Apple Picks Up 'High Desert' TV Show Starring Patricia Arquette and Directed by Ben Stiller

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced its latest Apple TV+ series, "High Desert," an upcoming half-hour comedy from Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette.

"High Desert" will follow Peggy (who will be played by Arquette), a former addict who decides to make a new start after the death of her mother, whom she lived with in the desert town of Yucca Valley, California. Peggy decides to make a life-changing decision to become a private investigator.

Along with starring in the series, Arquette will serve as executive producer, while Ben Stiller will direct and serve as an executive producer as well.

"High Desert" is Apple's second TV series created in partnership with Stiller and Arquette following "Severance," which is an upcoming workplace thriller.

Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month, but Apple is continuing to offer a free year of service to customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch.

Article Link: Apple Picks Up 'High Desert' TV Show Starring Patricia Arquette and Directed by Ben Stiller

 

[DotCom2]

They sure are coming out with a lot of new upcoming shows lately. Might be worth a subscription (or bundle) after all!

 

[Ar40]

Wow! This sounds intriguing. I am really happy with the number of new announced shows by Apple. The future looks promising for TV+.

 

[AllergyDoc]

Here's my advice about Apple TV.

1. Subscribe for one or two months and watch everything you want. (Took us about 2 months, but we don't have kids at home).
2. Cancel
3. Subscribe again when there's enough content to last you a couple of months.
4. Repeat

This way you can watch all the good stuff they offer for about $20 a year, maybe less.

 

[Ar40]

Here's my advice about Apple TV.

1. Subscribe for one or two months and watch everything you want. (Took us about 2 months, but we don't have kids at home).
2. Cancel
3. Subscribe again when there's enough content to last you a couple of months.
4. Repeat

This way you can watch all the good stuff they offer for about $20 a year, maybe less.

That is sound advice. I do the same thing with HBO and Netflix, I only sign up for a month or two at a time until I watch the new series I have interest in and then cancel again. Rolling subscriptions is deff. the way to go.

 

[SevenSeas]

They have a very long road to go to catch up to other streaming services. A lot of good one offs with long release times. It's nice to check every once and a while for content, but that's all, at least for now.

 

[nburwell]

Here's my advice about Apple TV.

1. Subscribe for one or two months and watch everything you want. (Took us about 2 months, but we don't have kids at home).
2. Cancel
3. Subscribe again when there's enough content to last you a couple of months.
4. Repeat

This way you can watch all the good stuff they offer for about $20 a year, maybe less.

Couldn't agree more. I do this with CBS All Access since there are only a couple shows that I watch, so I only end up paying for maybe a month since I always get emails from them offering a free month or two to come back.

I definitely see myself doing this with ATV+ as there just isn't enough content to justify keeping it for $4.99/month. HBO Max and Netflix on the other hand are on the opposite end of the spectrum for me.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I like how they staggered the release of the morning show. It’s how TV was originally designed and gives the mind time to reflect upon each episode, and promotes socializing with others about the show in the meantime. Remember Lost? But having the choice is important.

I agree. I prefer shows that are released once or twice a week. Admittedly, I rarely binge watch.
As a huge Twin Peaks fan I loved discussing each Twin Peaks The Return episode, for a week on reddit and dugpa; it truly gave a sense of community.

 

[apparatchik]

Apple One will save me exactly 1 dollar versus what Im currently subscribed to (Music, Arcade and 50GB iCloud), and, inevitably, though of little interest to me, I will become an "TV+ subscriber" "for free". Sure, once every two months I might open the app on my TV to watch half hour of content. Hopefully a bit more. The point being that by virtue of bundles I'll be a permanent subscriber to this service, as iCloud Storage, Music and Arcade, in that order, I use regularly.

 

[johnnylarue]

Is it okay if I post something that pertains to the thread title, or should I limit my comments to the “Apple TV+ SUCKS!!” variety? 🤣

I’m really optimistic for these Stiller/Arquette collabs. “Escape at Dannemora” is one of the best limited series I’ve seen in the past few years. I’d recommend it to anyone who‘s a fan of downer, gritty 70s-style American dramatic filmmaking... and yes, I’m still surprised and/or totally shocked to be using terms like those to describe a series directed by Ben Stiller. Top notch stuff!

 

[Daws001]

I've been impressed with ATV+ lately. Didn't care for it at launch but Ted Lasso, Trying, and Mythic Quest are good times. I just started the Ewan McGregor motorcycle trip show and am instantly hooked. Keep them coming!

 

[canned_tuna_og]

Anyone watch SEE? This was one of our fav shows of 2019. Just gorgeous cinema. Raised By Wolves fills the void until SEE returns.

 

[Ar40]

Anyone watch SEE? This was one of our fav shows of 2019. Just gorgeous cinema. Raised By Wolves fills the void until SEE returns.

I LOVED See. I don't know how much that says about me, because I loved every single drama/comedy/docuseries/movie/etc. by Apple besides the Oprah stuff, Amazing Stories, Dear, Little Voice, and Truth be Told. That's an 85% record of LOVED series, which for me is unheard of. I can name on two hands the originals I enjoyed on Netflix or HBO in the last five years.

And yes, I have watched every single piece of content on Apple TV+. I paid $50 for the year and decided to get my money's worth. I watched the kids shows too, besides Helpsters (after the first two episodes, to get a taste of the quality).

 

[Apple_Robert]

or, instead of being a freeloader, try a little honesty and support the services you use

this type of behavior kills businesses you know, maybe not Apple, but it’s not supportive behavior

How can he be a freeloader when he is paying for the service while he watches what he wants? Do you even read what people actually say before you start with your rhetoric? I think you owe the doc an apology.

 

[69Mustang]

Appropriately timed content

 

[gregohb]

Wow! This sounds intriguing. I am really happy with the number of new announced shows by Apple. The future looks promising for TV+.

Has any of them been "must see"? It seems to be a cynical attempt to copy Netflix by throwing some money at some celebrities. But nothing looks good to me - with the exception of Greyhound which was purchased after the fact.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Here's my advice about Apple TV.

1. Subscribe for one or two months and watch everything you want. (Took us about 2 months, but we don't have kids at home).
2. Cancel
3. Subscribe again when there's enough content to last you a couple of months.
4. Repeat

This way you can watch all the good stuff they offer for about $20 a year, maybe less.

Like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max etc. but cheaper.

 

[HarryWild]

You cannot get into a PI business without first being in law enforcement anymore. Back 10 years ago you could be an apprentice at a middle or large detective agency and gain experience and apply for your PI license if you pass the write exam.

 

[siddavis]

When you call someone a freeloader and tell the person they need to try some honesty, that is deserving of an apology when you were wrong. You were wrong and rude to the doc. If you can’t see you owe the man an apology, I am not going to waste anymore time talking with you.

Doing the right thing with honor used to mean something.

Nope. In our new world, he gets to tell everyone how to think and spend their money. If they don’t agree, he gets to belittle them into submission. I know this cause I saw it on the news.

 

[Ar40]

Has any of them been "must see"? It seems to be a cynical attempt to copy Netflix by throwing some money at some celebrities. But nothing looks good to me - with the exception of Greyhound which was purchased after the fact.

Yes. Most of Apple’s shows have been must see. TV shows like For All Mankind, Little America, Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest, Servant, Defending Jacob, Dickinson, and Home Before Dark are of the best TV of 2019-2020. They are must see shows. Unfortunately, Apple TV+ is still young and doesn’t have the word of mouth that causes buzz and eventually makes a show branded as “must see,” but this way you get to be the trailblazer who recognized greatness before the masses did. The way the great shows weren’t recognized initially in ratings numbers (see the AMC shows like BB, etc).

 

[crouchingtiger]

My expectations were modest but I was most pleasantly surprised with what I’ve seen so far. The quarantine episode of Mythic quest was brilliant and both touching and uplifting. Dickinson got me reading the poems. The new Ewan McGregor docuseries has been excellent and scratches several different itches for me. Greyhound was great. So far so good, may even subscribe after my free period is done.

 

[garylapointe]

Here's my advice about Apple TV.

1. Subscribe for one or two months and watch everything you want. (Took us about 2 months, but we don't have kids at home).
2. Cancel
3. Subscribe again when there's enough content to last you a couple of months.
4. Repeat

This way you can watch all the good stuff they offer for about $20 a year, maybe less.

Why isn't this your advice for all streaming services? Seems like they should all be on rotation like this..

 

[Ar40]

Why isn't this your advice for all streaming services? Seems like they should all be on rotation like this..

Yes, this is accurate. The streaming service rotation idea DOES apply to all services equally. The only one I make an exception to is Amazon Prime because I keep that for shipping and the other Prime benefits. And with Apple One following a similar service bundle strategy, I will be keeping TV+ throughout the year as well.

But HBO Max, CBS All Access, Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ are purely a month to month decision for me. I have learned not to get attached to any of these services and to only retain them for specific shows/movies, and then, only when those services have fully aired their episodes so I don't have to keep the streaming service for 2-3 months while the show continues airing its full run.

 

[topdrawer]

Why isn't this your advice for all streaming services? Seems like they should all be on rotation like this..

apple tv doesn't have any licensed stuff that may leave the service when you decide to sign up again. something like netflix has 30+ tv shows and movies coming and going every month.

 

[PickUrPoison]

apple tv doesn't have any licensed stuff that may leave the service when you decide to sign up again. something like netflix has 30+ tv shows and movies coming and going every month.

That’s a pretty good point 🙂 It’s the best tool Netflix has to keep customers on the platform continuously, since they don’t have an annual discount plan. But they have a lot of new content and shorter term licensing deals so yeah every month there’s a lot coming, and always some leaving too.

Amazon has the annual Prime discount and a decent bundle of services (though some do subscribe monthly); Apple uses low price, annual discount and weekly episode drops on some series.

Disney... well, parents won’t drop it. They’ve got a good catalog plus it’s a pretty deal, and they have a annual plan too. But not a lot of new content so I’m sure there are a fair number of periodic subscribers.