Sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
Arts & Entertainment

Successful Bet On 'Shogun' Could Be A Game Changer

A man shows down the middle of the street as a car chases him.
Vince Staples plays himself in the new comedy "The Vince Staples Show." The show is filmed entirely in Long Beach.
(
Courtesy Netflix
)

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.

Topline:

The FX series "Shogun," adapted from the 1975 novel by James Clavell, has become that rare thing of prestige television that’s also widely viewed.

Why it matters: As The Ankler’s Katey Rich writes, "In an era when some people are wondering if Gen Z’s “sludge content” is the future, a successful bet on long attention spans is an outright miracle.“

 
Second-season drama: Shogun has been picked up for another season after the lavishly produced series set in 17th Century Japan garnered excellent ratings and critical plaudits. Its success prompted Disney CEO Bob Iger (FX is a division within the larger entertainment conglomerate) to praise the show as well to investors as a signal of the company’s commitment to creative excellence.

 

Sponsored message

Second-order effects: With a second season, Shogun will compete for awards (such as the forthcoming Emmys) against other multi-season drama series, such as Netflix’s The Crown and Apple TV+‘s The Morning Show. With the show’s departure from the limited series category, a wide array of programs — from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and Ripley to FX’s own Fargo and Feud: Capote vs. the Swans — now have greater opportunity to be recognized. The fate of these programs as well as the fortunes of their makers are all impacted by this single decision.

 

An era-defining show: The last show to command as much acclaim and audience as Shogun was HBO’s Game of Thrones. Shogun is attempting to break GoT’s record for most Emmy nominations in a single year. In the same way that the dragon epic ushered in a decade of elevated fantasy storytelling on television, Shogun’s success could influence the television landscape for a long time to come.

 

For more . . . read the full story on The Ankler.

 

This story is published in partnership with The Ankler, a paid subscription publication about the entertainment industry.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Chip in now to fund your local journalism

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right