tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087297628206676322024-03-16T11:53:10.610-07:00Revenge of the Masked SchedulerI've walked the walk so I can talk the talk. WOOOOOOOOOO
Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-39572959363588498502023-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:002023-12-13T10:09:57.641-08:00MASKED FAVES FOR 2023 - TV AND JAZZ<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's time for my annual list of recommended television shows and Jazz albums. As always, these are not the best and who can listen to everything that came out in 2023. These are the shows I enjoyed and would recommend you check out; and the albums that caught my ear as I shuffled through my collection of new titles.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the 14 shows that I would recommend to you. As always the list is dominated by FX/HULU with a smattering of HBO thrown in. We said goodby to a real masterpiece in Reservation Dogs, welcomed back Justified and happy to know that Somebody Somewhere and Dark Winds will still be around. Season two of The Bear took a significant leap and Poker Face was a pleasant surprise and an homage to 60's 70's detective shows. We watch a lot of international crime so for something to jump out was fun and that was Criminal Code on NETFLIX. Looks like there will be another iteration.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Poker Face - Peacock</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Succession - HBO</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Perry Mason - HBO</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Somebody Somewhere - HBO</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Valley - Sundance</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Bear - HULU</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What We Do in the Shadows - FX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Justified:City Primeval - FX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dark Winds<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- AMC</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Reservation Dogs -FX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unforgotten - PBS</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fargo - FX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Criminal Code - NETFLIX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Murder at the End of the World - FX</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are 22 Jazz albums that I would recommend you check out. It's a mix of reliables like Chris Potter, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Christian McBride and JD Allen. Artemis delivered an excellent sophomore outing. One pleasant surprise was Veronica Swift's new album which I didn't want to like but came around to quite quickly. Lakecia Benjamin, Alex Weiss and Nicky Schrire were new to my ears. We lost Jamie Branch way too soon. She left us with possibly my favorite album of the year. Please support live Jazz and these artists.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ben Wolfe - Unjust</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chris Potter - Got the Keys to the Kingdom:Live at the Village Vanguard<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cécile McLorin Salvant - Mélusine<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christian McBride’s New Jawn - PRIDE</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Billy Childs - The Winds of Change</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">David Larsen - The Peplowski Project</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Artemis - In Real Time</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alex Weiss - Most Don’t Have Enough</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke - Lean In</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Composers Collective Big Band - The Toronto Project</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Formanek Elusion Quartet - As Things Go</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Linda May Han Oh - The Glass Hours</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe Farnsworth - In What Direction Are You Headed?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nicky Schrire - Nowhere Girl</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society - Dynamic Maximum Tension</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jaimie Branch - Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This - JD Allen</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Veronica Swift - Veronica Swift</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Plumb - David Murray, Questove &Ray Angry</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel - A Lovesome Thing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">James Brandon Lewis & Red Lily Quintet - For Mahalia With Love</span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-15377437032031363602023-12-12T20:06:00.000-08:002023-12-12T20:06:08.957-08:00Andre Braugher RIP<div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the years I have, on occasion,, been asked what is the scheduling move that I am most proud of and people are often surprised at my answer.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometime in the winter of 1994 we premiered “Homicide: Life on the Streets” and gave it a short run on Thursday night. Today this would have been called a “prestige” show. Back then it was a very dark, arty cop drama that was not pulling in the audience that we were accustomed to in the 10PM Thursday time slot. Whenever it came up in <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>our current meeting some of our marketing execs would put a finger in their mouth and cock their thumbs. For them is was a show impossible to promote. They were just doing their job and being honest.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">For me, I loved it. I brought home all the episodes over the Christmas holiday and Bunny and I stayed up late and “binged” them all on New Yers Eve. I was especially drawn to Frank Pembleton played by Andre Braugher. To this day, for me, he is the most memorable character I ever experienced in a TV show.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well when we were setting the 1994-95 Fall schedule there was a little show called ER which rightfully earned the 10PM Thursday slot. I believed we had renewed Homicide but given the lack of support and no obvious time period I was concerned that this show would quickly be gone from our schedule.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I was thinking about the sked I suddenly had an epiphany. If there’s one time period noone especially marketing gives a shit about it’s Friday at 10PM. So I built o night of Unsolved Mysteries at 8PM, a Dateline at 9PM and ended the night with Homicide. I figured the only promos HLOTS would get would be in the two shows leading into it and that might be an audience that would hang around.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">THAT SCHEDULE STAYED TOGETHER FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS!!!! </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was the most consistant night on our lineup and Homicide had a glorious 5 year run in that timeslot. By the way, that's the same timeslot that BlueBloods owned for over a decade at CBS.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Selfishly it allowed me to enjoy one of the finest television actors for over half a decade. When he was nominated for an Emmy I worked up the nerve to go over to him and introduce myself. I’m sure I made a fool of myself but he was a total gentleman.</span></div></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was jolted at the news tonight and I wish him peace as he begins his journey beyond and my sympathies to his loved ones.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">RIP Mr. Braugher</span></div></div>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-4754998830514344132023-10-12T14:13:00.002-07:002023-10-12T14:13:34.969-07:00LONG LIVE THE SCHEDULER<div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">There have been some articles of late about the </b><span style="font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Fira Sans, Ubuntu, Oxygen, Oxygen Sans, Cantarell, Droid Sans, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Lucida Grande, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><b>irrelevance</b></span></span><b style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> of scheduling and those who have devoted their lives to the art.....and it is an art. My pal Lynette Rice at DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD asked for my opinion on all this. Here's what I told her.</b></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></b></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><span dir="ltr" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">Tuesday night my wife and I were enjoying one last diner with our son before flying back to La La from NYC when suddenly the "Bat Signal" went off on my phone. Several people I know who are still in the biz asked if I had seen a Deadline article about on article. My pal Lynette Rice summarized a piece written by<b> </b>a broadcast executive turned academic entitled </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;">“Scheduling a TV Memoriam: An RIP Of Sorts for a Once-In-Demand Television Industry.” He posits the death of scheduling.</span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I had read the piece a few days prior. I was inspired by the departure of long time scheduling executive Kevin Lev from the CW. I chuckled when I read it because he had reduced scheduling to moving squares on a board....the sexy part. Us schedulers know it is far more than that.</span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">He posits the demise of the scheduling role in the streaming era. Us skedders know it will become even more important (more on that in a while). He seems to see scheduling as a stagnant gig when us guys and gals have been well aware of scheduling's evolution.</span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Here's an example: When I started my scheduling career at NBC in 1991 my title was SVP Program Planning and Scheduling. When I moved over to FOX in 2000 I asked Sandy Grushow to change my title to EVP Strategic Program Planning....scheduling went away and "strategy" replaced it. In 2012, when Peter Rice asked me to hang around for another tour of duty I again changed my title to Senior Strategist FOX Networks Group.....strategy to the forefront and an ecosystem was introduced. You see I knew scheduling was not dead, it was evolving and I'm not alone in this. </span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">The essence of what a scheduler does remains vital. Sara Burns who programmed and scheduled several Discovery channels over her career posted this on LinkedIn. With her permission I want to share this passionate response to the notion that scheduling is irrelevant.</span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><span dir="ltr" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><b>First rule of “scheduling” – don’t call a “scheduler” a “scheduler!”<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>I started to write a rant about the recent slew of articles and podcasts asking if “scheduling” was still relevant in media. Then I deleted it (as you do). Deep breaths!<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>I am going to take those think pieces for what the are – a celebration of the history, nostalgia and magic of the business of entertainment (links in comments). I also truly appreciate all the players at the broadcast table and many of them have become recent mentors to me as I figure out my next chapter.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>Nonetheless, I am still feeling fired up and absolutely have a point of view (shocking!).<span class="white-space-pre" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>I’m taking this convo out of my texts and DMs to let LinkedIn know that “scheduling” is here to stay… we are just in the midst of a rebranding in the streaming world.<span class="white-space-pre" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>✨ We are the SPARK that get all teams moving in the same direction. No one likes working from a blank page – especially creatives. We don’t write the outline of the shows, we write the outlines of the networks and the very brands themselves. Then we shop the plan around to all the departments to build on it.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>📺 We are the ADVOCATES for the viewers. They are the customers. From my seat at the table, I prioritized building their loyalty in a variety of ways – the schedule is just one tool. We use whatever was at our hands from stunts to show titles to metadata and merchandising to help the audiences find what they want.<span class="white-space-pre" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>🛑 We are the BAD GUYS. Yes, sometimes we have to cancel shows because they don’t hit ROI targets. But if we are good at our job we can balance out the long range plan with content that both exceeds ROI and content that is on the bubble (and deserves another chance). We can be the HEROES too.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>📊 We are the TRANSLATORS. Look this is the business of entertainment. We are able to take MBA speak and data to creatives and vice versa to ensure everyone understands how and why the tough calls need to be made.<span class="white-space-pre" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>Soon you will see we have infiltrated business planning at so many different orgs and capacities – just with new titles.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>This is just the beginning of my pitch to companies out there who are looking for someone with the vision to see the future and drive their business forward.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span class="white-space-pre" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>Are there really more executive scheduling jobs out there, well no! I accept that. But this is certainly not the end of me or folks with my background. We have so many more tricks up our sleeves.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>Who's a BELIEVER? Drop me a comment.<span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span>This is still a rant, haha! Happy Wednesday!</b></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><span dir="ltr" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Pretty much sums it up.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">Sara is being humble. Schedulers are always the smartest people in the room.</div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br /></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">They have the best grasp of how a decision ripples through the system and who needs to be on board.</div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br /></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">They are excellent communicators.</div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br /></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">Schedulers have no personal agenda unlike many of the players they interact.</div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br /></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">They do not hold back and are willing to take the heat. They have less brown on their nose than anyone else in the room.</div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br /></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><br /></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">The issue moving forward are the goofballs who are running this business into the ground because they worship the streaming gods.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">I'm no rocket scientist but if you followed me on the hellsite, or now on Mastadon, you know my mantra is "all television regresses to the mean". By that I mean that everything that the streamers rejected about conventional television is now becoming part of the streaming world.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">I was on a panel about six or seven years ago where I predicted that ads will play a larger role on the streamers. I was laughed at.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Several years ago my good friend Melva Benoit and I met with marketing execs at NETFLIX. We pitched them linear channels (fast channels) as part of their service.....ummmmm</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">As a scheduler I was often lambasted for cancelling shows too quickly.....errrrrrrrrr</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Streaming was going to service the niche audience. Now you hear more and more about broad and inclusive.....and then there's Suits. Virgin River, The Lincoln Lawyer.....network shows.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Chord cutting was cool......now streaming is becoming more expensive than the legacy delivery systems.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">It's all regressing to the mean.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Some streamers are starting to understand how the scheduling skill set applies to their endeavors.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Andy Kubitz has made the transition moving from head of program planning and scheduling to a strategic position at NETFLIX. I was approached about a "strategic scheduling" at a streamer. Rather than scheduling on its last legs it's due for a renaissance. The titles will change but the people who have the skill set, the brains and the temperament will help to make sense of the current insanity.</span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;"><br /></span></div><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary " dir="ltr" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.4rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.42857; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: var(--color-text); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getFontSize); line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative !important; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span class="break-words
" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); line-height: inherit !important; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); overflow-wrap: break-word !important; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); word-break: break-word !important;">Imagine a room full of baboons throwing their shit against the wall hoping some sticks. Now multiply that by about six. If you introduce a scheduler to the rooms I guarantee you....far more shit will stick.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit !important;" /></span></div>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-75779804405750516092023-09-26T13:32:00.000-07:002023-09-26T13:32:18.330-07:00REMOTE FREE TV.....TEE HEE<p> <span style="font-size: large;">A little while after I retired from FOX Broadcasting I was asked to be on an HRTS panel regarding audience measurement. I didn't feel I had much to add to the the heated discussion between Nielsen and Comscore but my friend Julie Piepenkotter was going to be on the panel and I looked forward to seeing her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I didn't say much but as the conversation came around to NETFLIX and viewing transparency I jumped in and said that once NETFLIX starts selling ads, which I believed was inevitable, we would start getting "real" numbers. Of course I was dismissed. That ain't gonna happen. Not the first time that's happened to me. You know picture in picture ads that you see in sports and pro wrestling? I brought that up years before it started and was told that advertisers would never allow their ads to run like that.......anyway......</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm bringing this all up because ads are pervasive on the streamers now and the streamers are encouraging their consumers to go down that path. Commercials are your friend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a story about how a couple of network executives outsmarted themselves and cost FBC lots of money for absolutely no reason.....and guess what? seven years after they did something stupid THEY DID THE SAME THING AGAIN!!!!! AND I WARNED THEM BOTH TIMES!!!!! BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO I KNOW????? I'll calm down now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's pilot week 2008. We have screened the pilots and have heard from all the interested parties and now we are in the small group that will finalize the schedule. We were almost done when I showed up in the scheduling room and there is Jon Nesvig our head of sales and Tony Vinciquerra CEO FOX <br />Networks Group looking like the cats who ate the canary. They waited for us all to assemble and then told us they have an idea. You see they expected this to be a soft upfront so they figured out a way to entice advertisers to place a bet on FOX.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the pitch: Why don't we cut the number of commercials in half so there is less time between breaks. Reduce the supply, increase the demand. Also with shorter breaks the viewer is less likely to leave the set or graze. They were really proud of themselves.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course being the jerk that I am I said: "Let me see if I understand. If we have half the commercials we would need to double the CPM to generate the same revenue. Also if we have fewer commercial time that means more program time. What are we going to fill it with?" Them: "We'll ask the studio to give us longer shows" Me: "So you're going to go to Peter Roth (Head of Warner TV Studio at the time) and tell him to give us a longer version of a show and he's going to go sure no problem but we need to increase the licence fee and I need to re-edit the shows for syndication so that has to be factored in." How does this make sense?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We did it anyway</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We got to New York for the upfront presentation. Kevin Reilly, who was President of FOX Entertainment, and I'm not sure totally agreed with this, asked what we should call this strategy to make it sound "sexy". We settled on REMOTE FREE TV. We decided to try this out on FRINGE in the fall. and add DOLLHOUSE and maybe others in the spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Turned out it wasn't a "soft" upfront and we did not come anywhere near doubling the CPM for FRINGE but we had committed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometime that summer, being the total asshole that I am, I asked Peter Liquori, Chairman of FOX Entertainment, and Kevin if maybe we should see if the REMOTE FREE TV message has penetrated the viewers and if we needed to make any adjustments. We were promoting FRINGE all summer as RFTV. They agreed and, in my role as head of Research I asked my sidekick Melva Benoit to conduct some focus groups.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's what we found:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">People like ads in their shows. They do things during the break (like check email) and they find many ads informative especially promos and movie ads.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Putting fewer ads in breaks would not entice someone to watch a show if they weren't planning on watching it regardless of the commercial load.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">People like their remote and REMOTE FREE TV felt to many like you were taking away control of their viewing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was no awareness of the phrase REMOTE FREE TV nor which network it was associated with.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, when they were told REMOTE FREE TV would be on FOX many said they don't trust the network and that would be a disincentive to watch.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well Well</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When FRINGE premiered we did minute-by-minute ratings. Here's what we found:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the first shorter break (where the dip looked less than normal) the dips at the breaks increased to typical levels as shows with a full commercial load.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bottom line: People learned to pee quicker.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">REMOTE FREE TV lasted a season and was gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward to pilot season 2015....my last at FOX. Among the pilots that we screened was a drama called EMPIRE. I was excited when I saw it and told our head of drama development that he finally made a pilot people will watch.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were finished setting the schedule when Randy Freer who had replaced Tony V as CEO of FOX Networks Group told us all he had an idea.....I swear I'm not making this up.....he pitched REMOTE FREE TV!!!!!! I was leaving, had nothing to lose, so I spoke up. Me: Randy we did this before, we called it REMOTE FREE TV, it didn't work." I went through the reasons. Randy: "You're being negative and have no imagination." Me: "I'm simply relaying what happened the last time we did this exact same thing."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">EMPIRE was a hit but, with half the commercial load.....need I go on. That strategy lasted less then a season as we quietly added more units to the show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I thought of all this as we see the streamers becoming more and more like the television networks, embracing commercials. I coined a phrase "cable envy" to describe how networks wanted to act like cable channels. Steamers wanna be networks. No one seems to be content with who they are.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-77247102208380710782023-09-19T13:34:00.024-07:002023-09-20T10:39:38.527-07:00IT'S NEW TO YOU!!!!!!!!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">During my years at NBC we had something called "The 2:30 Meeting". Every day at 2:30 Don Ohlmeyer would assemble his senior staff in his office and we would all participate in what Jack Welch (head of GE) called QMI (Quick Market Intelligence). We would share information about what was going on in broadcasting, update everyone on our department and raise any issues that we felt the room should address.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The 2:30 Meeting was an instrumental part of our success. It is where the idea for branding our red hot Thursday night (Must See TV) started. Seamless nights emerged from that meeting and our strategy for airing Schindler's List (single sponsor....FORD....with one commercial break) was formed there. You had to have a really good excuse to miss the meeting and unbelievably it always started at 2:30!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At one meeting in the spring we were talking about how to promote our repeat heavy summer schedule. I'm sure I had some role in instigating all this but we landed on the idea that the vast majority of network viewers had never seen most of the shows repeated in the summer. Why were we calling shows repeats when they were NEW TO YOU!!!!!!! A show is only a repeat if you have seen it already but, in theory, it's an original if you've never seen it. In essence we were attempting to redefine the concept of repeats and originals and our crack marketing team was tasked with figuring out how to communicate that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's what they came up with:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I guess you need to copy and paste the url on your browser</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">https://youtu.be/CqIxxFwVYTQ?si=_YnO9ksJ-FilhhMk</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say we were ridiculed for this and, although it might not have resulted in an increase in summer viewing (I don't know maybe in did) we did introduce a new phrase to the TV lexicon which still pops up to this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"It's New To You" came to mind this morning when I read about the significant audience that "Yellowstone" attracted on CBS Sunday night. This follows the summer succes off Suits on NETFLIX.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was talking with a group of NYU undergrads last night and I left them with this: Throughout the history of television there is one and only one constant.....there are 24 hours to a day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember when my pal Vince Manze and I were tasked by David Zaslav with helping launch Discovery+ and one of the selling points in the initial pass at the marketing was that there were 50,000 available episodes (I think) and I remember feeling that this wasn't a plus but rather an assault. There's just too much.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think that some of the consequences of this sad moment in the business are the realizations that:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The industry is making way too much content</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Broad is better than narrow</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With proper planning and platform strategy (er scheduling) the tail for most programs can go out farther than ever</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This moment is going to produce several creative ways of taking what already exists and either repackaging or expanding the platforms where it will be exhibited. Without breaking a sweat I have so many ideas on this. There is so much content that, if nothing new was made for quite a while, would the consumer even notice? I can't be the only one with a long list of relatively new shows waiting to be viewed and I've yet to see Tombstone or Veep.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This morning I fondly remembered the 2:30 Meetings and, in the case of IT'S NEW TO YOU, turns out we were right......just a quarter of a century ahead of our time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-55550669532156711852023-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:002023-08-02T12:42:14.427-07:00IT'S SUMMERSLAM SUMMERSLAM SUM SUM SUMMERSLAM _ PREDICTION AND HOLY SHIT EXPECTATIONS<p><span style="font-size: large;">Another summer another slam. This one feels pretty solid and should resolve some story lines while pushing others forward.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Interesting that there are several titles not being contested here. Austin Theory gets a pass with the US belt. He's been sort of a dud. No Rhea but, seriously there is only one person who can challenge her and KO injured means no tag title match. Yet there's still enough here and, with Vince on the shelf for legal and medical reasons, hopefully this gives Trips a free hand.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Also no NXT presence on the card although there will be some in the Battle Royal so let's start there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Holy Shits are 0 to 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">SUMMERSLAM BATTLE ROYAL</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These are always a mess and I assume this is the one that puts LA Knight over. Guessing the final four are LA, Shinsuke, Chiampa and Bronson Reed. Giving it 1 1/2 Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">RONDA/SHAYNA</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As hard as they try to make Rhonda the face she is not beloved by the fans and I think they have done a good job of making Shayna sympathetic which is a major achievement. I assume Rousey take some time off and this gives Shayna the push for a championship shot. 2 Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">LOGAN/RICK O' SHAY</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Spotfest and I think Logan needs a W so who better to give him one. I have grown to respect what Logan Paul does both in the ring and on the mike. 3 1/2 Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">SETH/FINN</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are four championships on the line and it is hard to believe that none of them will flip. I think this is the most likely since it advances a storyline for Finn, Priest and The Judgement Day. I'm going with Finn with Priest getting involved with his briefcase. Seth will be fine. He doesn't need this belt. 4 Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">ASUKA/BIANCA/CHARLOTTE</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Do the math. Too soon. for Bianca to regain the belt. Charlotte would be boring and predictable. Asuka and the title would benefit the most from the W and let her have a sustained run. She can make anyone look good. I think she retains and all three women will come out looking good. 3 Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GUNTHER/DREW</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Can't see Drew taking the belt yet So assume a Gunther win with interference from his Nazi henchmen and the feud will continue. Gunther does not know how to put on a bad match and Drew is Drew so this will be a 4 Holy Shit banger</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CODY/BROCK</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If there was ever a slam dunk it's here. Brock has been kicking the shit out of Cody pretty consistently of late so it's payback. It will be brutal but Cody will get the pin and I believe a new obstacle will emerge to stand between him and the title. 3 Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">TRIBAL COMBAT TIME</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The greatest story ever told in the WWWF/WWF/WWE continues and it should be pandemonium. Would not be surprised if Jimmy and Sami as well as the elders get involved. It almost doesn't matter who wins because there is a lot more to tell in this saga but I assume Roman walks out with the strap in a 4 Holy Shit extravaganza.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anything can happen on Friday to change or add to the card so, as always card subject to change.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-34272051862170533532023-05-11T16:12:00.016-07:002023-05-16T16:08:16.184-07:00trump, oj AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING A RATINGS WHORE<p><span style="font-size: large;"> chris licht fucked up. I mean he really fucked up.....bigly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not only did he give donald trump a national forum a day after trump was found, by a jury of his peers, to have sexually assaulted a woman, but to have caused her mental anguish by slandering her as only trump can do. That cost him five million dollars. Licht also had the audacity to call this event a "town hall" when the room was made up of donald trump supporters and "independent" trump leaners (whatever the fuck that means). This was a campaign rally fully funded by cnn as a way to ingratiate their platform to the indicted ex-president as the 2024 presidential campaign starts to gear up. Finally, cnn threw him some red meat by having a young, intelligent woman on the stage with him. He accommodated by calling her a nasty person.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">chris licht is a ratings whore. His predecessor jeff zucker was a ratings whore.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Former NBC evp for program planning Preston Beckman told Smith: “Zucker's thirst for ratings blinded him to the damage he was doing by offering saturation Trump coverage.” “He's a ratings whore — and I'm telling you that as a ratings whore”</span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's me in a New York Times article on Zucker before he was canned by cnn for doing some dumb shit.</span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I alluded to in my post, I am a ratings whore and it takes one to know one.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The thing about being a ratings whore is that the short term rush of doing something dispicable for a rating often has negative results down the road. I think that may happen over at cnn. Whatever benefits they thought this stunt would get them may also cost them far more than the ratings bump.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>UPDATE: THE TOWN HALL DID NOT GIVE cnn THE RATINGS BUMP THEY WERE HOPING FOR</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have done things for ratings and, this morning, I asked myself what was the most hideous thing I ever did and it was easy...OJ.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don't think I ever shared this with you all so enjoy.....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere around 2004 I was at FOX Broadcasting. rupert murdoch was in town and I was at a meeting with him, Mike Darnell our unscripted king, Peter Liguori our boss and maybe some others. At the meeting rupert told us that judith regan, a sleazeball author who had a publishing deal with Harper Collins (owned by Newscorp), was in the process of writing a book called "If I Did It" where oj simpson speculates as to how he would have murdered his wife Nicolle and her friend Ron Goldman.....if he did it. rupert said that, as part of the book deal, there would be a special where simpson would talk about the murders.....if he did them. This was pretty sensational shit and I believe rupert said we would air the special.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">OK filed away. Over the course of my career I have heard many bizzaro pitches so nothing really shocks me, especially when your partner in crime is Mike Darnell.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'd say about a year or more had passed since this meeting when, one day, I see that regan's oj book was about to be published. Remember I am a ratings whore. I walked down to Mike's office and asked him if he remembered the conversation and, of course he did....another ratings whore. Mike and I walked over to Liguori's office and we reminded him of the conversation. Peter didn't blink. I don't remember if he called Peter Chernin's office or rupert's but we quickly got the go ahead to do the special.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We kept the interview quiet. Other than me, Darnell and Liguori, maybe someone in business affairs, legal and press and publicity were aware. I'm sure we did not alert sales far in advance and we did not say a thing to our affiliates. We were certain we had a huge rating on our hands.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Darnell shot the interview in privacy. I have never seen it but Mike told me it was terrifying and if it terrorfied Mikey it must have been terrifying.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The day before we were going to announce the special I was in New York. I was going to be on a panel with other network execs the following day. Liguori decided to call his senior staff together and reveal what was about to happen. I was on the phone for the meeting. Peter walked through everything and there was a deafening silence. Finally the dam burst and my fellow execs voiced their anger with the special. After a few minutes of that I chimed in. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Uh gang I 'm in New York and I'm going to be on a well attended panel at some sales conference. What should I do do?" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Deafening silence.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I begged that we put off the announcement until after the panel but it was too late.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I did not sleep that night trying to figure out what I was going to say. The next morning I was met by three FOX press people who escorted me to the conference. They were giving me talking points but I was pretty numb. The first question on the panel was to me to explain the oj special. I answered it but have no idea what I said. I was pretty much ignored for the rest of the session.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Over the course of the day the outrage grew and rupert finally pulled the plug on the special and the book. Of course he took no responsibility for any of this.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We survived but we already had a reputation. cnn will suffer for not stopping the town hall, and the rush of a rating will subside quickly; the outrage and damage to the platform will continue for quite a while longer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">chris licht is finding out that there are consequences for being a ratings whore. I should know.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-37629261014074031762023-03-28T16:05:00.001-07:002023-03-29T09:29:32.090-07:00WRESTLEMANIA 39: THE END OF THE LINE???????<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I have been watching pro wrestling since I was about 7 years old. That's a very long time ago. When I started there was a show on the independent channels in New York City virtually every day of the week. Boston, DC, Philly and Sunnyside Garden in Queens where my dad would take my cousin and me to the matches on Tuesday night.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was at Sunnyside Gardens where I lost my virginity regarding kayfabe when my dad took us to the parking lot where the wrestlers had their cars and asked Pampero Firpo, who had just wrestled Antonina Rocca, for his autograph. He smiled at us and signed with the most beautiful penmanship I had ever seen. You see he was called "Wildman" Firpo but he was a gentleman with us and the light went on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have lived through over 65 years of the sport. Spent many Monday nights at Madison Square Garden during the Bruno Sammartino Era. Was at the Garden the night Bruno dropped the belt to Ivan Koloff. I was at Shea Stadium for the Chuck Wepner/Andre the Giant Match. Attended four Wrestlemanias and will always marvel at the Mega Powers Explode and Austin/McMahon sagas. I almost went to work for the WWWF. Over two years ago I joined the Board of Managers of Major League Wrestling so my life has alway had pro wrestling in it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Everything, I mean everything, can be explained by pro wrestling.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm telling you all this because I have never experienced anything like the Bloodline saga that will either come to a head or go off in a new direction with this weekend's Wrestlemania extravaganza.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No need to go through the story. If you're reading this you're probably a fan, but everyone involved has been at the top of their game. Roman Reigns was always meant to be a heel. His cousins have been integral to the success of this tale and Heyman, well Heyman. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is a family saga, the culmination of decades of this legendary Samoan wrestling dynasty but what has elevated this tale is it's also a love story....a love story between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The way the WWE has merged the Bloodline story with reuniting the two Canadian friends has been flawless. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But wait there's more.....Cody Rhodes. This is the culmination of Cody's journey. Leaving the WWE, doing the indies and winding up in New Japan to then return to the states along with the Jackson brothers and Kenny Omega to build a viable alternative to WWE (this could only happen with the help of another billionaire) only to return to WWE to claim the title that his legendary father could never obtain. So much of today's WWE talent was under the tutelage of the great Dusty Rhodes as Roman made clear to Cody one Friday night in one of the several memorable promos throughout this story.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This weekend's Wrestlemania feels like an ending but I believe there is more to come as the Bloodline universe expands. Sadly most everything else feels like an afterthought. In different times the Judgement Day/Edge/Rey Mysterio story would be huge but pales next to the Bloodline. Austin Theory is on the brink of becoming a mega star but, again, not getting the heat. So, for me, after the Bloodline matches, everything else feels sort of bland.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So let's go through the card with predictions and whatever ranking inversely from meh to epic. Here we go:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>MEN AND WOMEN FOUR WAY TAG TEAM</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is just an excuse to give someone a paycheck and keep the undercard people happy. Also we need bathroom breaks. I assume Street Prophets for the men with Braun and Ricochet a possibility. For the women Rhonda and Shayna with Raquel and Liv the wild card team. They're trying to build up the tag team division. Good luck.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>TRISH/LITA/BECKY V. DAMAGE CONTROL</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With so much good young talent I don't understand the need to go back to the two Hall of Famers and Becky deserves better. I love Bayley and Io Skye is not chopped liver and deserves a title shot. I assume this is it for Damage Control and Shayna and Rhonda take the belts from the faces down the road a bit.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>BROCK V. OMOS</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is all leading to a callback to the classic Hulk Hogan body slam of Andre moment. That's all you need to know. Brock in a quickie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>CENA V. THEORY</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have to believe that Cena puts Theory over here. Nothing good comes from Cena taking away the belt. Comes down to what Cena has left in the tank.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>CHARLOTTE V. RHEA</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's Rhea's time. The question is there a double turn here where Rhea comes out with the belt and as a face. How will this all affect Judgement Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>BIANCA V. ASUKA</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This should be a pretty solid match. I think the better of the two women's championship matches. Bianca should prevail but it could steal the show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>DOM V. REY</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's going to be an ass whooping. Dom will get in a couple of blows but in the end daddy prevails. This could be a wild one with lots of interference including the Mysterio women.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>SETH V. PAUL</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Logan Paul has been impressive and this is one I am looking forward to. I don't think there will be a clear winner. Expect a count out, a dq or outside interference. Seth can take the loss but not to a part timer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>EDGE V. DEMON FINN IN HELL IN A CELL</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This should be awesome. Brutal and violent. I. don't think Demon Finn has ever lost and I don't expect it to happen here. It feels like Finn is getting the push and this is the prelude to a title run. What belt? no idea.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>GUNTHER V. DREW V. SHEAMUS </u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I could have been happy with another Gunther/Sheamus outing or Gunther/Drew. Making this a three way diminishes it a bit in my opinion and I assume we see another schism in the Drew/Sheamus dynamic because Gunther ain't losing this. He's got bigger things in his future. It will be a banger.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wrestlemania is all about these last two matches.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>CODY V. THE TRIBAL CHIEF</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am not feeling this. Some great promo work between the two of them but I just feel it's too soon. The Cody injury didn't help but I just don't feel Cody is Roman level. I would love to be proven wrong. I know it's a bit contrarian, and to many this feels like a foregone conclusion, but I think Roman retains and the two fight another day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>USOS V. KO AND SAMI</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the match that I am most looking forward to and I would be shocked if it doesn't exceed my high expectations. We are clearly seeing the demise of the Bloodline but I think it will happen in increments. This match will be wild and I think the Canadian heros take the belts off of one of the all time great tag teams. We now start to witness Roman's disappointment and the eventual turn of the Usos on the Tribal Chief and their brother Solo. There's a lot more to tell in this story.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It should be a solid wrestlemania if the two main events deliver.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think Finn/Edge could be epic and at least one of the women's matches will probably excel. Looking forward to it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-44479125349325327572023-01-12T12:16:00.003-08:002023-01-12T12:28:33.712-08:00NIGHT COURT'S ON....TIME TO WALK THE DOG<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I gather that NIGHT COURT is returning to NBC in a few days. It was one of those shows that had a surprisingly long run on the Peacock. Sort of like GIMME A BREAK.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was in network research back when NIGHT COURT joined the primetime schedule in January 1984 (probably responsible for the Saturday Morning daypart). As I remember it the NC pilot was screened in May 1983 to an underwhelming response and was not picked up. It did have one champion...Brandon Tartikoff and legend has it that he ordered it sometime that summer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">NBC's Fall 1983 Thursday schedule was </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIMME A BREAK (duh)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">MAMA'S FAMILY</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">WE GOT IT MAID</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CHEERS</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not exactly a formidable lineup</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In January, CHEERS went to 9PM and at some point NIGHT COURT was put in the 9:30 slot.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the Fall of 1984 the world changed for NBC. Our Thursday lineup was</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THE COSBY SHOW</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">FAMILY TIES</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CHEERS </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">NIGHT COURT</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">and pretty much stayed that way for four seasons. At some point Carsey/Werner flexed it muscles and A DIFFERENT WORLD replaced FAMILY TIES in the 8:30 time period.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was during those four season that I came up with a term that has lived on in the TV lexicon although, with the growth of streaming, might not apply as much today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Although NBC Thursday night "Must See TV" did not start until the 1990's, Thursday in the 80's was the first Golden Era for the Peacock. The Masked Wife and I would sit and watch the entire night including the great HILL STREET BLUES at 10PM. One problem we had a dog...Bella.... who needed to be walked at some point and I decided that, of all the shows on the night, NIGHT COURT was the most expendable so that's when Bella and I would go for a walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back then I had developed a relationship with Bill Carter who was the TV writer at the New York Times. We were talking one day about the dominance of our Thursday schedule. and I told him that NC was the "walk the dog" show on the night. Remember this was back in the beginnings of the VCR so most TV was viewed live. I told him that a dominant night needed a walk the dog show and that was the function of NIGHT COURT. Bill used it in a story and it sort of caught on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For the 88-89 season NIGHT COURT was moved over to Wednesday at 9PM so that NBC should try out a new show (DEAR JOHN) behind CHEERS. This was the inevitable trajectory of a utility comedy. After two seasons on Wednesday NC spent a year on Friday ironically leading out of QUANTUM LEAP, another show that NBC has revived.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">IN THE FALL OF 1991, when I came out to Burbank to take over scheduling, NIGHT COURT was back on Wednesday night leading into SEINFELD which was starting its first full season on the NBC schedule after some fits and starts. Ironically as much as Brandon believed in NIGHT COURT, the same was not the case regarding SEINFELD.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Early in 1991 we were having a current meeting where we go over the shows on the schedule. We were all talking about how fantastic SEINFELD was and I suggested that we flip NIGHT COURT TO 9:30 and have SEINFELD lead off the hour. After all this. was going to be NIGHT COURT's final season. It worked and the rest is history.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So that's NIGHT COURT. I wish NBC luck in bringing it bac</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">k.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Oh one more thing. The night Markie Post delivered her baby on the show was the same night the Masked Son was born! It was on the TV while the Masked Wife was in labor. Cosmic.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-70270374076360916182022-12-11T12:23:00.001-08:002023-04-26T10:47:39.628-07:00MY FAVORITES FOR 2022 - TV AND JAZZ<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are the TV shows that I really enjoyed in 2022. They're not the best I'm sure some of them you will agree with and some you won't and you have your own list which is as valid as mine or any television critic out there who agonizes for hours over putting a list together. You can't quantify this. Sorry.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think all of these shows came out in 2022 but I could be wrong and we are at a point where it's really about what you finally got around to rather than an arbitrary release date range. For instance BAD SISTERS will probably make my list for 2023 although it dropped this year. You just can't watch everything.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lists are also a function of what streamers you subscribe to. I don't get Paramount+ so there might be good stuff on there which is just not in my world. I also watch less and less broadcast TV although I enjoy the 911's on FOX and THE RESIDENT but they are not among my faves.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the jazz albums I recommend below, these 14 shows are sort of listed in order of like although, to be honest, RESERVATION DOGS is in a class by itself. Please watch it. DARK WINDS was a pleasant surprise. I had read the books but was not prepared for just how excellent this series would be and look forward to another season. One show on here that you may not find anywhere else is MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE which gets more fun and richer with each season. We've already seen season three which comes on in January.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">OK enough. Here's my 14 favorites of the year which I would recommend to you.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reservation Dogs - FX on HULU</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dark Winds - AMC</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ramy - HULU </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">P Valley - STARZ</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Somebody Somewhere - HBO</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Better Call Saul - AMC</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hacks - HBO MAX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Under the Banner of Heaven - HULU<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Dropout - HULU</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As We See It - AMAZON PRIME</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Derry Girls - NETFLIX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Miss Scarlet and the Duke - PBS</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What We Do in the Shadows - FX</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Winning Time:The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty - HBO</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I listen to a lot of jazz....a lot. Here are the 18 albums (actually more here) which I would recommend. They were all released in 2022. How do they get here. Well I have a playlist of all the jazz albums I downloaded over the year and these are the ones that, when they pop up on shuffle, I stop what I am doing and look over to see (or confirm) who's making these joyful sounds.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This list is in no particular order. If you are not a fan of the genre I think these would make a good introduction as to what's happening on the jazz scene. Most are pretty accessible.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cécile McLorin Salvant - Ghost Song</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wadada Leo Smith: The Emerald Duets</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gerald Clayton - Bells on Sand</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tyshawn Sorey Trio - Mesmerism</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Harrell -Oak Tree<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison, Ted Nash - Healing Power</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve Davis - Bluesthetic</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tierney Sutton - Paris Sessions 2</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Terri Lyne Carrington - New Standards Vol 1</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samara Joy - Linger Awhile</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve Feifke, Bigon Watson _ Generation Gap Orchestra</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Charles Lloyd - Trio of Trios</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jim McNeely/Frankfurt Radio Big Band - Rituals</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emmet Cohen - Uptown in Orbit</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cameron Graves - Live From the Seven Spheres</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kirk Knuffke Trio - Gravity Without Airs</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tyshawn Sorey Trio with Greg Osby – The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism</span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-77334320068186123552022-05-24T09:40:00.000-07:002022-05-24T09:40:10.987-07:00A FAREWELL TO THE LANDMARK<p><span style="font-size: large;">The Landmark Theatre on Pico closed its doors yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's sad.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Growing up in a city where there were several options to see independent cinema, listen to jazz, eat pizza and get a real bagel or Chinese food; the transition to Los Angeles back in 1991 remains painful. Yeah there's the weather and sports starts earlier here (don't have to watch Mets games starting at 10PM) but that's about it. Going to see independent films in Los Angeles required a bit of a schlep but it was generally worth it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Landmark and the Laemmle Town Center or Royal were our go to theatres. Before the pandemic we would go virtually every weekend and, in retirement, during the week where we were often surrounded by ten or so people. When the world changed, out movie consumption changed with it. We were not alone in this and now our favorite theatre is gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Landmark had around 8 or 9 screens including one set up as a living room with couches. We saw "Lambert & Stamp" in that venue. It was awesome.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The attendants were friendly and helpful and the popcorn was fresh. They would have someone introduce every movie and the audience would always applaud. You came up the escalator (the theatre was on the second and third floors of a shopping mall) to the lively main area. We would often run into people we knew. For some reason we would see Henry Winkler there quite often. I would remind him that I sent him an entire season of 24 when he was working in Europe. It was a community.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">What I especially liked about The Landmark was it was the first place you could see the newest independent films, often a week or so before they would spread to the Laemmles. It was always a "be the first kid on your block" experience to see films like "Moonlight", "Lady Bird", "Whiplash" or "Phoenix" there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">My favorite story was going to see "La La Land" the night it opened (one of the few venues in LA). We were walking out in front of an elderly couple. The woman calmly asked her husband what he thought of the movie and he shouted in that cranky old man voice "I HATED IT". We all got a good laugh.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When we first started going to The Landmark there was a Barnes and Noble connected to it and that became part of the experience. That shut down as well as the Nordstroms which occupied the mall's east side of Westwood Ave. The whole area eventually became a ghost town.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">And now it's gone. Maybe we should have made more of an effort to head down to Pico and support it (our local independent theatre also closed down recently) once it became a bit safer and we were triple vaxxed but we didn't. So I'll just say thank you to all who created a comfortable venue for independent films.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hopefully others will fill the void.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-35530768039886538702022-05-18T10:16:00.002-07:002022-05-22T07:16:14.728-07:00RANDOM THOUGHTS ON THE 2022 UPFRONTS<p> <span style="font-size: large;">CBS revealed their 22-23 schedule this morning. I would often wait for the CW announcement to pontificate but, really, why bother. I think David Zaslav and the WBD possé has declared themselves the fifth "network" so here are some thoughts and impressions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'M SO HAPPY I'M NO LONGER IN THE BUSINESS. That's it. Next.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">WE HAVE TO BE NEAR THE END OF THE TRADITIONAL NETWORK UPFRONTS AND THE BEGINNING OF THE DISNEY+, PARAMOUNT+, PEACOCK, WARNER DISCOVERY, FOX/TUBI. The broadcast networks are part of a studio/multi-platform delivery eco-system. More ad money will be moving into that system and out of traditional broadcast. within a year or so WARNER DISCOVERY will be the model for these presentations.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">AVOD will be the growth area and, as I predicted, NETFLIX will get into the advertising game. The beauty of streaming and advertising is, for now, you can't fast forward through the ads....for now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">SOMEONE IS GOING TO INVENT THE NEXT ITERATION OF "TV GUIDE" AND MAKE A FORTUNE. Right now figuring out what to watch and where to find it is a mess and most streamers don't make it easy for their own users. There's money there.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">FBC NEEDS TO GO COLD TURKEY FROM THEIR FORMER STUDIO PARTNER. They dodged a bullet this year and, no matter what Charlie said, they held off announcing a schedule because two of their successful scripted shows were being held hostage. Those 20th Television people were assholes when we were all under one roof, I can only imagine the negotiations now that they are separate entities. Animation will be the next battleground.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">YOU GOTTA LOVE CBS. Rudyard Kipling said it best:</span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "PT Serif", serif;">If you can keep your head when all about you</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: "PT Serif", serif;" /></b></span><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "PT Serif", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Are losing theirs and blaming it on you</b></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They continue to use the playbook with the frayed yellow edges with a binder that is falling apart.....but it works. If the other networks acted this way there would have been far less erosion over the past decade.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not going to bother evaluating every network's schedule but some observations:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back in the day you were always looking for a "big move" by one of the networks. I was part of several of them. It was a way of announcing that these schedules matter and where shows go impacted the other networks. These moves were far less risky than portrayed by the press but they got the networks "ink". That has been replaced by "stability"...fewer new shows and fewer time period changes. There is little showmanship here and that has been the case for a while.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The "colonized nights" are the way to go because.....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">......network TV is becoming like radio. You can turn it on at 8PM and stay for three hours and you get the same stuff. If there was one questionable (to me) scheduling move it was ABC separating it's colonized "The Rookie" show from the mothership but.....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">.....don't expect networks to change their schedules based on the competitors schedules. Another lost art. Back in the day I would study the other skeds and if my spidey senses tingle I would suggest a tweak to my bosses who generally trusted me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Heroes, heroes, heroes and healers. Cops, Firefighters, EMT, FBI, Doctors, Prosecutors. You know what won't work? ALASKA.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sci-fi pretty much gone from the network schedules. This increases the chances of success. You have LA BREA returning from last year but that was starting to fade which is common for the genre. QUANTUM LEAP is IP and high concept but much closer to TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL and HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN....the feel good anthology.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">ANOTHER WAVE OF THE VIRUS AND ALL THIS WILL TURN TO SHIT REAL FAST.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Good luck to everyone involved and it's gonna be real interesting to see where the money goes, what measures are being used and how guarantees are handled.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-8138591395817039142022-03-30T14:25:00.003-07:002022-04-01T15:46:43.534-07:00WRESTLEMANIA 38: SIZE DOESN'T MATTER<p><span style="font-size: large;">I have been around for every WRESTLEMANIA. I have been to four of them in person. Never been less excited about the overall card. I feel, with maybe one or two exceptions, I have seen everything already on the two flagship shows. Every fucking combination of every fucking pig fuck tag team match. Even Roman and Brock have been laying hands on each other for weeks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing feels fresh or exciting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">....And two nights of this nonsense. Who does the WWE think it is? New Japan? Wrestle Kingdom? Nope.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The setups for most of the matches have been ridiculous and silly. Edge turning heel for no good reason. Lashley showing up to challenge Omos......and the fucking celebrity matches. Yeah yeah I know it's sports entertainment but it's pretty bad sports entertainment in my opinion. Even the KO/Stone Cold stuff. KO is the best and a true lover of the art. I much sooner have had him team up with Austin than be his adversary. It just doesn't make any sense.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway I could give a shit about much of the two nights and with the Final Four on Saturday (GO JAYHAWKS) I will probably fast forward through Saturday.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll stop here and just go through the card with predictions. In addition to wholy shit expectations (spoiler alert low) I will add "I can give a shit" scores both on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 the best.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">BECKY V. BIANCA</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Becky's return has been underwhelming and she is not a good heel. The fans want to love her. Bianca got screwed out of her title. I think that is rectified tonight. This should be one of the better matches of the weekend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">MIZ/PAUL V. MYSTERIOS</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Dominick has a long way to go before he deserves a spot like this. I just don't know what the point of all this is and one of many matches I will fast forward through. I feel like they have been doing this match for weeks. I'm guessing Miz/Paul win and the Mysterios finally have their breakup and Miz stirs the pot</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:0</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩 (just because it's Rey)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">SETH V. MYSTERY MAN</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I assume it will be Cody, if it is it could be a pretty solid match. Seth can take the loss with minimal damage to whatever nonsense his character is right now. If it's not Cody and it's Shane McMahon ugh. Better if Cena or even the Undertaker show up. One other option is Gargano. That could be an amazing match....but yeah Cody and at least it brings something new to the table.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩1/2. (assuming Cody or Gargano)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">DREW V. HAPPY</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No words. Drew wins</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:0</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">USOS V SHINSUKE/BOOGS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think the Usos retains because of how I think Sunday's main event plays out. Other than that who cares.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE QUEEN V. RONDA</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rousey is terrible on the mike and you really feel she doesn't want to be here. She's better off as a heel. Charlotte is the best and I think she will eat the loss from some submission hold but Ronda will be a transition champ. She bad.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE KO SHOW WITH STONE COLD</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know what this is but KO will make it fun so no HOLY SHIT here but a 💩💩💩GIVE A SHIT</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">EDGE V AJ</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hated the Edge heel turn. Made no sense to me. Regardless this is one of the few professional wrestling matches we'll see this weekend so I will sit through it. I assume Edge wins</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">LOTS OF WOMEN FIGHTING FOR THE TAG BELT</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Little interest but the WWE women can surprise you in how well they can do a match like this. Assume title change with Sasha and Naomi walking out with the straps.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">McAFEE V THEORY</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pat McAfee put on two awesome matches in NXT. I mean awesome. Dude can wrestle. Much better at that than announcing. The Vince/Theory angle is interesting and I think Pat needs to win here so Vince can torture and toughen up Theory. He seems to be positioned as the next John Cena. He can eat losses right now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">SAMI V KNOXVILLE</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another fucking celebrity match. Like his pal KO, Sami will make this entertaining and Knoxville will sacrifice his body and get a win.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">BROS V STREETS V ALPHAS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">RKBro is one of the most over acts right now and I can't see them taking the belts away and this should be a fun one</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">LASHLEY V OMOS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God I hope Bobby beats him but this is Vince McMahon so sadly the giant wins and goes on to Brock and Roman</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT: If Bobby wins 💩💩💩1/2 if it's OMOS 💩</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">ROMAN V. BROCK</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Bloodline is the best thing in wrestling since Sasha and Bayley carried the company through a lot of the pandemic. I'm not super excited for the match and I think Brock will have to acknowledge Roman as the undisputed champ. Roman is on a different level than anyone else and deserves this. This cowboy clown Brock? nah. The feud won't be over but The Bloodline and Mr. Heyman deserve to remain royalty.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">GIVE A SHIT:💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">HOLY SHIT:💩💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's what I think. Wish I was more excited.</span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-16920527636256195492022-01-13T14:48:00.000-08:002022-01-13T14:48:38.394-08:00WELCOME BACK QUANTUM LEAP<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Well well look what's coming back. QUANTUM LEAP! Finally a reboot, reimagining, sequel or whatever that I look forward to seeing knowing it could very well suck.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was still in NBC research in New York when the QL pilot was made. It was picked up but did not get on the schedule until March of 1989. I was sent a set of all the NBC pilots that were picked up since my job was to do the ratings estimates on the new schedule which were used by sales in the upfront.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember it was a Sunday evening and I popped the QL pilot in the old VCR player. The Masked Wife was putting our daughter to bed and said she would join me in a few minutes. I started watching the pilot which I believe was two hours and immediately passed out. Two hours later the Masked Wife was shaking me all excited.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"How come you didn't tell me about this show" she asked</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Why?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I loved it!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She's never wrong and QL stayed around for five seasons.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Like many shows QL occupied many time periods over its run. I remember in May of 1990 when Brandon Tartikoff was still head of entertainment he asked me to help him out with the upfront presentation. The show was moving time periods again and I pitched him a joke. "If it can leap through time it can leap through time periods" I was met with stone cold silence from Brandon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the 92-93 season we replaced MATLOCK and IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT on Tuesday night with QL and REASONABLE DOUBTS. At the upfront presentation we put up a picture of Andy Griffith and Carroll O'Connor which morphed into Scott Bakula, Marlee Matlin and Mark Harmon to show how we were aging down the night. Now that I am 71 I sort of regret that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a bit of controversy when we aired a gay-themed episode. There was a lot of debate about running it. We did and took a substantial hit from several advertisers pulling out. They were replaced by the "bottom feeders".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In 2017 when we had a WGA strike and were looking for shows that we could reshoot with no change to the script I immediately thought of QUANTUM LEAP but because it was a Universal property we couldn't pursue it. I was surprised that NBC didn't think about that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I look forward to its return and hope not to be disappointed. This one is a no brainer.</span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-4086258863583299912021-12-12T09:02:00.003-08:002021-12-12T09:02:46.708-08:00MASKED 15 JAZZ RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2021<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We started to venture out a bit after the vaccines and the boosters, and the flu shots. Saw Kurt Elling at Catalina, Branford Marsalis, Count Basie Orchestra with Liz Wright and Adam O'Farrell's Orchestra all at the Soraya in Northridge. Can't wait to get back to Maui Sugar Mill for some blues.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately this was a great year for jazz albums and here are fifteen that I would recommend There are many more where these came from.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Franco Ambrosetti Band- Lost Within You</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Veronica Swift - This Bitter Earth</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Charles Lloyd & The Marvels-Tone Poem</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Greg Abate - Magic Dance</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sons of Kemet-Black to the Future<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Renée Rosnes - Kinds of Love</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gretchen Parlato - Flor</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Becca Stevens & The Secret Trip</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Cookers - Look Out!</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Kurt Elling - SuperBlue</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BADBADNOTGOOD- Talk Memory</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sheila Jordan - Come Love—Lost Session 1960</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Floating Points - Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Christian McBride and Inside Straight - Live From the Village Vanguard</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trios - Songs From My Father</span></b></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-79657968576614587432021-12-10T15:12:00.005-08:002021-12-10T15:12:48.998-08:00THE MASKED TEN + FIVE SHOWS I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU - 2021 EDITION<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">COVID has changed our viewing habits. I limit my viewing to 2-3 hours a night (closer to 2). We don't have all the services so no Disney+ or Paramount+. Hardly use Amazon Prime other than for shopping. Sunday night is reserved for the 90 DAY FIANCE cycle (sorry). Masked Wife and I have a hoot yelling at the TV (as if there isn't enough evidence of how this country has lost its mind). We've kind of given up on movies. Still watching wrestling, after all, I'm in the game now. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So we are pretty picky about what we watch. Having said all that we still watch lots of shows. Lots of international crime </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">procedurals. Hunt down Nazis in a pulpy series (Jaguar) and I'm there.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;">Of course sports but I've been trying to cut back.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;">Still watch the 911's because they are over the top wild but not much else on the networks. Went cold turkey on Masked Singer.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">All that is to say here are the ten ( and five more) that I would recommend that you check out although I have a feeling many of you may already have. I don't go for the obscure. Not here to impress.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I put them in some sort of order but, really, the top two are in a class by themselves, for me, of course. Both of them gave me the feels.....lots of feels. So.............</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reservation Dogs - FX on Whatever</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gentified<span class="Apple-converted-space"> - NETFLIX</span></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Succession<span class="Apple-converted-space"> - HBO</span></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hacks - HBO With A MAX</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Billions - Showtime</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Akwafina is Nora From Queens - Comedy Central</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pen15 - HULU</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What We Do in the Shadows FX Classic</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We Are Lady Parts - The Cock</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Shtisel - NETFLIX</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh here are five more</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Curb Your Enthusiasm - HBO</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mare of Easton<span class="Apple-converted-space"> - HBO</span></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Heels<span class="Apple-converted-space"> -STARZ</span></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ted Lasso - Apple With A +</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Girls5eva - The Pea</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-17216781088273442812021-11-06T10:15:00.003-07:002022-05-24T10:43:04.316-07:00THE DAY I GAVE JACK BAUER SOME BAD NEWS<p><span style="font-size: large;"> 24 premiered on FOX Broadcasting 20 years ago today. I have written about 24 previously, once when it was ending its run</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">https://revengeofthemaskedscheduler.blogspot.com/2015/11/and-on-ninth-day-jack-rested.html</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">and the time John McCain visited the set</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">https://revengeofthemaskedscheduler.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-day-i-met-john-mccain-on-24-set.html</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">but I don't think I ever told you all this tale of when I thought Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) was going to kill me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />In November 2007 the Writers Guild went on strike which meant all shows were shut down with only a few episodes in the can. Every network was scrambling to put together a schedule which would be made up of repeats, some international shows and a lot of reality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, for FOX, we had Mike Darnell, Gordon Ramsay and American Idol so we weathered the storm until the strike was settled in February. I kept asking Peter Chernin when the strike would potentially be over and he was always vague so we were flying blind and had to keep revising our plans.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As the shows were going back into production we needed to make some tough decisions about delivery and number of episodes needed for the season. Once everything was resolved we would sit down with the show runners and go over our plans. Of course many showrunners were not going to be happy with our decisions so the onus of telling them fell to me. I did not have very brave bosses at that moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The toughest decision was what to do with 24. We were starting the show in January and ending it in May with no breaks. We would have to push back the premier and run the show through the summer. We did not want to do that. We discussed breaking up the show running 12 in the 2007-8 season and 12 in the fall. For me, I felt that we had made a pact with the viewers to give them a full non-stop season so the only solution was to pull 24 from the schedule for the entire season. Fortunately my bosses agreed with no paralysis by analysis. The burden of telling the producers and the studio (20th) was left to me.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Before alerting Joel Surnow and Howard Gordon, the 24 Executive Producers, I asked Gary Newman and Dana Walden, the heads of 20th Television if I could come over and walk them through our plan for the show. They told me that Kiefer Sutherland would be joining us. By then Kiefer was an Executive Producer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now there are certain actors who are so connected to a character that they become the character. James Gandolfini WAS Tony Soprano. One summer the family was back east and we had dinner at an Italian restaurant in the Village and Gandolfini showed up. Although the restaurant was crowded they accommodated him and set up a table next to us. A hush came over the place when he entered with his family. Everyone was respectful. No one came over and asked him for a selfie or an autograph. Tony Soprano was in the building.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Kiefer was Jack Bauer and here I was sitting across from him, with Dana and Gary on the sides, telling him his show would not be on the air that season. He got agitated, asked a bunch of questions. I swear to you I was expecting him to jump over the coffee table separating us start choking me and screaming "THE SHOW IS COMING BACK THIS SEASON!!!!!" I was sweating, really scared for my life. Fucking Jack Bauer was going to murder me. I know it was irrational but I felt like I was in a scene from an episode of 24. I escaped with my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I left and went over to the HOUSE set to discuss plans for that show. It went a lot better.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, thought I would share that one and it was an honor to be part of getting 24 on the air and keeping it going for 8 seasons. It's ironic that today is daylight savings time. I always felt it would be cool to do a season that took place over 23 hours because the clocks moved forward and that would be a critical element in the story. Oh well.</span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-51585609128229139092021-11-04T10:42:00.001-07:002021-11-04T11:45:46.476-07:00JOE MILLIONAIRE.....FOOL ME TWICE......<p> <span style="font-size: large;">When I was in the biz and something was a hit, even if it wasn't on my network, I would often ask our research department to do focus groups on the competitor's show. I wanted to know why it worked and, to be honest, I discovered that quite often network executives had no clue or they went for the simplistic answer. I wanted to hear from civilians.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite examples of just how off base creative executives can be about the reasons for success of a show was LOST. The simplistic knee jerk response, which three networks went to by the way, was that LOST was science fiction and the tv audience is looking for science fiction. The following fall all three nets put on a sci-fi show....NBC "Surface", CBS "Threshold" and ABC "Invasion". "Invasion" even had the benefit of the LOST "sci-fi" leadin. They all bombed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">LOST was not sci-fi. LOST was deep in characters and it had the element of "constraint". Go back through TV history and you will see what I mean about constraint. While the other networks went down the wrong path FOX unintentionally put on a show that had the two elements I just mentioned. It was not sci-fi and it lasted for a few seasons......"Prison Break".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Towards the end of my time at NBC "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" exploded on ABC. This was another occasion where I asked our research department to do some focus groups to understand why it was a hit. I shared the data with the two top execs at my network because I knew that imitation is the greatest form of television and, if we had the template, maybe we would have a better chance of succeeding when we inevitably did a game show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In December '99 I was lying in bed with the flu when the aforementioned executives called to tell me that they had ordered a revival of the game show "21". "Wasn't that the game show that has the scandal?" was my knee-jerk response. They didn't feel that mattered. Then they pitched me the show. I calmly told them that everything we were going to do was the opposite of what we determined made WWTBAM a mega-hit. "Well that will distinguish it" was their response. "21" bombed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The TV landscape is littered with failed attempts to emulate a successful show and most of them fail because the creatives don't have a clue why a hit is a hit. I chuckle every time I read the words "reboot" "reimagining" or "revival" in the trades......bomb.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So yesterday my old home FOX announced that they are bringing back JOE MILLIONAIRE......they're not. I still remember Mike Darnell coming into my office (or more likely calling me down to his) to let me in on what he was up to. He would often pitch me the idea before he went to our boss Gail Berman and most often I would be on board and that gave Mike the confidence to go for it. The Bachelor was a hit on ABC and Mike wanted to do the "anti-Bachelor".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those were the wild times for reality TV. There was still advertiser resistance. The networks were battling with similar ideas so a lot was done in secret. For many of these shows there was no pilot so we went forward on faith. The reality wars among the networks were getting lots of "ink" and Mike was a master at generating attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We started shooting the show but kept knowledge of JOE MILLIONAIRE to a small group within FOX. Jeff Zucker was over ruining NBC at the time and if he knew we were doing this he would try to expose it to the press. He did things like that. Our head of marketing was kept in the dark. I was sitting outside Gail's office when Gail told her. She came out in shock.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To our marketing team's credit they came up with an outstanding campaign. Very simple: describe the concept and tag it with "Now who would possibly do something like this?" and then the FOX logo popped up on the screen.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">JM was going to come on after the new year along with "American Idol" and the move of "24" to a midseason start so we could run it non-stop. I was putting together the mid-season schedule and, along with Mike and his posse, was so certain that this would work that I put it on Monday at 9 replacing a failed David E. Kelley show. In another blog post I talk about the internal arguments over putting a reality show on a Monday night (different world now) but we did it and the rest is history. We actually won our first Sweep that February. Our sales peeps went from yelling about how much money they were going to lose to asking us to repeat JM on Thursday nights.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mike knew that we could not do this again and wanted to shoot a second iteration before we announced the show. He was shot down. Once it was a hit of course the tune changed and the top exec at FOX claimed we were doing another JOE MILLIONAIRE. Darnell was apoplectic. We shot it in Europe because the show was so big here that we knew it would be hard to find enough "gullible" bachelorettes. It bombed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's back......big deal</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Reality is all over the networks,, cable and streaming. It's no longer unique and you don't have the intrigue and personalities at what's left of the networks. Sure there will be some press for the announcement but that's about it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">More importantly, this is not JOE MILLIONAIRE. JM was us being in on the con. I'm not saying we should be proud of what we did but we knew these women were being set up and that's what made it unique and different from "The Bachelor". This "who will she choose" format has been done several times. It's not unique. We did variations of this at FOX. Most of them bombed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Will the women be told at the top that one of the bachelors is rich and one poor? Will we know? How will elimination happen? In JOE MILLIONAIRE, Joe chose (or maybe the producers, who knows) but here it seems the bachelorette will choose.....I think. I guess what I'm saying is that this is JOE MILLIONAIRE in name only.......and that host.......ugh.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most importantly FOX had a reputation back then thanks to the antics of Mike Darnell. Reality is pervasive now. If you're looking for trainwrecks just turn on TLC.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Look I wish FOX the best with this reboot, revival, reimagining or whatever but the best TV is where you break the mold and move on to something new and unique......unless there is a colon in the show's title of course.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-55408222193310327822021-10-10T16:17:00.001-07:002021-10-10T16:17:21.081-07:00Why Many of You Missed the Last Minute of the Packer/Bengal Game<p><span style="font-size: large;"> If you were watching the Packers/Bengals on FOX and you are in the New York market, and some adjacent markets as well, you missed the final minute of one of the more entertaining games of the season. With less than a minute left in the game, which was in overtime, the Packers field goal kicker, who had already missed three field goals, was about to try to kick the game winning field goal. Now this dude is generally automatic but not today. Suddenly, in several markets (possibly Dallas as well) the Giants/Cowboys game started. Those markets never carried the kick.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My Twitter feed exploded. I tried to explain why this happened. In case you're interested:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's how the Sunday TV deals work with CBS and FOX. Each week one of those networks can bring two games into the markets. The early game is made up of several "regional games" while the late game is the "Doubleheader Game". The doubleheader game is generally carried throughout the country although there could be a second game and that game goes to the markets of the teams playing in it. So today virtually everyone got the Giants/Cowboys but Phoenix and San Francisco got the Cardinals/49'ers instead which was also carried by FOX. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Following me so far?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This week the FOX owned stations in New York and Los Angeles carried the same two games. The "regional game" was the Packers/Bengals and the "doubleheader game" was the Giants/Cowboys. That rarely happens.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So the Packer game went into overtime and at 4:25 FOX switched over to the Giants game on WNYW in New York BUT STAYED WITH THE PACKERS GAME ON KTTV IN LOS ANGELES. The deal with the NFL is that you have to switch to the home team in the home team market. You can't join the game in progress.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most early games are over by 4:25 so this rarely happens but, sadly, it happened with this game. It resulted in a lot of pissed off football fans. Something tells me there will be some conversations tomorrow between FOX, CBS and the NFL to address this. My guess: If you're beyond the two minute warning and the game is within eight points you stay with the regional game. Simple right? Watch them fuck this up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By the way the kicker for the Packers who missed the three field goals (and an extra point as well) is a team captain and he lost the overtime coin toss as well. Happy he finally won the game for Green Bay. Also it's 34-13 Cowboys.Lucky Giants fans were able to watch this slaughter from the very beginning.</span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-65869446763129578832021-10-05T12:44:00.000-07:002024-02-01T14:12:33.095-08:00HOW FAMILY GUY ALMOST DIDN'T RETURN TO FOX:WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN<p> <span style="font-size: large;">This morning I was reading an article in the Hollywood Reporter about NBC's decision to bring back LAW AND ORDER on the broadcast network rather than putting the originals on their PEACOCK streaming service. Of course, the following day L&O will stream on Peacock but this decision reminded me of a moment back around 2005 when FAMILY GUY was going to return to television on CARTOON NETWORK and how I intervened to bring it back to FOX prior to its run on CC.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I arrived at FOX in June 2000 FAMILY GUY was floundering around the schedule and was about to be cancelled for, I think, the second time. The reruns moved over to ADULT SWIM on CARTOON NETWORK in 2003. FAMILY GUY became a cult hit. DVD sales of the first two seasons were huge and it was clear that there was still life left in this show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My son, who was around 11, was a huge fan of the show and lived in a FAMILY GUY t-shirt. Wherever we went people would stop, point at his shirt and tell us how much they loved the show. I encouraged my son to write a letter to my boss Gail Berman asking her to bring the show back. I wish I saved it. It was hilarious. I was talking to Rupert Murdoch one day and the topic came around to FAMILY GUY. I mentioned the DVD sales and Rupert dismissed them not realizing how huge they were. To his credit he called me a few weeks after our conversation to tell me he was wrong about dismissing the numbers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Given the success of FAMILY GUY it was inevitable that eventually there would be discussions by the studio (20th) about reviving the show. After several years off the air a deal was made to revive FAMILY GUY. Sound familiar? The deal was not with FBC but with CARTOON NETWORK.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My immediate reaction to this announcement was "WHY THE FUCK IS FAMILY GUY GOING TO FUCKING CARTOON NETWORK RATHER THAN FOX" Now one can make the case that the show had found a home on CN and that FOX had mishandled the show and Seth MacFarlane would be concerned that it would again suffer at the hands of FOX execs, but this is our studio and not being given the opportunity to be part of the revival made no sense to me. I get that way.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I went to see Ira Kurgan who was our head of business affairs and suggested that FAMILY GUY episodes premiere on FBC before going over to CN. We would take our second run following CN running the episodes a given number of times. We spoke to the higher ups and that's how FAMILY GUY wound up on FOX prior to its runs on CARTOON NETWORK.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here was a fun tidbit. You know how shows run on the broadcast networks and then air on their streamers the following day? Well in 2005, 16 years ago, I had a conversation with my counterpart over at CARTOON NETWORK about how sharing the show would work. He asked me how long after the FOX run they would need to wait before they could air the episode. I immediately said "You can air it the next day for all I care". He was speechless. He thought I was kidding him. It really was not going to matter in terms of our rating.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I read that NBC would take the initial run of LAW AND ORDER before it drops on PEACOCK the next day my only reaction was yup, that's the way you do it. things haven't changed all that much.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One footnote: I think as a gesture of good faith Seth asked my boss Gail Berman if she would reconsider airing the final FAMILY GUY episode which never aired on FOX, "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein", prior to the show returning in MAY 2005. Gail and I watched the episode and decided to air it which we did as part of a one hour FAMILY GUY holiday block of episodes in December.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The show is still on FOX and we will never know its fate had we not intervened to bring it back to network television. I even pitched an episode to Seth which he embraced called "All in the Nielsen Family" where the GRIFFINS became a people meter family. I actually get a shout out in the episode.</span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-5951395699293323412021-09-11T10:50:00.001-07:002023-09-11T07:23:44.632-07:00September 11: What I Remember<p><span style="font-size: large;">That day will always be a blur to me because, in addition to absorbing what had happened to my hometown and to the thousands who lost their lives, I had a responsibility to help manage a broadcast network which had to deal with this tragedy as it was evolving.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is what I remember</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The day started in typical fashion. While getting ready for work at FOX I would listen to the local newsradio station as much to get the traffic news (this is LA) as the news of the day. Suddenly reports started coming out of my radio of a plane flying into the World Trade Center. Things started escalating and I realized something big, really big was happening. Then the Pentagon. Then Pennsylvania. As numb as I was I realized I needed to head into the office. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I woke up the Masked Wife and told her what was going on and to decide whether the kids should go to school (pretty sure they did, as I said, blur)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I headed to work and took Pacific Coast Highway because it was important for me to see the ocean rather than the mess of the 405. As I started my drive down PCH Sandy Grushow (who ran the network) called. It was one of the most bizarre calls of my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sandy just started telling me what needed to be done and I kept reassuring him that I was heading down to the office and will handle everything including reaching out to FOX News. At some point in the conversation Sandy said something which made me realize he was not in LA. I asked him where he was and he said New York. I was sort of speechless for a moment. "Sandy how are you?" He told me he was fine and just started barking more orders. To this day I think he was in shock.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Turned out both Sandy and Peter Chernin (head of NewsCorp) were in New York for some meeting and had to road trip across country together to get back to LA. Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I arrived people started congregating in my office. We all embraced shared our feelings and got to work. I immediately called Bill Shine who was my contact at FOX News. Now I have to say this was 20 years ago and FOX News was right of center but yet to go over the edge into insanity and fascism.Having worked at two networks I found FOX News to be far more cooperative than NBC News. I knew FNC would take our (the affiliates) air and we discussed logistics so we could inform the affiliates. We had no idea how long they would hold the air so we arranged hourly calls to make sure we had enough time to take back the airways.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had two outstanding people working with me in scheduling, MJ LaVaccare and Anne Schwarz, and we immediately started culling the schedule for anything that may be offensive. Fortunately Family Guy had not returned to FOX at that time. That would have been a headache. The one thing I clearly remember was Independence Day (the White House is destroyed by the aliens) was to air that Sunday night and we replaced it with Mrs. Doubtfire. We addressed anything that seemed offensive and alerted the current executives on the show to replace the episodes and that none of this was a negotiation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We worked with our comms people to make sure we had the answers to the inevitable questions and our marketing people reviewed all promotion scheduled to air.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were in the middle of baseball playoffs and football so we kept in touch with our Sports group to make sure we knew whether we needed to replace Baseball Playoffs with entertainment programming.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By the afternoon we had everything under control or as under control as things could be and we made sure we had processes in place to communicate with each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I left the office a bit earlier than usual so that my wife and I could discuss what had happened with the kids. The one thing I remember from that was telling them that they needed to continue to live their lives and not allow what happened to change how they live and think. That's the real goal of a terrorist attack. It was a tough conversation but essential.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I'm sure other things happened that day but it was a blur. What I will say is that scheduling and keeping a network running takes a lot of effort and you need to have the confidence and trust of your co-workers. I was fortunate to have that at FOX and we survived that day and other crises that were heading our way.</span> </span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-15836442599708734092021-08-23T11:04:00.005-07:002021-08-23T11:33:04.724-07:00THE HISTORY OF THE SITCOM......IF YOU SAY SO<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Right before the COVID sent us all into hibernation I was contacted by Bill Carter, who is now over at CNN after a long and illustrious run as TV writer for the New York Times. Bill and I have known each other for over 30 years. I was featured in his book DESPERATE NETWORKS and have been quoted in countless articles of his over the years. Bill wrote two excellent books about the late night wars and he was finishing up a multi-part CNN documentary on that day part.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bill was starting his next project which was going to cover the history of the sitcom and he asked if I would come to downtown LA and be interviewed for the project. I spent 25 years in network scheduling including a run at NBC where I was head of scheduling during the Must-See-TV era. He was looking for a network suit. I obliged and sat down for a four or five hour interview.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bill's documentary on late night TV dropped in May. It was quite interesting and informative. I lived through the Letterman/Leno part of the story and knew the actors who botched the Conan/Leno debacle. I was expecting Jeff Zucker to get a bit of a pass (he did) given that the documentary was on his CNN and I don't know if Jeff Gaspin refused to be interviewed. Those were the two dudes who bungled that transition. Overall it was a solid overview and I was looking forward to Bill's opus on the sitcom.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Story of Late Night must have been a success because the Sitcom doc appeared earlier than I was led to believe given my conversations with Bill. When I heard it was coming I was excited. Given the amount of time I was interviewed I was looking forward to see what they would use. I watched the whole thing. Over the eight hours I appeared for maybe six seconds.....to describe a scene from the legendary Chuckles the Clown episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.....six seconds......I may be overstating the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm telling you all this because what follows may be perceived as sour grapes and if you feel that way so be it. They were never going to use my interview because somewhere in the process of making this documentary someone decided that this was not going to be about "The History of the Sitcom" but rather a lecture series on "The Social Evolution of the Half Hour".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This show had an agenda and the agenda was not to celebrate a form of comedy but rather to critique the sitcom for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about marginalized people i.e. people who were not heterosexual powerful white men. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now those of you who know me and follow me on Twitter know that my political and social beliefs are pretty far to the left. My point isn't that a lot of what was being said here isn't correctly reflecting the culture at various points in time, but rather it was done in a rather heavy handed and, honestly, incompetent way.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Putting on my PhD cap for a second, there is a term in labelling theory called "retrospective interpretation" where the past is filtered through a point of view in the here and now to validate that point of view. The show runner (not Bill) had an agenda and, rather than giving us eight episodes on the history of the sitcom we were offered eight hours of how corporate media perpetuated racist, misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic and transphobic myths and IT IS ONLY NOW THAT THIS SAME CORPORATE MEDIA IS GETTING IT RIGHT. A lot of this story was being told by people too young to have been around for most of the history of the sitcom which was pretty fucking hilarious. They didn't live what they are critiquing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me be very clear. Even for what it was attempting to communicate it was awful. Each hour was supposed to be a different way of letting us know how sitcoms perpetuated capitalist myths of the family, outsiders, various sexual orientations etc. but they were repetitive. they used the same comedies to make different points, They used dramas and said they were comedies. They focused on several niche shows that were not viewed by large numbers of people but were darlings among the TV intelligencia. I don't think they ever even described what a sitcom was other than it was generally a half hour. Certain observers were used over and over and over and over again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All I'm saying here is that this was not the history of the sitcom. Without breaking a sweat I could have laid out eight episodes which would have told the story in a much more entertaining and informative way and.....oh yeah even addressed the issues that this series did in such a ham handed way. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leave it to the immortal Mel Brooks to blow this whole thing up. When "Get Smart" was finally discussed in last night's final episode, and was again being put in some historical context, Brooks looked into the camera and said "We were spoofing the James Bond movies" That's all he was doing. That was all he ever did.....look at his movies. It was no more simple than that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The irony for me is that in, 40 years when the next history of the sitcom is told, I guarantee you that most of the "sitcoms" celebrated as socially and culturally woke will be critiqued by a new generation of observers</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, if Bill does the History of Reality TV I will be happy to sit down for an interview. I hope he does because I have a lot to share.....at least I thought I did.</span></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-61151861450076236462021-08-20T10:17:00.006-07:002021-08-21T08:36:57.060-07:00It's SUMMERSLAM SUMMERSLAM SUM SUM SUMMERSLAM SUMMERSLAM SUMMERSLAM SUM SUM SUMMERSLAM SUMMERSLAM SUMMERSLAM SUM SUM SUMMERSLAM SUMMER SL<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I didn't watch RAW on Monday night. I can't remember the last time I didn't watch a go home show on either of the brands. I knew what would happen on the show because every week of RAW, every week,, is just a repeat of the week before. Every fucking week. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Smackdown at least has Roman, the Usos and the great Paul Heyman to entertain us and, of course Bianca Belair but even there things feel a bit stale and then you get Baron Corbin infecting the show.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the good old days, like a year ago, at least you had an NXT Takeover to show how great wrestling can can but Vince may have figured out that running it the night before the big PPV was a mistake on several levels. Now it's an afterthought.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On top of all this the two men's championships feature dudes who will not be around for long and, in the case of one of them, can last about five minutes at best. Three minutes of posing and two minutes of wrestling. They would be transitional champions. I'm tired of this approach to booking.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, watching all these people in Vegas just tells us that the pandemic is far from over and that this is a super spreader event. Sad.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll watch RAW on Monday to see what the new stories are and then probably skip the repeats. Smackdown, we'll wait to see what happens Saturday.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">OK here are predictions and, of course, holy shit (💩trademark pending) assumptions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As alway I assume a clean finish to every match but this is the WWE </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">AJ/Big Guy v. RK-Bro</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">AJ has done what was asked of him and it's time to get get back to being a great singles wrestler. He probably has one or two good runs left. I don't know what you do with Omos maybe Commander Azeez or Drew but time to move on and Randy/Riddle can take on some new opponents and maybe have some fun. The titles change hands in a 💩1/2 match.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ALEXA V. EVA W/DOUDROP</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I could give less of a shit about this excuse for a match. I assume Ms. Bliss turns the Douster into her acolyte and for the first time ever I am giving a match -💩💩That's right a minus two holy shit.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DREW V. JINDER</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I feel bad for Drew who stoically carried the company during the fan free pandemic and now finds himself buried on the undercard. I'm hoping they build him back up so I give him the win in a 💩match.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">SHEAMUS V. PUNISHMENT MARTINEZ</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Priest is everything Vince is looking for in a champ and Shaemus is Shaemus with or without a title so I'm assuming a 💩💩 title change.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">OLD MAN EDGE V. SETH</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The first of the three alta kaker matches on the car. I have to believe that Seth is being prepped for a title run (regardless of who wins the belt) and a win over Edge would go a long way to catapulting him there. This one could be pretty solid so Seth in a 💩💩💩1/2 (out of 5) match and Edge goes away for a while until his next pop.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">BIANCA/SASHA 2</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They are not....not taking the belt off of Bianca. She is money, she is strong and far less injury prone than Ms. Banks. She is the future. They tore down the house once and they will do it again with the difference being Bianca has to fight off Sasha's quickly put together posse'. Bianca retains in a 💩💩💩💩1/2 match.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">USOS V. REY AND DOM</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">OK who wins this will give you some insight into the Roman/Cena match since the stories are intertwined. Not a fan of the Mysterios. They are sort of the inverse of AJ/Omos so I'm rooting for the Usos to retain. It will be a solid 💩💩💩 match. Maybe Dominik turns on his dad. That would be fun....or Rey turns on Dominick even funner.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">NIKKI CROSS V. THE QUEEN V. RHEA</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a terrible storyline. Nikki Cross is actually a decent wrestler. She and Asuka put on a show in NXT but they have reduced her to a joke, first with Alexa and now this bullshit. Who knows what's going on with Charlotte as she keeps transforming herself and her dad and boyfriend are over at the rival promotion. I think Vince has given up on Rhea. She's a bit one note and it's never clear if she is a face or a heel. I think Nikki retains and I'm giving this 💩💩holy shits.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">BOBBY V. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLDBERG GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLDBERG</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Two things: One of the two titles will change hands. Second, Lesnar will show up. Sadly, as I said before whichever belt changes we will have a transitional champion. I'm going to say Lashley retains. They keep building him up as a beast and he's got the mouthpiece in MVP. If I were the booker I would keep the belt on Bobby and have Lesnar appear but not with Heyman but SABLE!!!!!!!! as his "advocate" So Bobby retains in a quick 💩match.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HEAD OF THE TABLE V. CENA</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This will be brutal and in the end Cena will take the belt off of Roman and lose it to him in the rematch at the next PPV or Survivor Series in November. I fucking hate this but I think this could set up all sorts of situations. The Usos could cost Roman the belt. If Lesnar doesn't face Lashley does he show up here and Heyman switches allegiances. Is this a start up for a Roman/Rollins program with the winner facing Cena in November. I'm assuming this closes the show. If it's Lashley/Goldberg (doubtful) there are other possibilities. So Roman drops the belt (you don't say one---two---three over and over again for nothing) and this will be the only 💩💩💩💩💩 of the night.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That's where I come out. Hopefully they fix their booking issues</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-33285691068473981382021-07-16T15:30:00.004-07:002021-07-16T16:35:39.442-07:00MONEY IN THE BANK - - VIRUS IN THE ARENA<p><span style="font-size: large;">The WWE confronts its fans for the first time in a year and a half. Will be interesting to see who pops and who fizzles assuming they don't pipe in the noise. They are really building up this card like it is one of the big four and it looks like we will be back to a four hour show rather than the tight PPV's we have been experiencing of late.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm sorry about Bayley's injury because I feel that the fan reaction to her and Bianca is what I was most looking forward to....oh and of course how the universe responds to The Head of the Table. That has been the best story that the WWE has done in quite some time. I have always been a fan of Roman Reigns and have been waiting for the heel turn. Pairing him with Heyman was genius and the brothers are the gravy. This has miles to go. I just wish Roman was putting the current roster over rather than this parade of alta kakers. After Edge we have to suffer through Cena, maybe Brock and then Dwayne arrives, maybe, but I do have an excellent way to book that match which would involve Roman's face turn. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway here's my take on all this including the return of the Holy Shit (tm) (💩) predictions</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">MYSTERIOS V. USOS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In a perfect world they put the straps on the brothers and build on the current best story in the WWE. Love Rey (who doesn't) but not a big fan of Dominick who would be an adequate jobber if he had a different last name. The Usos give you much better options moving forward and it's time for them not to be the fuckups. Should be decent but not great and I'm going with the <b>USOs </b>walking out with the belts. 💩💩💩1/2 (out of 5)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">AJ/OMOS V. VIKES</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Enough of this nonsense already. AJ has done his part and let's put the belts on a team that can give us some interesting matches. The Raiders have been transformed into clowns by Vince and it's time to give them a legit run. Like the above I expect new tag team champs on the RAW brand. <b>VIKING RAIDERS </b>win in a 💩1/2 match.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">RIPLEY V. CHARLOTTE</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had high hopes for Rhea Ripley but she is one in a long line of performers who fail at the hands of McMahon booking. She has mastered the smirk and swagger but I still don't know if she's a face or a heel and I have no idea what Charlotte has transformed herself into, both physically and character-wise. In a perfect world this is Rhea's chance to show the WWE universe what she is capable of. Charlotte doesn't need the belt, she needs to do what's best for Rhea and she will. <b>Rhea </b>retains in a 💩💩💩 match.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">LASHLEY V. KOFI</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">OK hear me out. What's interesting about MITB is where matches are situated on the card. The MITB matches don't necessarily have to close the show if there is going to be a cash out night of and that is a real possibility here. I'm going to assume <b>LASHLEY </b>retains but I will paint a picture where he doesn't when we get to the men's MITB match. This should be 💩💩💩1/2 Holy Shits minimum. If this match closes the show expect something big.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">HOTT V. OLD MAN</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Roman has other geezers to go through so this should be OK and painless but predictable. The Usos will probably interfere in some way but please don't put the strap on Edge. You can't start the super spreader era without giving Roman a run and I know how to book him at Wrestlemania. I expect <b>ROMAN </b>to retain and I'm thinking 💩💩</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">WOMEN'S MITB</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Natty and Tamina nope</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Alexa nah been there done that</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Naomi no way</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Asuka won last year, still the best on the RAW roster but not two years in a row</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So that leaves Zelina (who lost to Liv), Liv and the joke that Nikki Cross has become</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The MITB winner has to have attitude (that's why they stripped Otis of it so quickly in another bullshit storyline) which eliminates Nikki although they have been building up this superhero nonsense so maybe but I don't think so.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Zelina and Liv have what you need in extra-ring ability and I think this is the elevation of <b>LIV MORGAN</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll assume<b> 💩💩💩</b>Holy Shits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">MEN'S MITB</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I assume Riddle, Morrison, Rick O'Shay and Shinsuke are the extras although I do believe all of them are going to have an opportunity to shine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Like Roman, Bayley and Bianca, Drew carried the company during the COVID era and, although I would like to see him win, I think it's time to move on. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So that leaves Seth, KO and E.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Seth doesn't need the briefcase to get a title shot and he had his moment on the biggest stage of all to cash in so nah</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Down to KO and Big E. Let me say that Kevin Owens is probably my favorite wrestler at the moment and, if anyone can elevate this briefcase and make it fun and exciting he's the guy, but remember I said something about the match order? If the Men's MITB goes on before Lashley/Kofi then <b>BIG E </b>wins this and, you know what, it almost doesn't matter who wins the championship match. If Bobby destroys Kofi and Woods to boot, E comes in and avenges his New Day brothers and beats the crap out of Bobby. If Kofi wins, E comes down to celebrate with the guys and turns on an exhausted Kofi and grabs the title in a shocker. Can I book this shit or what, and wait until I tell you what the main event at Wrestlemania is.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, unlike the women, there is not a weak link among this crew and this is going to be the💩💩💩💩💩match of the night.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think I'm wrong with most of these prediction but it's good to see the fans back and let the super spreading commence.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508729762820667632.post-52599112399404225662021-04-09T18:05:00.002-07:002021-04-10T08:36:34.212-07:00THE BIG SHRUG THAT IS WRESTLEMANIA<p> <span style="font-size: large;">WRESTLEMANIA has become just another episode of RAW or SMACKDOWN. It's nothing special. There's little buildup of anticipation. There's little suspense or real uncertainty and we come out of this right into the Draft or Superstar Shakeup or whatever nonsense The WWE will do to make us feel excited about what has become, for me, a pretty stale product.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another problem is NXT. No NXT is not the problem but, rather, TAKEOVERS lead into the big PPV's and, as a result, we see the stark contrast between an excellent promotion and the bland parent. Night one of TAKEOVER was outstanding from start to finish. Night two not as much, other than Gargano/Reed, but still it will be more entertaining than what we are about to witness over the weekend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, and I don't think I'm wrong about this. where are the emerging stars among the men? It's why the only matches that I will watch without distraction are the two Women's championships. In Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley you see the future and their veteran opponents are at the top of their game. That's not the case with the men. Actually the most exciting thing about this PPV is to see if PEACOCK screws things up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just to be different I'm going to combine the two nights (oh yeah that also sucks) and rank the card in terms of how much I don't give a shit about it with 5 being I really really really don't give a shit and I'll give you my best guess as to what may happen. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here we go</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">WOMENS TAG TEAM TURMOIL 💩💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Right now all the peripheral belts feel, well, peripheral and sort of meaningless. If you put a gun to my head I couldn't tell you who holds them. They used to mean something. The SMACKDOWN mens tag team belt isn't even on the card I think. Anyone but Lana and Naomi please....probably Natty and Tamina.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">NIA/SHAYNA V. TAG TEAM TURMOIL WINNERS 💩💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think they drop the belts. If it's Naomi/Lana I fucking give up</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">BAD BUNNY/PRIEST V. THESE TWO ASSHOLES 💩💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think Damian Priest is going to be a big star so this is paying his dues. I am so sick of the Miz and I only tolerate Morrison because his wife is on the horizon and maybe there's something interesting there. Bunny will pin somebody.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">NEW DAY V. AJ/OMOS 💩💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Monsters like this are problematic and AJ Styles is too good to be handcuffed by this. The tag team situation is a mess and giving the straps to this unlikely duo is not going to help things. The NEW DAY don't need the belts so sadly I think we see a title change.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">BRAUN V. SHAYNE 💩💩💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bullshit schoolyard leadup and Shayne will do some dangerous shit. These are two of the great sweaters on the roster so this will be a slippery pig match. I assume Braun wins unless they want to continue the stupid angle but why.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">ORTON V. FIEND 💩💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This won't be a wrestling match but something boring and bizarre and there will be fire. I don't know if there will even be a winner but if there is it's Fiend/Alexa and then what?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">RIDDLE V. SHEAMUS 💩💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Perfect example of the minimal buildup. Wasn't Sheamus sort of in the Lashley/Drew storyline and Riddle's stoner persona isn't doing it for me. I assume they will stick with Riddle.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">BIG E V. CREWS 💩💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me started. Crews takes the strap.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">DREW V. LASHLEY 💩💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Breaking up The Hurt Business? Give me a fucking break. Is this going to be a factor in this match? Drew has been carrying the promotion for a year and doing it without the support of the fans. I would love for him to get the belt back and I think it will happen with some Benjamin/Alexander shenannigans. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">SAMI V. KO 💩💩💩1/3</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If they cut the crap and wrestle this could be a pleasant surprise and KO will win regardless. He deserves better than this.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">ROMAN V. EDGE V. BRYAN 💩💩💩</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Roman/Heyman/Head of the table saga is the one thing that has kept me invested in WWE. I want it to continue. Giving the belt to Edge is a big mistake. I can live with Bryan but I hope Roman holds on to the strap and let Bryan and Edge do a program together. I think that's what's going to happen. Roman Reigns is the best thing going among the men. I think Brock pays a visit here. If Lashley retains it may be there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">SETH V. CESARO 💩💩1/2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Finally two warriors who are going to give us a wrestling match and can deliver the goods. Nothing is on the line but this could steal the show. I think Seth puts Cesaro over for a shot at the UNIVERSAL title.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THERE ARE TWO MATCHES WHERE I GIVE A SHIT</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">SASHA V. BIANCA</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This will be the coronation of Bianca Belair. You never know which Sasha Banks shows up but if she's willing to do the honors and put Bianca over this should be a fantastic match.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">ASUKA V. RHEA RIPLEY</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the match I am most looking forward to. In a perfect world Asuka retains the belt in an epic battle. I have to believe Ripley will prevail. She lost to Charlotte in her first WWE PPV and I don't think they will let her lose two in a row. She's too dominant. This should be match of the weekend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's it and where the fuck is BAYLEY???????????</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Masked Schedulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944043109565826540noreply@blogger.com0