-
Steve Irwin Killed In Accident
jake on 2006.09.04 at 04:24 pm
It is difficult to imagine the shock of a beloved celebrity’s death. Even if that celebrity is Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter. Someone who works with dangerous animals and is harms way regularly. But that shock still hits you hard. And because of my forthcoming trip to Australia/(possibly)New Zealand this has hit me fairly hard. Now I could be paying my respects at his zoo instead of simply exploring and hoping to catch a glimpse of Steve or his family.
Irwin was killed by a stingray while filming today. Compared to the beasts he usually completes with this could only be described as a freak accident.
“Something happened with this animal that made it rear and he was at the wrong position at the wrong time and if it hit him anywhere else we would not be talking about a fatality.”
Terri and kids rush homeI wish his wife and two children all the best.
- Steve Irwin crocodile hunter Dead (YouTube)
Posted in: Television · Travel
0 Comments -
Futurama back from the dead (false)
brian on 2006.03.19 at 10:36 pm
Futurama is the latest cult-followed, but axed in its prime adult cartoon, that has risen from the grave, a la Family Guy.
Rumor has it 26 new episodes are in the works.
UPDATE Apparently, the voice-actor cited above jumped the gun, and in fact was wrong. Suppose it was too good to be true.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
Firefly and Scrubs link dump
jake on 2005.11.11 at 11:01 am
Just a couple quick links before I go out to lunch.
- Firefly (Firefly – The Complete Series (2002)) – Everyone knows I love Serenity. And I love the tv show just as much. Extremetech suggested it as a good geek gift and I’d have to agree.
- Scrubs is coming back. – According to Zach Braff (in a video post) the show was put aside to try and promote some other comedies like My Name is Earl and the rumor is they’ll start airing new episodes in January.
Posted in: Television
1 Comments -
Alias in hiding
brian on 2004.09.10 at 11:15 pm
If you, like me, love the ABC show Alias, then you were probably wondering when it's fourth season would be starting up. Well, it won't be on again this year. The start of the fourth season will air in January 2005, and will have no reruns. Much the way some cable shows have been aired, for example, The Sopranos. Apparently, since much of Alias is shot on location, it's easier to get them all taped first, then air them.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
Colonial House
brian on 2004.05.18 at 12:17 am
Hey, so I'm late to the game, but I watched my first episode of Colonial House on PBS tonight. Basically, its a reality series done right. And by saying I'm late to the game, I mean I didn't see an episode of Frontier House, Manor House, nor 1900s House. I heard of Frontier House, and that it was well done.
Basically, if you haven't put two and two together, Colonial House is a bunch of present day Americans and Brits who volunteer to "go back in time" and try to be a colony in the new world. The eight-episode series was filmed over a five-month period in 2003 on an isolated stretch of the Maine coast. Everything is old (except for the boom cameras and mics, I suppose), from the tools, to the rules (including mandatory religion, which is funny because some left England because they didn't agree with the mandatory religion, among other reasons), to the salt-preserved food. There are even natives, who trade maize for flour, and bring a gift of fresh killed muskrat. Surprisingly, the pilgrims really enjoyed it. Even if they had to gut and skin it themselves. Of course, that's the point: they took two weeks of 1628 school at Plimouth Plantation where they learned the ways of the pilgrims, and how to fend for themselves.
Terribly interesting. Of course, "check your local listings" but in general its shown mini-series like: May 17, 18, 24, 25, 2004
8-10pm on PBS. For Boston locals, our wonderful GBH is showing it also at 10pm-12am.Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
NECN Replies, With Class.
brian on 2004.04.16 at 12:51 pm
Well it's nice to see that a smaller network will reply, and quite quickly, to a concerned viewer. I received a note from their Station Manager shortly after emailing them the aforementioned rant.
In the interests of equal time, their reply is below (formatting in context).
Dear Brian, thanks for writing us. I am the News Director of NECN and have been for the past twelve years. I can assure you that Comcast's partial ownership of NECN has had no influence on our news coverage. Whenever we need to cover something regarding Comcast, we always reveal our ownership. It was not subtle but right up front before the piece aired. If you read the Boston Globe's article on the front page of their Business Page, you will find that they covered this story very similarly to our report. Indeed, we talked to an analyst from Forrester Research about the significant concerns of our industry regarding advertiser support for VOD. As to Satellite, yes, it can respond two say but limitations on bandwith make VOD impractical or impossible. You will not find VOD as a service on DBS anytime in the coming years. As to Giant Glass, I could not agree with you more. In fact, we are working with them on a new ad because we get so much feedback from viewers like you. So, I want you to know that NECN will continue to adhere to our values of depth, context and quality. We will not chase every car crash and fire as so many other local outlets do. We will take the time to tell stories well. I'm sorry to hear you will not continue to watch NECN. I sincerely hope you find an alternative outlet that better serves your interests. With all best regards. Charles Kravetz, VP of News and Station Manager.
My reply was as such (definitions added for the blog only, emphasis for formatting only, as well):
Dear Charles,
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to address my concerns.
{Quote}Whenever we need to cover something regarding Comcast, we always reveal our ownership. It was not subtle but right up front before the piece aired.{End Quote}
Correct, you did reveal it, but it was in passing, and not as up front as most stations do, when talking about their owners. In your case, the anchor read the disclaimer right inline in a sentence, "...Comcast, an owner of NECN, is introducing..." as opposed to, say, ABC's coverage of the Disney/Eisner episodes, where someone like Peter Jennings would introduce the piece. Pause (which I think is key, to set it apart from the rest of the introduction), and right before the video rolled, would say "Let it be noted that Disney is the parent company of ABC." Then the video would roll. In my opinion, your disclaimer was not obvious enough. In situations like these, which are becoming increasingly too common (NBC reporting on GE, CNN on anything Turner related, CBS on Viacom... my head is beginning to hurt), I think the disclaimers need to be very, very clear. It's murky waters to report on one's owners (how can one be unbiased, or disclose bad news about their owner? Would you report if VOD was shorting out people's TV sets?)
{Quote}You will not find VOD as a service on DBS anytime in the coming years {End Quote}
Personally, I don't see Comcast VOD as news-worthy. Perhaps the overall movement by media providers, cable and satellite to provide their customers with more control over their TV watching, that might be worth a story.
This is what makes this whole story so murky to come from a Comcast subsidiary: What your report failed to mention, is that, no, VOD isn't coming to satellite soon, but DirectTV will basically give you a digital TiVO for a couple dollars a month extra, and then you can record, pause live tv, do anything, to any network, at anytime, and even store it as long as you want, without DirectTV or Hughes telling you which of the limited stations you can do this on. (same with other satellite providers)
That's sounds a lot more flexible to me than VOD controlled by Comcast. But all your story said was "you won't find this on Satellite" which is true, but totally misleading. And then consider the source: a news network owned by, surprise! Comcast! So even if your parent didn't know you were airing this piece (and of course, they did, since you interviewed someone from there), to the viewers who realize the relationship, and know the full story, it looks fishy. TiVO is becoming a cultural phenomenon, and like Google, is become part of America's vocabulary. To not mention satellite's adoption of it, which is a direct answer to VOD, is not fair. Sounds like an ad for cable. Especially when Comcast advertises "You won't find NECN on Satellite." That's my problem with this story.
In summary, if I were in your position, I wouldn't put my network into the position of reporting on its parent company, unless, like in the ABC situation, there's something big going on, that another network would also report.
{Quote}As to Giant Glass, I could not agree with you more.{End Quote}
This may single handedly win me back.
Best,
~brianPosted in: Television
1 Comments -
Comcast Takes NECN Down the Tubes
brian on 2004.04.16 at 11:43 am
Since moving to Boston, I have watched NECN for my morning news. When their owner was bought by Comcast, I was leery. I decided to keep watching until something happened to confirm my suspicions. That happened today. Below is my letter to NECN saying goodbye.
NECN,
I just finished watching your story on Comcast On-Demand. I am really, really disappointed. This isn't journalism, it's a flipping info-mercial for your owner. Your disclaimer at the beginning of the story was subtle to say the least. I had to use my TiVo to go back and see if it was even there. You even bashed on satellite providers, ("Their customers can't feedback, since the connection is one way" -- which isn't true, you have a phoneline connection to your provider) just like an actual Comcast advertisement. It's really sickening. You've lost all journalistic integrity, in my opinion.The only reason I watched NECN is because it's generally unhyped local news, plus I'm originally from Connecticut, so it's nice hear something about the rest of New England on top of the three murders in Boston today. Well, since your transfer to ownership by Comcast, my opinion is sliding. Basically, I was afraid of their influence on the content (that's THE reason I don't watch the CN8 channel), but until today, I found their influence minimal. Now it's gone too far, and I suppose its time to find a new local news source. Preferably one without Giant Glass commercials which make me scream and change the channel each time I see them. Someone should tell them their annoying commercials are sticking in potential customer minds, but when I needed glass work, I purposely *avoided* them, since they've made my mornings nearly unbearable with their "jingle."
One last criticism, I hate that your show is taped and looped till noon. It should be live and change through the morning. But I guess that won't bother me anymore.
One more lost viewer,
~brian
Brookline, MA
If you too are a disgruntled and now former viewer of NECN, they can be reached at feedback@necn.com.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
The Donald's Reality: A Hoax
brian on 2004.04.09 at 11:26 pm
NBCs and Donald Trump's The Apprentice is fixed. At least according to this first hand account of the down stairs neighbor of Brooklyn brownstone seen in the renting episode. Apparently the renter had already agreed to one rent, but had to appear on the show and fake taking the place at a higher one. Sad, but that's par for course the Donald. A hoax.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
Monk
brian on 2003.08.15 at 10:17 pm
If you're not familiar with Adrian Monk, you should really tune in. Quite enjoyable.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
MTV does Spider Man
jake on 2003.07.10 at 01:59 pm
Tomorrow night is the premiere of a new Spider-Man cartoon on MTV. I guess I better set my VCR since I'll be out. It looks to be done in 3D with cell shading. The video they have on the web site looks a little rough around the edges. It looks more like I'm watching a video game versus a real cartoon. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since I'm such a big fan of all things Spidey.
One of the interesting things is the cast. What seem to be the main three characters, voiceovers consist of, Peter (Neil Patrick Harris,) MJ (Lisa Loeb,) Harry (Ian Ziering.) And apparently Peter and MJ are already dating, no build up of their relationship. Some plot modifications in general I guess.
I'll just keep my fingers crossed. July 11th, 10:00pm EST.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
Conan in Clay
brian on 2003.05.13 at 05:00 pm
NBC's late, late night show hosted by Conan O'Brien will air a rerun this Thursday, but not in the typical sense. The show will be a 100% claymation recreation of an October 2002 show. I'll be tuning in.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
Ren & Stimpy Coming Back
jake on 2003.04.30 at 03:47 pm
TNN has three animation shows coming on June 26th. One of which is Ren & Stimpy. It is geared more towards adults, which most of the original audience now are.
The page has a little blurb and a promo mpeg.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments -
Mr. Rogers has died.
jake on 2003.02.27 at 10:36 am
Well before I post some random stuff, I thought it more fitting to start with a sort of tribute. Fred Rogers passed away early this morning. I was a bit confused by the radio this morning. On a local station, they re-ran an interview they had with him a while back. And I came in during the middle of it. so I had no idea it was commemorating his death.It's a terrible thing, I imagine my future kids will watch reruns of him when they're young.
He died of stomach cancer at age 74.
Posted in: Television
0 Comments
