The last 10 years have been unforgettable. Here are our favourite moments from the last decade, let us know yours in the comments.
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Category Archives: Television
Interviews: 80-Year Old Lily Tomlin Opens Up On Her Long Career (NY Times)
From a New York Times interview (12/30/19):
Has comedy evolved since you started? I think a lot more is allowed. When I was first starting out and was on “Laugh-In,” around ’71, I was trying to keep a low profile when I’d be working on something new.
Did you have that sense early in your career that your approach to comedy was different from most comedians? No. I just wanted to do the person, and more than likely the character would be self-confident and secure in her world. for instance. She mostly was looking out for herself and skewering pomposity, if I was going to be true to a child, the humor would take on a different quality.
1960’s Television: “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964) Celebrates 55 Years
From a Smithsonian Magazine online article:
When the special finally aired in 1964, it became such a hit that it has been rebroadcast every year since, making it the longest-running Christmas special in history. Even today, the special still punches above its weight; when Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer aired on CBS in 2016, it beat every show except This Is Us. In 2017, more viewers tuned in to watch Rudolph than A Charlie Brown Christmas, which ran on ABC in the same time slot.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19l9n1
Reindeer and dentists, puppets and LED light bulbs, Gene Autry and General Electric—these odd pairings might not seem to have much in common. But each played an important role in the making of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a classic Christmas special currently celebrating its 55th straight year of annual reruns. Before Rudolph lit up the small screen, a series of tragedies, twists of fortune and lucky coincidences allowed his tale to endure through decades—eventually ensuring a place in holiday tradition.
Best TV Ads Of 2019: Ryan Reynolds “Aviation Gin” Parody Ads Are “Brilliant Marketing” (Videos)
From a Marketing Land online article:
Soon after the spot aired, actor and liquor brand owner Ryan Reynolds cashed in on the drama – and marketers everywhere scrambled to pick their jaws up off the floor. The ad spot for Ryan Reynold’s liquor brand, Aviation Gin, cast the same actress from the Peloton ad — in a sequel that tells the story of where the Peloton Woman is now. Spoiler: She’s downing Aviation Gin in a bar with two friends, wallowing in the aftermath of Peloton’s ill-conceived commercial. We’ll toast to that.
It’s the holiday ad that caught fire for all the wrong reasons: A young, seemingly fit woman is gifted a Peloton stationary bike (presumably by her husband) and proceeds to vlog her fitness journey over the course of a year.
The ad, produced by creative agency Mekanism, went viral almost immediately, sparking criticism about Peloton’s unhealthy depictions of body image and marriage – not to mention the “Peloton Woman’s” concerning expressions (which some have quipped resembles a face of fear). Naturally, Twitter users couldn’t contain themselves, dragging the cringe-worthy campaign with labels like sexist, elitist, and entirely unrealistic.
Media: 41% Of Americans Believe News Has Become Less Reliable, 44% No Change (Rand Corp, 2019)
From a Rand.org online release:
Many people (41 percent) indicated that they believed that news has become less reliable than in the past; a similar number (44 percent) said they believed there has been no change; and 15 percent said they thought news is more reliable now.
Different demographic groups get their news in different ways
- People whose primary news sources are social media and in-person contacts are generally younger and female, and they tend to have less education than a college degree and lower household incomes.
- People whose primary news sources are print publications and broadcast television tend to be be significantly older, and they are less likely to be married.
- People whose primary news source is radio are significantly more likely to be male, less likely to be retired, and more likely to have a college degree.
- People whose primary news sources are online platforms are significantly younger, more likely to be male and have a college degree and higher income, and less likely to be black.
Attitudes toward the reliability of news are mixed
- Overall, 44 percent reported that they believed “the news is as reliable now as in the past.”
- Nearly the same amount — 41 percent — reported a belief that the news has become less reliable.
- A minority (15 percent) said that they believed that the news is more reliable now.
- There was an association between news consumption profiles and perceptions of reliability — people who relied more heavily on online, radio, and social media/in-person platforms to obtain news were less likely to say that news is more reliable now than in the past.
To view full Rand Study: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR4212.html?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=RAND%20Policy%20Currents+AEM:%20%20Email%20Address%20NOT%20LIKE%20DOTMIL&utm_campaign=AEM:631600804
Entertainment: 72-Year Old Larry David Returns For 10th Season In “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Trailer)
Larry David stars as… Larry David, living the good life out in Los Angeles and stumbling through one faux-pas after another. Curb Your Enthusiasm returns for its tenth season Sunday, January 19 at 10:30PM.
Entertainment: “Top Ten TV Shows Of 2019” (AdWeek)
From an AdWeek online article:
But while there is more great TV than ever before, the number of top-tier programs actually declined in 2018, making the task of assembling a Top 10 TV shows list easier than usual since so few shows stood out from the pack. That changed for the better in 2019, resulting in a Top 10 lineup that features only one returning series from 2018’s list. (Also, some of last year’s best shows, like Better Call Saul and Atlanta, didn’t air new episodes in 2019.)
1. Fleabag (Amazon)
2. Succession (HBO)
3. Watchmen (HBO)
4. Russian Doll (Netflix)
5. Chernobyl (HBO)
6. When They See Us (Netflix)
7. Better Things (FX)
8. Unbelievable (Netflix)
9. Barry (HBO)
10. The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Top New Cable Series: HBO’s “The New Pope” Starring John Malkovich & Jude Law (Video Trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRhZ0mIATrM
Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino returns with The New Pope, his second original series set in the world of the modern papacy. Written by Sorrenttino with Umberto Contarello and Stefano Bises, the nine-episode original series features Jude Law and John Malkovich. Sharon Stone and Marilyn Manson guest star.
TV Worth Watching: “Diagnosis” From The New York Times Featuring Lisa Sanders MD On Netflix
Dr. Lisa Sanders crowdsources diagnoses for mysterious and rare medical conditions in a documentary series based on her New York Times Magazine column.
Top New Documentaries: Interview Of Ken Burns, Director Of “Country Music” (PBS Podcast)
The latest documentary on PBS from Ken Burns starts this Sunday, and will likely get your foot tapping. “Country Music” is an eight-part series, featuring never-before-seen footage and photos. Amna Nawaz sat down with Burns, who has now had more than 30 films on PBS telling the stories of America. The conversation is part of our ongoing series on arts and culture, Canvas.
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