If you haven’t yet read an oral history book by James Andrew Miller you really can’t consider yourself an expert on any subject he has written about. Miller is a consummate researcher and expert organizer of timelines that produce exhaustive recounts of media history through the words of those that produced them. After previously tackling … Read more
Through the courtesy of my roommate (someone else we give thanks for this week, BTW), I got to see GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE during its theatrical launch weekend, the first time I’ve ventured out to a movie theatre during its first few days since the before-times. As I spent my most recent corporate years in Sony’s employ … Read more
As Thanksgiving and Chanukah approach and Christmas looms right behind, and particularly after the year we’ve all had to endure, there’s a collective need to find solace and refuge in family. For as much as friendship and even a spouse can fill a void, there is nothing quite more nurturing in my opinion than the … Read more
As we head toward arguably the most welcomed holiday season in our lifetimes, the annual ascension of The Hallmark Channel to #1 status among U.S. linear TV networks has taken place and will likely be truth through the end of the year. According to online trade ads taken this week, since its Countdown to Christmas … Read more
A year ago we were in the deep throes of a pandemic lockdown and isolation. Personally, I was mired in the additional challenges of lack of work, financial uncertainty and an uncertain living situation that was only beginning to reach the tsunami level of a storm that was soon to boil over. But one year … Read more
I’ve frequently lamented that the concept of overnight ratings for television shows has virtually disappeared, the victim of both measurement incompleteness and industry apathy. In a world where the very existence of facts is open to interpretation, the reporting of them is, at best, skewed and sporadic. I’ve often called out streaming services and the … Read more
Given the schedule I’ve been keeping lately, I actually relished the opportunity to spend a day with NFL Sunday Ticket and watch a whole lot of football. I used to cherish the chance to watch games with a group of friends, but as we’ve discussed before this pesky virus thing has so many of those … Read more
Today the latest example of putting lipstick on a pig was foisted upon the world, as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gleefully announced the rebranding of Facebook as “Meta”. An homage to the “Metaverse” it will attempt to service, Meta will be an umbrella title that will emcompass the company’s numeropus existing businesses, including What’s App … Read more
Last night, while Los Angeles dried out from a daylong soaking rain, I plopped down in front of the big screen, a plate of mushroom fettucini in hand, and watched Monday Night Football in a new way with more than a million strangers, though in truth all by myself. I’m reminded that I’m the latest … Read more
I’m proud to say that I have been a fan of HBO content for a majority of the 50 years it has been in existence. And for as much as Netflix and Chill may define our current times, “it’s not TV, it’s HBO” established the gold standard that Netflix now lays claim to. HBO was … Read more