My Top Ten Blog Posts

Following are ten blog posts and op-eds which best reflect my writing about the entertainment industry. MORE

Ten Books That Have Stayed With Me

Recently, a friend forwarded a message which encouraged the recipient to list ten books which have "stayed with you" -- been meaningful or made an impression. Here is my list of ten books which have profoundly influenced my life. MORE

VH1 Encourages Naked Dating

Most people understand that nudity is inappropriate in public. Indeed, being outside one’s own home naked is grounds for a criminal charge of “indecent exposure,” and can result in not only a fine, but in the participant being placed on a “sex offender” registry. None of which matters a whit to VH1. MORE

Broadcast Networks Don’t Understand “Family Entertainment”

Last week, the annual PURPOSE Family Entertainment and Faith-Based Summit convened in Beverly Hills. All the convention’s attendees demonstrated a clear understanding of the concepts of “faith” and “family” entertainment — except America’s broadcast networks. MORE

Roundtable Reveals What's Important to TV's "Comedy" Writers

The Hollywood Reporter recently detailed a roundtable meeting between some of the most influential “comedy” writers working in television today. The article revealed how such writers revel in subjects many Americans don’t find notably funny. MORE

ABC President: Indecency in Family Hour "Not an Issue"

ABC has announced that it will be moving its sex drama Grey’s Anatomy into the Family Hour next fall. When asked about the move, ABC President Paul Lee said showing explicit content when children are in the audience is “much less relevant than it was five years ago.” MORE

Hollywood's New Trend: Naked Dating

Nudity has long been a staple on premium cable networks. But now, “naked dating” programs are poised to become the next big thing on basic cable – and even broadcast – TV. MORE

HBO Urges Teens to Watch "Away From Your Parents"

The entertainment industry claims that it has a “longstanding commitment” to helping parents protect children from harmful media content. But a new series of ads from HBO put the lie to that claim. MORE

Broadcast TV: Champion of Decency?

In his keynote address at the group’s annual trade show, National Association of Broadcasters President Gordon Smith boasted about broadcasters dedication to “the public interest.” But there are plenty of ways the networks aren’t meeting their obligations. MORE

NBC's Newest Star: Charles Manson

NBC is already home to a TV series glorifying gruesome, gory serial killing and cannibalism on its series Hannibal. And this week, the network announced an upcoming series that will make a hero out of sadistic mass murderer Charles Manson. MORE

More Proof Hollywood Doesn’t Get It

Top Hollywood boss Harvey Weinstein is promoting his new TV series, one which he claims middle Americans will love...because it’s set in a trailer park. MORE

TV Writer: Sex on Sitcoms Not Gratuitous

TV today is infamous for its sex-slathered sitcoms, from Dads to Two and a Half Men. But during a recent Television Critics Association interview, one TV writer claimed that sex on sitcoms is not gratuitous. MORE

Extreme Horror Director to Make The Bible Sequel

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s reverent History Channel mini-series The Bible was a huge success earlier this year. Now, History Channel is preparing a “sequel” on the life of Christ – written and produced by the men behind the R-rated horror movies Hostel and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. MORE

MTV’s Girl Code Degrades Girls

“They’re as complicated and complex as we are. VAGINAS!”

And another episode of MTV’s Girl Code gets underway. MORE

New “Golden Age of TV” Is a Myth

The Hollywood insiders who are pushing “dark” and “edgy” dramas containing ever-more graphic sex, violence, and language love to claim that, as a result, TV is now experiencing some kind of “golden age.” But when it comes to programs most Americans actually watch – especially comedies – this is a lie. MORE

Arrow – Superhero or CW Standard?

Premiering last season – and returning for its second season this October 9th – the CW’s program Arrow appears to be a straightforward adaptation of a comic-book character, capitalizing on popular trends in current movies. But is that all it is? MORE

“About Families” Not the Same as “Safe FOR Families”

Hollywood’s latest scam aimed at viewers is its claim that, because a program is ABOUT a family, the program is therefore appropriate for family viewing. But this is a lie – and this fall’s new “comedies” prove it. MORE

Fall 2013 New Show Preview: NBC

NBC’s fall programming includes one outstanding – but graphically brutal and violent – drama, and several inoffensive but disposable situation comedies. MORE

Fall 2013 New Show Preview: ABC

In addition to several highly-anticipated new dramas, ABC is also introducing a number of comedies which are not particularly family-friendly this fall. MORE

Fall 2013 New Show Preview: Fox

This fall, Fox has followed the success of fantasy-based programming on other networks with two such series (both of which contain graphic violence), along with several new comedies of varying quality. MORE