On the new Netflix show Ozark,
financial adviser Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) is forced to launder
millions of dollars in a rural red state, under threat of death from a
Mexican drug cartel. In Billions,
which finished its second season in May, viewers are meant to envy and
respect mega–hedge-funder “Axe” (Damian Lewis), despite his evident
criminality. And then there is the wildly popular Empire, about a hip-hop dynasty ruled by the ridiculously wealthy and brutal Lyon family.
Welcome to the new aspirational television, about a 1% that lives
with impunity. These series center on brilliant, albeit extremely
violent entrepreneurs. Our antiheroes have technical specialties they
managed to turn into criminal know-how: on Ozark, money management
becomes money laundering, and on Breaking Bad, high-school chemistry
instruction becomes meth production.
These shows subtly argue that their protagonists have been forced to
become criminals to avoid falling out of the upper-middle class. They
are, after all, self-made: there aren’t even rich grandparents or
parents to bail them out. And while these series are far from real, they
do rest on the bedrock American reality of income inequality – the huge
gap between the Axes of the world, or even the Marty Byrdes, and the
“little people”.
-- Alissa Quart, "Our new TV antiheroes are just like us: they don’t want to fall out of the middle class" (GUARDIAN). (For more on the topic of the economy and its impact on TV, see Ava and C.I.'s "TV: The meanings of OZARK" and "TV: Conventions ingrained").
Tuesday, September 05, 2017
Truest statement of the week II
As an actor, [Seth] MacFarlane displays basic competence, but
he does not have the charisma or chops to carry an entire season of an
hourlong drama, nor is he able to set the right tone for the show. Of
course, that would be difficult for anyone, given “The Orville’s”
inconsistency about what it wants to be. It tries to be light and
comedic, except when it’s a morality play or an action hour or a hangout
comedy set in space. It doesn’t help that most of the jokes don’t
display the liveliness of a batch of Tribbles.
-- Maureen Ryan, "TV Review: Seth MacFarlane’s ‘The Orville’ on Fox" (VARIETY).
-- Maureen Ryan, "TV Review: Seth MacFarlane’s ‘The Orville’ on Fox" (VARIETY).
A note to our readers
Hey --
We wanted a holiday.
Let's thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with?
A TV themed edition.
Alissa Quart gets a truest.
As does Maureen Ryan.
Ava, C.I., Dona and I (Jim) wrote this. We had stated that the editorial had to be about Iraq but that it didn't have to be about TV. Ava and C.I. found a way to bring TV in.
Ava and C.I. explore the state of TV.
All but Ava and C.I. worked on this list. It looks at the top ten programs for every decade starting with the 1950s.
Ty came up with the idea for this one. (Again, Ava and C.I. did not work on this.) We always think list pieces will be easier. But first comes the listing, then the voting, then the arguing.
Ava and C.I. looked at a piece we wrote ("The 11 worst shows of the last 11 years") and noted we'd forgotten three attempts at a variety show. So they quickly wrote this piece.
Again, all but Ava and C.I. worked on this one.
And all but Ava and C.I. worked on this one.
Short feature! - Dona always insists. This is one.
And a repost from Great Britain's SOCIALIST WORKER.
Peace,
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
We wanted a holiday.
Let's thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with?
A TV themed edition.
Alissa Quart gets a truest.
As does Maureen Ryan.
Ava, C.I., Dona and I (Jim) wrote this. We had stated that the editorial had to be about Iraq but that it didn't have to be about TV. Ava and C.I. found a way to bring TV in.
Ava and C.I. explore the state of TV.
All but Ava and C.I. worked on this list. It looks at the top ten programs for every decade starting with the 1950s.
Ty came up with the idea for this one. (Again, Ava and C.I. did not work on this.) We always think list pieces will be easier. But first comes the listing, then the voting, then the arguing.
Ava and C.I. looked at a piece we wrote ("The 11 worst shows of the last 11 years") and noted we'd forgotten three attempts at a variety show. So they quickly wrote this piece.
Again, all but Ava and C.I. worked on this one.
And all but Ava and C.I. worked on this one.
Short feature! - Dona always insists. This is one.
And a repost from Great Britain's SOCIALIST WORKER.
Peace,
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
Editorial: Where's Iraq?
What is an uncovered war?
Because the Iraq War has become that.
Despite being started by the US government and despite US forces still on the ground in Iraq, the evening news has shown very little interest in Iraq.
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS serves up the easy pablum of "Inspiring America" -- segments more fitting of NBC's REAL PEOPLE than a news broadcast.
They can cover that nonsense, they just can't cover the Iraq War.
CBS EVENING NEWS ignores Iraq while serving up soft sop like "Friend flush with pride over fitting tribute for baseball loving plumber." What, CBS, you couldn't find a cute cat video on YOUTUBE to air instead?
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT took time away from playing THE WEATHER CHANNEL long enough to offer the ridiculous "Superior Outdoor Products Made In America."
The evening news is a cess pool of lies and always has been.
But, once upon a time, they at least pretended to cover the wars.
These days, to find news reports on Iraq, you'll probably be better served by ALJAZEERA ENGLISH.
Osama Bin Javaid : Check posts like this caused friction between local people and security forces even before ISIL fighters arrived. Two years after ISIL was forced out of Jurf al-Salchar people are complaining security forces are not allowing them to return. The majority Sunni population is afraid of the Sunni militias -- or Popular Mobilization Units -- who now control the town. People agreed to talk to us only if we hide their identities.
Man: We can't live in exile forever. Our families are displaced and Shi'ite militias are asking for money to allow us to return.
Osama Bin Javaid : Many parts of Iraq -- which government forces and their allies have recaptured from ISIL -- used to be Sunni majority areas. Now Sunnis are scattered across Iraq. The UN mission in Iraq is concerned by the provincial council's decision to block the return of thousands of people to Jurf al-Sakhar. The UN wants the council to respect the fundamental rights of people to return to their homes. The Shia led local government says it's still finding weapons in the town and the returning population could pose security threats. Militias in charge of Jurf al-Sakhar deny accusations of intmidation and arbitrary arrests.
Shia Militia Spokesperson Ahmed al-Assadi: We disapprove of any claim regarding kidnapped people. Such actions slanders the reputation of Iraq's security forces who liberated these areas and maintain the security there.
Osama Bin Javaid : Sunni MPs say all areas leading to Shia holy site have been cleansed of Sunni people. And they warn that success against armed groups can only last if the government is strong enough to provide justice to all Iraqis regardless of their sect.
Sunni MP Ahmed al-Salmani: People in these areas are not allowed to return. These acts are unethical, unconstitutional and lacking in national vision. Those who are doing such things think they are above the law. Everyone should be abiding by the law. Otherwise, it's just chaos.
Osama Bin Javaid : Displaced people are appealing for help from the federal government. This woman says her three sons were kidnapped by armed men.
Woman: They detained them without a warrant. We are recognized by the Internal Affairs Department of our town and the checkpoints have our i.d.s and they are all registered.
Osama Bin Javaid: The alienation and deprivation in Sunni majority areas provided fertile ground for ISIL to flourish. Now that ISIL's been defeated from most of Iraq's urban centers, a tough challenge will be to bridge the gaps in a divided society. Osama Bin Javaid, ALJAZEERA, Erbil, northern Iraq.
Because the Iraq War has become that.
Despite being started by the US government and despite US forces still on the ground in Iraq, the evening news has shown very little interest in Iraq.
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS serves up the easy pablum of "Inspiring America" -- segments more fitting of NBC's REAL PEOPLE than a news broadcast.
They can cover that nonsense, they just can't cover the Iraq War.
CBS EVENING NEWS ignores Iraq while serving up soft sop like "Friend flush with pride over fitting tribute for baseball loving plumber." What, CBS, you couldn't find a cute cat video on YOUTUBE to air instead?
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT took time away from playing THE WEATHER CHANNEL long enough to offer the ridiculous "Superior Outdoor Products Made In America."
The evening news is a cess pool of lies and always has been.
But, once upon a time, they at least pretended to cover the wars.
These days, to find news reports on Iraq, you'll probably be better served by ALJAZEERA ENGLISH.
Osama Bin Javaid : Check posts like this caused friction between local people and security forces even before ISIL fighters arrived. Two years after ISIL was forced out of Jurf al-Salchar people are complaining security forces are not allowing them to return. The majority Sunni population is afraid of the Sunni militias -- or Popular Mobilization Units -- who now control the town. People agreed to talk to us only if we hide their identities.
Man: We can't live in exile forever. Our families are displaced and Shi'ite militias are asking for money to allow us to return.
Osama Bin Javaid : Many parts of Iraq -- which government forces and their allies have recaptured from ISIL -- used to be Sunni majority areas. Now Sunnis are scattered across Iraq. The UN mission in Iraq is concerned by the provincial council's decision to block the return of thousands of people to Jurf al-Sakhar. The UN wants the council to respect the fundamental rights of people to return to their homes. The Shia led local government says it's still finding weapons in the town and the returning population could pose security threats. Militias in charge of Jurf al-Sakhar deny accusations of intmidation and arbitrary arrests.
Shia Militia Spokesperson Ahmed al-Assadi: We disapprove of any claim regarding kidnapped people. Such actions slanders the reputation of Iraq's security forces who liberated these areas and maintain the security there.
Osama Bin Javaid : Sunni MPs say all areas leading to Shia holy site have been cleansed of Sunni people. And they warn that success against armed groups can only last if the government is strong enough to provide justice to all Iraqis regardless of their sect.
Sunni MP Ahmed al-Salmani: People in these areas are not allowed to return. These acts are unethical, unconstitutional and lacking in national vision. Those who are doing such things think they are above the law. Everyone should be abiding by the law. Otherwise, it's just chaos.
Osama Bin Javaid : Displaced people are appealing for help from the federal government. This woman says her three sons were kidnapped by armed men.
Woman: They detained them without a warrant. We are recognized by the Internal Affairs Department of our town and the checkpoints have our i.d.s and they are all registered.
Osama Bin Javaid: The alienation and deprivation in Sunni majority areas provided fertile ground for ISIL to flourish. Now that ISIL's been defeated from most of Iraq's urban centers, a tough challenge will be to bridge the gaps in a divided society. Osama Bin Javaid, ALJAZEERA, Erbil, northern Iraq.
Media: How does this end?
Entertainment goes through many changes.
Stories were once passed on as folklore, an oral tradition.
Then objects began to be written upon -- clay, metal, stone, etc.
Stories were put on tablets, scrolls . . .
Bit by bit, we moved to books.
More recently, the way we tell stories has changed more quickly.
In the 20th century alone, stories were told via radio and silent movies and then through 'the talkies' and TV and then through color versions, through 3-D, through widescreen.
Beginning this century, the 'big development' is said to IMAX.
But it's not really.
It's streaming.
And how streaming goes down will most likely determine or choices for the next few decades.
CBS is attempting to market its own streaming service, CBS ALL ACCESS.
It's not gone well.
That's because so few interested in streaming watch CBS.
It's also because no one wants to watch, for example, THE GOOD WIFE without the lead character. No one cares about a bit player shoved into a leading role and that's before you notice that the actress has a brow that looks like an angry bird due to some weird genetics and aging.
THE GOOD FIGHT wasn't supposed to be the lead series for the streaming service. STAR TREK: DISCOVERY was supposed to be the lead series. But it's now set to premiere at the end of this month. Word on it is mixed with many feeling it breaks completely with Gene Roddenberry's vision of space exploration and peace.
CBS ALL ACCESS is also hoping football games will help it in the short term.
Rather sad that they launch a streaming service in 2017 and yet think small -- as they hope to compete with services like AMAZON, NETFLIX, HULU, SLING and CRACKLE to name only a few.
Of those listed, CRACKLE may be the most interesting.
Thus far, they've refused to charge a fee which allows them to be available to so many more viewers. They're original programming has been helped by movie choices that went with entertainment, not highbrow (the latest of which is the humorous PARTY BOAT). And in terms of animated offerings, SUPERMANSION may be among the best out there currently. As for live action shows, CHOSEN boasts three outstanding seasons and SNATCH and ARE OF MORE are strong continuing seasons.
If you leave original programming, it's worth noting that CRACKLE has shown a strong increase in streaming in the last weeks as a result of being the exclusive streamers of HEROES (and the limited edition follow up HEROES REBORN).
AMAZON PRIME is, like most others, a for-pay streaming channel.
Unlike most, it can claim to be in the film business.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, for example, is a serious film nominated for six Academy Awards (and winner of two: Best Actor Casey Affleck and Best Original Screenplay Kenneth Lonergan). CAFE SOCIETY is one of Woody Allen's late life successes and AMAZON can claim it as well and Spike Lee's amazing CHI-RAQ and Jocelyn Moorhouse's THE DRESSMAKER.
But here's the thing, it's very light on comedy. And AMAZON is far more likely to build a comedy around actor Ben Stiller than director Woody Allen.
The two decades since THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY have made clear that Ben's not really that funny and that, like Will Ferrell, his looks don't so much polarize as repulse potential audiences.
Because AMAZON tends to release its films, it may be in a better position than other streaming services.
Then again, its spending has led many to dub AMAZON PRIME as the second coming of Menahem Golan -- throwing money around with no real plan for the future.
LITTLE EVIL.
Eli Craig has written and directed a minor comedy classic. It's going to look even better with each passing year and should pick up an ever growing audience.
This without any theatrical release.
The film stars Adam Scott as Evangeline Lilly's new husband and the step-father to her demon son. It features strong comedic support from Bridget Everett, Donald Faison, Chris D'Elia and Sally Field. It's a NETFLIX original.
NETFLIX will also have Angelina Jolie's FIRST THEY TOOK MY FATHER -- the fourth film's she's directed. As Angelina explained to DEADLINE, "a small movie like this, in a foreign language and with no stars, would be lucky to play for a week at a small theater in New York."
More to the point for NETFLIX, it sets them up with Angelina as a business partner.
Studios used to greenlight vanity productions -- films they didn't expect to have a huge financial turnaround -- just so that they could be in business with big name talents -- the hope being that a larger relationship could develop.
Maybe that will happen with Angelina, maybe it won't.
But it's a smart move.
Smart moves don't seem to be coming from SLING. It's basically a delivery system similar to cable. And with HULU moving to offer many of the same channels -- TCM, TBS, TNT, USA, COMEDY CENTRAL, CARTOON NETWORK, etc. -- SLING may find itself left behind.r
What of HULU?
With little attention or notice, it's lost THE CW programming. CBS, which owns half of THE CW, has always been the hold out network among the big five when it came to HULU. Now they've pulled THE CW as well.
What does that leave HULU with?
An honest to goodness funny show (DIFFICULT PEOPLE), an inspired comedy (CASUAL), an over-rated trend (THE HANDMAID'S TALE), two solid dramas (SHUT EYE and HARLOTS) and the relocated from FOX sitcom THE MINDY PROJECT.
That's a set of building blocks, it's not really a slate of programming despite the fact that it moved to a for-pay-service (HULU PLUS) in 2010.
So it really does come down to AMAZON or NETFLIX and possibly the future landscape will allow both to survive; however, if you had to bet on one, smart money would go with NETFLIX.
NETFLIX has Emmy nominees Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in a funny sitcom. They've successfully rebooted a family sitcom (FULL HOUSE into FULLER HOUSE). THE RANCH (another sitcom) does very well with streaming numbers. DISJOINTED (Kathy Bates' new sitcom) is laugh out loud funny while SANTA CLARITA DIET is a milder but enjoyable sitcom.
Meanwhile AMAZON's Roy Price doesn't think sitcoms are important.
FRIENDS, SEINFELD, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, WILL & GRACE, I LOVE LUCY, THE BIG BANG THEORY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, etc. remain immensely popular but all AMAZON has to show for sitcoms is the well intentioned but rarely funny TRANSPARENT.
I LOVE LUCY?
AMAZON appreciates the value of that program enough to do a TV movie about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz but not enough to give it a writer of quality.
No, when it comes to writing women, Aaron Sorkin is not now or ever a go-to writer.
And it appears that when it comes to solid programming, AMAZON is never the go-to.
Doubt us?
While NETFLIX has multiple shows to offer, AMAZON is pouring millions into an iffy project entitled CARNIVAL ROW.
How iffy?
The script for the show was trapped in development hell for over a decade at NEW LINE CINEMA.
Wait, there's more.
One of the producers?
Rene Echevarria.
You may remember him as the show runner (show ruiner, to hear David Fury talk) of TERRA NOVA. It was the can't miss whos of 2011 and might have remained that way without the addition of Rene who'd already destroyed ABC's efforts to turn TRUE LIES into a TV show.
We could continue with the list of losers behind the scene (including Paul McGuigan) but let's move to the loser behind the scenes who will also star: Orlando Bloom.
That's right, the actor no one ever wanted.
The forty-year-old who, even when he was young and shiny, couldn't carry a film. ELIZABETHTOWN bombed as did KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. In 2012, the failed actor tried to produce as well. The result? THE GOOD DOCTOR, a film infamous for making $5,206 at the box office.
This is what AMAZON decides to invest in?
The only film that it's made sense to invest in -- for either service -- was PEE WEE'S BIG HOLIDAY.
It's a classic as much as PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE.
And it's something NETFLIX is smart to own.
That is where the future lies.
Streaming services will depend upon product.
NETFLIX is building up a catalogue of strong product.
PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE is part of it, LITTLE EVIL is as well. So are hit shows like HOUSE OF CARDS and ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and IRON FIST.
What?
You didn't know.
See, that's another problem. Of the four individual MARVEL shows and THE DEFENDERS matchup, IRON FIST was the most popular.
It wasn't very popular with critics.
But critics don't pay the bills.
IRON FIST beat the others easily. And did so because it fit easily into our notions of what a super hero is and does.
AMAZON and NETFLIX needs critical reaction -- strong, positive critical reaction.
But they need more than that.
DROP DEAD FRED.
Trashed upon release, it went on to become a cult classic.
You need those films, and the sleepers like A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Hollywood truth: No one knows anything.
Which is why you make a wide slate of entertainment.
It's a truth the film studios forgot this summer as the same movie opened over and over and the box office took a nose dive.
It's a truth that the streaming services can't afford to ignore.
Stories were once passed on as folklore, an oral tradition.
Then objects began to be written upon -- clay, metal, stone, etc.
Stories were put on tablets, scrolls . . .
Bit by bit, we moved to books.
More recently, the way we tell stories has changed more quickly.
In the 20th century alone, stories were told via radio and silent movies and then through 'the talkies' and TV and then through color versions, through 3-D, through widescreen.
Beginning this century, the 'big development' is said to IMAX.
But it's not really.
It's streaming.
And how streaming goes down will most likely determine or choices for the next few decades.
CBS is attempting to market its own streaming service, CBS ALL ACCESS.
It's not gone well.
That's because so few interested in streaming watch CBS.
It's also because no one wants to watch, for example, THE GOOD WIFE without the lead character. No one cares about a bit player shoved into a leading role and that's before you notice that the actress has a brow that looks like an angry bird due to some weird genetics and aging.
THE GOOD FIGHT wasn't supposed to be the lead series for the streaming service. STAR TREK: DISCOVERY was supposed to be the lead series. But it's now set to premiere at the end of this month. Word on it is mixed with many feeling it breaks completely with Gene Roddenberry's vision of space exploration and peace.
CBS ALL ACCESS is also hoping football games will help it in the short term.
Rather sad that they launch a streaming service in 2017 and yet think small -- as they hope to compete with services like AMAZON, NETFLIX, HULU, SLING and CRACKLE to name only a few.
Of those listed, CRACKLE may be the most interesting.
Thus far, they've refused to charge a fee which allows them to be available to so many more viewers. They're original programming has been helped by movie choices that went with entertainment, not highbrow (the latest of which is the humorous PARTY BOAT). And in terms of animated offerings, SUPERMANSION may be among the best out there currently. As for live action shows, CHOSEN boasts three outstanding seasons and SNATCH and ARE OF MORE are strong continuing seasons.
If you leave original programming, it's worth noting that CRACKLE has shown a strong increase in streaming in the last weeks as a result of being the exclusive streamers of HEROES (and the limited edition follow up HEROES REBORN).
AMAZON PRIME is, like most others, a for-pay streaming channel.
Unlike most, it can claim to be in the film business.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, for example, is a serious film nominated for six Academy Awards (and winner of two: Best Actor Casey Affleck and Best Original Screenplay Kenneth Lonergan). CAFE SOCIETY is one of Woody Allen's late life successes and AMAZON can claim it as well and Spike Lee's amazing CHI-RAQ and Jocelyn Moorhouse's THE DRESSMAKER.
But here's the thing, it's very light on comedy. And AMAZON is far more likely to build a comedy around actor Ben Stiller than director Woody Allen.
The two decades since THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY have made clear that Ben's not really that funny and that, like Will Ferrell, his looks don't so much polarize as repulse potential audiences.
Because AMAZON tends to release its films, it may be in a better position than other streaming services.
Then again, its spending has led many to dub AMAZON PRIME as the second coming of Menahem Golan -- throwing money around with no real plan for the future.
LITTLE EVIL.
Eli Craig has written and directed a minor comedy classic. It's going to look even better with each passing year and should pick up an ever growing audience.
This without any theatrical release.
The film stars Adam Scott as Evangeline Lilly's new husband and the step-father to her demon son. It features strong comedic support from Bridget Everett, Donald Faison, Chris D'Elia and Sally Field. It's a NETFLIX original.
NETFLIX will also have Angelina Jolie's FIRST THEY TOOK MY FATHER -- the fourth film's she's directed. As Angelina explained to DEADLINE, "a small movie like this, in a foreign language and with no stars, would be lucky to play for a week at a small theater in New York."
More to the point for NETFLIX, it sets them up with Angelina as a business partner.
Studios used to greenlight vanity productions -- films they didn't expect to have a huge financial turnaround -- just so that they could be in business with big name talents -- the hope being that a larger relationship could develop.
Maybe that will happen with Angelina, maybe it won't.
But it's a smart move.
Smart moves don't seem to be coming from SLING. It's basically a delivery system similar to cable. And with HULU moving to offer many of the same channels -- TCM, TBS, TNT, USA, COMEDY CENTRAL, CARTOON NETWORK, etc. -- SLING may find itself left behind.r
What of HULU?
With little attention or notice, it's lost THE CW programming. CBS, which owns half of THE CW, has always been the hold out network among the big five when it came to HULU. Now they've pulled THE CW as well.
What does that leave HULU with?
An honest to goodness funny show (DIFFICULT PEOPLE), an inspired comedy (CASUAL), an over-rated trend (THE HANDMAID'S TALE), two solid dramas (SHUT EYE and HARLOTS) and the relocated from FOX sitcom THE MINDY PROJECT.
That's a set of building blocks, it's not really a slate of programming despite the fact that it moved to a for-pay-service (HULU PLUS) in 2010.
So it really does come down to AMAZON or NETFLIX and possibly the future landscape will allow both to survive; however, if you had to bet on one, smart money would go with NETFLIX.
NETFLIX has Emmy nominees Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in a funny sitcom. They've successfully rebooted a family sitcom (FULL HOUSE into FULLER HOUSE). THE RANCH (another sitcom) does very well with streaming numbers. DISJOINTED (Kathy Bates' new sitcom) is laugh out loud funny while SANTA CLARITA DIET is a milder but enjoyable sitcom.
Meanwhile AMAZON's Roy Price doesn't think sitcoms are important.
FRIENDS, SEINFELD, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, WILL & GRACE, I LOVE LUCY, THE BIG BANG THEORY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, etc. remain immensely popular but all AMAZON has to show for sitcoms is the well intentioned but rarely funny TRANSPARENT.
I LOVE LUCY?
AMAZON appreciates the value of that program enough to do a TV movie about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz but not enough to give it a writer of quality.
No, when it comes to writing women, Aaron Sorkin is not now or ever a go-to writer.
And it appears that when it comes to solid programming, AMAZON is never the go-to.
Doubt us?
While NETFLIX has multiple shows to offer, AMAZON is pouring millions into an iffy project entitled CARNIVAL ROW.
How iffy?
The script for the show was trapped in development hell for over a decade at NEW LINE CINEMA.
Wait, there's more.
One of the producers?
Rene Echevarria.
You may remember him as the show runner (show ruiner, to hear David Fury talk) of TERRA NOVA. It was the can't miss whos of 2011 and might have remained that way without the addition of Rene who'd already destroyed ABC's efforts to turn TRUE LIES into a TV show.
We could continue with the list of losers behind the scene (including Paul McGuigan) but let's move to the loser behind the scenes who will also star: Orlando Bloom.
That's right, the actor no one ever wanted.
The forty-year-old who, even when he was young and shiny, couldn't carry a film. ELIZABETHTOWN bombed as did KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. In 2012, the failed actor tried to produce as well. The result? THE GOOD DOCTOR, a film infamous for making $5,206 at the box office.
This is what AMAZON decides to invest in?
The only film that it's made sense to invest in -- for either service -- was PEE WEE'S BIG HOLIDAY.
It's a classic as much as PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE.
And it's something NETFLIX is smart to own.
That is where the future lies.
Streaming services will depend upon product.
NETFLIX is building up a catalogue of strong product.
PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE is part of it, LITTLE EVIL is as well. So are hit shows like HOUSE OF CARDS and ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and IRON FIST.
What?
You didn't know.
See, that's another problem. Of the four individual MARVEL shows and THE DEFENDERS matchup, IRON FIST was the most popular.
It wasn't very popular with critics.
But critics don't pay the bills.
IRON FIST beat the others easily. And did so because it fit easily into our notions of what a super hero is and does.
AMAZON and NETFLIX needs critical reaction -- strong, positive critical reaction.
But they need more than that.
DROP DEAD FRED.
Trashed upon release, it went on to become a cult classic.
You need those films, and the sleepers like A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Hollywood truth: No one knows anything.
Which is why you make a wide slate of entertainment.
It's a truth the film studios forgot this summer as the same movie opened over and over and the box office took a nose dive.
It's a truth that the streaming services can't afford to ignore.
TV's 70 best shows
In this piece we list some of the great shows of each decade. Some series, THE SIMPSONS, for instance, have been on more than one decade. To keep the lists fresh, each show can only make one list. By decade, here's our take on the best.
50s:
I LOVE LUCY
PERRY MASON
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS
THE HONEYMOONERS
THE THIN MAN
PETER GUNN
THE ANN SOUTHERN SHOW
THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW
THE GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN SHOW
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
60s:
THE FLINTSTONES
THE MOD SQUAD
GET SMART
HERE'S LUCY
LAND OF THE GIANTS
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN
THE AVENGERS
BEWITCHED
IT TAKES A THIEF
70s:
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
THE BIONIC WOMAN
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW
COLUMBO
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN
GOOD TIMES
SOAP
THE MUPPET SHOW
THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS
80s:
THE GOLDEN GIRLS
ROSEANNE
MOONLIGHTING
THE TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW
THE SIMPSONS
NEWHART
DESIGNING WOMEN
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF BEANS BAXTER
SQUARE PEGS
KNOTS LANDING
90s:
FRIENDS
LIVING SINGLE
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
IN LIVING COLOR
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
SOUTHPARK
PROFIT
THE X-FILES
MARTIN
RUG RATS
00s:
WILL & GRACE
DAMAGES
DARK ANGEL
FRINGE
KING OF THE HILL
CHUCK
UGLY BETTY
HEROES
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
AMERICAN DAD
10s:
NIKITA
SENSE8
HAPPY ENDINGS
THE ORIGINALS
JUSTIFIED
PORTLANDIA
THE AMERICANS
EMPIRE
GRACE & FRANKIE
SANTA CLARITA DIET
So one of your favorites didn't make the list?
We voted and some of ours faves didn't make it. REVENGE, for example, came in at number eleven. We didn't expand the list for that decade, we just accepted that some shows did better in voting.
50s:
I LOVE LUCY
PERRY MASON
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS
THE HONEYMOONERS
THE THIN MAN
PETER GUNN
THE ANN SOUTHERN SHOW
THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW
THE GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN SHOW
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
60s:
THE FLINTSTONES
THE MOD SQUAD
GET SMART
HERE'S LUCY
LAND OF THE GIANTS
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN
THE AVENGERS
BEWITCHED
IT TAKES A THIEF
70s:
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
THE BIONIC WOMAN
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW
COLUMBO
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN
GOOD TIMES
SOAP
THE MUPPET SHOW
THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS
80s:
THE GOLDEN GIRLS
ROSEANNE
MOONLIGHTING
THE TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW
THE SIMPSONS
NEWHART
DESIGNING WOMEN
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF BEANS BAXTER
SQUARE PEGS
KNOTS LANDING
90s:
FRIENDS
LIVING SINGLE
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
IN LIVING COLOR
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
SOUTHPARK
PROFIT
THE X-FILES
MARTIN
RUG RATS
00s:
WILL & GRACE
DAMAGES
DARK ANGEL
FRINGE
KING OF THE HILL
CHUCK
UGLY BETTY
HEROES
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
AMERICAN DAD
10s:
NIKITA
SENSE8
HAPPY ENDINGS
THE ORIGINALS
JUSTIFIED
PORTLANDIA
THE AMERICANS
EMPIRE
GRACE & FRANKIE
SANTA CLARITA DIET
So one of your favorites didn't make the list?
We voted and some of ours faves didn't make it. REVENGE, for example, came in at number eleven. We didn't expand the list for that decade, we just accepted that some shows did better in voting.
The 11 worst shows of the last 11 years
Eleven years ago, we started this site.
So why not look back at the eleven worst shows during the existence of our site.
1) THE PAUL REISER SHOW
2) THE JAY LENO SHOW
3) MY NAME IS EARL
4) FASHION HOUSE
5) STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
6) FLAKED
7) REAPER
8) THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW
9) JERICHO
10) 7TH HEAVEN
11) CAVEMEN
So why not look back at the eleven worst shows during the existence of our site.
1) THE PAUL REISER SHOW
2) THE JAY LENO SHOW
3) MY NAME IS EARL
4) FASHION HOUSE
5) STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
6) FLAKED
7) REAPER
8) THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW
9) JERICHO
10) 7TH HEAVEN
11) CAVEMEN
The format streaming services need to invest in (Ava and C.I.)
Variety.
Music, comedy, it requires a certain kind of talent.
Masters of the format would be Carol Burnett, Tracey Ullman, Flip Wilson and Dean Martin.
Others who did well would include Cher, Johnny Cash, Barbara McNair, Glen Campbell, Helen Reddy, Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Mac Davis, Joey Bishop, Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, Julie Andrews, Andy Williams, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore, Garry Moore, Milton Berle, Richard Pryor, the Smothers Brothers, Jonathan Winters, Smokey Robinson . . .
Hell, even Donny and Marie managed to pull it off.
More recently, the format has been declared dead.
This is due to three high profile failures.
1) ROSIE LIVE
There was nothing special about this outing that was supposed to serve as a pilot for Rosie O'Donnell's variety show.
Rosie sunk it with her own apathy. There was nothing special -- not the sets, not the writing, not the so-called humor, not her wardrobe, not her guests.
She appeared to mistake the practice of hosting for euthanasia.
2) BEST SHOW EVER
It was as though neither Neil Patrick Harris nor NBC could let Rosie O'Donnell be the lone gunman responsible for killing variety. So this garbage was served up. It was neither fresh nor interesting and, in fact, seemed to rip off Joseph Gordon-Levitt's HITRECORD ON TV.
When this on the cheap show failed, no one was surprised.
3) MAYA & MARTY
This should have been the triumphant return of the variety show. But they decided they wanted to be 'political.' Yet they were so stupid, so uninformed, so uneducated, that they mistook partisan for political. The country could have forgiven attacking both sides but instead the show decided they were an election tool for Hillary Clinton. A show about a bunch of dumb asses who mistake themselves for politically informed and back a crooked politician with decades of scandals and whoring out to corporations might have been funny. Sadly, the dumb asses here played it straight because they were too dumb to grasp how ridiculous they looked. Or how racist. Bi-racial Maya may end up as a historical footnote as a result of her racist attack on the way a foreigner speaks.
And that was one, two, three strikes and you're out.
And maybe NBC should be. It clearly doesn't know the first thing about a variety show.
But there's no reason HULU or NETFLIX shouldn't get into the act. (AMAZON? They take too long to air anything -- meaning musical guests would be less eager to appear to promote new songs that would be old by the time AMAZON got around to streaming.)
They would do well to avoid no talents (Nick and Jessica come to mind).
They should go with someone musical or someone comedic.
Sandra Bernhard is both.
Plus, when she used to host movies on a Turner station, she would pull out the full glamour treatment.
She'd make a great host and would probably be wise enough to grasp that she was making a show to stand for decades -- meaning her only source of humor would not be political.
She loves movies, she loves TV, she loves music.
She could do parodies and send ups, she could do original sketches and introduce new songs.
That's what would make her a great host.
If Sandra's not interested or not available?
They should consider a music artist.
Someone talented.
Dolly Parton's seventies variety show, for example, features many classic duets.
HULU and NETFLIX should grasp that variety is not dead. And revitalizing the format could change the way the industry looks at them.
-------------------------------
* (THE MOTOWN REVUE STARRING SMOKEY ROBINSON aired on NBC in the summer of 1985 -- we're noting the show's title specifically because when fact checking us -- Ava and C.I. -- Jim said Smokey was not listed anywhere on CRAPAPEDIA as a host of a variety show -- this was produced by our friend Suzanne de Passe)
Music, comedy, it requires a certain kind of talent.
Masters of the format would be Carol Burnett, Tracey Ullman, Flip Wilson and Dean Martin.
Others who did well would include Cher, Johnny Cash, Barbara McNair, Glen Campbell, Helen Reddy, Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Mac Davis, Joey Bishop, Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, Julie Andrews, Andy Williams, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore, Garry Moore, Milton Berle, Richard Pryor, the Smothers Brothers, Jonathan Winters, Smokey Robinson . . .
Hell, even Donny and Marie managed to pull it off.
More recently, the format has been declared dead.
This is due to three high profile failures.
1) ROSIE LIVE
There was nothing special about this outing that was supposed to serve as a pilot for Rosie O'Donnell's variety show.
Rosie sunk it with her own apathy. There was nothing special -- not the sets, not the writing, not the so-called humor, not her wardrobe, not her guests.
She appeared to mistake the practice of hosting for euthanasia.
2) BEST SHOW EVER
It was as though neither Neil Patrick Harris nor NBC could let Rosie O'Donnell be the lone gunman responsible for killing variety. So this garbage was served up. It was neither fresh nor interesting and, in fact, seemed to rip off Joseph Gordon-Levitt's HITRECORD ON TV.
When this on the cheap show failed, no one was surprised.
3) MAYA & MARTY
This should have been the triumphant return of the variety show. But they decided they wanted to be 'political.' Yet they were so stupid, so uninformed, so uneducated, that they mistook partisan for political. The country could have forgiven attacking both sides but instead the show decided they were an election tool for Hillary Clinton. A show about a bunch of dumb asses who mistake themselves for politically informed and back a crooked politician with decades of scandals and whoring out to corporations might have been funny. Sadly, the dumb asses here played it straight because they were too dumb to grasp how ridiculous they looked. Or how racist. Bi-racial Maya may end up as a historical footnote as a result of her racist attack on the way a foreigner speaks.
And that was one, two, three strikes and you're out.
And maybe NBC should be. It clearly doesn't know the first thing about a variety show.
But there's no reason HULU or NETFLIX shouldn't get into the act. (AMAZON? They take too long to air anything -- meaning musical guests would be less eager to appear to promote new songs that would be old by the time AMAZON got around to streaming.)
They would do well to avoid no talents (Nick and Jessica come to mind).
They should go with someone musical or someone comedic.
Sandra Bernhard is both.
Plus, when she used to host movies on a Turner station, she would pull out the full glamour treatment.
She'd make a great host and would probably be wise enough to grasp that she was making a show to stand for decades -- meaning her only source of humor would not be political.
She loves movies, she loves TV, she loves music.
She could do parodies and send ups, she could do original sketches and introduce new songs.
That's what would make her a great host.
If Sandra's not interested or not available?
They should consider a music artist.
Someone talented.
Dolly Parton's seventies variety show, for example, features many classic duets.
HULU and NETFLIX should grasp that variety is not dead. And revitalizing the format could change the way the industry looks at them.
-------------------------------
* (THE MOTOWN REVUE STARRING SMOKEY ROBINSON aired on NBC in the summer of 1985 -- we're noting the show's title specifically because when fact checking us -- Ava and C.I. -- Jim said Smokey was not listed anywhere on CRAPAPEDIA as a host of a variety show -- this was produced by our friend Suzanne de Passe)
10 Shows We Are Most Looking Forward To This Fall
1) THE GIFTED
The X-Men are the only superheroes that have true complexities so we're excited by this offering from FOX. A solid cast, a solid source, this could be the best thing this fall.
2) DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
Keifer Sutherland may be the anchor of the show but Maggie Q is just as important and often holds even greater interest than president Keifer. The twists and turns last season made this ABC serial one-to-watch and it's the returning show we're more eagerly wanting to catch.
3) BIG MOUTH
Maya Rudolph. Nick Kroll. Jordan Peele. Fred Armisen. Jenny Slate. John Mulaney. NETFLIX's new animated series has our attention and it doesn't even start streaming until the end of this month.
4) GHOSTED
If Craig Robinson and Adam Scott make us laugh even half the amount we expect, this may be one of our favorite comedies of the year (FOX).
5) BLINDSPOT
NBC's shuffling this show off to Fridays which either means they're expecting this to be the last season or else they're hoping to use it as a building block to more prominence on Fridays.
6) MODERN FAMILY
Last season made clear that ABC's long running sitcom can jettison all the offspring except Sarah Hyland's Haley. It's not that the others who've grown up on the show aren't funny, they are. But they're not as delightfully funny as Hyland who has a special gift for comedy. We're hoping this season provides more opportunities to put Haley into the larger mix of the show.
7) EMPIRE
Last season largely bored. The bombing renewed interest as did Cookie's dislike of Lucious' new therapist. The FOX show could still have life in it.
8) THE MINDY PROJECT
The final season kicks off on September 12th (HULU) and it looks like it's going to be quite the send off.
9) GREENHOUSE ACADEMY
This NETFLIX original starts streaming this Friday. We love the trailer.
10) WILL & GRACE
We're as sick of the Twittering Debra Messing as anyone but we're still eager to see how this show handles its return (NBC).
The X-Men are the only superheroes that have true complexities so we're excited by this offering from FOX. A solid cast, a solid source, this could be the best thing this fall.
2) DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
Keifer Sutherland may be the anchor of the show but Maggie Q is just as important and often holds even greater interest than president Keifer. The twists and turns last season made this ABC serial one-to-watch and it's the returning show we're more eagerly wanting to catch.
3) BIG MOUTH
Maya Rudolph. Nick Kroll. Jordan Peele. Fred Armisen. Jenny Slate. John Mulaney. NETFLIX's new animated series has our attention and it doesn't even start streaming until the end of this month.
4) GHOSTED
If Craig Robinson and Adam Scott make us laugh even half the amount we expect, this may be one of our favorite comedies of the year (FOX).
5) BLINDSPOT
NBC's shuffling this show off to Fridays which either means they're expecting this to be the last season or else they're hoping to use it as a building block to more prominence on Fridays.
6) MODERN FAMILY
Last season made clear that ABC's long running sitcom can jettison all the offspring except Sarah Hyland's Haley. It's not that the others who've grown up on the show aren't funny, they are. But they're not as delightfully funny as Hyland who has a special gift for comedy. We're hoping this season provides more opportunities to put Haley into the larger mix of the show.
7) EMPIRE
Last season largely bored. The bombing renewed interest as did Cookie's dislike of Lucious' new therapist. The FOX show could still have life in it.
8) THE MINDY PROJECT
The final season kicks off on September 12th (HULU) and it looks like it's going to be quite the send off.
9) GREENHOUSE ACADEMY
This NETFLIX original starts streaming this Friday. We love the trailer.
10) WILL & GRACE
We're as sick of the Twittering Debra Messing as anyone but we're still eager to see how this show handles its return (NBC).
10 Worst Shows of 2016
It was not a good season for TV.
1) AGENTS OF SHIELD
Each episode made it more and more difficult not to notice that the best characters tended to be written off the show and that Clark Gregg shouldn't be a lead on any television show.
2) SPEECHLESS
It takes a special kind of bad to be the lowest rated show on ABC Wednesdays but SPEECHLESS manages this feat. Sandwiched between THE GOLDBERGS and MODERN FAMILY, SPEECHLESS manages to run away audiences in a manner not seen since NBC's THE SINGLE GUY has a show performed as poorly or had even less reason to air.
3) POWERLESS
NBC thought the country didn't have enough superhero media. Forget the movies and THE CW which serves up countless shows. This one from NBC was going to be a sitcom and it was about those trapped in the superhero world but not having powers themselves. The only thing more dumb than that would be casting Alan Tudyk in a lead role.
4) CONVICTION
Not even the considerable talents of Bess Armstrong could save this series whose premise appeared to be: What if Chelsea Clinton got busted for doing coke?
5) AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS
They aren't American videos. And there's no point in this garbage still being on the air.
6) GOTHAM
Nor is there any point in all this before-they-were-heroes nonsense. Next up, SYFY is going to bore us with KRYPTON -- because who doesn't want to learn -- or 'learn' -- about what Krypton was like 200 years before Kael was born? GOTHAM is boring and should have gotten the axe long ago. What's next? GARDEN set 2000 years before Adam and Eve show up?
7) THE GOOD PLACE
Here's a clue for NBC, when the debut showing of your sitcom gets 8 million viewers but week six finds it down to three million, you don't have a hit on your hands.
8) THE CATCH
The closest Peter Krause ever came to being sexy onscreen was playing Kevin on CYBILL early in his career. That role ended in 1997. Twenty years later, his face had done all these weird things and he seemed entirely asexual so why did anyone cast him in this attempt at a romantic comedy? Equally questionable, the heavy gloss treatment given to Mireille Enos who was famous for her raw performance and raw appearance in THE KILLING. The pairing, like the show, never worked.
9) SUPER STORE
It's sad to put this series on the list. It's a show that always should have been funnier than it was and a show that, as season two progressed, should have just been funny -- even a little. Season three should be the last for this increasingly disappointing show.
10) MADAM SECRETARY
Increasingly disappointing. Does this show exist just to peddle war and fear? It would appear to be so. Ava and C.I. nailed it in September of 2014: "Madam Secretary plays out like a Little Golden Book instructional." They called it when CBS was pimping it as the new great drama, THE GOOD WIFE reborn. Three years later, did you notice, Tea Leoni's received not one Emmy nomination, nor has the series.
1) AGENTS OF SHIELD
Each episode made it more and more difficult not to notice that the best characters tended to be written off the show and that Clark Gregg shouldn't be a lead on any television show.
2) SPEECHLESS
It takes a special kind of bad to be the lowest rated show on ABC Wednesdays but SPEECHLESS manages this feat. Sandwiched between THE GOLDBERGS and MODERN FAMILY, SPEECHLESS manages to run away audiences in a manner not seen since NBC's THE SINGLE GUY has a show performed as poorly or had even less reason to air.
3) POWERLESS
NBC thought the country didn't have enough superhero media. Forget the movies and THE CW which serves up countless shows. This one from NBC was going to be a sitcom and it was about those trapped in the superhero world but not having powers themselves. The only thing more dumb than that would be casting Alan Tudyk in a lead role.
4) CONVICTION
Not even the considerable talents of Bess Armstrong could save this series whose premise appeared to be: What if Chelsea Clinton got busted for doing coke?
5) AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS
They aren't American videos. And there's no point in this garbage still being on the air.
6) GOTHAM
Nor is there any point in all this before-they-were-heroes nonsense. Next up, SYFY is going to bore us with KRYPTON -- because who doesn't want to learn -- or 'learn' -- about what Krypton was like 200 years before Kael was born? GOTHAM is boring and should have gotten the axe long ago. What's next? GARDEN set 2000 years before Adam and Eve show up?
7) THE GOOD PLACE
Here's a clue for NBC, when the debut showing of your sitcom gets 8 million viewers but week six finds it down to three million, you don't have a hit on your hands.
8) THE CATCH
The closest Peter Krause ever came to being sexy onscreen was playing Kevin on CYBILL early in his career. That role ended in 1997. Twenty years later, his face had done all these weird things and he seemed entirely asexual so why did anyone cast him in this attempt at a romantic comedy? Equally questionable, the heavy gloss treatment given to Mireille Enos who was famous for her raw performance and raw appearance in THE KILLING. The pairing, like the show, never worked.
9) SUPER STORE
It's sad to put this series on the list. It's a show that always should have been funnier than it was and a show that, as season two progressed, should have just been funny -- even a little. Season three should be the last for this increasingly disappointing show.
10) MADAM SECRETARY
Increasingly disappointing. Does this show exist just to peddle war and fear? It would appear to be so. Ava and C.I. nailed it in September of 2014: "Madam Secretary plays out like a Little Golden Book instructional." They called it when CBS was pimping it as the new great drama, THE GOOD WIFE reborn. Three years later, did you notice, Tea Leoni's received not one Emmy nomination, nor has the series.
TV's impact
Jessica Guynn (USA TODAY) notes how the media impacts our imagination and how we see ourselves:
It's a serious issue.
So is the way GIRLS portrayed life in NYC -- four whiny, White women bask in entitlement.
More than three-quarters of characters engaged with
computer science are men and more than two-thirds are white, while 17.2%
are Asian and 15.5% are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups,
according to the study from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Women
of color are practically invisible in these roles. You would have to
watch more than 85 hours of popular TV shows and movies to see a single
instance of a Latina, black or mixed race female character discussing or
engaging in computer science and, even then, you wouldn't see a single
Middle Eastern girl or woman, USC said.
Why does it matter? Google says the way computer science is portrayed in
popular culture can profoundly shape career choices. The number of
female forensic science majors jumped after the debut of the CSI television series as did the number of girls pursuing archery after the release of the movies Hunger Games and Brave. It's a serious issue.
So is the way GIRLS portrayed life in NYC -- four whiny, White women bask in entitlement.
Sexism has undermined Game of Thrones’ wide appeal
This is a repost from Great Britain's SOCIALIST WORKER:
by Jasmine Francis
The seventh season of Game of Thrones is well underway and has been met with much rejoicing from fans.
In a society where people often feel powerless it’s easy to see why some of the characters are so popular.
Take Jon Snow for instance—he started out as a “bastard” child who was treated as a second class citizen and became a leader, defying all expectations.
One of the other aspects that has kept people watching is that any of the characters can die at any time. The show is extremely violent and this reflects a society that has become accustomed to everyday violence.
Even as an activist who is against war and state violence, I found myself getting excited when characters I hate meet a gruesome end.
The show has also shown itself to be quite sexist. Graphic rape scenes are completely unnecessary and the sexualisation of women’s bodies over those of men adds nothing to the plot.
Although characters like Arya and Sansa kick ass and grow in confidence throughout the series, that doesn’t justify showing women’s bare chests in every other episode.
The fact of it is, the show doesn’t actually need to objectify women to get ratings and this really shows us there are still huge sexist divisions in society.
I honestly don’t know many people who watch it to see women naked.
People are more interested in the plots of revenge or seeing if the underdogs can come out victorious.
There is still a long way to go in the fight against women being objectified for entertainment.
Let’s hope one day HBO gets the message and can produce a show that doesn’t feel the need to constantly feature women as sexual objects.
Sexism has undermined Game of Thrones’ wide appeal
The seventh season of Game of Thrones is well underway and has been met with much rejoicing from fans.
In a society where people often feel powerless it’s easy to see why some of the characters are so popular.
Take Jon Snow for instance—he started out as a “bastard” child who was treated as a second class citizen and became a leader, defying all expectations.
One of the other aspects that has kept people watching is that any of the characters can die at any time. The show is extremely violent and this reflects a society that has become accustomed to everyday violence.
Even as an activist who is against war and state violence, I found myself getting excited when characters I hate meet a gruesome end.
The show has also shown itself to be quite sexist. Graphic rape scenes are completely unnecessary and the sexualisation of women’s bodies over those of men adds nothing to the plot.
Although characters like Arya and Sansa kick ass and grow in confidence throughout the series, that doesn’t justify showing women’s bare chests in every other episode.
The fact of it is, the show doesn’t actually need to objectify women to get ratings and this really shows us there are still huge sexist divisions in society.
I honestly don’t know many people who watch it to see women naked.
People are more interested in the plots of revenge or seeing if the underdogs can come out victorious.
There is still a long way to go in the fight against women being objectified for entertainment.
Let’s hope one day HBO gets the message and can produce a show that doesn’t feel the need to constantly feature women as sexual objects.
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