Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, December 16th, 2025:
MY APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE NEWSLETTER
I ended up having an action-packed morning, including speaking to a high school class at nearby Simley High School about my newsletter, social media and other related things. My thanks to Craig Streiter for the invite. Since they are high school students, I am not entirely sure how it went, although on the upside, no one fell asleep or yelled "You Suck!"
Seriously, it was an interesting and fun experience and I am always open to speaking to anyone.
A SPECIAL REQUEST
I am putting together a media kit and I have a special request.
I know that I have a large number of readers who work in the industry. If that applies to you - and if you find Too Much TV useful - I would appreciate it if you could send me a quote I can include in the media kit. Please send your comment, name and work title to
My thanks in advance.
THE OSCARS ARE HEADED TO YOUTUBE
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and YouTube signed a multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars, beginning in 2029 with the 101st Oscars ceremony and running through 2033.
The deal makes a lot of sense, given the Academy has said it is hoping to widen its global reach and signing a deal with Netflix would guarantee a storm of bad publicity, due to the streamer's very well-known feelings about theatrical releases.
But the Academy is also getting a lot of other things from YouTube as part of this deal:
YouTube will help make the Oscars accessible to the Academy’s growing global audience through features such as closed captioning and audio tracks available in multiple languages.
The partnership also will include worldwide access for film fans to other Academy events and programs exclusively on the Oscars YouTube channel. This will include the Governors Awards, the Oscars Nominations Announcement, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, Academy member and filmmaker interviews, film education programs, podcasts, and more.
In addition, through this holistic partnership, the Google Arts & Culture initiative will help provide digital access to select Academy Museum exhibitions and programs and help to digitize components of the Academy Collection—the largest film-related collection in the world, with more than 52 million items. It will be a true hub for film fans and will be accessible from around the world.
The potential downside of this deal is that the powers that be at The Academy decides the show needs to be more like YouTube, whatever that means.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT SCREW YOU NETFLIX PR
There are a number of things I like about Netflix and I generally get along with its executives and publicists. But the streamer's Tudum web site is infuriating, because it is a company-owned entertainment news site that is in direct competition with myself and other TV industry journalists.
That is bad enough, without Netflix sending "exclusives" to its own wholly owned news outlet.
Which is why lines like this one that Netflix PR included in a press release sent to the press just infuriated me:
DID ESPN RIP OFF SOMEONE ELSE'S GAME?
Matt Brown runs the web site Extra Points, which covers "all the off-the-field stuff that shapes college sports." Several years ago, the site launched the online game AD Simulator 4000, which is designed to "simulate what it’s like to actually run a D-I athletic department."
ESPN recently launched an online game which certainly looks uncomfortably close to AD Simulator 4000, so much so that it prompted this community note on X:
ODDS AND SODS:
* Netflix has announced a new multi-year partnership with Barstool Sports, bringing the video versions of three of their top sports podcasts to the streamer. The podcasts included in the deal are Pardon My Take, The Ryen Russillo Show, and Spittin’ Chiclets.
* The Muppet Show returns with a new special that premieres Wednesday, February 4th on ABC and Disney+. Here is the brief official logline: "It's “The Muppet Show!” Kermit, Miss Piggy and the beloved Muppet gang are back with a brand-new special event. Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos are bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with their very special guest, Sabrina Carpenter!"
* WCCO-AM just posted the interview about Rob Reiner I did with Jason DeRusha on Monday.
* A new season of My Strange Addiction premieres Wednesday, January 7th on TLC. Here is the official logline: "In the season premiere, Wendy from Florida reveals her lifelong habit of eating two pounds of raw meat a day at her fiancé’s family BBQ, prompting concern over the health risks she’s long ignored. In Las Vegas, Craig, a bodybuilder
Further addictions this season will range from Anthony, a performer whose love of the stage and theater was the gateway to eating several makeup products a week, to Carlos, who insists his daily bug-eating habit is harmless despite his partner’s fears. Sarah, a young woman whose relationship with an AI chatbot boyfriend begins to strain her close-knit family, while Kaylyn copes with childhood grief by foraging and eating grass every day. Socratis, a veteran battling PTSD, has filled his home with more than a hundred snakes after discovering their calming effect, and Tajah, a 35-year-old whose lifelong thumb-sucking habit has caused skin damage and derailed her dating life."
* The five-part series Nature: Parenthood will be narrated by Sir David Attenborough and premieres Wednesday, February 4th on PBS.
* Season three of Tell Me Lies premieres Tuesday, January 13th on Hulu. Here is the official logline: "“Tell Me Lies” Season 3 follows Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) as they've rekindled their tumultuous romance in time for spring semester at Baird College. While they promise things will be different this time, past indiscretions hinder their best intentions, and Lucy finds herself embroiled in a controversy she wants nothing to do with. Meanwhile, the disastrous repercussions from the previous year also force Lucy and Stephen's friends to face their own destructive behaviors. As scandalous secrets fester around campus, vicious consequences threaten Lucy and everyone in her circle."
* An email sent Wednesday morning by David Zaslav to all WBD employees.
* The series Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole premieres Thursday, March 26th on Netflix. Here is the official logline: "Created by one of the greatest storytellers in crime fiction, Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole is a whodunnit serial killer mystery led by famed anti-hero Harry Hole. Underneath the surface, this series is a nuanced character drama about two police officers – and supposed colleagues – operating on opposite sides of the law. Throughout the season, Harry goes head-to-head with his long-time adversary and corrupt detective Tom Waaler. Harry is a brilliant but tormented homicide detective who struggles with his demons. As the two navigate the blurred ethical lines of the criminal justice system, Harry must do all he can to catch a serial killer and bring Waaler to justice before it is too late."
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S COMING TODAY AND TOMORROW
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH, 2025:
* iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025 (ABC)
* Murder In Monaco (Netflix)
* The Manny (Netflix)
* What's In The Box? Series Premiere (Netflix)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18TH:
* Blue Lights Season Three Finale (BritBox)
* Emily In Paris Season Premiere (Netflix)
* Music Box: Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? (HBO)
* 10Dance (Netflix)
* Vera's Holiday Flop (BET+)
* Where Pretty Girls Die (LMN)
SEE YOU EARLY THURSDAY MORNING!