Tonight, I am definitely not going to be watching the gang at MSNBC shadowbox with Reality and try to convince me that the political news out of New Hampshire is anything anyone actually needs to pay the least attention to.
Watching tonight's episodes, I couldn't help wondering about whether it's possible to paint Nightshade on hamberders like they did with oysters. They certainly dealt with a lot of problems that way. :-)
The odor of desperation emits from MSNBC's shredding, chopping, and masticating of the news for us. And speculation is not news, so their speculation during this election season seems similar to those barely perceptible shifts and shakes felt by those on the Titanic who were pouring wine. I may watch PBS all night, cram for the Montreal cognitive test should I ever have to take one. or impose order on my junk drawer, anything that will reinforce my feeling of agency in this maelstrom.
very eloquent statement of my own inner life right about now.
my own current solution has been to go through every collection on the Criterion Channel of even remote interest. it's been working, but there's a lot left to this year.
and for what it's worth...MOTA is, at best, a snorer. as for anachronistic usages, I found a single use of "recycle" in the first ten minutes. but I KNOW it's gonna get worse. I guess it's as simple as lightning struck with "Band of Brothers," and it was much better than it had any right to be. but it just wasn't replicable. they had a LOT of luck on their side, too (the quality of the actors and much better writers and directors), as well as a genuine narrative (the same guys invading and fighting till they hit Germany, which is sort of perfect...as Sam Fuller understood a long time ago). MOTA is also burdened by these shitty voiceovers "explaining" things. the flying stuff was much closer to playing a computer WWII game than watching a movie. I'll take "Air Force" over this stuff any day. "Air Force" would be worth watching for James Wong Howe's amazing work ALONE. any day. and for exciting, there's my required annual viewing of "Twelve O'Clock High."
my dad would have dismissed this after fifteen minutes. but he was so demanding about war movies that I couldn't get him to even TRY OUT "Band of Brothers." it's been...what???...well over two decades. that's a lot of time in movie land...
Watched the first two episodes of MOTA last night and have to agree with you and Tom. The sound was poorly done, and the planes must have been from kits because they aren't many of those left, with one being nearby in the Yankee Air Museum in Willow Run, MI. "Band of Brothers" did all of this so much better and probably had better advisors. And even the old TV series "Twelve O'Clock High" with Robert Lansing as Boyington wasn't bad in the way it conveyed the intensity of air war.
I went back and watched a few episodes of the TV show, which I never watched when it was on. now, with thousands of low-rent streaming services, we can watch just about ANYTHING. I've actually watched some episodes of "My Little Margie" (don't bother).
one of the problems with MOTA is that you can't use archival footage (intercut with new footage and clever editing) the way the old movie or TV show could. and the CGI on the show is just sooooooo OBVIOUS. I've seen better. didn't these guys have enough money to make that shit look RIGHT? thing is, the makeup folks are amazing and they can certainly make wounds look real, but all that does is make you look away or come out with a half-ironic "oy vey." and that Austin Butler guy needed to stop sounding like his fake Elvis. and Barry Keoghan (obviously a terrific actor) has the same weird generic NYC accent nobody has ever actually had spoken; that shit stopped happening c. 2006. he needs a better dialect coach.
I will admit that when the flames engulf everything inside the plane, it's genuinely scary for half a second.
I remember Willow Run very well. it felt like what a real airport felt like when I was little...muddy with very few concessions made for anything that might have resembled human comfort. just like LaGuardia, which was three blocks away from my childhood apartment. and now, LaGuardia's a mile away and has become something of a showplace.
I just sent that review to my "knowledgeable folks" email list. She even took the time to read the book so she could review it with knowledge.
I watched the two episodes this morning over at my neighbor's since he subscribes to
Apple. Here's my review:
I hate being the guy who told you so, but Masters of the Air is so bad it makes The Pacific look worthwhile. I went over this morning and watched the first two episodes with my neighbor who is also in Duh Biz and subscribes to Apple TV. I should say forced myself to watch as I sat there, both a knowledgeable World War II historian with a current best-seller about 8th Air Force and as a knowledgeable screenwriter and watched them swing and miss at every damn point. I can't believe two guys as talented as Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks could make this many mistakes in one show.
As an historian, allow me to say that the script typist (calling him a screenwriter is something I cannot bring myself to do) managed to write the Mythology rather than the History. And as a reader of the book (three times) I know the Actual History was there to be used, explained so well that even a moron like this guy, who obviously doesn't know the pointed end goes in front, could get enough material to get it right. And I am sure he was doing what the Tom & Steve Show wanted, since he didn't get fired.
As to the acting, I was reminded once again why I don't think there are 10 male actors in Hollywood under 40 who deserve to be called such. As both an aviation photographer and someone who has flown around in old airplanes, the CGI wasn't quite as awful as "Red Tails," but it it was a close race to the finish line.
We screenwriters have a rule about criticism: one bad review is one person's opinion; two bad reviews might be a coincidence; three bad reviews are a damn fact. The show has scored 3.3 out of 7 over at the IMDb. That's a whole bunch more than three bad reviews.
I really really really wish I was writing to tell you all I had been wrong about this overcooked turkey.
The first season of the Twelve O'Clock High show is good. But then the same thing happened that would happen on every other show where Don Bellisario was involved as a producer (this was his first) - the second and subsequent seasons go awful (like Baa Baa Blacksheep) with all sorts of stupid ideas driving the plots. I spoke with guys who wrote both shows (12 O Clock and Blacksheep) and the good writers all quit when the orders came down for plots starting with developing the second seasons.
Well, I"M watching the second episode of True Detective (jody foster) My son records them on a thumb drive & brings it over. I get very few cable channels (and miss them very little).
Skimmed thru your post. I find the older I get, somehow the less interest I have in an awful lot of stuff!
When my sister had a new “friend” several years ago. My bro said, “I’ve already met all the people I have room for, until somebody dies. My brain is full.” Only half kidding, I think.
In the evening, having worked and now turning to other reading, I like background noise, and I find reruns of "Emergency" and "Adam-12" work well for me. They're pleasant and largely brainless, kind of like the TV news coverage you mention.
I don't like to sound that way. I'm an admirer of Kindly Doc Maddow, as Charlie Pierce calls her, and she loves historians. But watching them sit and repeat themselves saying nothing ... nah.
Enjoy you evening Tom. Primary soup gets stale after the first taste. This post of yours tonight puts your clarity in fine focus. Even at your approaching of long toothdom, I saw you by the third paragraph at a lecturn at nearby Pierce College or CSUN beginning an ongoing extention class in film and media history. You could be be very popular in that capacity. Seriously.
I'm going to be watching Rick Wilson's podcasts tonight just for chuckles. He can be hillarious.
Thanks for the recommendation! As I’m still pretty of limited mobility with a broken leg, I’d turned MSNBC on for an update. BLECH. Turned it off. Husband: Aren’t you going to watch it? Me: Naw, I’d rather read this book. NOTE: it’s not a very good book.
I’m trying to learn to read again. When my husband required vigilance and constant care for years, I stopped reading much except short things (Substacks, etc). Watched a lot of WW2 and basketball. After his death, I went back to reading and found that I couldn’t retain what I had just read so back to short blurbs. Now I’m back to trying. Using the Agatha Christie books that she wrote under the name Mary Westmacott, I am slowly making progress. Not mysteries, they are more like psychological studies, and my retention is improving. Didn’t even know that I could forget how to read. Maybe brain was changed from extended care giving. I know the rest of me was.
Sounds like a long road Jeri. I try to go from serious to light when my brain needs a rest. Kindle makes the light easy. Apart from a few political things I’ve missed Demon Copperhead by Kingsolver and Horse by Brooks are on my list. Three weeks until I’m mobile again! Glad your brain is coming around to reading again, from your writings I’m sure it’s not a permanent state as you’ve certainly not lost your knowledge. Cheers!
Such a surprise when I started back on Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, which is a great read. Now I'm on track to resume one of my favorite pasttimes. Don't think it was brain damage, but definitely a brain change. Mobile is great, as I see daily in Assisted Living. Go get 'em.
Thanks to people like you, Robert, Heather, and a few others, I'm spared the need (and have no desire) to watch TV news. I'll be watching You are What You Eat on Netflix and paying careful attention to my diet.
Good morning, TC! Thanks fir the recommendation! On another (perhaps related) note, did you or anyone else catch the episode of "American Experience" on PBS last night. If you didn't and subscribe to PBS Passport, look at it. "Nazi Town, USA". It was about at the German American Bund, started up during the Depression by a follower, and sometime friend of one Adolf Hitler, Fritz Kuhn. He emigrated to the US and brought the Nazi poison over here and became the head ofvthe Bund. Interestingly and chilling, you will see parallels to what's happening right now in the US.
My cord has been cut for years, I use YouTube TV and Apple TV. I had a hand in making close to 50 commercials before I settled into Motion Pictures, and it is very very rare that I will watch one. I used to watch a lot of golf before the saudis got into the game with all of their money, I loved playing it when I lived in LA, there is no way I could watch a tournament with the number of ads that repeat over and over and over. Truth be told these various substacks we all participate in informs me more than MJ or even the News Hr. I will watch Lawerence and the Last Hr because he wraps up the day with good guests. Unless something happens in the middle of the night which is possible these days, the morning shows are all old news which I got before I went to bed. I had no awareness of that show, it sounds like I would enjoy it, I really enjoyed "Rome" when it was on HBO years ago, it like "Deadwood" made good use of a longer form to tell a story, and they were written for adults. Speaking of adults I saw "Ferrari" over the weekend with my daughter, it was based on a book written by an old friend RIP, Brock Yates. Michael Mann and the entire crew made a movie for adults, and if you are a motorhead or ever wanted to understand one it's even better than Frankenheimer's "Grand Prix" which for it's time was outstanding. I was going to watch it on my home theatre, I'm glad I went to see it on a big screen, like "Oppenheimer" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" it needs to be seen on a big screen, it's that good. Thanks for the heads up Tom, even on the TV there is a lot that's worth watching if you know where to look and can time shift.
Thank you TC. I also can’t watch much of MSNBC these days. The Dorian Gray visage is always there, whining and causing me to heave. I, too, love Julian Fellowes shows, but last night I watched Brokenwood Mysteries (from New Zealand) and it was way better than the dog and pony production of any stripe. I don’t have MGM+ but I will take your reviews to heart and hope to find it elsewhere, someday. Also loved I Claudius and Derek Jacobi. You speak for me like a shadow with voice.
Thanks for the tip. Soon as I feel like watching any TV I'll sign up for the free trial for this one. There are those of us of a certain age long enough to have watched I Claudius several times.
While it isn't worth a blow by blow, I will be interested in your take on the final results in NH from the point of view of media exaggeration. If 8% of all GOP voters in Iowa is a "blowout" because of the 30 point difference between candidates, what word will the media use for a decidedly NOT 30 point lead in NH?
Oh, t will be nominee. I'm interested in how the spin goes.
So far, with 36% counted, Grump is leading 55.3%, but Haley is 43.7%, much better than expected. But there's still 60% of the vote to be counted.
And the end result was pretty similar. Haley's not dropping out, and Trump knew he screwed the pooch enough that his verbal demonstration of mental incapacity was very defensive, those parts that made sense, anyway.
Watching tonight's episodes, I couldn't help wondering about whether it's possible to paint Nightshade on hamberders like they did with oysters. They certainly dealt with a lot of problems that way. :-)
Damn, those recycled ideas still useful
LOL!
The odor of desperation emits from MSNBC's shredding, chopping, and masticating of the news for us. And speculation is not news, so their speculation during this election season seems similar to those barely perceptible shifts and shakes felt by those on the Titanic who were pouring wine. I may watch PBS all night, cram for the Montreal cognitive test should I ever have to take one. or impose order on my junk drawer, anything that will reinforce my feeling of agency in this maelstrom.
very eloquent statement of my own inner life right about now.
my own current solution has been to go through every collection on the Criterion Channel of even remote interest. it's been working, but there's a lot left to this year.
and for what it's worth...MOTA is, at best, a snorer. as for anachronistic usages, I found a single use of "recycle" in the first ten minutes. but I KNOW it's gonna get worse. I guess it's as simple as lightning struck with "Band of Brothers," and it was much better than it had any right to be. but it just wasn't replicable. they had a LOT of luck on their side, too (the quality of the actors and much better writers and directors), as well as a genuine narrative (the same guys invading and fighting till they hit Germany, which is sort of perfect...as Sam Fuller understood a long time ago). MOTA is also burdened by these shitty voiceovers "explaining" things. the flying stuff was much closer to playing a computer WWII game than watching a movie. I'll take "Air Force" over this stuff any day. "Air Force" would be worth watching for James Wong Howe's amazing work ALONE. any day. and for exciting, there's my required annual viewing of "Twelve O'Clock High."
my dad would have dismissed this after fifteen minutes. but he was so demanding about war movies that I couldn't get him to even TRY OUT "Band of Brothers." it's been...what???...well over two decades. that's a lot of time in movie land...
Watched the first two episodes of MOTA last night and have to agree with you and Tom. The sound was poorly done, and the planes must have been from kits because they aren't many of those left, with one being nearby in the Yankee Air Museum in Willow Run, MI. "Band of Brothers" did all of this so much better and probably had better advisors. And even the old TV series "Twelve O'Clock High" with Robert Lansing as Boyington wasn't bad in the way it conveyed the intensity of air war.
I went back and watched a few episodes of the TV show, which I never watched when it was on. now, with thousands of low-rent streaming services, we can watch just about ANYTHING. I've actually watched some episodes of "My Little Margie" (don't bother).
one of the problems with MOTA is that you can't use archival footage (intercut with new footage and clever editing) the way the old movie or TV show could. and the CGI on the show is just sooooooo OBVIOUS. I've seen better. didn't these guys have enough money to make that shit look RIGHT? thing is, the makeup folks are amazing and they can certainly make wounds look real, but all that does is make you look away or come out with a half-ironic "oy vey." and that Austin Butler guy needed to stop sounding like his fake Elvis. and Barry Keoghan (obviously a terrific actor) has the same weird generic NYC accent nobody has ever actually had spoken; that shit stopped happening c. 2006. he needs a better dialect coach.
I will admit that when the flames engulf everything inside the plane, it's genuinely scary for half a second.
I remember Willow Run very well. it felt like what a real airport felt like when I was little...muddy with very few concessions made for anything that might have resembled human comfort. just like LaGuardia, which was three blocks away from my childhood apartment. and now, LaGuardia's a mile away and has become something of a showplace.
WaPo just scorch-panned MOTA for some of the same reasons given by you and Tom.
I just sent that review to my "knowledgeable folks" email list. She even took the time to read the book so she could review it with knowledge.
I watched the two episodes this morning over at my neighbor's since he subscribes to
Apple. Here's my review:
I hate being the guy who told you so, but Masters of the Air is so bad it makes The Pacific look worthwhile. I went over this morning and watched the first two episodes with my neighbor who is also in Duh Biz and subscribes to Apple TV. I should say forced myself to watch as I sat there, both a knowledgeable World War II historian with a current best-seller about 8th Air Force and as a knowledgeable screenwriter and watched them swing and miss at every damn point. I can't believe two guys as talented as Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks could make this many mistakes in one show.
As an historian, allow me to say that the script typist (calling him a screenwriter is something I cannot bring myself to do) managed to write the Mythology rather than the History. And as a reader of the book (three times) I know the Actual History was there to be used, explained so well that even a moron like this guy, who obviously doesn't know the pointed end goes in front, could get enough material to get it right. And I am sure he was doing what the Tom & Steve Show wanted, since he didn't get fired.
As to the acting, I was reminded once again why I don't think there are 10 male actors in Hollywood under 40 who deserve to be called such. As both an aviation photographer and someone who has flown around in old airplanes, the CGI wasn't quite as awful as "Red Tails," but it it was a close race to the finish line.
We screenwriters have a rule about criticism: one bad review is one person's opinion; two bad reviews might be a coincidence; three bad reviews are a damn fact. The show has scored 3.3 out of 7 over at the IMDb. That's a whole bunch more than three bad reviews.
I really really really wish I was writing to tell you all I had been wrong about this overcooked turkey.
The first season of the Twelve O'Clock High show is good. But then the same thing happened that would happen on every other show where Don Bellisario was involved as a producer (this was his first) - the second and subsequent seasons go awful (like Baa Baa Blacksheep) with all sorts of stupid ideas driving the plots. I spoke with guys who wrote both shows (12 O Clock and Blacksheep) and the good writers all quit when the orders came down for plots starting with developing the second seasons.
Organizing junk drawer works
Well, I"M watching the second episode of True Detective (jody foster) My son records them on a thumb drive & brings it over. I get very few cable channels (and miss them very little).
Skimmed thru your post. I find the older I get, somehow the less interest I have in an awful lot of stuff!
Think my brain has too little space left - maybe?
When my sister had a new “friend” several years ago. My bro said, “I’ve already met all the people I have room for, until somebody dies. My brain is full.” Only half kidding, I think.
I can understand that - it feels like that sometimes.
my bro is a complicated man, smart but ignorant in some ways. Does a great job of compartmentalizing. Not alone in this I think
In the evening, having worked and now turning to other reading, I like background noise, and I find reruns of "Emergency" and "Adam-12" work well for me. They're pleasant and largely brainless, kind of like the TV news coverage you mention.
I don't like to sound that way. I'm an admirer of Kindly Doc Maddow, as Charlie Pierce calls her, and she loves historians. But watching them sit and repeat themselves saying nothing ... nah.
They gotta cut out the overproduction.
In spades
Enjoy you evening Tom. Primary soup gets stale after the first taste. This post of yours tonight puts your clarity in fine focus. Even at your approaching of long toothdom, I saw you by the third paragraph at a lecturn at nearby Pierce College or CSUN beginning an ongoing extention class in film and media history. You could be be very popular in that capacity. Seriously.
I'm going to be watching Rick Wilson's podcasts tonight just for chuckles. He can be hillarious.
Thanks for the recommendation! As I’m still pretty of limited mobility with a broken leg, I’d turned MSNBC on for an update. BLECH. Turned it off. Husband: Aren’t you going to watch it? Me: Naw, I’d rather read this book. NOTE: it’s not a very good book.
I’m trying to learn to read again. When my husband required vigilance and constant care for years, I stopped reading much except short things (Substacks, etc). Watched a lot of WW2 and basketball. After his death, I went back to reading and found that I couldn’t retain what I had just read so back to short blurbs. Now I’m back to trying. Using the Agatha Christie books that she wrote under the name Mary Westmacott, I am slowly making progress. Not mysteries, they are more like psychological studies, and my retention is improving. Didn’t even know that I could forget how to read. Maybe brain was changed from extended care giving. I know the rest of me was.
Sounds like a long road Jeri. I try to go from serious to light when my brain needs a rest. Kindle makes the light easy. Apart from a few political things I’ve missed Demon Copperhead by Kingsolver and Horse by Brooks are on my list. Three weeks until I’m mobile again! Glad your brain is coming around to reading again, from your writings I’m sure it’s not a permanent state as you’ve certainly not lost your knowledge. Cheers!
Such a surprise when I started back on Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, which is a great read. Now I'm on track to resume one of my favorite pasttimes. Don't think it was brain damage, but definitely a brain change. Mobile is great, as I see daily in Assisted Living. Go get 'em.
Good for you! I’m spending the evening getting dog hair off various surfaces.
Now thats just wasted effort! You know it will come right back on (with the dog).
I wear my cat hair, wherever I go. No need to remove
Same here, along with a little dog hair!
Small price for that unconditional love...
Thanks to people like you, Robert, Heather, and a few others, I'm spared the need (and have no desire) to watch TV news. I'll be watching You are What You Eat on Netflix and paying careful attention to my diet.
Enjoy your show. I'm going to be reading a good book. I got
gotmy laptop setup with Substack. Just need to figure
a few things out.😁
Rick Wilson's podcasts tonight will good for serious chuckles. Flip back and forth.
Bought ‘A Bright Shining Lie’ at the library bookstore for a dollar. Still trying to figure out what happened. I’m fucked…
That's an excellent book - you got a great deal.
Whew. Thanks. I’ll keep reading.
Good morning, TC! Thanks fir the recommendation! On another (perhaps related) note, did you or anyone else catch the episode of "American Experience" on PBS last night. If you didn't and subscribe to PBS Passport, look at it. "Nazi Town, USA". It was about at the German American Bund, started up during the Depression by a follower, and sometime friend of one Adolf Hitler, Fritz Kuhn. He emigrated to the US and brought the Nazi poison over here and became the head ofvthe Bund. Interestingly and chilling, you will see parallels to what's happening right now in the US.
I’m watching Wisconsin Badgers vs Minnesota Gophers! Go Badgers!!
My cord has been cut for years, I use YouTube TV and Apple TV. I had a hand in making close to 50 commercials before I settled into Motion Pictures, and it is very very rare that I will watch one. I used to watch a lot of golf before the saudis got into the game with all of their money, I loved playing it when I lived in LA, there is no way I could watch a tournament with the number of ads that repeat over and over and over. Truth be told these various substacks we all participate in informs me more than MJ or even the News Hr. I will watch Lawerence and the Last Hr because he wraps up the day with good guests. Unless something happens in the middle of the night which is possible these days, the morning shows are all old news which I got before I went to bed. I had no awareness of that show, it sounds like I would enjoy it, I really enjoyed "Rome" when it was on HBO years ago, it like "Deadwood" made good use of a longer form to tell a story, and they were written for adults. Speaking of adults I saw "Ferrari" over the weekend with my daughter, it was based on a book written by an old friend RIP, Brock Yates. Michael Mann and the entire crew made a movie for adults, and if you are a motorhead or ever wanted to understand one it's even better than Frankenheimer's "Grand Prix" which for it's time was outstanding. I was going to watch it on my home theatre, I'm glad I went to see it on a big screen, like "Oppenheimer" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" it needs to be seen on a big screen, it's that good. Thanks for the heads up Tom, even on the TV there is a lot that's worth watching if you know where to look and can time shift.
These Romans talk like they're from "Deadwood," if you know what I mean. :-)
Where to look, no more three channels and PBS. A challenge for someone who has limited streaming.
Thank you TC. I also can’t watch much of MSNBC these days. The Dorian Gray visage is always there, whining and causing me to heave. I, too, love Julian Fellowes shows, but last night I watched Brokenwood Mysteries (from New Zealand) and it was way better than the dog and pony production of any stripe. I don’t have MGM+ but I will take your reviews to heart and hope to find it elsewhere, someday. Also loved I Claudius and Derek Jacobi. You speak for me like a shadow with voice.
I loved Brokenwood Mysteries. I was wondering if a new season is coming.
I wonder too
Thanks for the tip. Soon as I feel like watching any TV I'll sign up for the free trial for this one. There are those of us of a certain age long enough to have watched I Claudius several times.
While it isn't worth a blow by blow, I will be interested in your take on the final results in NH from the point of view of media exaggeration. If 8% of all GOP voters in Iowa is a "blowout" because of the 30 point difference between candidates, what word will the media use for a decidedly NOT 30 point lead in NH?
Oh, t will be nominee. I'm interested in how the spin goes.
So far, with 36% counted, Grump is leading 55.3%, but Haley is 43.7%, much better than expected. But there's still 60% of the vote to be counted.
And the end result was pretty similar. Haley's not dropping out, and Trump knew he screwed the pooch enough that his verbal demonstration of mental incapacity was very defensive, those parts that made sense, anyway.
Which will be the worst nightmare?
urban or rural?
And from the other universe, here is a review of Masters of the Air.....
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/masters-of-the-air-tv-review-2024