The elites love ‘Succession,’ but Trump-world-set ‘Yellowstone’ is TV’s most addictive show

NY Post ^ | 17 Nov 2021 | John Podhoretz

[Rummyfan]

To judge by the passions and interests of the Twitterati and those who dominate the cultural conversation in the United States, you would think the most important, most beloved, most addictive show on television is HBO’s “Succession.”

Its third-season premiere in October was watched by 1.8 million people — an all-time high for the show (so says The Hollywood Reporter) that was “driven largely by digital platforms and HBO Max in particular.”

If you learned about America’s cultural habits only from the Twitterati, you would never know that the most important, most beloved and most addictive show on television — by the account not of the chattering classes but actual American television viewers — is, in fact, “Yellowstone.”

That show’s fourth-season premiere, on a hard-to-find basic cable channel called the Paramount Network, was watched by 12 times as many people as “Succession” — 14.7 million, according to Nielsen. It was the highest-rated fictional program in all of television last week; only sports broadcasts topped it.

There’s no way to stream a new episode right after it airs. You watch it when it’s on, or you tape it, or you miss it. What’s more, it doubled its viewership from its season premiere last year.

To offer a contrast: The audience for “Succession” rose 200,000, an increase of about 15 percent. “Yellowstone” grew by 5.5 million.

[mmichaels1970]

I found it in the cable listings - is it hard to catch up with the plot and characters?

I'd say you would be missing a ton if you jumped in without watching the previous seasons. Might be very difficult to understand the whens, whys, and whos involved.

If you absolutely can't, or won't, try to dig up the first three seasons, it may still be worth watching.

If it were me, and I didn't want to find sketchy alternative methods to find it, I'd consider paying the $4.99/month for two months to get Peacock Premium, while letting Season 4 queue up in the DVR, and then cancel once you're caught up.

If you're nervous about the $10 to get caught up, I think you CAN stream season 1 episode 1 for free from Peacock before committing. Bunch of people here said they didn't like the first episode though. So you might decide not to move forward from there.

[RatRipper]

I have watched it a few times. Not a fan. It’s in the rear-view mirror now.

[Sans-Culotte]

Yellowstone is Godfather on the range.

Interesting. I assumed it was just the new Dallas.

[Magnum44]

I have found that since there is nothing of value on regular TV anymore, that between Netflix, Amazon, or Roku, you can find lots of old (decent) television shows to binge through and some hidden gems in the new content. I avoid anything that goes past a single season just because I do want a conclusion at some point and most shows just drag it out until its dropped and you never get a conclusion or by the time you do they have beaten the horse dead.

The one season thrillers from Harlan Cobin (The Stranger, Safe, The Woods, The Five), Russian Doll, American Horror Story (more than a season but each season is its own story) are all excellent. The Righteous Gemstones was gut wrenching funny and entertaining as well.

[mmichaels1970]

That's my litmus test and I'm sure Kosner will have a boyfriend in the shows future.

You are correct about the "F Bombs". You are incorrect about the boyfriend.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Whatever.

[mmichaels1970]

I have found that since there is nothing of value on regular TV anymore

I agree with that assessment completely. I do not watch your traditional "big three" networks at all except for perhaps Bobs Burgers and Family Guy.

[Chode]

Costner wanted pete buttplug/settled for biden, but is smart enough not to let it ruin the show, so far...

[BiglyCommentary]

PBS Masterpiece has had some really good series. I like period pieces. And you are right, 842 channels and yet often it’s hard to find quality things to watch.

[Magnum44]

I have never been a PBS fan, and I am in the ‘defund PBS’ camp, so they may have some redeeming shows that I will probably never get to. What I recall, and this is very dated, is PBS was like watching daytime soaps (cheesy sets, bad or weird lighting, marginal acting, etc). If you had specific recommendations I might check them out.

[Samurai_Jack]

Beth’s gettin pretty beat up!

[1Old Pro]

Bunch of people here said they didn't like the first episode though. So you might decide not to move forward from there.

I didn't like the first episode of Seinfeld.

[1Old Pro]

Yellowstone is good but is very predictable.

What happens next week?

[moonhawk]

Hey, thanks for the tip!!

[moonhawk]

Raylan would just shoot them...”

Now THAT was a show.

[Samurai_Jack]

Words of Wisdom from Beth to Karen!

“Lady, you crave trouble, you just don’t want resistance. And if you don’t want resistance around here you just mind your business.”

[Kartographer]

I have to say its been a long time since I read a thread with so many replies by pompas asses about how loathsome the subject of the post is or boastfully bragging how little they know of the subject.

[southernindymom]

I know! But we set there and watched and just kept hoping it would get more interesting. Game of Thrones, Outlander, Poldark..... have loved them and was really hoping for another good “series” type show..... maybe we will give it another try.

[Engedi]

Watch Poldark. It’s incredible series. MASTERPIECE PBS.

[BiglyCommentary]

Yup, did Poldark. Awesome.