If I were to compile a Top 10 list of the most positive developments within the world of entertainment, somewhere on it would be an entry that reads: The Walmart/Procter & Gamble Family Movie Nights films.
Although these two companies’ pockets are deep, no corporate entity wants to put out a product that nosedives among consumers. Let’s face it, moviemaking isn’t exactly Walmart’s and P&G’s sweet spot. Nonetheless, these two giant conglomerates put up significant dollars to make films the whole family can watch together. (No small feat!) To date, they’ve made five—and I’ve enjoyed them all. The fifth one, Truth Be Told, just aired this past Saturday on Fox. (All five have aired within the past 12 months.)
Early Nielsen ratings say 2.3 million people tuned in to watch Truth. While that represents a lot of folks, it’s still a relatively small number for a major network—and way less than it deserved! It’s my guess that there’s coming a time when these two companies will need to defend their filmmaking decision to their stockholders. Simply responding that they “want to take back the family hour” may not be sufficient.
By the way, I sat down and wrote P&G CEO Robert McDonald a letter over the weekend, applauding him for supporting these films. (I personally mentioned it to Ben Simon of Walmart a few months ago when we crossed paths.) You may want to consider doing something similar.
I’m curious, did you watch Truth Be Told? If you did, what are your thoughts? If not, why not? With so many people saying they want more positive TV programming, why do you think 298,000,000 Americans didn’t tune in?
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