The Silver Screen Oasis

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well, it’s been a great 18 1/2 years, but my job was cut in a company restructure recently which means tomorrow is my last day at TCM. Very grateful to anyone who supported my programming work over the years, including <a href="https://twitter.com/TCMUnderground?ref_ ... rground</a>. Means a lot!</p>— Millie De Chirico (@milliedechirico) <a href=" 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Are they going to discontinue Underground, or just not have a programmer specifically for that any longer?

I know a lot of die-hards hated it, but Underground programming reached out to a lot of viewers who would otherwise have been indifferent to TCM, and it helped make new fans of the channel.

LawrenceA wrote: ↑December 22nd, 2022, 3:34 pm Are they going to discontinue Underground, or just not have a programmer specifically for that any longer?

I know a lot of die-hards hated it, but Underground programming reached out to a lot of viewers who would otherwise have been indifferent to TCM, and it helped make new fans of the channel.

Don't know yet. I actually pulled off that tweet, thinking the replies might provide some explanation, but they were mostly responses of people lamenting that she had been let go. It would seem strange to discontinue Underground since they just published a book highlighting it, but stranger things have happened, I guess. If so, I'll kind of miss it. I caught some films in that block that I otherwise would not have had the chance to see.

I wonder what this means for the rest of the channel as well. Noir Alley and Underground have been preempted both on Christmas and New Years this year.

LawrenceA wrote: ↑December 22nd, 2022, 3:34 pm
I know a lot of die-hards hated it, but Underground programming reached out to a lot of viewers who would otherwise have been indifferent to TCM, and it helped make new fans of the channel.

It’s presumptuous but I always assumed it was the main programming block for which you got TCM and signed up to their website for.

LostHorizons wrote: ↑December 22nd, 2022, 10:01 pm
It’s presumptuous but I always assumed it was the main programming block for which you got TCM and signed up to their website for.

I understand your assumption, but no, I had usually seen everything on Underground. Plus, I never had to sign up for TCM, it was always included in my cable packages (although at a higher tier than basic), and when they did make it a pay channel in my area, I stopped receiving it.

My interest in TCM was for the more obscure classic films, as well as Silent Sundays and TCM Imports, as TCM was the sole reliable source for those for many years.

I was very sad to learn that Millie will no longer be a part of the TCM Underground programming or part of the TCM staff. Her contributions were monumental, and she had a unique style that helped promote TCM Underground.

Sue Sue Applegate wrote: ↑January 4th, 2023, 9:32 pm I was very sad to learn that Millie will no longer be a part of the TCM Underground programming or part of the TCM staff. Her contributions were monumental, and she had a unique style that helped promote TCM Underground.

Yes, apparently part of WB Discovery's cost cutting moves. She was laid off just days before Christmas...

https://deadline.com/2022/12/tcm-underg ... 235205414/

And such miserable timing.

https://ew.com/movies/turner-classic-mo ... RQx8DtuRF4

The TCM Hosts are saying for now the channel is safe, for the time being at least. It probably does help that the new boss is seemingly an avid fan of the channel. Of course, the article includes a plug for that wine club.....

While it's bad for someone to lose their job, I always thought Underground was a misnomer. A more accurate title would
have been Low-Budget Semi-Grade Z Drive-In Fare, but that would have been too much of a mouthful for branding purposes.

Andree wrote: ↑January 27th, 2023, 5:13 pm While it's bad for someone to lose their job, I always thought Underground was a misnomer. A more accurate title would
have been Low-Budget Semi-Grade Z Drive-In Fare, but that would have been too much of a mouthful for branding purposes.

Totally agree!!

Once in a while something interesting turns up, but, at least to me, it's mostly just mediocre flicks that should have
been allowed to die a quiet death.