Netflix has a new heavyweight viewership champion, reports streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.

THE long-awaited live action adaptation of “One Piece” has smashed records, racing to the top of the platform’s rankings.

In its first few days of release, the show – based on the popular manga and anime of the same name – has become the number one series in 84 countries.

That beats out “The Addams Family” inspired hit “Wednesday” and sci-fi nostalgia trip “Stranger Things”, which each managed to take out the top spot in 83 countries.

When the numbers are crunched, the viewership of “One Piece” comes out at about 18 million people worldwide, racking up more than 140 million hours of viewing and that’s just in a few weeks.

So what makes this new show, based on a Japanese cartoon, such a hit?

Anyone familiar with “One Piece” will likely be aware of its sheer longevity.

The manga about a motley crew of pirates in search of the greatest treasure of all time first hit shelves 25 years ago and has since gathered more than 106 volumes spanning more than 1000 chapters.

Then, in 1999, its first animated TV adaptation arrived and today is still ongoing with more than 1000 episodes under its belt as well.

That sort of shelf life has managed to garner the franchise millions of fans.

Now, Netflix’s new version has taken the popular characters and cast them with real actors, attempting to capture fans of the original show and a whole new demographic of viewers who are less inclined to animation.

It’s clear Netflix sees the potential here. If a manga and anime can secure that amount of popularity for so long, can a live-action version as well?

So far the response is promising. Many say the magic of the source material hasn’t been lost in transition to its newest iteration. An impressive feat indeed.

The success of “One Piece” might indeed show that the good, old-fashioned adventure tale is in for a resurgence. It’s a fun, mostly straightforward story about a quest for the ultimate pirate’s booty and it’s clear Netflix has found some treasure indeed.

SEASON three of Apple TV Plus’ slick drama series “Morning Wars” is back this month.

This popular drama touts the starpower of Steve Carell and Jennifer Aniston in its lead roles.

While the duo may be considered sitcom royalty, here they put their dramatic acting talent on full display while also leaning into their comedic timing when the script requires.

They’re Mitch Kessler and Alex Levy, the two anchors of “The Morning Show” – America’s leading breakfast program.

Their brand of “on-air husband and wife” (as they label themselves) is prolific as it is popular, their faces plastered over the light-up billboards that dominate Manhattan’s skyline.

But things are thrown into turmoil in the show’s opening minutes when Kessler is accused of sexual misconduct and fired just two hours before their program goes to air, leaving his co-anchor to host by herself and work out just how she’ll address the issue in front of millions of inquisitive viewers.

The series has managed to score close to a dozen Emmy nominations, including for Carrell, Aniston and Reese Witherspoon who joins the cast as one of the show’s plucky reporters.

Over its two seasons thus far “Morning Wars” has managed to keep audiences coming back with its relentless pursuit of anything topical. From the #metoo movement to racial tokenism to the covid pandemic, the show tries hard to press almost every hot-button issue that it can. In the process it loses a sharp focus on any one particular avenue of commentary, but the quick turnover of subject matter keeps it fresh.

This newest set of episodes and what issues they choose to tackle will be key in determining the longevity of the series.

In saying as much, Apple TV Plus faces a similar quandary to that of the show’s fictional producers.

Can “Morning Wars” continue to resonate or will the ratings slide?