In an attempt to compete with television, Netflix has released to streaming an original production. It's called Lillyhammer & was filmed in Norway.
The show is a humorous look at a gangster played by Steven Van Zandt who turns against an enemy & goes into witness protection in Lillehamer, Norway. At current it is only being streamed, with DVD's to come later. There are 8 45 minute episodes, all available on Netflix.
The show is a "fish out of water" comedy, with the majority of the cast being Norwegian actors speaking the language with subtitles. It flows quite well & kept my interest throughout. It's original & as one reviewer said is a cross between The Sopranos & Fargo.
Now comes the question. Is this the future of programming? Can Netflix & Hulu (which also has an original production coming) compete with the networks & cable? Is the audience going to be big enough to make this a profitable or at least a break even idea? I'm sure the media outlets will be looking to see what happens. If enough people watch this show, it is conceivable that this could become a new business model. The networks won't go away, but doing it this way means an extra competitor. Plus the fact that this is not a Hollywood production, but rather a Norwegian one should worry the big boys.
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