“Doing television, especially nerd television — two nerds, talking about film culture high and low — means working in a suspended Willy Loman state of feeling “kind of temporary” about yourself (Arthur Miller’s indelible phrase) and your future. The contract says 13 weeks at a time. The marketing chief promises “a soft launch” in terms of promotion, with the implication that “soft” will be the operative word with the promotional follow-through.”