The Weinstein Company
The networks aren’t being very jolly this week, with only one decade providing any new programming … and the bulk of those were duelling Christmas moves and one special. One short-live reality series premiered on cable TV, and Netflix dumped a whole lot of money into a historical epic series which ultimately did not pay off, even after two seasons. Take a look at the shows and movies that premiered this week and tell us if you remember any of them.
1954
- No new series premiered this week in 1954.
1964
- No new series premiered this week in 1964.
1974
- No new series premiered this week in 1974.
1984
- No new series premiered this week in 1984.
1994
- No new series premiered this week in 1994.
2004
- No new series premiered this week in 2004.
2014
Hallmark Channel
- December 12 – Wake Up Call (TNT, One season, 8 episodes)
- December 12 – Marco Polo (Netflix, Two seasons, 20 episodes, 1 special)
- December 13 – A Christmas Kiss II (ION, TV movie)
- December 13 – Best Christmas Party Ever (Hallmark Channel, TV movie)
- December 14 – The Christmas Parade (Hallmark Channel, TV movie)
- December 14 – A Perfect Christmas List (ION, TV movie)
- December 14 – Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years (ABC, TV special)
Netflix cancelled Marco Polo after two seasons in a joint decision with the producers, The Weinstein Company, after losing $200 million on the production. The series had originally been developed at Starz, which gave up on the project after attempts to film in China failed. The first 10-episode season cost about $90 million, making it the second most expensive TV series in the world after Game of Thrones. Stuntman Ju Kun was assisting with fight choreography but was a passenger on Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014. Some claimed the show was riddled with historical inaccuracies, but others have stated it was more accurate than other foreign productions. The show’s theme music was nominated for an Emmy Award.
HGTV star Drew Scott makes an appearance in The Christmas Parade as a property salesman, a job he also holds in real life.
Share this post
