Anthology shows are one of my favorite subgenres (see: Ranking Movie Genres – What are YOUR Favorite Genres?) and Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories in the 80s was a softer, more fantasy-based morality anthology show than the harder sci-fi of The Outer Limits and the deep, introspective, twisty, turny The Twilight Zone.
The 80s Amazing Stories featured stories by Richard Matheson, which also contributed to The Twilight Zone. I remember some episodes being a bit too overly-sentimental (Spielberg’s Achilles heel), but some were strong.
Subscribers to Apple TV+ can watch the rebooted Amazing Stories (2020) which has a 10 episode run starting on March 6.
The reboot the 1980s sci-fi anthology series kicks off its new trailer by teasing five different stories involving superheroes, aliens and weird anomalies in the sky. Scenes from the trailer are bracketed by the phrase, “The beloved series returns with five unique stories.” Amazing Stories also features the late Robert Forster’s final acting role.
Apple TV Drops Trailer for Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories
Shudder has the Creepshow reboot, Apple TV+ gets Amazing Stories and, yes, Steven Spielberg is executive producer, but haven’t seen if he’s actually directing any episodes. Spielberg got his directorial start with the episode “Eyes” on Rod Serling’s Night Gallery anthology show. Good episode, too, for those who haven’t seen.
With Harley Quinn wrapping up its final episode of the season one this Friday, 2/21/2020 and Star Trek: Picard half-way through its first season run, I am contemplating whether or not to sign up for an Apple TV+ subscription. Based on the trailer and the strength of at least some of the original show, I’m interested.
The service itself doesn’t seem to offer anything else except originals, which is at least a unique way to launch a streaming channel. Good old Apple, doing things its way still, even in the absence of Steve Jobs. No other streaming movies or TV shows, only original content. Hmm, so you’re paying $4.99/month for access to how many shows? 9 at launch, according to this article.
One of the most noteworthy is The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon launched on Apple TV+ its first season on November 1, 2019 with the first three episodes bingeable and then the remaining seven at one per week. The first season concluded on December 20, 2019.
Binge vs. Weekly Releases — Which one is better?
Call me a purist, but I’m more a fan of releasing new episodes weekly like TV has done vs. the Netflix binge model (all episodes in a season dropped at once). I enjoy looking forward to something new released each week. There are pros and cons to waiting, sure, but impatience isn’t generally considered a healthy trait. There is a good related discussion at the DC Universe community boards, see: Bingeing vs. weekly release
I looked around but didn’t see if Apple TV+ are going to binge drop the entire Amazing Stories (2020) season of 10 episodes or release a new one every Friday or do something in between like they did with The Morning Show. Anybody reading know yet? Looks to me like the first episode is all that’s dropping on March 6. That contains five stories, so it will be a pretty meaty episode vs. Creepshow which only had two stories each episode.
UPDATE 8:13am PST: Hollywood reporter article says the first five episodes are dropping, so, assuming this is accurate, each story is a standalone episode. They also indicate there is no idea when the other five episodes will drop.
The episodic anthology Amazing Stories is set to bow March 6 with its first five episodes, though there was no information about when the remainder of the series from executive producer Steven Spielberg will return.
Apple Solidifies Its Spring TV+ Slate
Anybody reading already have Apple TV+? They offered the first year to those who bought various Apple gadgets. Am sure that applies to some readers. What shows do you like on there? Tell us your experience with the service thus far it in the comments.
Movies, Movies, Movies 
Ugh. Another remake?
I’m… Amused by the trailer. Am I willing to get a subscription to Apple Tv+? It’s pretty unlikely. I am ready to dive into what the Creepshow adaptation has to offer, though.
My The Peanuts Movie Review is going to be dropped early in the morning on Friday. Hope you can check it out. If I seem to disappear from visiting, I am going to Disneyland this weekend with my family to celebrate two birthdays.
Sorry I wrote a bunch! Later.
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Well, maybe if you have a new iPhone or iPad then you already get the subscription for a year(?) Yeah, all too many remakes on the slate. The people with the $$$ love the remakes. They just don’t seem to want to take chances on anything new. Then again, Spielberg is involved, I hope he does more than “executive producer” — maybe he writes and directs. That would get me really excited for this one.
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I’ll check it out now that they’ve launched.
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