New Netflix show tops 'Stranger Things'

And "who dies first in a horror movie when everyone is Black?"

What to know

• Wednesday scores Netflix’s biggest opening week ever… For an English-language series, topping Stranger Things season 4. Wednesday notched 341.2 million hours of viewing, topping ST’s 335M. Of course, neither hold a candle to Squid Game’s 571.76 million hours in late Sept 2021. Netflix estimates 50 million households worldwide watched at least some of Wednesday. How did this happen? Recognizable IP (The Addams Family) and a name-brand director (Tim Burton) might have had something to do with it. The series has a respectable 70% RT score from critics, not that it matters much within the Netflix ecosystem. Its audience score is higher at 88%, which could mean Wednesday’s viewership will continue to grow on positive word of mouth. I’d bet this makes Jenna Ortega a star as well. 🍿

• “Who dies first in a horror movie when everyone is Black?”… That’s the question at the center of The Blackening, a new horror-comedy film from Tim Story headed to theaters next Juneteenth. Lionsgate reportedly beat out multiple interested parties to secure distribution rights to the movie, which is based on a comedy sketch by improv troupe 3Peat. The Blackening was met with a warm reception at TIFF, with Indiewire calling it, “"the first great horror parody of the post-Get Out era." Let’s keep this one on the radar. 🔪

• It’s not your fault you can’t hear the dialogue… I guess we’re writing this story again? The Wall Street Journal is on the case of inaudible TV and movies (as aggregated by Uproxx) — and while it’s still not your hearing that’s bad, it’s Hollywood’s sound design, little is being done to fix it. How many times will we have to read these articles before something is done about it? 🔇

• AMC Networks plans layoffs as CEO steps down after 3 months on the job… “It was our belief that cord cutting losses would be offset by gains in streaming. This has not been the case,” Chairman James Dolan wrote in a memo. Come on, the prospect of AMC+ becoming a big player in the streaming wars has always seemed thin. Expect more downsizing and mergers to come as streamers of all sizes try to become profitable. 💰

• Hugh Jackman turned down the role of James Bond… This was prior to Daniel Craig taking the mantle. Jackman would have been great, but you can understand why the Wolverine actor wouldn’t want to take on another franchise at the time. If he had, I wonder if he’d have done as many Bond movies as Craig? Hugh just doesn’t have the same mystique. 🍸

• Watch Adam Sandler deliver this hilarious acceptance speech allegedly written by his teen daughters… “[My] film career began in 1988, formed by two guiding principles: People in prison need movies too, and TBS needs content.” This is too good. 😂

• Dance sequence from upcoming Matilda movie musical goes viral with the help of Missy Elliot remix… It really is some impressive choreo. Netflix must be loving this organic promo. 🇬🇧

• Scarlett Johansson books first major TV role… She’ll lead Amazon’s limited series adaptation of John Katzenbach’s novel Just Cause. Why? Just ‘cause. 📺

• Ed Helms and Jennifer Garner to star in family body-swap comedy at Netflix… How come you never here about people swapping bodies in real life? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

• Bipartisan senators ask FTC to do something about ticketing bots… Complaining about Ticketmaster has become the great unifier. 🎫

• Top Gun: Maverick returning to theaters for two weeks… You know, if you still have the need. ✈️

• 2023 Oscars to present all 23 categories live… 23 in ‘23! 🏆

• Easy Rider reboot in the works… Why? 🏍

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What’s new

• Willow - Nov 30 | Disney+ fantasy series | 🍅

• Slow Horses s2 - Dec 2 | Apple TV+ drama series | 🍅

• Firefly Lane s2 - Dec 2 | Netflix drama series | 🍅

• Violent Night - Dec 2 | Holiday action movie in theaters | 🍅

• Emancipation - Dec 2 theaters, Dec 9 Apple TV+ | Drama film | 🍅

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What to watch

TV Trailer: That ‘90s Show — Jan 19 on Netflix

Created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Gregg Mettler, and Lindsay Turner, starring Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi, and Sam Morelos.

While this teaser trailer is light on jokes, it’s heavy on reminders that it’s a sequel to That ‘70s Show, which ought to please the people interested in a sequel to That ‘70s Show. Netflix is doing a really good job splitting the difference here between rebooting a beloved show and keeping a few key elements that hold nostalgia for viewers. Bringing back Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, keeping the sets mostly the same, and yes, doing the “pass the joint” roundtable bit are just enough to connect this to the original, while incorporating a new cast of young people gives room for this series to grow and find its own voice. This is the Girl Meets World or How I Met Your Father approach, which means a lot rests on the shoulders of the new cast (and the writing). I’m always on the lookout for the next great multi-cam sitcom, a genre that has been wrongfully maligned over the years. The form’s greatest hits are still beloved (Friends is especially enduring), so one would assume fondness remains for this genre among the general population and young people. The last truly great multi-cam was One Day at a Time, another Netflix show. Let’s hope That ‘90s Show follows suit.

For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!