The Daily - Episode Summary: "The Year in TV & Movies"
Release Date: December 26, 2024
Host: Melissa Kirsch, Deputy Editor of Culture and Lifestyle
Guests: Jim Panowicz, Chief Television Critic; Manola Dargis, Chief Film Critic
Introduction
In the December 26, 2024 episode of The Daily, host Melissa Kirsch engages in an insightful discussion with New York Times critics Jim Panowicz and Manola Dargis. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of television and film over the past year, highlighting trends, challenges, and standout productions.
State of Television in 2024
Jim Panowicz opens the discussion by characterizing 2024 as "the year of mid TV" (01:50), suggesting that contemporary television has settled into a comfortable but unremarkable phase. According to Panowicz, while modern TV maintains high production values and star-studded casts, it lacks the distinctive uniqueness and memorable qualities that define truly exceptional series.
Defining "Mid TV":
Jim Panowicz (02:02): "Mid TV is okay. TV of the present. That kind of reminds you of great TV of the past. It's got a famous cast, it was shot in fancy locations, it's sleekly produced, it's tasteful, but it's just not especially memorable."
He cites Palm Royale on Apple TV as a prime example:
Jim Panowicz (02:41): "Palm Royale on Apple TV... If you watched the whole thing, you probably forgot that you'd seen it a week later."
Shift from Prestige TV to Mid TV
The conversation transitions to the decline of "prestige TV," a movement that elevated television to an art form with intricate storytelling and complex characters, exemplified by shows like The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. Panowicz attributes this shift to the rise of streaming platforms and their reliance on algorithms to dictate content creation, leading to a flood of "safe bets" rather than innovative storytelling.
Jim Panowicz (04:26): "The algorithm is deciding what you are likely to click on and keep watching to generate those viewing hours for them. And that creates a different kind of incentive... it is going to start suggesting things that you've already, you know, that are like what you just saw."
Challenges Faced by Television
Panowicz expresses concerns about the oversaturation of the market and the difficulty in pitching unique, risk-taking ideas within the current streaming-dominated framework. He emphasizes that while creativity among television artists remains robust, the industry's business model stifles originality.
Jim Panowicz (07:22): "It's this tsunami of familiar, safe content that results in just a deluge of mid TV."
Reasons for Optimism
Despite the challenges, Panowicz remains hopeful about the future of television. He believes that talented creators will persevere and eventually break through the constraints imposed by commercial pressures.
Jim Panowicz (09:06): "Talent will out. There are times in the history of any medium when it gets a little more difficult for talent and originality to find its way... that's what gives me hope."
Television Highlights of 2024
When discussing standout shows, Panowicz highlights We Are Lady Parts and Phantasmas for their originality and creative storytelling.
We Are Lady Parts:
Jim Panowicz (09:42): "It is very much a story that is about trying to make original, outspoken art under the constraints of working for a big entertainment corporation."
Phantasmas:
Jim Panowicz (11:03): "It's a surprising, fun show that makes you pay attention because it's so original. It's the opposite of mid TV."
State of Film in 2024
Shifting focus to film, Manola Dargis critiques the prevalence of sequels and prequels in the top-grossing movies of 2024, a trend she refers to as "sequelitis." She argues that major studios prioritize safe, familiar franchises over innovative storytelling, driven by the same algorithmic influences affecting television.
Manola Dargis (15:14): "This is the current model for the big companies... when you start introducing things like algorithms, at a certain point, it's just going to start suggesting things that you've already, you know, that are like what you just saw."
Top Grossing Movies of 2024
Dargis lists the top-grossing films, predominantly sequels and familiar franchises:
- Inside Out 2
- Deadpool and Wolverine
- Despicable Me 4
- Beetlejuice
- Dune Part 2
- Moana 2
- Godzilla Kong: The New Empire
- Kung Fu Panda 4
Best Films of 2024
Contrasting mainstream trends, Dargis recommends several critically acclaimed films that break away from the sequel norm:
All We Imagine as Light:
Manola Dargis (16:18): "It's an independent film and it's glorious... deeply touching... it is something I have never seen and that I was delighted to see."
Mad Max Saga:
Manola Dargis (18:19): "George Miller uses practical effects rather than relying on just computer-generated imagery. It is beautifully choreographed... it's so wonderful."
Megalopolis:
Manola Dargis (19:32): "It's a wildly ambitious, ungainly, imperfect movie... filled with beautiful imagery and it is kind of nuts in a bit, in a glorious way."
Gladiator Sequel:
Manola Dargis (15:45): "Denzel Washington... one of the great performances of the year."
Current Recommendations for Theaters
Dargis provides recommendations for films currently in theaters, emphasizing their artistic merit and cultural significance:
9-1-5:
Manola Dargis (22:06): "It's about journalistic ethics, and it's really interesting, and I think it's very germane to the moment."
The Brutalist:
Manola Dargis (23:33): "It is an amazing performance... one of the most beautiful, kind of monumental looking."
Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan:
Manola Dargis (24:02): "It's a movie that is going to be talked about in terms of the Oscars... opening a whole new Chalamet chapter."
Conclusion
The episode concludes on an optimistic note, with both critics acknowledging the challenges facing the TV and film industries but expressing faith in the enduring power of talented creators to drive innovation and meaningful storytelling.
Jim Panowicz (12:35): "Talent will out. It may take a little longer sometimes than the others, but talent will out."
Notable Quotes
- Jim Panowicz: "Mid TV is okay. TV of the present... just not especially memorable." (02:02)
- Manola Dargis: "This whole mentality... It's the current model for the big companies." (15:14)
- Jim Panowicz: "The algorithm is deciding what you are likely to click on and keep watching." (04:26)
- Manola Dargis: "It's a deeply touching movie... it's something I have never seen." (16:18)
Final Thoughts
For listeners seeking a comprehensive overview of the current state of television and film, this episode of The Daily offers valuable perspectives from seasoned critics. By highlighting both the saturation of "mid TV" and the resilience of innovative filmmakers, the discussion provides a balanced view of the entertainment industry's trajectory in 2024.