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.
Friday, October 25, 2013
(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.
Friday, October 18, 2013
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:
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.
Will New Girl ever stop?
I got inspiration to write from this article from televisionwithoutpity.com and I just loved how Angel Cohn talks about the things she both did and didn't like about the episode in question, while still referencing problems that the characters have had throughout the whole series. It made me laugh and I could see where she was coming from in all of her arguments.
Is this how New Girl is going to be from now on? Is it all going to be about Jess and Nick going over their relationship, while Schmidt is a douche? If this is what it’s come to then I am starting to think that maybe I should move on to bigger and better things. This last episode, The Box, was not impressive and the show as a whole has been lacking in the whole realm of developing characters, especially when it involves a relationship. There have been greater ideas for relationship stories--from Friends with the whole Ross and Rachel arc, to the family relationships in Modern Family.
Skip: Schmidt’s self loathing
If Schmidt was really in love, or cared about, either of the women he was sleeping with then why would he lie to them and date them both at the same time? Schmidt has always seemed to be selfish and a little stupid, but there seemed to be no real need to do what he did. Claiming that he did so he wouldn’t hurt either of the girls is just dumb and had no thought at all.
Skip: Nick and Jess constantly reassuring the relationship
So Nick came into some money that his father left him after he died and, in true Nick fashion, decides to use it to buy stupid things, while Jess decides to go behind his back and pay for some of his over due bills he keeps in a box in his closet. He eventually finds out and is pissed at her and she feels guilty and not. It happens far too often and by the end of it Nick would do anything for Jess and she vice versa, which brings us to another standstill in their relationship of nothing actually changing, but constant validation that they belong together.
Keep: Winston as the bonding agent of knowledge
Winston has become a wonderfully sometimes-crazy character that never seems to be the craziest one in the loft. He is the only one who can play therapist and is always able to back up his thinking in one way or another, which can put Schmidt and Nick in their place, especially now when they are so divided at home. The guys don’t really seem to give Winston credit unless they say they need his help, but he always comes through like a normal friend should.
I chose Matt Fowler as my reviewer. I found him by searching for reviews of shows that I like. He writes for IGN.com. Here are a few samples of what I based my review off of:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/19/true-blood-radioactive-review
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/29/true-blood-in-the-evening-review
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/27/parks-and-recreation-london-review
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/29/hello-ladies-pilot-review
I chose Matt Fowler because I like his style of writing, it isn't too formal and he really just recaps the show while offering thoughts and questions about where the show is going to go. He writes his reviews for hardcore fans of the shows he is reviewing, so he is able to go into detail about character and plot. I chose to review episode Boy Parts of the show American Horror Story.
American Horror Story: Coven – “Boy Parts”
Review
It’s
completely understandable for people to have qualms about American Horror Story
after Asylum. It had mutant zombies, alien abductions, Satanic nuns, Anne
Frank, and Santa Claus serial killer. But when the show is on point, it’s
really good, and Coven’s first two episodes have proved that this season is on
the right track.
The premiere
episode included Fiona blowing lines of coke, Madame LaLaurie’s torture chamber
of mutated slaves, Zoe humping a guy to death, and a graphic gang rape scene.
The writers never hesitate to take the show to levels that border on offensive.
Those scenes proved to be only a small taste of what they have in store for
Coven, judging from the somehow even more controversial “Boy Parts.”
The first
big shocking scene was when Zoe and Madison break into the morgue to resurrect
Kyle. His body is in pieces, mangled in a body bag with the guts hanging out.
None of the gory details are spared. Madison, who is turning out to be as
twisted as she is powerful, suggests that the girls collect the nicest of the
dismembered limbs and create the perfect Frankenstein boyfriend. I think that
idea is almost unrealistically dumb (Zoe only met him once!) but I’m willing to
overlook it for the sake of plot.
The weird is
what makes the show worth watching, even when it borders on disturbing, like
Cordelia’s sex scene with her husband. Sarah Paulson as Lana Winters was one of
the best parts of Asylum, and luckily this episode delved deeper into
Cordelia’s character than the premiere did.
Apparently,
she’s married and can’t conceive a baby. Her husband convinces her to use
magic. They perform an elaborate ritual conception ceremony, including snakes
and blood. Cordelia’s eyes turn completely black. It’s really scary and weird.
I just don’t see how anything good can come of that. Something has got to be
wrong with a baby conceived under those circumstances.
The episode set
in place a rivalry between Fiona and Marie Laveau that will unfold over the
season. The cast of American Horror Story consistently delivers, and I’m
interested to see the what kind of relationships will develop among the
characters. Coven definitely isn’t
done shocking us yet.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
30 Days Without an Accident: Walking Dead Premiere
Maryann
Sleasman has a similar style on most of her articles on certain TV
shows that she reviews about. When reading her articles, you tend to
realize she's overly emotional about the characters which soon
becomes annoying and obnoxious. What I like about her style, is that
she's straightforward with her writing, and it's easy to understand
her. Sometime she sounds like either an overly attached girlfriend or
a child. The reason why I'm imitating her style, is because I feel it
would be fun to copy and see how annoying I can get with this. One
thing to notice is that, at the end of each review she has her own
notes, but then I checked out other critiques and I realized it's the
websites layout to add notes. So it isn't her writing style to add
notes at the end, but I did try to copy how she wrote her notes into
my review.
Walking
Dead: Season Premiere: 30 days without an accident.
Finally, after a long year of waiting
it's back and better than ever. The last season left us with
questions about where the governor disappeared of to? What will
happen to Daryl after he killed his brother? And what will happen to
the rest of the community that has been in the hands of the governor
for a whole season?
The season premier is a shocker with
Rick having a heart. What??? Rick is now soft as ever helping people
and being less of an ass than he was the last season. And Oh My God
Michonne
started smiling and finding comics
for Carl. Looks like this community of theirs made people have a
change of heart. Hershel is still the same as ever giving Rick wise
wordings from his book of lives, and apparently out of the blue
Hershel found a leg to walk with, he's no longer on crunches. Damn I
didn't know they had that many resources in a world that seems
lacking in assets.
Putting aside the change in the
characters' personalities, “30 days without an accident” added
new characters, with a new emphasis on Bob Stookey, a glimpse of him
was shown in season 3, and now they are showing his alcoholic
problem. Just shows you that this alcohol drama will come up later on
in the episodes. Of course more annoying kids, and Carl being a
little boy diva as always acting all mature. Beth turned into a cold
teenager. Who can blame her, after all the deaths she's seen, crying
doesn't seem to cut it out anymore. Just to make the season premiere
of this show more of a hit, someone had to die. It turns out to be
Beth's lover, and at the end you see Beth being on tough cookie and
trying not to cry over him.
On the flip note they are finally
starting to emphasize that anyone could turn into a walker without
being bitten, because everyone is infected. At the end of the episode
the new kid with glasses starts getting very sick. It's true that we
still don't know if he just got sick, or whether he was bitten,
hopefully it will be reveled in the next episode. But the main thing
is at the end he rushes to get some water all over his body. So
probably a high fever. Then he falls and dies and turns into a
walker. So it's a virus spending, that would just mean that he died
by getting sick and turned because he is already infected. So is
everyone else!!!!! Which brings me back to the first season, when
they were all at the scientists lab, the scientist said that everyone
is already infected, so if you die without getting bitten, you still
turn. During season 2 and 3 they never emphasized this part, it was
just a bunch of drama and chatters.
Time to see how this season will turn
out. From complaints about how boring the last two seasons were,
everyone seems hyped about the opening of this season. But so were
the openings of the other two seasons, everyone seemed hyped about it
and it turned into well a disappointment. So stick for the ride and more walkers people!!!!!
Parks and Recreation "Doppelgangers" review (Matt Fowler Style)
Parks and Recreation "Doppelgangers" episode review
In an unbelievable (even to herself) and all too honorable
move by Leslie Knope, Pawnee has absorbed and is helping pay the debt of
neighboring Eagleton. While Eagletonians
are as you know “the worst kind of people”, Leslie kept true to her values of
helping anyone in need. This season of
Parks is promising to keep the same quick wit and style that it has these past
five seasons. Keeping a show lovable after so many years seems all too easy for
the writers of Parks and Recreation, little can be said for the rest of NBC’s
current lineup.
With Pawnee and Eagleton’s new merger the two departments
are being put together and it is up to Leslie to decide who stays and who
goes. Right off the bat the show gets in
some great jokes with Jerry’s return to the office as a temp immediately resulting
in the gang changing his name to Larry.
We also get to see the dream team Ben and Chris back together helping
with the Eagletonian budget and debt.
The parks department soon meets their doppelgangers of Eagleton
employees with some incredible moments.
April showing off her character/impersonation skills and Ron meeting his
other played by Sam Elliot (also named Ron) being the most powerful moment in
televised mustache history since Magnum PI.
In big Anne news she finally breaks it to Leslie that she is
thinking about moving with Chris to raise their future child. She immediately follows these words by (in
what is sure to be a GIF by tomorrow) shoving pie and ice cream in her face as
a distraction. Leslie spends the rest of
the episode trying to cope with this news the occasional quirky outburst
spurred by others thinking of leaving.
Almost all of the Eagleton staff decides or is chosen to get
cut and the team is safe. Chris talks
with Ben about the plans to move with Anne and is fully supported by his
friend. The show closes with Leslie and
Anne finally coming together to get a chance to talk more about Anne’s
departure. Leslie has always been
overpowered by her emotions and desires and didn’t handle the original news so
well. Will she be able to come to the
same feelings of acceptance, we shall see next week. It was yet another exemplary demonstration of
what a quality sitcom can and should be.
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