Social Wit List: September 2017

Of all the new programs that launched globally in September, Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief, which aired on multiple networks in the U.S., stirred up the most social-media buzz, according to The WIT.

Hand in Hand ranks first in the top ten most-buzzed-about new shows in social media last month, with the highest number of Facebook and Twitter comments during the premiere episodes (rounded up to the nearest thousand). The live charity special on ABC, CBS, CMT, FOX and NBC brought the entertainment community together to help those affected by hurricane Harvey. Around 327,000 tweets were sent about the show, with much #CelebrityCraze and #DonationTalk but also plenty of chatter about how the country needs to #ComeTogether (and even some gossip about #BiebersHeadband).

Netflix’s Gaga: Five Foot Two generated around 128,000 social-media comments. The documentary about American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga follows the production and release of her fifth studio album, Joanne, and her halftime performance at the Super Bowl. There was much internet buzz about the #WonderfulGaga and how #Honest, #Raw and #Emotional the doc is.

Star Trek: Discovery debuted in the U.S. and saw around 78,000 tweets. The latest series in the popular sci-fi franchise introduces new characters. It launched with a preview on CBS followed by an exclusive run on the SVOD service CBS All Access. (Netflix will stream the show outside the U.S. and Canada.) Viewers took to social media to #PraiseGenderDiversity on the show, with some commenters pointing out the #GreatCharacters or #LoveVisualFX, but also #SomeNarrativeFlaws. While some said they #WontPay for the SVOD, others said the show was #WorthTheWait.

NBC’s launch of Will & Grace stirred up around 77,000 comments. The revival of the beloved sitcom that ran on NBC from 1998 to 2006 had #Thrilled viewers buzzing about the #GreatPlotJump but some thought there was #TooMuchTrumpBashing.

Bizim Hikaye premiered on FOX in Turkey to around 65,000 social-media tweets. A local adaptation of Shameless—which originated in the U.K. and was later remade in the U.S.—the dramedy is about a working-class clan. While there were #AFewPositiveReviews, many commenting about the show thought it was #NotEdgyAtAll and was a #Mockery.

Sky 1 in the U.K. aired #Game4Grenfell and some 58,000 tweets came with it. The celebrity charity football match, in aid of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, featured stars such as Olly Murs, Tinie Tempah and Jarvis Cocker. Those commenting about the broadcast on social media shared that it was an #EnjoyableWatch but were also buzzing about #WhyBooJamieRedknapp, #NotFunnyMattLucasCommentary and #FairPlayToJoseMourinho.

La línea roja on Cuatro in Spain had approximately 42,000 tweets with its debut broadcast. In each episode of the magazine show, a different societal issue is explored from the point of view of two citizens with radically opposite opinions. There were #DividedReviews online. Some believed it was #BraveJournalism and #Relevant, while others called it #Opportunistic and #Biased. It also stirred up a #BurningDebateOnBullfighting.

The premiere of The Good Doctor on ABC had some 38,000 comments. The local adaptation of the South Korean medical drama format of the same name centers on a young surgeon with Savant syndrome who is recruited into the pediatric surgical unit of a prestigious hospital. There was #UnanimousApplause from those tweeting about the #Inspirational show, with many commenting on their #NewFavoriteDoctor and saying the U.S. version is #AsGoodAsTheKoreanDrama.

MTV Unplugged relaunched on MTV in the U.S., and there were around 36,000 comments about the first episode. The reboot of the format that aired on the channel from 1989 to 2014 showcases popular musical artists in acoustic sessions. Shawn Mendes was featured in the opener. While there were some #DisappointedPurists, there was also plenty of #ShawnCraze about the #WonderfulVersions the singer performed.

GMA Network in the Philippines debuted Super Ma’am, which generated approximately 33,000 tweets with its debut episode. The fantasy telenovela is about an odd but soft-hearted, dedicated high school teacher with an alter ego: Super Ma’am, a devil hunter who sets out to save the world. Social media gave it much #Applause for its #Entertaining plot, #GreatActionScenes and lead actress #MarianRivera.

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