We learned earlier this week what else hundreds of millions of people were doing over the Thanksgiving weekend when they weren’t watching sports or finding new ways to stretch a costly turkey into a record number of leftover meals. They were reconnecting with a little girl that they first met generations ago who has apparently … Read more
Yet another announcement of a CEO leaving a media company and a series of impending layoffs dominated my entertainment news media feed yesterday, and this one was deemed by many observers to be particularly surprising. AMC Networks CEO Christina Spade is leaving her post effective immediately, and chairman James Dolan accompanied this news in an … Read more
As a producer, particularly in the realm of reality television competitions, few have been as successful and impactful as Mark Burnett has been. For more than a quarter-century, he has created, nurtured and developed unique, emotionally charged series with life-changing stakes and a flair to cast competitors who audiences can develop attachments to over the … Read more
You may have noticed that lately things have not been going very well for me in the real world, and I haven’t been able to avoid seeing connections to bigger picture events beyond my private Idaho that somehow make me feel that somehow it’s all connected. The growing number of silent protests in China that … Read more
When I once had a falling out with my spouse, I was desperate for a suggestion for a makeup gift to get back in her good graces. Her bestie strongly suggested that I indulge in a gift I wouldn’t be able to enjoy as an act of contrition, and strongly suggested a Balenciaga handbag. She … Read more
When one experiences rejection, particularly with the frequency as I have of late, it’s often much easier to try and blame “extenuating circumstances” for one’s woes. There’s some sort of comfort in being able to reassure yourself that “it’s not your fault”. I’ve seen that behavior exhibited in plenty of recent quarterly reports and media … Read more
When I was a younger, larger child one of the few things I looked forward to during the three day weekend following Thanksgiving was the knowledge that my folks were going to splurge and buy me the new editions of the annual fact books that I coveted. Typically, Thanksgiving weekend was when the upcoming editions … Read more
If I’ve been spending what some what consider to be quite a lot of time and effort on the return of Bob Iger as CEO as Walt Disney, forgive me. I admire what he’s accomplished to date, his vision, his ability to pivot, his dedication. For my money (and, admittedly, there’s scant little of it … Read more
Last week yet another favorably reviewed limited series debuted on FX and Hulu. FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE, which has already earned plaudits both for the talents of its leads, especially Jesse Eisenberg as the eponymous newly divorced Manhattan doctor navigating dating opportunities while grappling with the disturbing disappearance of his ex-wife. It is yet another … Read more
31 years ago, Disney produced a cute little comedy called WHAT ABOUT BOB?, which starred the reliable Bill Murray as someone who simply wouldn’t go away, even when his analyst (the sardonic Richard Dreyfuss) tried to go on a family vacation. Ever popular among everyone else in his analyst’s circle of friends and family, Bob … Read more