As the broadcast networks continue releasing clips from and information about their 2019-20 freshmen series, MediaVillage looks at what to expect in their fall and mid-season lineups.  (Note: The comments below are not reviews.)  There are eleven new shows centered on those reliable broadcast staples, cops and lawyers.  Family life follows, with a combined ten comedies and dramas.  Starting over after losing it all isn’t a new theme, but it’s a proven draw that has inspired four new comedies and four new dramas.  Four new genre/sci-fi/supernatural series are on the way, and there will be plenty of annoying parents and in-laws, too.

From the early black and white flickering images by the Lumière brothers to the demanding fans of Game of Thrones, the business of storytelling is about visceral emotions, and "nothing captures emotion and builds connection better than the sight, sound and motion of video," according to Maggie Zhang, Senior Vice President, Video Research & Insights at Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN).  The world of video has become increasingly complex, creating innovative breakthroughs for brands to connect and communicate with consumers in brand new ways.  This rapid pace of disruption requires ninja-like focus to cut through the ever-expanding labyrinth of technologies and new players on the one hand and the unrelenting appetite for content from discerning audiences on the other.

In conjunction with WorldPride NYC 2019 and Stonewall 50, WarnerMedia will be hosting Queer City: A CNN Experience, an exhibit produced by Courageous Studios and created in partnership with BMW of North America and Procter & Gamble.  The celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which occurred in New York City's Greenwich Village.

YouTube Originals is celebrating Pride Month with the debut of State of Pride, a coast-to-coast exploration of LGBTQ+ Pride events. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman and hosted by journalist Raymond Braun, the feature-length documentary gives audiences an intimate look at the LGBTQ+ experience through a diverse range of perspectives and personalities. They include Jaye, a young gay woman attending her first Pride in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Jackie, a teenaged transwoman attending Trans Pride in San Francisco; Subhi, a gay Syrian man attending LGBTQ+ Pride, also in San Francisco, and Carson, a gay Mormon man in Salt Lake City with a powerful story about recovering from a spinal injury.

The sheer number of rainbow avatars from brands as I casually scrawl through Twitter is my first indication of how the annual Pride celebration is now fully mainstream.  This is the first year I can recall Pride being a ubiquitous brand activation opportunity.  In the wake of the 50th anniversary of the watershed Stonewall Uprising that is mostly credited with launching the gay rights movement the fact that brands are present in the celebration is a testament to how far we have come.  Brand engagement with the LGBTQ community for Pride Month is coming into its own but still has room for meaningful impact.

Fifty years ago, the Stonewall riots ignited a tumultuous journey towards achieving equality for the world's LGBTQ+ community.  We are still on that journey and although much work remains to be done, there have been some significant milestones we can all be inspired by. During June's Pride Month, the symbolic support for the community is ubiquitous.  Companies have jumped on the bandwagon with a prismatic show of rainbow-branded and love-themed products, storefronts and experiences.  Brands strive to be culturally relevant and showcase a deeper purpose than just making money -- and what better way than aligning with a cause that the coveted Millennial segment deeply cares about and showcase it vibrantly across every fabric of daily life  -- from mouthwash to socks.