Tag: Entertainment

The Late Night Two Step

Colbert has been silenced, well not until May of 2026, and of course Donny gets butt hurt when people make fun of his tiny hands or other tiny parts of his body…..and as usual he mouths what he always mouths….sue somebody.

This time is anybody who has an opinion of him and his backward policies….Beyonce, late hosts, etc.

Despite the lateness of the hour in Scotland, Donald Trump remained vocal on social media Saturday, unleashing a late-night rant in which he threatened to prosecute Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce while lashing out at news networks whose “licenses could, and should, be revoked.”

The president, who is spending the weekend golfing in the UK, wrote at 7.45 p.m. ET (12.45 a.m. local BST) that he was reviewing the large amount of money spent by his Democratic opponents “probably illegally” during the 2024 election.

Trump claimed Beyonce was paid $11 million to endorse Harris, and that she “never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and angry audience!” He also claimed that Democrats paid $3 million in “expenses” to Oprah and $600,000 to civil rights activist and TV personality Reverend Al Sharpton.

There is no evidence that any of the people named in Trump’s rant were paid for their endorsement by the Democratic campaign.

“YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post. “Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out!”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-lawsuit-beyonce-oprah-kamala-harris-b2796708.html

Typical hypocritical BS that the GOP is famous for doing….a double standard if you will.

But the one that generates the most foul mouth spewing was a recent “South Park’ episode.

“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had a simple response to the furor the often-controversial show stoked this week with an episode showing President Trump in bed with Satan and making fun of what they depicted as the president’s small genitals.

“We’re terribly sorry,” Parker said Thursday, holding a deadpan stare as the crowd laughed during a panel at Comedy Central’s Comic-Con.

The “South Park” season premiere drew a response from the White House, which said in a statement to The Guardian that the show “hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention.”

“President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country’s history — and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak,” spokesperson Taylor Rogers told the paper.

The premiere of the show’s 27th season also skewered Paramount over its recent decision to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump for $16 million. Paramount received approval Thursday from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission for an $8 billion merger agreement with Skydance.

The “South Park” episode that provoked the White House’s ire aired just days after Parker and Stone reached their own deal with Paramount for the rights to “South Park,” reported by Variety as valued more than $1 billion.

Parker and Stone said they were asked by their producers to blur out their depiction of Trump’s genitalia — a request they declined. And with the show being put together week-to-week, they said they were initially not sure if their first episode was going to gain traction.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5420915-south-park-trump-satan-episode/

This should make his tiny brain explode with ramblings and babbling BS….maybe the Dems should think about this and use it to their advantage….that is if they have the guts to do so.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Hate Wins Again

Donny and the conservs got their way (finally–after trying for decades) the funds for NPR/PBS will dry up….

There are many reasons I have heard but none is a sound reason for trying to kill this broadcast entity….

Below is an opinion (not mine–keep that in mind before you go off half cocked which seems to be a tradition with some)…..

Our public radio and TV stations are in grave peril, and with them the unique services they perform for our communities.

By the end of day Friday July 18, we’ll know if Congress has clawed back the money it already gave to public broadcasting, through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB. (The House will decide; this is your moment to call your representatives to ask them to support their public radio and TV stations, and to join — for free — Protectmypublicmedia.org.) Even if that money stays protected, though, public radio and TV will continue to be attacked.

I’ve studied public broadcasting here and around the world for 40 years. And I serve on the board of directors of the taxpayer-funded Independent Television Service, which coproduces a lot of the documentaries you might see on public TV. So, of course, I think it’s an important part of our media in America. But I think you probably do, too.

You might know public broadcasting through your local TV or radio station, both private nonprofits. Or you might know it through the services many such stations depend on for daily, high-quality, award-winning programs: National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Both of them are private nonprofits that make, select, and bundle programs for public stations.

Either way, you’re in good company. PBS and NPR are the most trusted media brands in the United States. Half of PBS viewers depend on PBS for news and information, including more than half of people who identify as “extreme conservatives” or “extreme liberals.” NPR’s news is trusted by more than half of those who have heard of it. Americans trust public media news and public affairs much more (by half) than they do commercial mainstream media.

https://www.rawstory.com/corporation-for-public-broadcasting/

Silence from NPR/PBS was not enough…..they are going after the late night shows as well because they are critical of the present POS of government….

Then there is this Colbert and CBS thing….

Stephen Colbert made the announcement himself to his studio audience on Thursday at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. “I want to let you know something I found out just last night,” he said, USA Today reports. “Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show next May.” When the audience registered its disappointment, Colbert said, “Yeah, I share your feelings.” CBS said the cancellation was a financial decision, per Variety.

It’s not just his show being canceled, Colbert said, it’s CBS’ late-night talk show franchise—a run that began when the network hired David Letterman from NBC in 1993. “I’m not being replaced,” Colbert told the audience. “This is all just going away.” There had been speculation that Skydance Media, which is acquiring CBS parent company Paramount Global, might not appreciate Colbert’s jokes at President Trump’s expense. In Monday’s show, Colbert had talked about CBS Global settling Trump’s lawsuit over the editing of a 60 Minutes story, per the AP. He said the technical name for such a settlement is a “big fat bribe.”

CBS referred to the speculation in its statement. The network blamed “a challenging backdrop in late night,” adding that the cancellation “is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” Advertising revenue has been drying up for late-night shows, per the Los Angeles Times. Media companies are unhappy with the high production costs and the loss of young viewers to digital video. The network praised Colbert and the show, saying they’ll “be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”

Wassup with this move?  Is it politics?

The announcement from CBS executives came just three days after Colbert spoke out on his show about a recent $16 million settlement reached by CBS parent company Paramount over an interview that “60 Minutes” aired with former Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election, in which Harris ran against President Donald Trump.

Colbert had told his audience that the settlement appeared to be a “big fat bribe” to end a “nuisance lawsuit.”

“This all comes as Paramount’s owners are trying to the get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner,” said Colbert, referring to a pending $8.4 billion merger with the entertainment company Skydance—whose billionaire founder, David Ellison, has been spotted with Trump in recent months.

Trump’s lawsuit against Paramount claimed the Harris interview was deceptively edited and amounted to “partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference,” allegations that legal experts and First Amendment scholars denounced as “ridiculous” and “dangerous.”

After the settlement was announced earlier this month, with Paramount pledging to release transcripts of future “60 Minutes” interviews with presidential candidates, one press freedom group condemned the company for “capitulating” to the president’s demands.

CBS executives appeared to preemptively respond to expected allegations that they were canceling Colbert’s show due to his criticism of the settlement—and his frequent rebukes of the president—saying the decision, effective in May 2026, was “purely a financial” one.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/cbs-late-night

Slowly all opposition voices are being silenced….and that is just fine for defeatists that care nothing for this country….but since I am NO defeatist I shall continue on my road….like it or not.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Have You ‘Cut The Cable’?

I have about 4 years ago, maybe longer. I dropped my cable service because it was expensive and I found that I could save a few bucks by using streaming basically because there was not much on ‘regular’ TV that I liked….I am not into food game shows or reality anything and I definitely could care less about any celeb.

Since I switched I have watched the streaming fees go up and up and the ads are just as irritating as those on ‘regular’ TV.

So why are my fees going sky high?

Remember when cutting the cable cord and switching to streaming services was supposed to save you money?

We’re quite a few years into the streaming revolution, in which big companies and Hollywood studios invested billions into new streaming services, many with a plus sign in their names. We’re talking about Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Peacock, Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, plus smaller niche brands like Shudder and Acorn TV. Traditional broadcast networks and some cable channels are still making new shows, but if you’re looking for the most Emmy-nominated, high-profile series with the biggest stars attached, you’ve got to start your internet connection.

It’s all well and good if you like binge-watching, but have you checked your monthly subscription bills lately? Because those charges for Peacock and Disney+ might be quite a bit higher than they were when you signed up.

When platforms like Disney+ and Apple TV+ first arrived, they offered bargain-basement prices for monthly subscriptions to lure consumers into the fold before increasing rates. Since paying for “Bluey” and “Ted Lasso” is already a line item on your budget, you may have missed that fees have been slowly (and sometimes quickly) increasing at almost every service. You want Hulu, and you want it without ads? Well, that will run you a steep $18.99 a month by October, after the latest hike on all Disney services takes effect. Back when ad-free Hulu was introduced in 2015, it cost only $11.99.

Just take a look at the current and upcoming prices of all the major streamers, bundles and new sports-only app Venu, expected this month.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/08/14/why-tv-streaming-prices-are-so-high/74734387007/

It is like everything else in our society….greed is driving the bus….

What to do?

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Closing Thought–04Jan24

Do you enjoy a game of Monopoly or Risk or Clue?

Did you enjoy the 06 January insurrection? 

If so you can now relive all the excitement in a board game.

On the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol, Americans can do it all over again—on a game board. “Storm the Capitol—TrueAnon Edition,” a board game in which players relive the riot, will be released Saturday, per Newsweek. Created by the “TrueAnon” political podcast, the limited edition game allows players to assume the role of a “patriot” (whose goal is to move through the Capitol “collecting ballots, taking hostages, and fighting the police”) or that of a Capitol police officer (who works “to prevent the Patriots from getting to the roof with enough ballots to Stop the Steal”). There, Donald Trump waits with a helicopter to take “patriots” to alter the 2020 election results. If the opposing side wins the game, Joe Biden’s election is certified.

“TrueAnon” hosts Brace Belden and Liz Franczak promoted the game, sold for $64.99, on Tuesday’s episode, with Belden saying it’s “for every single person in America, on every single side of every single political issue.” Or at least those who agree with the podcast’s claim that “January 6th was about having fun with your friends—and this January 6th, that amazing feeling is coming back.” The game claims to let players “relive one of the funniest days in American history.” Belden said it was “the best day of watching TV I’ve ever had in my life” and claimed most of those who died at the Capitol “died from being too excited,” per the Independent. Franczak said playing the game was a “riot of a time.”

According to the Independent, “the game celebrates the violence of the day,” with players gaining points “by stealing ‘AOC’s shoes’ or ‘Pelosi’s laptop.'” The game—intended for players 18 and older, per Raw Story—will be sold on the podcast’s merchandise website. Newsweek reports there was a “fairly positive” online reaction, though this Reddit thread shows there’s plenty of aversion, too. “I think I speak for all sane Americans when I say ‘what the f—ing f—?” reads one comment. “When it comes to traitors, I’m partial to Hangman,” reads another. A third user said the game was “like Monopoly, but every space on the board is ‘Go to Jail.'” A fourth criticized the creators for “mocking the United States and our Democracy and our constitution.”

These d/bags will do anything to earn a buck.

Could I be the Capitol Police and use deadly force?

I will not be interested in this game or anything remotely connected to the idiots that stormed the Capitol.

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

May Day Surprise

Today is the International Day of the Worker….

Do you enjoy your TV?

You may have a sad time coming…….

Hollywood is now hours away from a strike that would affect scores of TV shows and films—as well the people who watch them. And the main sentiment in coverage is that a deal looks unlikely before the midnight deadline. Details:

  • Two sides: On one side is the Writers Guild of America, and on the other is the studios who pay them, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In broad strokes, the guild is seeking about $600 million in pay increases, along with other demands, per the Los Angeles Times. But the main sticking point is an extremely complicated one—how to fairly pay writers in an age when streaming has upended the traditional production model.
  • Hope fades: Both the LA Times and CNN report that the two sides are far apart. No temporary extension appears to be in the works, either. If no deal is reached, the writers will go on strike at 12:01am Tuesday (West Coast time). The last such strike 15 years ago lasted 100 days.
  • The impact: The first shows to go dark would likely be the late-night talk shows, as well as ones such as Saturday Night Live and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver that rely heavily on writers, per the BBC. Soap operas would quickly be in trouble, too. “If this goes on, we’ll see more reality, news, and sports,” Jonathan Handel, an entertainment attorney, tells CNN.
  • Impact, II: Scripted shows and films will see a different impact, depending on how far along they are in production. The BBC notes that some projects might be able to theoretically continue shooting, but actors who support the strike may balk at participating.
  • The arguments: This isn’t about posh lifestyles, argues screenwriter Zack Stentz in a New York Times essay: “At stake is nothing less than the survival of film and television writing as a viable middle-class career for the majority of our membership.” On the flip side, studios are under intense pressure from Wall Street to cut costs and make money from their streaming businesses, notes the LA Times.
  • Nitty-gritty: Deadline has a comprehensive look at the details and the main players. One modern wrinkle is how to handle the advent of artificial intelligence when it comes to crediting (and paying) writers.

There is an outside chance that you American Idol, Masked Singer and the Bachelor will not be interrupted…..but do not hold your breath.

Me?   I could care less for I know how to read.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Remember When Comic Books Were Dangerous?

No?

Well time for the Old Professor to drop some history.

These days comic books are a great source of entertainment and collecting them has become mainstream.

But it was not always so acceptable to read or collect these treasures.

Like today when some blame society’s ills on video games and music so it was that comics were accused as the source of juvenile delinquency in the 1950s.

Comic books are successful almost from their inception in the early 1930s, but also subject to attack by critics for the low quality of the art and writing, and for the emphasis on violent stories and images. These attacks come from adult critics, not the millions of monthly comics readers — mainly children and teenagers who love the vivid illustrations and exciting stories in the books.

After World War II, readership dwindles for popular superhero titles, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Spirit, and many comics turn to gory, true-life stories, or tales of horror and the supernatural. E.C. Comics’ Vault of Horror, Crypt of Terror, and Haunt of Fear cram their pages with severed heads, drug use, and graphic violence. Some of the most popular of these extreme stories come from the pen of comic artist Jack Cole.

Throughout the decade, attacks against the violent comics mount. Citizens’ groups and religious organizations pressure publishers and news dealers to drop the most offensive lines. Newspaper editorial pages and national magazines debate the influence of comics on the young.

In 1954 the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency holds hearings on whether comic books inspire juvenile delinquency. A lead witness, psychologist Dr. Frederick Wertham, testifies that comics “create a mental readiness for temptation” and create “an atmosphere of deceit and cruelty” for children. He even attacks Superman for “arousing fantasies of sadistic joy in seeing others punished while you yourself remain immune.”

E.C. Comics publisher William Gaines speaks in the comics defense, emphasizing his stories’ endings, in which the criminals always pay for their crimes. “Good taste” is his only criterion. Senator Estes Kefauver asks if an E.C. Comics’ cover displaying a woman’s severed head and a bloody axe is Gaines’ idea of good taste. Backed into a corner, Gaines boldly answers ‘yes.’ The exchange makes the front page of the next day’s New York Times.

The committee’s subsequent report declares no proven connection between comics and delinquency. Nevertheless, the Senate calls for self-regulation by the comics industry to keep violent titles out of young hands. Seeking to diffuse the negative publicity, the comic book publishers create The Comics Magazine Association of America. The new trade group publishes a strict code of guidelines to control what content the comics will permit. The guidelines focus exclusively on crime and horror comics. Within a short time, the genre is no longer commercially viable.

The imposition of the Comic Book Code bankrupts many of the horror and crime publishers, and many of the artists and writers leave the business for good. The most notable failure is E.C. Comics,

I always wonder why the dialog in the early comics was so horribly bad….like it was written by a 4 year old on Zanax……now you know.

Class Dismissed!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

History Of Skin

I have a cousin who rates a film by the amount of nudity it contains….of course he is a macho ape and only believes that women should be nude in the cinema….

Does anyone know the history of cinematic nudity?

Not to worry….there will be a documentary.

There have been documentaries on just about everything possible and now we can add the history of nudity in film.

When humanity first dreamed of the silver screen, there’s a 99% chance that dream also included, like, a lot of butts. Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies delves into this inarguable fact, while also exploring the many ways butts, boobs, balls, and boners have evolved on-screen as the standards and protocols of Hollywood have changed.

Directed by Danny Wolf (Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time), the documentary features a genuinely impressive line-up of famous faces discussing the history of on-screen skin.

  • Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon, Targets, Saint Jack)
  • Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie, Scary Movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
  • Diane Franklin (The Last American Virgin, Better Off Dead, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)
  • Pam Grier (The Big Doll House, Jackie Brown, Foxy Brown, Above the Law)
  • Amy Heckerling (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Look Who’s Talking, Clueless)
  • Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Caligula, Startrek: Generations, Halloween)
  • Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, Inherent Vice, Star 80)
  • Kevin Smith (Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Clerks, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
  • Sean Young (Blade Runner, Dune, No Way Out, Wall Street)
  • Jim McBride (creator of Mr. Skin)

    Check out the trailer below. Skin: A History of Nudity

(Collider.com)

Be Well…..Be Safe…..

“lego ergo scribo”

Space Force (Netflix)

I have written a lot on the US newest military service, the Space Force, I think it will be a huge siphon of cash from the taxpayer…..but that said this post is about a Netflix series entitle as it were Space Force.

But first….the real mission of the real Space Force……https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-space-forces-real-mission-wasting-taxpayer-dollars/

Welcome Spacemen!

The series was in the works before the official announcement of the Trump’s Space Force……a series created by and starring Steve Carell with John Malkovich……

A couple of trailers for your consideration…

But this is not a review of the Netflix series but rather the name…Space Force….it is about a legal question that could arise….

This from The Hill……

The Netflix original comedy “Space Force,” which is based on the new branch of the military launched by President Trump, reportedly obtained trademark rights for the name before the government.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show secured trademark rights to “Space Force” in multiple places, including Europe, Australia and Mexico, while the Air Force owns only a pending application for registration in the United States. That means the show has more confirmed trademark rights than the U.S. military. 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office usually grants trademarks based on a “first-to-use” system, and Netflix filed for the trademark as early as January. 

The Netflix show named after the branch debuted late last month and follows Steve Carell’s character, who works as a general developing the new Space Force. In addition to Carell, who portrayed the popular character Michael Scott in “The Office,” the series also stars actors John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Jimmy O. Yang, Diana Silvers and Lisa Kudrow.

While most people understand the difference between the show “Space Force” and the military Space Force, the trademark could play into merchandise confusion if clothing or a mug, for example, were to hit stores and customers were curious as to who was actually selling the goods.

(thehill.com)

In case you are interested……Very funny…..the series not the idea of a Space Force…..

We are on our way to the Moon…..and it is not for scientific research but rather as an occupying force…..something to think about when you watch Netflix series, The Space Force.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Mallorca Files–A Review

I would like to take a short break from all this Covid-19 stuff…..and all the news around this killer….and offer something entertaining….my review.

I do not often do many review movie or TV or book….but from time to time something just catches my fancy…..and so it was with a British crime drama entitled “Mallorca Files”.

This was a no brainer for me….for I lived on Mallorca as a teen for 3 years and then again as an adult for 2 years…..and still hold the island in high regard…..although it is not as laid back as it was in my youth…..it has become the playground of the rich and famous which is the kiss of death for a culture.

But the islands lend well for a series especially a series about murder and stuff……

Mallorca Files…..

Set on the sunny Spanish island of Mallorca, this 10-part BBC Daytime drama (co-produced with German channel ZDF) is written by Good Karma Hospital‘s Dan Sefton and features a brilliant partnership in the form of uptight British cop Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys) and laid-back German policeman Max Winter (Julian Looman).

In the opening episode, DC Blake is in Palma de Mallorca to escort a star witness back to the UK: the gang-boss-turned-informant Niall Taylor (Aidan McArdle). To put things mildly, things do not go to plan.

Miranda soon finds herself paired with Max, a German police officer who has somehow ended up on permanent secondment with the Spanish police force. Together they form that classic “unlikely duo” beloved of buddy cop movies, but in a knowingly-naff kind of way with a heavy dose of sexual tension. Miranda is diligent, blunt, obsessive and angry; and despite the German stereotype, Max is the one who is chilled out and much more attuned to the Spanish pace of life.

(radiotimes.com)

Watch a couple of trailers…..

My thoughts…..

I get it on Britbox and only have 4 episodes at this time and so far I like the idea of this show…..Mallorca is a lovely place and has a rich history to go with the amazing scenery……I recognized the round castle….the Basilica de Santa Maria, the harbor of Palma and the mountains on the north side of the island.

After four episodes I noticed a bit of the repartee of Shakespeare and Hathaway…..in short a little comedic relief….works for me….I cannot wait to see the rest of the season and the next season when it is released.

If you liked the scenery of Death in Paradise…then you should truly appreciate the rich culture of Mallorca and the fantastic scenery.

“lego ergo scribo”

Pussy Galore Is Dead!

I am a huge James Bond fan….and one of my favorite characters was in the book Goldfinger and her name was Pussy Galore.

The actress was best known for her role as Cathy Gale in the 1960s TV series The Avengers and as Pussy Galore in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger with Sean Connery as 007. Her family said in a statement to The Guardian: ‘It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman aged 94. ‘She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family. She was much loved and will be greatly missed by her two children Barnaby and Lottie, and grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby.

‘As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times.’

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/06/avengers-star-bond-girl-honor-blackman-dies-aged-94-12517490/

She will be missed.

May she rest in peace…

“lego ergo scribo”