They Arguably Saved Their World.  But Is That Enough To Save Their Bosses?

They Arguably Saved Their World. But Is That Enough To Save Their Bosses?

The entertainment industry desperately needed good news this weekemd.    Hell, AMERICA desperately needed good news this weekend.  Hence the performance of MINECRAFT: THE MOVIE was seen as downright heavensent, as among others THE ASSOCIATED PRESS–because they at least are still invited press members of this industry–reported: In its first few days in theaters, the … Read more

Sometimes We CAN Blur Our Loyalties

Sometimes We CAN Blur Our Loyalties

The executive whom his longtime friends and colleagues adoringly labeled “The Blur” was back in the news this past week, finally memoralizing a position he’s essentially had for a while with an actual title and press release.  THE DESK’s Matthew Keys was among the many who reported it on Friday: Dr. Phil McGraw’s media company … Read more

Remember, It’s A Game Show.  Not QUIZ SHOW.

Remember, It’s A Game Show. Not QUIZ SHOW.

To many of my more impassioned followers, today is Way Better Than Good Friday.  Because at long last a particular independent movie that’s been on their radar since last fall’s Toronto Independent Film Festival finally hits the theaters and they’ve already secured tickets to a showing this weekend–not that it would have been impossible to … Read more

Will The Pros Finally Embrace These Cons?

Will The Pros Finally Embrace These Cons?

Yet another old-fashioned media bacchanal is going on this week in Las Vegas, in this case the gathering of the National Association of Theatre Owners, pretty much the only worthwhile use of the acronym NATO these days.  To say that there’s more than a little concern that their fate may be headed in the same … Read more

Just Like The Golden Girls?  Bitch, Please!

Just Like The Golden Girls? Bitch, Please!

I needed some warmth last night and I was fresh out of chicken broth.  So I binged a few episodes of what was getting an awful lot of positive critical reviews, the just-dropped MID-CENTURY MODERN on Hulu.  It’s gotten quite a bit of attention from folks like me that lament the near-passing of the traditional … Read more

Generation Gap?  More Like An Abyss

Generation Gap? More Like An Abyss

I’ve always been far more fascinated with the “whys” of research versus the “whats”.  While I fully concede that in an industry where the bottom line IS the one with the “$” sign, the value of knowing what the underlying reasons for those results more likely are is eminently greater than merely being able to … Read more

The Big 4-0:  Definitely Not What I Anticipated

The Big 4-0: Definitely Not What I Anticipated

This weekend is yet another personal milestone for me, one I honestly never thought I would reach and of late prayed nearly every chance I got that it would not come to pass.  It’s the 40th anniversary of my relocation to Los Angeles.  Whee. I’ll confess that the last weekend of 1985 was perhaps the … Read more

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

If you’re looking for positivity and good cheer this morning, I’d suggest you stop reading right now.  Having an overdrawn bank account and being threatened with losing the one job you’ve been able to have gotten, and one of the few I was even allowed the chance to interview for, in what is now more … Read more

Think THE STUDIO Is Just Fiction?  Ask Her.

Think THE STUDIO Is Just Fiction? Ask Her.

Like so many who have spent their lives around creatives, especially those of us fortunate enough to have actually been employed by a few, I looked forward to Wednesday’s dropping of the first two episodes of THE STUDIO, a spot-on satire from the fertile minds of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.  I’m an unapologetic fan … Read more

Too Late For Even A Movie?

Too Late For Even A Movie?

The news that CBS’ AFTER MIDNIGHT was coming to an abrupt end in June after a mere two years took me and others by surprise; after all, we had heard little about any disenchantment with ratings or cost from either the network or its affiliates.  It was especially surprising  to moi considering when it was … Read more