Archive for the ‘Television’ Category
What Is Hulu?
February 4th, 2011 |What Is Hulu?
Hulu is a website which streams videos of movies and television programming from several major film studios and most of the tv networks, including Fox, ABC, and NBC. I guarantee that Hulu.com contains a lot of recent content that you would never imagine showing for free on the Internet.
Hulu Programming – Hulu Homepage
Let me give you some examples. Go to the Hulu homepage and you get a good idea of the video options. There’s an episode of “The Morning After” which debuts on February 2nd (tonight as I write…
What Are Some Good Movies on Netflix Instant Play?
December 16th, 2010 |Good Movies on Netflix Instant Play
The question “What are some good movies on Netflix instant play” was a lot harder to answer than it is now. That’s because the selection has grown to include many of the first-run blockbusters and new releases on the video rental market. I even know one person who chose the cheapest of the Netflix plans available because he ONLY uses their instant watch capability.
Most people looking for good movies on Netflix already have their by-mail Netflix queue filled up. But with the many new instant viewing options on Netflix, your instant watch queue…
What Is Starz Play?
December 15th, 2010 |Starz Entertainment and Netflix
Starz Play is an streaming video service by Starz Entertainment which lets you watch tv, film, and concert videos instantly through providers like Netflix and Verizon.
You can interface through you Wii or XBox, or watch instantly on Microsoft PCs and Macs using the Silverlight Movie Player.
And if you’re a Netflix subscriber, you can stream videos directly through your home theater system or television set.
What Is Starz Channel?
Starz began as a tv channel back in 1994, when it was known as Starz!. Starz is owned by Liberty Starz Encore, and Encore Channel and…
Netflix Plans and Pricing
December 13th, 2010 |Netflix Rental Plans for 2011
Netflix recently announced new price plans which go into effect on January 11, 2011, so I wanted to go over the Netflix plans and pricing for 2011. Whether you’re prospective customer to the online DVD rental giant, or a continuing costumer trying to figure out whether to change to a new rental plan, you’ll find data to inform your choices.
Netflix Plans and Prices
There are a variety of Netflix plans and prices, including the traditional DVD rental tiers most people are accustomed to, Netflix plans for blu ray rentals, and streaming-only plans. I’ll go…
How to Sell a Screenplay
August 5th, 2010 |Once you’ve written the next Hollywood blockbuster, you’ll want to know how to sell a screenplay. Keep in mind that this is a difficult proposition, as even the most high-quality script has a slim chance of being sold. And the odds of it making to theaters is even smaller. While this slim odds shouldn’t stop you from trying to sell a screenplay, you should temper your expectations and remain realistic about your chances.
The following article will provide practical advice on how to sell a screenplay, including agents, cold calling, and copyrighting your work. We’ll also look at some of…
MLB Playoffs 2010 Predictions
July 11th, 2010 |MLB Playoffs 2010 Predictions
Since most teams in Major League Baseball have now played their 81st game of this season, we are officially at the halfway mark. In the race for October glory, there are still plenty of tight divisional races.
Currently, the American League is led by the Yankees, Tigers and Twins, Rangers, and Red Sox. Those are the top five teams based on their position in their divisions. Don’t think of the Red Sox as just another wildcard team — the team they are second place in the division too is none other than the New York Yankees,…
Emmy Awards 2010: Who Will Win?
July 10th, 2010 |Emmy Awards 2010: Who Will Win?
The 2010 Emmy Award nomination list is out — start the speculation. Glee is sure to rack up the awards, leading the entire field with 19 nominations including Best Comedy Series. The big news this year is that fans of Friday Night Lights finally have something to cheer for. Both Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton were nominated for Best Drama acting awards. Some of the same Emmy questions from last year are still on our minds. Will Jon Hamm finally beat out Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston? Here’s our predictions for the most popular categories.…
Where Can You Find the Cheapest LCD TV?
February 15th, 2010 |Where Can You Find the Cheapest LCD TV?
LCD TVs have been around since the late 80s when Sharp introduced a relatively small LCD TV — a fourteen inch screen described as more of a “boutique” item rather than a TV for everyday use.
LCD technology used to be very expensive (hence the small size of the 1988 LCD TV screen) and with the rise of plasma screens in the late 90s and early 2000s most people thought LCD was dead in the water. Due to the high cost of plasma screens (a cost that never really went…
Why Was As the World Turns Canceled?
December 14th, 2009 |Why Was “As the World Turns” Canceled?
CBS has canceled two high profile daytime television shows in the last four months.
First, “Guiding Light” — the longest running soap opera in television history, which aired in some form from 1937 to 2009. On December 8th, 2009, CBS announced that “As the World Turns” (which started airing in 1956 and was the longest running broadcast soap opera after the cancellation of “GL”) will end its run in September of 2010. “As the World Turns” has an annual audience of around 2.5 million, and is by far the most popular of the…
What Is Blue Ray?
November 9th, 2009 |What Is Bluray Disc Storage?
“Blue Ray” is what people often called Blue-Ray disc storage, which is simply an optical disc storage technology meant to supercede DVD.
Though the Blu-Ray disc is exactly the same size as CD and DVD discs, Blue Ray stores more information and displays it better. Blue Ray technology is used with high-definition televisions and with the Playstation 3 game system.
Blu-Ray storage is an upgrade from the existing technology, because it allows the disc to store roughly six times the information a standard DVD could store. Data retrieval requires a shorter wavelength ray compared to…
Will The Days Of Our Lives Be Canceled Soon?
October 20th, 2009 |Will The Days of Ours Lives By Canceled Soon?
After an 18-month renewal in November 2008, Days of Our Lives is signed to continue on NBC until September 2010 , but there have been constant rumors of a cancellation since Guiding Light was canceled in September 2007. In fact, there were rumors at the time that The Days Of Our Lives would not survive 2009, at least before the renewal.
Declining ratings in the summer of 2007 made this seem a certainty, but changes in writers and an 11th-hour new contract seemed to save the show at the time. Rumors…
Should CBS Fire Letterman?
October 5th, 2009 |Should CBS fire David Letterman?
My father-in-law stopped by for a visit last night, and the David Letterman blackmail news came up while we were sitting at the kitchen table. To my surprise, David Letterman’s love life has somehow become a Republican issue. At least according to my father-in-law it is.
Then this morning I woke up to the following headline on a news aggregator site: “CBS Has Got to Dump Letterman”. The article is from the New York Post, which is tabloid journalism. But does being part of the sensationalistic tabloid journalism industry explain the vehemence of Andrea Peyser’s…
Why Did Paula Abdul Leave American Idol?
August 5th, 2009 |Why did Paula Abdul leave American Idol?
Late last night, Paula Abdul announced she would not be returning as one of a triad of hosts on TV’s popular American Idol. Did she throw a press conference? Let it slip during an interview?
Nope — she used Twitter.
Someone needs to tell celebrities to stop the madness. I’m sick of Twitter being used as a kind of slam book (see Shaquille O’Neal’s taunting of David Beckham) or de facto news organization (Abdul’s announcement et al).
Why did Abdul decide to leave what is likely a lucrative position on one of…
Who Took Home an Espy Award in 2009?
July 20th, 2009 |Who took home an Espy award in 2009?
Surprisingly, the biggest winner at the 2009 Espy awards (put on by cable sports channel ESPN) was one of sports’ most controversial figures.
Michael Phelps, in trouble recently for his off camera behavior (including the circulation of pictures of him smoking marijuana), won four awards in last night’s show in Los Angeles. In a year when it seemed there were dozens of men and women eligible for multiple prizes (think Manny Pacquiao, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Serena Williams, Lorena Ochoa, Phil Jackson, Sidney Crosby, etc) Phelps snapped up all four awards…
Who Got Snubbed in this Year’s Emmy Nominations?
July 16th, 2009 |Who got snubbed in this year’s Emmy nominations?
You would think that this year’s Emmys would be less of a snub factory than usual — after all, the Emmy awards have expanded. Most categories now features six nominees instead of the traditional five, with the two biggest categories (Best Drama and Best Comedy Series) expanding to seven.
Before revealing the full list of nominations, I want to point out some interesting oversights. Jim Parsons was finally recognized with a nomination in the Best Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role in the hilarious The Big Bang Theory,…
What Can I Do to Prepare for TV’s Digital Transition on Friday?
June 11th, 2009 |What can I do to prepare for TV’s digital transition on Friday?
If you haven’t already worked out a television setup that will allow you to view digital signals, you aren’t quite out of luck.
You may remember that television’s digital transition was supposed to occur this past February. Unfortunately for cable companies, the government stepped in and extended the deadline. The reason? Too many people were simply not prepared. But it wasn’t totally the consumer’s fault.
If you own an analog television, and many of us do, you can still receive televsion through a converter box that sits…
Are Jon and Kate Gosselin Already Split Up?
June 4th, 2009 |Are Jon and Kate Gosselin already already split up?
This story just won’t die.
Jon and Kate Gosselin, stars of TLC’s popular reality show “Jon and Kate Plus 8”, have reportedly been living apart for as long as 6 months, according to some sources close to the couple.
The pressure has begun to mount for the popular TV couple, enough pressure that the infamously stern and unshakeable Kate Gosselin has “cracked”, according to People magazine, and is not only expressing doubts about her marriage, but is also behaving rather strangely, including posing for papparazi in her bikini after undergoing…
How Did Conan O’Brien Do on His Opening Night?
June 3rd, 2009 |How did Conan O’Brien do on his opening night?
Comedian and writer Conan O’Brien recently took over the seat usually occupied by Jay Leno on NBC’s popular “Tonight Show”. Conan O’Brien made a name for himself in show business first as a writer for popular comedy shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons”. O’Brien was eventually offered the job as the replacement host for David Letterman after that popular late night host’s show moved up an hour.
Late Night with Conan O’Brien premiered in 1993, and was met with seriously unfavorable reviews. In fact, for the first three…
Who Won the 8th Season of Dancing with the Stars?
May 20th, 2009 |Who won the 8th season of Dancing with the Stars?
Olympic Gold medalist gymnast Shawn Johnson, who thrilled the world with her balance beam performance in the Beijing Olympics, can now hang a new piece of hardware on her wall. Shawn Johnson and partner Mark Ballas won the 8th season of ABC’s hit Dancing With the Stars by one of the narrowest margins of victory in the show’s history.
ABC television’s Dancing with the Stars 8th ceason gleefully celebrated a new winner Tuesday night. This season, which premiered on March 9, 2009, saw 13 couples vying for the number…
Why Did Tony Kornheiser Leave Monday Night Football?
May 19th, 2009 |Why did Tony Kornheiser leave Monday Night Football?
The official reason for Tony Kornheiser’s exit from Monday Night Football is the analyst’s fear of flying. Kornheiser, who also hosts a radio show named after him and is co host of ESPN’s popular “Pardon the Interruption” program with Michael Wilbon, can frequently be heard complaining about his fear of plans, and relating anecdotes about his use of the anti anxiety drug Xanax to overcome this fear.
Many believe that ESPN wanted to go in a different direction with Monday Night Football, and cut a kind of shadowy “deal” with Kornheiser…
The Cosby Show Cast — Where Are They Now?
May 19th, 2009 |The Cosby Show Cast — where are they now?
The Cosby Show did not have a particularly long run on television. The popular show centered around an upper middle class African American family and ran for eight seasons, from 1984 to 1992.
Critics consider The Cosby Show one of the greatest television shows of all time. The Cosby Show literally changed the way African Americans were portrayed on television, and paved the way for African American television stars of today.
America fell in love with the Huxtable family — from husband and wife Cliff and Claire (a doctor and…
Who Won The Biggest Loser Season 7?
May 13th, 2009 |Who won The Biggest Loser Season 7?
The controversial winner of this past season of The Biggest Loser is Helen Phillips. I saw controversial because fans of the show are lining up to complain about the outcome — most fans, it seems, wanted Tara Costa to win, and don’t mind sharing their feelings about Helen Phillips. One message board is full of terrible insults, from claims that Helen Phillips is “an uncaring mother”, while another fans calls her “selfish” and warns that “what goes around comes around”. Obviously the victory of Helen Phillips was upsetting to many fans.
The Biggest…
Will Shirley Jones Pose Nude for Playboy Magazine?
May 12th, 2009 |Will Shirley Jones pose nude for Playboy magazine?
The short answer to this question is a resounding “No”. Shirley Jones never contacted Playboy magazine, and the magazine says they never contacted her about shooting a pictorial.
Rumors began to pop up all over the web last week — Shirley Jones, the 75 year old actress best known for her role as the matron of TV’s “The Partridge Family”, was planning on dropping the laundry for a Playboy photo shoot.
If Shirley Jones did appear in Playboy, she would be the oldest model in the magazine’s history by far. Runner up…
Who Is Katy Tur?
May 12th, 2009 |Who is Katy Tur?
Katy Tur is the girlfriend of polarizing news figure Keith Olbermann, one time reporter for the popular ESPN program “Sportscenter” and current host of the MSNBC hit “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”. Katy Tur has been in the news recently for landing a number of high profile jobs supposedly secured with the assistance of her much older live-in boyfriend Keith Olbermann. However, there is probably another factor in Katy Tur’s early success — she may be only 24, but the fact that her father, Bob Tur, is a major force in the world of television news means…
Who Is Mr. ZZee?
May 11th, 2009 |Little is known about Mr. ZZee — much more is known about his “line of work”.
Mr. ZZee (also known as Mr. Z or Mr. ZZEE) is the infamous celebrity sex tape broker responsible for myriad celebrity sex tapes and the ensuing cocktail of embarassment and publicity that follows.
It is said he is the mystery man behind several best selling celebrity sex tapes, but so far, Mr. ZZee has not disclosed his true identity — probably a good thing considering the rash of lawsuits that are no doubt waiting to be filed against him.
On Sunday night, May 10th…
Did Lisa Rinna Have Plastic Surgery Before Her Playboy Pics?
April 22nd, 2009 |
Lisa Rinna — best known for her acting roles on TV shows like Melrose Place, Days of Our Lives, and Veronica Mars – first posed for Playboy magazine in 1998, when she was six months pregnant. Maybe you remember her Playboy shoot because of the controversy that sprang up. Rinna’s first shoot featured her on the front cover in all her pregnant glory, wearing a very revealing sweater and not much else.
Lisa Rinna will grace the pages of Playboy again, now aged 45. Rinna has been quoted as saying that she is “in better shape” now than she was…
80 Fun Questions to Ask Friends
March 5th, 2009 | Fun questions to ask friends can make great icebreakers and conversation starters at parties. Here are 80 ideas of some fun questions to ask friends or dates.