Verizon Media is providing the USO free use of its digital media streaming platform to help deliver its famous tours virtually.

In the age of COVID-19, the USO can't mount the in-person shows that have become its hallmark--its tours were suspended last month--but it can do so remotely with the help of Verizon Media, whose streaming platform will also be used to share programming with military spouses and families, who can also use a morale boost.

"With the help of military supporters, the entertainment industry and USO partners, we are providing virtual engagements and programming to boost morale during the pandemic," said USO COO Alan Reyes. "Together, we are expressing our nation's gratitude for all that the military community is doing to help protect us and reduce the spread of COVID-19."

Programming, which has already started, includes David Boreanaz (CBS's SEAL Team) participating in video calls to service members at USO Al Asad in Iraq and Martha Stewart also hosting a cookie-decorating session.

The remote USO programming will include virtual base visits and one-on-one calls between celebrities and service members (Ne-Yo, Gillian Flynn, Sarah Silverman are among the big names participating), plus "pre-screening events, online workshops, classes, Q&As and digital subscriptions for service members and military families."

Hosting the programming will be Discovery Networks' Chris Jacobs.

In addition, a USO gaming channel will be launching on Twitch with NBA and NFL players competing virtually with service members.

"Verizon Media is proud to support the USO with a world-class streaming delivery platform," said Guru Gowrappan, CEO, Verizon Media, in a statement. "During this global pandemic, a few hours of entertainment can make a difference to our brave service members who are putting themselves in harm's way."

Verizon is also chipping in some money to help fund USO care packages.

Evan Shapiro has hardly been laying low since NBCUniversal pulled the plug on his Seeso over-the-top comedy service. Shapiro, former digital executive vice president at NBCU, is behind streaming series Bartlett, which debuts on Vimeo on Demand and Amazon Prime Jan. 30.

Inspired by the life of ad executive Martin Edwards, the series is about a highly dysfunctional agency and an executive there looking to quit the biz and start a music career.

Shapiro said it targets those who may be going through a “quarter- or midlife crisis.”

“It’s about finding out what is really important to you, and concentrating on that,” he said.

Episodes of Bartlett can be acquired for 99 cents on Vimeo or Amazon, and it’s $4.99 for all six in the season.

Chrissy Mazzeo and Anthony Veneziale are in the Bartlett cast, and Lin-Manuel Miranda even turns up. “It’s a story a lot of people can relate to,” said Mazzeo, also a co-creator. “You come to a point in your life where you look back and realize you went down the road you didn’t intend to go down.”

Shapiro, the former president of IFC/SundanceTV, has come to terms with the demise of Seeso: “Are we thrilled it ended the way it did? Absolutely not. Are we thrilled by the work we did? Yes.”

He likened Bartlett to the offspring of Thirtysomething and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and said it’s a bit of counterprogramming in the peak TV era. “Everything is dark and post-apocalyptic,” he said. “This is not that.”

Back to the dark show theme, there’s a dramatic shift coming up for SEAL Team on CBS. In the Jan. 31 episode, fittingly titled “Getaway Day,” David Boreanaz’s Jason and the rest of his team face what he calls “a big hurry-up situation.” When another SEAL team is ambushed in Afghanistan, Jason’s crew is ordered to get their butts to Jalalabad ASAP.

The episode, No. 13 of the season, is an intriguing look at how deployments are dealt with, not only by military personnel, but by the families they leave behind. Boreanaz said he and the other producers were keen to push the SEAL Team players into the great unknown. “We wanted this to happen so it’s not a Mission of the Week show,” he said. “It’s a new world for these guys.”

The SEAL team on SEAL Team — including Max Thieriot’s Spenser, Jessica Paré’s Mandy and Neil Brown Jr.’s Ray — is a tight bunch. Boreanaz said their deployment makes them even tighter.

“It really brings the characters together,” he said. “Their bond is even more prevalent in episode 13.”