2016 Bought Us These TV Gems

 Another Fall TV season is upon us, and I'm not sure if there aren't any new good shows on the horizon. I haven't been paying attention, or networks have thrown in the towel and just don't promote new series very much anymore. I couldn't tell you one new show that will debut this fall season.

What I can tell you though, is about 2016 and television. I started researching shows that debuted in the fall that year, and went down a rabbit whole of shows that debuted throughout the year. Man, that year with the rise of streaming and network and cable TV still in the fight. Bought us some major heavy hitters that are still loved today, and makes you say damn its been that long? Let's dive into the gems in television 2016 gave us.

The Crown

While it wasn't my cup of tea, Netflix's The Crown which told the story of Queen Elizabeth in her younger years, and the Royal family escapades. Became a major hit for the streamer and lasted 6 seasons.

Legends Of Tomorrow

In the mid-2010s when it came to superheroes and TV, the CW Arrowverse was unmatched. So its not surprising they took a time traveling show featuring mostly B characters from the DC lore and made it work. Running for 7 seasons, the show did tail off but that first season was a work of art

Luke Cage

When Marvel and Netflix partnered up to bring the MCU to the streamer, on the "ground" level. They couldn't have picked a better superhero to kickstart the iniative. Released September 30th, 2016 Cage proved to be a bad ass superhero Harlem needed.

Cage's success and long term plans led to associated shows which led to a eventual Defenders series. Yet, nothing was as good as the first season of Luke Cage.

Billions

Billions was a major hit for the showtime network (sad how far that network has fallen). It followed the world of hedge funds and corruption, which if you read headlines is like a every second occurrence. Paul Giamatti shines as a U.S. states attorney after a billionaire played by Damian Lewis.

In a show that covered the corruption of wall street and designed to make you hate billionaires. It sure had the opposite effect as audiences flocked in every week for the show, which ran for 7 seasons.

Westworld

HBO's sci fi dystopia series Westworld, was based on a film from the 1970's. Set at a adult theme park featuring androids, the series had a cast of heavy hitters. Along with thought provoking stories regarding humans dependence on technology. It last for four seasons but only produced 36 episodes, due to the sheer cost of making it. HBO's inconsistencies in deciding when to renew or cancel the show didnt help the shows chances.

Animal Kingdom 

One of my favorite TV shows of all time, cause you know I love a good heist movie/series. Animal Kingdom was probably TNT's last big hit or one of the last ones. Adapted from  a 2010 Australian film. The series followed a young man who moves in with ruthless controlling Queenpin grandmother, and his uncles. All grown men who she keeps a tight lease on to keep her empire running.

Family drama and action was abound in this series which ran for 6 seasons.

Vice Principals

Now, I personally believe Danny McBride's style of comedy is a acquired taste. Hot damn Vice Principals was a laugh riot though. This HBO show co starring Walter Foggins was a gem that flew under the radar. Which is such a shame because it was so damn funny.

Atlanta

Ah Atlanta, Donald Glovers masterpiece that may have been ahead of its time. The FX series was a combination of several genres, that you never knew which would be the primary genre in any given episode. Episodes were straight comedy, another one fantasy, another horror, some where even of the what the f is this genre?

It all worked within the world that the series created though. Those 4 seasons of genius TV were something special.

Insecure

Man HBO was on a roll in 2016 with their series. Insecure starring Issa Rae who found fame on YouTube, was the perfect coming of age series for Millennials at that time. Taking a honest look at the Millennial struggles through family drama, careers, and of course relationships. Running for 5 seasons, audiences got to grow with Issa and crew. Making us feel like we were apart of the world.

This Is Us

If you love Hulu's Paradise and for some reason have not watched This Is Us, you are doing yourself a disservice. Both series were created by Dan Fogelman and have the same story structure. When This Is Us debuted on NBC in 2016, I was hooked at the end of episode one. The series became absolute Must See TV for me when it aired live, and I felt like shedding a tear during the series finale in 2022.

Following the Pearson family through several decades. The show always tugged at your heart strings or asking what big reveal is next? I could go on and on about that show, just know it is a masterpiece.

Stranger Things

Netflix's first big juggernaut property debuted in the summer of 2016. Taking inspiration from several films from the 1980s, this nostalgic sci fi, coming of age blend captured audiences attention worldwide. Literally in the snap of a finger!

It soon became a pop culture phenomenon and each season was met, with even higher expectations than the season before. It became so popular that the final episode was released in theaters as well as streaming, New Years Day this year. And theaters were packed! 

This little engine that could got its start in 2016 and didn't brake for 5 seasons. 

Read More

Bring Back Steel, Without Shaq

The DC Universe streaming service is set to debut later this month. Streaming services are all the rage nowadays and every media company out there is throwing their hand in the bucket for some extra cash. A good thing about streaming services is that it has opened the door for so many creators and content that wouldn't see the light of day in traditional media.

 The DC Universe has already announced some original programming Titans, Swamp Thing, and Doom Patrol are a few properties that will air on the DC Universe platform. While I’m personally looking forward to Swamp Thing, I think DC should use this opportunity to bring Steel to the small screen.

  As a live action TV show with about 10 episodes, it could right the wrong that was the movie starring Shaq in 1997. Since TV shows and movies based on comic books, are developed with much more care nowadays it could rival any of the Marvel Netflix shows or CW DC shows. Here are three things a possible series would need to be successful.

Getting John Right

First order of business is portraying John Henry Irons as he is in the comics. A engineer/scientist who works for a high tech firm Amertek Industries and uses his brain just as much as his size to get the job done. Some things go south on the job and John leaves to become steel.

Representation is very important in any genre, highlighting a black superhero who is very intelligent and builds his armor and gadgets rivaling Iron Man on his own. Could be a spark in a lot of Black kids to take more of an interest in the STEM field. Streamline his armor and make it less clunky add some gadgets that have real life purposes and someone could really believe they would see Steel walking down the street.

Setting

Location is next, in the 1997 film Steel is set in Los Angeles. In the comics he traditionally lives in Metropolis, even moving to Washington D.C. at one point in the comics. The series would benefit from not being in Metropolis, as too many viewers would always be waiting for clues that superman is around. Having Steel set in a fictional inner city would probably be the best bet to allow the character to build his own world.

Opponent

A compelling villain, most superheroes stories are best when they have a villain that is a perfect foe to them. The stakes have to be real and high, and something is personally affecting the hero.  Steel doesn't have a primary villain that is synonymous with him.

He’s traditionally fought street gangs, which he did in the film. If a series was created and the creators went that route, it would draw comparisons to CW’s Black Lighting.

Using a fellow employee at amertek who has gone rogue would be the best option. Maybe throwing a wrinkle in the story that the employee knows John Irons is Steel. That could make for a nice cat and mouse game.

We need more black superheroes.  Black Panther proved there's a market for it. Luke Cage and Black Lighting have produced quality, interesting TV shows. If DC wants to make a serious splash in the streaming world, a Steel TV show would definitely help out. Hell DC hire me I’ll do it!

Read More