I am often forced to chortle at some of the degree of consternation that many current media pundits eschew when they lament and chastise the degree of what they see as data manipulation by various streaming services in their attempts to make it seem like their platforms are having more success and impact than they … Read more
My in-house focus group of roommate and son spent Father’s Day weekend as they often do, this time without moi watching what they were convinced would be the weekend’s must-see event. Their review of THE FLASH, which is one of Warner Discovery’s summer theatrical tentpoles, was their usual “it was good”. They rarely waver from … Read more
Today is a holiday, the third official national celebration of Juneteenth, a day that commemorates , as our crutch Wikipedia describes: (T)he emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after … Read more
I admit I’ve got a shorter than usual fuse these days. I have barely seen the sun in perhaps the gloomiest June I’ve endured in Los Angeles since I relocated, and I don’t need to bore any of you yet again that my quest for something resembling a decent level of living has hit more … Read more
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to have a wonderful dinner with a longtime colleague who is now a fairly successful scripted TV writer. We were in a celebratory mood because he told me that it was going to be announced that a second season of the series he was hired to write for … Read more
Another television era is apparently about to come to an end. On Monday, Pat Sajak, who has helmed WHEEL OF FORTUNE since 1981, announced that the show’s 41st syndicated season will be his 43rd and last, heading to retirement and a three-year deal as a “consulting producer” after a year-long victory lap. It made headlines … Read more
At first glance, one wouldn’t think Odetta Watkins would have much in common with Keri Lake. I mean, look at Watkins. It’s probably safe to assume which side of a political ticket she privately chooses. But after Next TV’s Daniel Frankel reported this recent public appearance by Amazon Prime Video’s head of drama developmet, as … Read more
I’m blessed with many people who are somewhat frequent readers of these musings, though since I’m a stats expert I’m acutely aware how loose that definition is. I’ve seen enough frequency curves, including those of the analytics available to me from the social media platforms that provide them that my “gold card” fans–the ones who … Read more
My roomie was in an atypically generous mood this weekend, and with good reason. Roomie-Son not only graduated from middle school, he did so with STRAIGHT As!!! So as any proud papa would, he rewarded his progeny with a matinee screening of SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE, and invited me to share his joy. Since I … Read more
I like to think I’m OK at what I do, even if it’s currently a mere shadow of the level of accomplishment I’d prefer still to have. I’ve been blessed with encountering literally thousands of people who are far more successful, respected and loved who inspire and challenge me to continue to improve, even as … Read more