary and insight from a number of scientists and researchers, including author Bradley Trevor Greive, ornithologist Dr. Martin Stervander, biologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, and evolutionary biologist Dr. Dan Edwards.

8 QUICK HITS HBO dropped a trailer for "MoviePass, MovieCrash," a documentary looking back on the short-lived MoviePass movie theater subscription service; the film debuts on May 29. Hulu announced a new collection of monthly stand-up comedy specials, dubbed "Hulu's Laughing Now"; the first installment will feature Jim Gaffigan, and premieres on November 22. Legal drama series "Reasonable Doubt" returns to Hulu for a second season on August 22; Emayatzy Corinealdi stars as Jax Stewart, a busy LA criminal defense attorney who's also navigating a chaotic personal life. Netflix's reboot of the reality competition series "The Mole" returns for its second season on June 28; Ari Shapiro of NPR's "All Things Considered" takes over this season as host. Nickelodeon greenlit a spinoff to the live-action superhero comedy series "The Thundermans"; the new show will be available via both cable and Paramount+. Amazon renewed the German-language YA romance series "Maxton Hall – The World Between Us" for a second season; the series, based on a story by author Mona Kasten, set a new record as the streamer's most-watched international series of all time in its first week.

Upcoming Events * This is a sponsored event

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

Discover more on inside.com/streaming Thanks for reading today's issue of Inside Streaming. Explore Explore

Share Email Share on X Open in Browser Open in Browser Open in Browser

Did someone forward this email to you? Get your free subscription here. Interested in sponsoring this newsletter? Connect with our sales team here. You received this email because you are subscribed to Inside Streaming. Manage your subscription or unsubscribe here. 767 Bryant St. #203, San Francisco, CA 94107 Copyright © 2024 Inside.com