25 Best TV Bloggers

I thought this list might prove useful!! Or help lead you to other helpful sources.

Black Spray Paint

Assignment for Tuesday!!! EVERYONE READ THIS.

Okay, all, here is your assignment for Tuesday/tomorrow (November 12): Answer (in this thread) this question:

what is the single most significant effect television has had on your life? If you don't watch much TV now think back to days when you did. Or consider the ways TV affects you indirectly.

Ideas for Final Project (Hopeton Harrell)

Hopeton Harrell.

Black Reality TV. Good or Bad, Real or Fake, Positive or Degrading?

Whether on the football field, basketball court, boxing ring, on stage or the movie screen, the world has always enjoyed watching African Americans Do Their Thing. Today there are several new so-called Reality TV series that portray African Americans Doing Their Thing, which has some critics applauding the success and the exposure that black personalities are receiving on television and it has some critics describing it as baboonery, classifying them as modern day black minstrel shows. Ratings for such shows are soaring and new shows ideas are pitched daily, which supports the fact that whether or not the images or messages that are portrayed on these series are positive or degrading they have captured American television Audiences.

I will attempt to examine the content of Black Reality TV shows such as College Hill, Harlem Heights, Real House Wives of Atlanta, Black Ink, Love and Hip Hop, Run’s House, The Family Hustle, and several others.  The shows with the highest ratings and widest fan base will be explored because they are perceived to have the greatest impact on viewers. Reality TV shows attempt to portray how things work, who people are, what people do, and essentially how people live. Because so much of these show’s content is about African American women my essay will focus heavily on but not limited to Black women.  My goal is to give both sides of the debate using academic sources, journalistic reviews, and audience reactions as my evidences.

Potential Sources

http://newsone.com/1373345/black-reality-tv-basketball-wives/

http://www.reelurbannews.com/?p=1042

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1996/3/96.03.05.x.html

http://library.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/data/guides/english/howard_journal_communications.pdf

http://newsone.com/2131606/black-people-african-americans-reality-tv/

http://www.darronsmith.com/2012/06/entertaining-while-black-the-depiction-of-black-males-in-popular-media-existing-while-black-in-america-series/

http://www.darronsmith.com/2013/03/racial-thugging-in-massachusetts-and-mississippi-kinder-gentler-still-deadly-forms-of-race-based-domination/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN9wwlT4Gvo

Requests. 

I'm having a time trying to find current data from academic sources. Much of what I find is from early or mid 2000s. If anyone can point me in the right direction please help!

Idea for Final Essay Abstract topic

I basically typed up all of this in MS Word so I'm copying and pasting from there.
You don't have to go through all the sources and stuff, but I was wondering if this was a good idea for a topic. If there is any way that I can narrow it down let me know. I was thinking maybe I could include less examples? Thanks for taking a look!
Also I don't have a title yet.

Thesis: Television’s influence on American society is a double-edged sword, in that it can be used to push issues beyond the boundaries of taboo and help audiences accept them as a cultural norm. At the same time, audiences become desensitized toward these less ethical subjects, mainly the sexualization of adult and youth situations.

Objective: I would like to explore how this sexualization has developed over time from the 1950s until the 21^st century by citing popular examples of scripted and reality cable television shows. May or may not include:

·         Mary Kay and Johnny (first sitcom married couple to be shown sleeping in the same bed and first on-screen pregnancy)

·         I Love Lucy (married interracial couple in sleeping in separate beds)

·         Star Trek (first scripted interracial kiss on TV)

·         All in the Family and/or Maude (sitcom format that focuses on controversial issues of the 60s-70s such as abortion, the Vietnam War, women’s rights, etc.)

·         Jersey Shore (glorifying people getting drunk/fighting and making fools of themselves)

·         Teen Mom (glorifying teen pregnancy)

I’d like to offer the reader a comparison of what was acceptable during the earlier stages of television sitcom and drama verses what is acceptable now and how that progression proves that American society has become much more tolerant of vulgar and explicit sexual/otherwise controversial content on television.

Potential Sources:

·         http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/marykay.asp

·         http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue259/tv_firsts.html

·         http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9068/index1.html

·         http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/cover-story-brave-nude-world-pay-tv-pushing-boundaries-1200703785/

·         http://www.neatorama.com/2013/04/10/TVs-First-Interracial-Kiss/

·         http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/27/why-jersey-shore-popular-2/

·         http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-11-13/features/9204130017_1_mothers-as-donna-reed-messy-family-life-maude-findlay

·         http://suite101.com/a/the-desensitization-of-young-america-a337329

News assignment; some tips

1. Your maximum word count should not be over 1000 words. So if you're running way over that, remember, the real point of the assignment is to describe and characterize the news coverage, not to describe the events of the story.

2. It is okay to generalize where appropriate. One of the points of this assignment it to try and identify and recognize the specific tactics used by different TV outlets in how they approach different kinds of news (political, tragedy, celebrity, disaster, etc.). So discussing the commonly-held impressions of the outlet ("Fox News is usually very conservative" or "The Daily Show scours archival footage to find ways to point out the TV hypocrisy of pundits") is an acceptable way to introduce your points of analysis.

3. If you find yourself getting bogged down in details, think about the "big picture." What kind of basic features do you notice about your chosen outlets? Is there a certain aspect of predictability to how they cover your chosen story? What is the "brand" they seem to be presenting? Remember: this is about the TV news sources more than it is about the news story.

(Jeremy Milton) Supernatural

ritical Review

            I have been reviewing The CW’s original series “Supernatural”.  The series formally was quite on point with its twist’s and turns however in the last few seasons the series has lost its brazen edge.  As we follow the Winchester brothers Sam and Dean whose lives have been the prime example of a series of worst case scenarios all culminating into one hard knock life, we have seen that the two can’t keep the story going.  I have always been a fan of watching the two fight what goes bump in the night but it seems as though the writers have run out of original content. 

            I will be the first one to say how truly upset I am that this show is winding down in structure.  The writers had a great idea when they introduced angels to the show to counter the demons, however if angels lack free will and only do God’s bidding I fail to see why they kill one another and have their own agendas.  That being said the plot twist of angels being cast out of heaven seems like a last effort attempt to keep the show alive.  We will have to see if this can provide viewers with an entertaining hour of television or if it will ultimately let us down. 

            With Sam and Dean dying and being brought back to life so frequently it begs the question of a real immortal complex.  If the brothers come back from the dead so often why not just stop killing them, this renders the point quite irrelevant.  I know that I may receive mixed reviews on my sharp tongue and harsh opinions, but hey someone has to say it right?  Hopefully I will be proven wrong and forced to eat my words, until then “Supernatural” is seeming more natural then super. 

  

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/supernatural-season-7_n_1140853.html

Enter The Libyan, Boardwalk Empire Character Recap

Hopeton Harrell

 

Enter the Libyan, the Cunning Caribbean

 

Watching the new season of Boardwalk Empire it’s easy to see why the writers won the Writers Guild of America Award.  The recent introduction of Dr. Valentin Narcisse is a grand display of their brilliance and creativity. I guess excellent writing would not be enough without the selection of astonishing actors to deliver the lines. No does it quite so uniquely as Jeffery Wright the award winning actor.

Boardwalk Empire is itself a history lesson documenting the prohibition era with many of its main characters based on real historical figures such as Enoch Nucky Thompson and his brother Eli who were based on brothers Enoch and Alf Johnson both powerful political figures in Atlantic City in the 1920s. Dr. Narcissi’s Characters was loosely based on a successful Harlem numbers runner from the Virgin Islands named Casper Holstein.  Jeffery Wright’s knowledge and appreciation of this rich history is realized in his portrayal of Dr. Narcisse.

We first see the amazing Jeffery Wright, (Dr. Narcisse) in the private chambers of Chalky eloquently instructing Mrs. Pastor about modesty and self-control as he reads a verse from bible, (First Timothy Verse 2:9) He then ask Chalky if he knows his bible. The power and dangerous influence possessed by Dr. Narcisses in immediately recognized. He is alone with an elegant white woman instructing her how one must carry themselves. Only dangerous black men would dare such. But he is a Libyan as he refers to himself and people of African descent. From his African roots he inherits his right to power and high status as he boasts; our roots go deeper than that, across oceans to the mother continent where all things begin”. Chalky looks down at Mrs. Pastor with eyes that suggest she would be paid painfully for bring this devilish gentlemen into his private chambers the Dr. assures her that it is he who is full control, “you nervous dear, you needn’t be,  Mr. White is civilized, I am civilized we’re having a civilized conversation”.  The two dwellers of darkness sit and Dr. Narcisse reveals the purpose for his visit.

Chalky White, played by the ever talented Michael Kenneth Williams, is not one to be manipulated, nor does he leave cheese out for rats. He looks at Narcisse as a well-dressed rodent attempting to use the death of “Dicky” his talent scout to gnaw his way into Chalky’s operations.  With no show of fear or concern for any ensuing consequences he lets the doctor know that he is chewing at a meatless bone.

In a manner that only a seasoned actor can genuinely pull off Jeffery Wright (Dr. Narcisse) expresses a calm rage that informs the audience that all hell is about to break loose, retribution will be paid, somebody’s get their ass kicked. He holds a frown between a smile showing neither he calmly leaves with Mrs. Pastor but not before asking Chalky, “you wish to leave it at this?” Yea it’s about to go down!

As events unfold it revealed that Dr. Narcisse has always been a part of the Empire lurking behind the scenes. When snubbed by Chalky he leaves the Onyx Club but not without having his supremacy recognized. He orders all of the talent to stop performing and sends Chalky a note reminding him that he is only a servant.  How about that? Everyone but Chalky, the owner of the Onyx Club, knows who Narcisse is.

Understanding his queen is in check Chalky calls a meeting between himself and the doctor with Nucky as the arbitrator. If anyone is unaware of just how well Boardwalk Empire is written just watch this scene. The exchange between Dr. Narcisse, Chalky White, and Nucky Thompson is the type of stuff that captures viewers and solidifies them as loyal fans of the series. The show is stale without these types of rich dialogue and fantastic actors who can take you into the occasion with them.  The doctor’s back and forth banter with both Chalky and Nucky was so arrogant and condescending that it enraged Chalky who responded with an outburst appropriately proportioned to the instigation, “ I aint paying a dime, I give you one minute to get your Jamaican ass…. I don’t give a fuck where you from or where the fuck you gone back to.” What a magnificent eruption that gave more life to the mysterious personality of Dr. Narcisse.

For the loss of Narcissi’s talent scout Chalky was ordered by Nucky to relinquish ten percent of the Onyx Club’s earnings to the doctor.  Later during a meeting with Dunn, Dicky’s killer, Narcisse capitalizes further from the death of his employee and the spoiled relationship to between Dunn and Chalky and invites Dunn to enter the world of narcotics by introducing him to the heroin trade, “it is freedom power, control over men who are lesser than you.” Like other Boardwalk Empire Fans I can’t wait to see how the writers develop the new angles.

'American Horror Story:Coven' A Brewing Pot of a Premiere

I choose to adapt the writing style of Kevin Yeoman because I thoroughly enjoyed his interesting and unique style of writing. It was one that is much different than mine, as I wanted to challenge myself to learn a new writing style to help improve my own. Kevin offers his readers a easy to understand but nothing short of an intellectual vocabulary. His writing style also offers a less formal way of speaking offering his opinion and sense of sarcasm to his readers. I also enjoyed how he reflects on other films and shows created so he can compare and contrast the different seasons or series produced. I knew it would be a challenge for me to write in such a way but it is one I am really eager to try. 

Here are links to some of his reviews. 

http://screenrant.com/boardwalk-empire-season-4-episode-6-reviews/

http://screenrant.com/breaking-bad-series-finale-review/

http://screenrant.com/under-the-dome-season-1-finale-review/

‘American Horror Story: Coven’ A Brewing Pot of a Premiere 

By Salvatore Vona

As someone who has enjoyed past seasons of the riveting FX series American Horror Story, I must admit that I am once again drawn in by the nail biting story lines of writers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. This mind twisting story shares the secret history of witches and witchcraft in America over the past 300 years and the riotous days of Salem and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. The story takes place in New Orleans where several main characters attend a school of witchcraft to better learn to control and use their powers, an almost Hogwarts-esq influence if Harry Potter had slit Hermione’s throat half way through the series. This third season has already proven it will not disappoint its fans as it provides enough violence, gore and startling scares to still consider the series aptly named. 

As Coven kicks off it once again introduces many of the same cast members as the prior 2 seasons. Jessica Lange takes on the role of Fiona Goode, the ultimate supreme of all witches who runs the witchcraft institution along side her daughter Cordelia Foxx played by AHS: Asylum star Sarah Paulson. Murphy and Falchuk also bring back past season favorites such as Taissa Farminga, Lily Rabe and the female heart throb Evan Peters. All staring in new roles that bring forward and require the most of their acting talents. But season three does not fall short in providing new Oscar and Golden Globe nominated talents such as Kathy Bates starring as the evil slave torture from the past Madam LaLaurie, Gabourey Sidibe as the troubled young witch Queenie, and Emma Roberts as the rebellious young actress/witch Madison Montgomery. This seasons cast is filled with the same amount of mind twisting story lines and this award winning cast will surely not disappoint. 

Coven begins its premiere episode ‘Bitchcraft’ with a spiral on the kind of cold open that began seasons 1 and 2. But instead of viewing the present day as in AHS: Asylum, we are flashed back to 1834 at the New Orleans home of Madame LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) a wealthy white woman with a affinity for imprisoning and tourturing black slaves for her pleasure, using the blood of her imprisoned foes as a facial remedy to restore her youthful look. The series immediately offering its eager fans the gruesomeness they long awaited .

In its premiere we are also revealed to the introduction of Zoe Benson and her teenaged lover in a intense sexual encounter. Which almost came as a surprise to me and viewers until her lovers head burst with blood across the bedroom floor. Immediately reminding us again that this series was not for the squeamish. But Coven has added or intensified some elements that were not as present and impacting as prior seasons. Season 3 seems to have already provided a more youthful, sexualized, and humorous elements to its early episodes by introducing younger actress’s (the ‘covening’ quadruplet), more sexualized scenes (the alluring sexual murderer of Zoe Benson), and the comic humor of ‘precious’ Gabourey Sidibie (no pun intended). Possibly a tactic provided by the writers to deliver more relatable characters  and scenarios to its majority viewers who appear to be of the young adult demographic.  

The bloody gore and unpredictable story lines of Murphy and Falchuk had me hooked once again on their chock-full of madness. I must admit that I was skeptical that Coven would not deliver the same excitement and thrill that Asylum offered. But I was surely not disappointed. With the first episode leaving me (and I’m sure many others) in anticipation for the next. I could immediately feel that American Horror Story was settling in for another 13 episodes of unpredictable, horrifying, and disturbing imagery. 

First Look: Parks and Recreation

For this assignment to write in the style of a TV critic, I chose to emulate Brian Ford Sullivan, writer for the blog “The Futon Critic.” The site touts itself as “the web’s best television resource,” which peaked my interest and ultimately led me to choosing Sullivan as my critic despite never hearing of him previously.

On this website, Sullivan has two types of reviews – one being a listing of the best episodes of TV that year, and the other being a “first look” review.  In these “first look” reviews, Sullivan takes the series premiere of a show (including ones of shows that end up being quickly cancelled) and sticks to the same style every time by including the networks description of the TV show, what he believes the networks description left out, the plot, and then what he thinks works and doesn’t work - the focus of what I will be doing for this assignment.  Finally, he ends with a section called “the bottom line” that is a continuation of the last sentence of the previous section, summing up his thoughts. 

He also tends to, though not exclusively, write about shows with female leads and focuses on their character traits, tropes and stereotypes, and the way they are written, and how this can be to the shows benefit or demise.

Here are some examples of his work:

Review of Awkward.

Review of Apartment 23

Review of The Mindy Project

Review of New Girl

For my assignment, I am going to write about a recent episode of already well-established show –Parks and Recreation, instead of the pilot episode, in this style:

First Look: “Parks and Recreation” episode 604: Dopplegangers (NBC)

(Thursdays at 8:00/7:00c)

The Network’s Description:

“Leslie and Chris welcome the city employees of the town formerly known as Eagleton. Since Eagleton is now part of Pawnee, the employees must be reassigned to their respective Pawnee departments, and the Parks Department is no exception. The good news is that the office is bustling with a collection of vibrant new characters. Unfortunately, it's also teeming with redundancy, so Leslie will have to decide which employees to keep and which ones to send packing.” (From NBC.com)

What did they leave out?

This is one of the last episodes that Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe will be in – they are leaving the cast halfway through this season. 

Plot in a Nutshell

Eagleton, in the world of Parks and Recreation, is the formerly rich, longstanding rival of Pawnee.  Leslie has begrudgingly allowed Eagleton to be absorbed into Pawnee because they are experiencing a budget crisis.  Each Eagleton employee in this episode is a doppelganger of those holding their respective job in Pawnee – leading to hilarious interactions between new and old characters.

What Works

The title of this episode promises doppelgangers – and boy does it deliver!  In that Parks and Recreation style, though, we are pleasantly surprised with who (or what) these doppelgangers are, leaving a fresh spin on an old trope.  Ron’s doppelganger, also named Ron, at first glance, is just like him – and they get along.  As the episode progresses, we realize that in actuality he is the polar opposite – Eagleton Ron is a hippie, yoga loving vegetarian, whereas Pawnee Ron is an all American meat loving man.  Another surprisingly pleasant parallel is Tom’s doppelganger: Eric.  Eric, however, is not a person – he is a machine standing for “Eagleton Reservation Information Center” indicating that Eagleton finds Tom’s position to be easily replaced by a machine and useless. Tom eventually is able to get “Eric” fired without Leslie ever meeting him by badmouthing him.  Finally, the third hilarious doppelganger is traditionally sarcastic April who loves to take on different personas – this time, a parody on her Eagleton counterpart.  The only character without a doppelganger is Jerry…

What doesn’t

… who becomes a doppelganger of himself.  The staff of the Pawnee parks department, who have traditionally bullied Jerry as the office fool, have renamed him Larry when he has temporarily come out of retirement to help out during the absorption of Eagleton.  While this can sometimes be funny this running joke often crosses the line and the mean spiritedness clouds over the otherwise lighthearted fun that is Parks and Recreation.  At times the show can makes you cringe…

The Bottom Line

… while at other times it can make you smile and laugh.  This season of Parks and Recreation is far from a disappointment, and continues to offer a fresh and clever take on standard TV tropes.