Trailer for Netflix's New Series Lilyhammer

Netflix is launching a new exclusive series in February called Lilyhammer (press release). The show stars Steve Van Zandt as a mobster in the witness protection program who is relocated to Norway. Here's the trailer:

All 8 episodes of Lilyhammer from the first season will be available on February 6th. Here's the official blurb about the show:

"Lilyhammer," follows New York mobster Frank "The Fixer" Tagliano as he enters the federal witness protection program after ratting on his boss. A sports fan, Frank wants to make his new life in Lillehammer, the Norwegian town that hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics – or as he calls it "Lilyhammer." Frank has visions of a paradise of "clean air, fresh white snow and gorgeous broads" far away from the temptations of the Big Apple and from mob hit men. Reality, of course, turns out to be spectacularly different.

Comments

[AP]

I don't really like the idea of Netflix starting to produce content, seems like an extreme win/lose proposition. If you love the show that's good, but if you don't love the show, it's pretty much useless to you.

It's really a different business than delivering content.

[Ethan]

This show looks alright, but I'm more looking forward to that Eli Roth produced horror show.

Original content gives people a reason to keep their subscriptions.

I'm not really into those CBS, FOX, NBC shows. I prefer HBO, Showtime, AMC, FX. They are more edgy.

[J]

They're obviously trying to match HBO with regards to original content, and they have a considerable amount of work to do...

Does it say anywhere where they will release new episodes weekly?

[Anthony]

I think they are just giving you the whole first season on Feb 6th according to the article which seems a bit weird, but hey I can't complain. I may check this out.

[Daniel L]

I actually think that short, mini seasons offered all at once online is the future of TV. Think about how many people prefer to watch TV shows now...from episode 1 of season 1 all the way through to the end, in order, back to back over the course of a few weeks or months.

Studios should adapt to this and start to make TV seasons contain fewer episodes, but they should produce seasons more often. Also, as a new season is finished, the entire season should be made available at once online.

For example, there could be 4 new Law and Order seasons in 2012, each about 6 episodes long, with one season released every 3 months. Netflix is on the right track with this new show, in terms of how they have chosen to release it.

[Briankb]

This seems really out of place and about 4 years late. The Sopranos series ended mid 2007.

They should work on providing SOLID streaming and not sending broke disks instead of gambling on this stuff.

As far as original programming they would be far better off restarting something like V. Which was good but never quite finished. Which would have an immediate audience.

[Matt]

I would never watch it... how many T.V. shows or movies could they have bought to stream with the money to make this?

[Daniel K]

Looks like fun, can't wait to see it.

[Edward R Murrow]

This is the equivalent of going all in while playing poker at a table where everyone that you're playing against has deeper pockets than you.

I'm not sure why Netflix would voluntarily abandon their sweet spot which is an efficient DVD rental biz model through the US Post Office.

Is it an ego thing with the Netflix executive team trying to prove they weren't simply lucky to be in the right place at the right time 10+ years ago?

[Judy]

It sounds like a dozen other shows except for being in Norway. :<

I'm not against new content if Netflix can afford to play that game -- but couldn't it be a little edgier and more contemporary. Mob stuff and NYC stuff has been so overdone by so many. A view of Norway from the US is not nearly as interesting as the Norwegian view of the US would be.

[Gran]

Judy, really??? You've not even seen it.

[jheartney]

Edward R Murrow

You do know that the post office is about to stop Saturday delivery, and cut back on its infrastructure such that the old Netflix disc delivery schedule will be out the window, right?

Streaming is the future of content. With this series Netflix puts a toe in the water of original content creation. While I doubt HBO is shaking in their boots, I think Hastings is playing a long game, as usual. The idea is that the cable delivery model is going into decline, and as it does, so will HBO's dominant position. No idea if he will win, but I'll say one thing for Hastings - he's not afraid to roll the dice.

[Nate]

LOL - it is going to be VERY interesting how the "establishment" responds to Netflix original content. Will the Saturn Awards/Emmys ignore Netflix original programming? If they do, will shows ignore Netflix and go back to the status quo of HBO/Sho/FX/AMC/Etc because writers/directors/producers covet these awards? What about product placement? It factors into shows, but will companies be willing to pay up based on hits or are they so entrenched with Nielson numbers? It's gonna be interesting to say the least, I just hope we get some good content in the meantime.

[Dan]

Netflix is just TRYING to be competitive, give them a fucking BREAK! Netflix must morph into an HBO like streaming service to survive. Period.

[FearNo1]

Important step for netflix. With original content, they don't have to deal with international licensing, HD, captioning, etc issues. The main concern is whether the show is actually good to viewers.

[WakkaWakka]

"This is the equivalent of going all in while playing poker at a table where everyone that you're playing against has deeper pockets than you."

That's not exactly true. Your analogy should be:
This is the equivalent of going all in while playing poker at a table where everyone that you're playing against doesn't have deeper pockets than you and 1 guy besides you has as deep of pockets.

[ts]

Original content and streaming are the future. Disc by mail, while not dead, is becoming less and less relevant. NF is moving forward and not resting on it's laurels or stuck in an old delivery model. I'm sure they'll continue to mail out discs for some time to come but it is no longer the main focus of the company. They are evolving w/ the technology which is important for any business to do. There are analysts that believe NF cannot survive in this new frontier. The theory being Amazon, VUDU and Apple will do it better. Time will tell as always but for now NF offers a great service at a great price.

[Tvaddic]

Netflix should of released the episodes on a weekly basis. Customers would have to have a subscription for 2 months, if they wanted to watch this series. I could get a free trial, watch the series, then I'm done. Maybe they are worried about a bunch of people going to a certain movie at once.

[mtouchto]

This show looks hilarious. It does not matter that it seems that Van Zant is pretty much playing the same character he played in The Sopranos in a different setting. Creating new programming, especially series, would seem to be a perfect fit for Netflix as I have used Netflix for years to catch up with great shows I never got around to when they originally aired. And if the quality of this show is anywhere near the trailer, I think this is a great start.

[Robert Emmerich]

I don't know. I know he was in The Sopranos, but Steve Van Zandt reminds me of Alfred Molina with an artificial tan, toupee and fake nose trying to channel Paul Sorvino. Having part of the trailer be a send-up of a Discover Card commercial doesn't bode well either. It's like making a tv show of a movie based on a bad Saturday night live skit.
I applaud nf for trying, and I'll probably even watch the first episode to try it out, but then nf will pull it without warning and I'll never be able to see the rest.

[Riverside Guy]

All of the cable based "premiums" started out as simply delivery services. Then, HBO started branching out into original programming, while the others took a wait and see view. By now we can see what a good move that was (and eventually, all the others jumped onto that band wagon). So while NF has such a huge share of their market, doing original programming is simply following what has worked brilliantly before. Their challenge now is to make really good stuff!

[SmithCommaJohn]

This looks pretty mediocre, to be honest. I doubt it will be terrible, but that trailer did absolutely nothing to get me excited about the show. But, hey, it's new content at no additional cost to me, and maybe it will be better than the trailer lets on.

[Edward R Murrow]

Netflix was successful in building a 'moat' around the DVD rental biz model due to the high cost of another company building out an extensive DVD library that could rival the Netflix library. Yeah, I get the whole thing about reduced service from the USPS.

The deep pocket streaming competitors that Netflix can't match would be HBO, Apple, Amazon, Disney, etc. It's just a matter of time before these companies jump into the streaming biz model with both feet.

BTW, you don't have to search very hard on the internet to stream the same content for free that Netflix charges for.

[jheartney]

Netflix was successful in building a 'moat' around the DVD rental biz model due to the high cost of another company building out an extensive DVD library that could rival the Netflix library.

I think the real barrier was building up the infrastructure to get deliveries done fast, and to have the inventory logistics down such that you could have enough titles available when customers wanted them.

The deep pocket streaming competitors that Netflix can't match would be HBO, Apple, Amazon, Disney, etc. It's just a matter of time before these companies jump into the streaming biz model with both feet.

Unless they pool their libraries and abandon the PPV payment model, they are not going to get much headway. HBO and Disney don't have enough depth of titles on their own to make their streaming service have enough value to be viable, while Apple and Amazon are too invested in charging for every view. Netflix has already built the infrastructure, library and user base; the others will have a hard time catching up.

BTW, you don't have to search very hard on the internet to stream the same content for free that Netflix charges for.

If you're willing to go pirate, yeah, you can find all that stuff and more. Aside from legal/ethical issues, though, the piracy user experience is not good (and nobody has an incentive to make it better). With Netflix, you have more content than you could ever find time to watch, all ready to go with no hassle.

[Judy]

Gran says: "Judy, really??? You've not even seen it."

I've seen the trailer. If those are the best clips it will be dumb.

[Edward R Murrow]

I don't think you have to pirate content. You can go to Hulu.com, abc.com, nbc.com, cbs.com, etc. - episodes are all there and available to stream.

[SMM]

Given the right amount of time I think this mini series can actually compete.seems likable.;)

[TPU]

This man is unattractive. They need a show with sexy people who are nice to look at.

[A Facebook User]

@Briankb
The new V tanked on TV. Why would it do any better on Netflix?

@Edward R Murrow
The DVD-by-mail business model will quite possibly be nonexistent in 10 years. Think about it. Weren't we just watching on VHS tapes 10 years ago? DVDs got 20 years life expectancy, max.

@Tvaddic
I think they're just trying to get viewership...or at least noticeable increases in streaming of their specifically produced content. If that works (that is...people watch) we may see the addition of what your mentioning. A new model will be born. People will be turning into Netflix like network channels for original content on specified nights and times. "Wow!" I say.

@Riverside Guy
Right on the money, man!

@Edward R Murrow
The content won't be there past 3 or 4 weeks if you watch the major network sites. Hulu has to pay for their streaming and has mostly NBC...not full season mind you.

[Judy]

A lot of shows that tanked on TV do pretty well on Netflix judging by the ratings - especially sci-fi. It's a different audience. Something Reed Hastings forgot.

And some hits in their original media venue fizzle on Netflix.

[Peepo]

how about netflix jumping on board the new live action star wars?... giving Lucas total control that he wants but won't get from HBO and Showtimes...