• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, May 16, 2017

Once upon a time, the lack of a preview movie screening for film critics or a preview screener of an upcoming TV show for TV columnists was considered to be a potential kiss of death for a movie or TV show.

To the critics, a studio or TV network’s refusal to make a movie or TV show available for preview before its release or premiere meant only one thing -- that the studio or network was well aware they had a stinker on their hands.

However, times change. There is no evidence to suggest that this old assumption holds true for the new “Twin Peaks,” which premieres on Showtime next Sunday night (May 21). To be specific, I have no evidence because I have not seen it.

In a very conspicuous break with tradition, Showtime is keeping the lid on “Twin Peaks” by providing no advance screening opportunities for the nation's army of TV scribes to write their reviews in advance of the show’s premiere.

Mystery surrounds this decision. One theory -- other than the “stinker” scenario -- could be that this new “Twin Peaks” is so chock full of thrills, spills and surprises that Showtime is taking no chances that some overly enthusiastic critic will spill the beans or otherwise spoil this incredible television experience for the whole world.

It's a matter of trust -- or the lack thereof, apparently. Boy oh boy, I wish I could get my hands on the critic or critics whose behavior in this regard has besmirched the rest of us and damaged our reputations for writing reviews of TV shows that don't reveal the shows' secret plot points. Perhaps it is their fault that Showtime won't let the rest of us see “Twin Peaks.”

Showtime is playing it so coy that a journalist with access to the network's proprietary press Web site cannot even derive hints of what's to come from the captions on the publicity photos that Showtime posted there for the media's use.

The captions are purposely vague. For example, next to a headshot of Kyle MacLachlan, a caption states: “Kyle MacLachlan in a still from Twin Peaks.” A caption on a photo of a cafe reads only: “A still from Twin Peaks.” Thanks, Showtime, I know it's a “still” -- but what is it a “still” of? I've heard of stingy publicity departments, but this is ridiculous.

Well, at least we know from the photos and the advance press material (such as it is) that Kyle MacLachlan is back. Other cast members from the original “Twin Peaks” of 25 years ago are back too, including Harry Goaz, Michael Horse, Kimmy Robertson, Madchen Amick, Peggy Lipton and probably some others. There are pictures of all of them -- sorry, I mean “stills.”

The production of this new “Twin Peaks” has been overseen by the auteur of the original series, David Lynch. This gives fans of both “Twin Peaks” and Lynch hope that the new updated version will be well worth waiting for, whether TV critics get to see it in advance or not.

According to late word last Friday from Showtime, there is to be a screening in L.A. of the first two episodes of the new “Twin Peaks” later this week before the premiere on Showtime.

Journalists planning to attend have been commanded not to post their reviews and stories until 11 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday (May 21) after the episodes have had a chance to air on Showtime.

I certainly do hope that no ornery West Coast critic jumps the gun, spoiling it for the rest of us.