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DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
It's not often you find two amazing new TV shows that have the critics raving. Two of them are on in the coming weeks and both have been mentioned here before. But for the first time, they're close enough to air that they may be appearing in your PVR guide so you can set to record them both.
The first happens New Years night at 8 PM, when Fox debuts a documentary on one of the most beloved TV shows of all time - a salute to M*A*S*H on its 50th anniversary. This was always one of my favourite comedies of the 70s and it stands up surprisingly well in reruns.
The special features all of the original cast in interviews, with the surviving members reflecting half a century later, and the rest on tape. And here's a bombshell that makes you wonder what they were thinking - CBS, which carried the show all those years, was originally offered this special and kept turning it down. The fact it went to Fox instead should be a source of shame to the Eye Network, which also declined to air the salute to Carol Burnett earlier this year, and it wound up a huge ratings hit for NBC.
The special also contains rare behind-the-scenes footage, scoured from deep within the Fox archives, especially from the last day of filming when the cast was both emotional and sad that it was all ending, much of which has never been seen before.
Best news is if you miss it, it's scheduled to be available on Tubi, the free streaming service, afterwards.
Why the Definitive M*A*S*H Special Airs New Year’s Day on Fox, Not CBS — and Other Burning Questions Answered
The other debut is multi-part. I'm not sure if Crave ever offered "Only Murders In The Building," starring Steve Martin and Martin Short, but it was only shown on Hulu in the U.S., a service not available in Canada. The program was nominated for 28 Emmys, including for Short and Martin, and continues into new seasons down south. Critics have raved about it and it's been praised by viewers.
ABC will begin carrying season 1 on Jan. 9th with three episodes in a row every Tuesday and will finish the run by the end of the month. I've already set my DVR, because this is one I never thought I'd get to see here. And this time, it's free.
Only Murders In The Building On ABC
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
Also on CTV.
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
I should have known it would be simulcast. Thanks for the update.
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Thread Starter- Tomas Barlow
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
I believe that Only Murderers in the Building might have been available here on Disney+ until now. Some Hulu programming ends up there for Canadians. I’m not completely certain of that but it rings a bell for me.
Last edited by Tomas Barlow (December 30, 2023 4:20 am)
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
Tomas Barlow wrote:
I believe that Only Murderers in the Building might have been available here on Disney+ until now. Some Hulu programming ends up there for Canadians. I’m not completely certain of that but it rings a bell for me.
You are correct, Disney+ runs Only Murders in the Building in Canada and other countries. Hulu is only available in the US. Disney also owns Starz and Hulu originals show up on that service which is available here.
Disney has management control of Hulu apparently.
Last edited by paterson1 (December 30, 2023 12:53 pm)
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
Here's a preview from the M*A*S*H special, in which Gary Burghoff (aka Radar O'Reilly) explains why he left the show and why he had to reshoot that famous last scene where he said goodbye to the 4077th, because his first take was "awful." (Hard to believe, but Burghoff is now 80 years old!)
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Thread Starter- RadioActive
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
Did anyone see the M*A*S*H special? It thought it was fantastic and was very well done. It made me remember why I really loved this show back then. I still can't believe CBS turned this retrospective down, especially since they showed the original.
If you missed it, it's not too late. It's on the City TV website for free (although you have to "sign in" with your TV provider.)
Same for Fox in the U.S., where a "preview pass" is available for an hour, but since the thing runs for 90 mins. without the commercials, you'll be cut off in the middle. They also ask for a provider.
Which brings me to another issue related to this - it's their prerogative to run their sites as they wish, but forcing a would-be online viewer to sign in using a cable provider seems very restrictive. If a station like City TV is available free off an antenna, why should you be forced to have cable to watch it online?
This is a frequent practice used by Rogers and Bell and it irritates me no end. If it's on so-called "Free TV," you shouldn't have to be a cable subscriber to see it. Just my two cents, but given the way these two operate, this doesn't surprise me a bit.
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Thread Starter- paterson1
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Re: DVR Worthy: A TV Classic Lookback & A Streaming Hit On OTA Networks
I watched part of the doc last night and I agree it was very well done. I noticed it on the schedule and was able to phone a friend who was a huge M*A*S*H fan. He has every episode on video.
In terms watching the special for free off air vs needing to be a cable subscriber to watch on line. That is one of the advantages of having cable. Besides when M*A*S*H was originally on, you only had one chance to watch it off air, unless you taped it on a VCR.