‘Goonies’ cast, ‘Flintstones’ rescue TV viewers in pandemic

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In “A Parks and Recreation Special,” Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope refuses to let social distancing undermine her friendships, trusting in the “power of community to hold people together” and in government as a force for good, both timely themes, sitcom co-creator Mike Schur told a teleconference.

Networks are surveying the emotional climate and responding.

Throughout May, CBS is bringing back its Sunday movie showcase, a longtime fixture that ended nearly 14 years ago. “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the lead-off film, followed by “Forrest Gump”; “Mission: Impossible”; “Titanic” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (“Titanic” airs 7-11 p.m. EDT, all others 8-11 p.m. Eastern).

To heighten the nostalgia, the network released a “CBS Sunday Night Movies” promotional spot done in an old-school style, as well as original trailers for the films.

“These are the new five big iconic films that we felt our audience would really enjoy,” said Michael Benson, CBS president and chief marketing officer. The network had a bonanza to pick from: another reunion, the 2019 merger that brought CBS Corp. and Viacom back together, gave the network full access to Viacom’s Paramount Pictures film library.

Asked why viewers who could choose to watch popular old movies on streaming or premium cable would tolerate a network’s commercial breaks, Benson had a ready answer.

“The idea of a live communal event that you can actually talk about with your friends immediately after it happens” is the draw, he said, and less of an option with on-demand movies. CBS is using social media to build “excitement about what we’re doing” and encourage viewers to arrange family or virtual viewing parties, Benson said.

The overall rise in viewing with people stuck at home has included a ratings boost for the MeTV channel, with “I Love Lucy,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Flintstones” on its slate of classic shows. According to Nielsen, the channel’s prime-time viewership rose 5 per cent from February to March.

That reflects a need for comfort, said Neal Sabin, executive vice-president of Weigel Broadcasting Co., owner of MeTV and sibling channels including Decades.

“None of us know what’s going to happen in the next six months. But we all know what happens on ‘I Love Lucy’ when she switches jobs with Ricky,” Sabin said. “It makes us feel like we’re in control a little bit.”

A fondly recalled series can draw a crowd, crisis or not, said Schur.

“TV has always functioned, especially comedy, as a sort of sustaining comfort food, where you can visit the people in the world over and over and over and over again,” he said.

Carl Reiner, the 98-year-old creator and co-star of “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” said his 1960s sitcom is an enduring celebration of a family that faces the world together.

“It’s not accidental” that people are watching, Reiner said.

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Lynn Elber can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lynnelber.

Lynn Elber, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

‘Goonies’ cast, ‘Flintstones’ rescue TV viewers in pandemic

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