Good morning. I’ve been a bit out of the blogosphere for the week. You’d be surprised how many shortish blog posts I make and then don’t publish them, as I just view them as turds/not very good. Quite the commentary of your own work 😂 Lets start the day off with some music.
Some Commentary
This week we had Jimmy Kimmel taken off the air. People like to use the word fired but his show was really just postponed ‘indefinitely’ which really means it could return in a week, a month, or literally never. Disney knows better than to ‘Fire’ him as they’d have a lawsuit on their hands. Have you seen the comments that he said that were in question?
Now, a lot of people are getting their feathers ruffled claiming free speech and censorship. If you read the First Amendment, it primarily addresses the government infringing on speech. Companies can fire a person for speech they dislike that doesn’t align with their corporate interests. You can freely speak whatever you like (Well, as long as you’re not inciting violence) but companies also have the right to reprimand you for that speech.
Where the waters get murky is with the FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Carr appeared on a podcast specifically encouraging local ABC affiliate stations to “push back” and “pre-empt” coverage that doesn’t serve their communities’ interests. He even went as far as saying,”We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” That comment in ‘The Hard Way’ was referencing the potential for the FCC to remove a company’s broadcast license. He emphasized that local broadcasters holding FCC licenses are required to act in the public interest, and suggested they should exercise more editorial control over national programming. Carr characterized this as local stations standing up to major media companies that have been serving “progressive foie gras from New York and Hollywood” to American audiences. The FCC Chair is obviously a government official.
Carr’s comments occurred against a backdrop of massive consolidation in local broadcasting, where a few major companies now control hundreds of stations nationwide. Nexstar Media Group, the largest operator of local TV stations, controls more than 200 owned or partner stations across 116 U.S. markets and recently wants to complete a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, adding 64 more stations. Sinclair Broadcast Group operates similarly extensive networks of local affiliates. The issue at hand becomes there is a FCC law that you can only own so much of the broadcasting local landscape without FCC approval. These companies are desperate for Brenden Carr’s approval for their buying, otherwise they’d be forced to sell.
When Carr made his podcast comments, Nexstar and Sinclair responded almost immediately, effectively pressuring Disney to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show indefinitely. This is almost certainly government influence. Which should not be happening.
We’re definitely at a weird time in our history. Tucker Carlson had some comments on this.
MSM – Mainstream Media
I recently found myself in a lively discussion with a family member who boldly claimed that mainstream media (MSM) is dead, even going so far as to call it “a dead art form.” Is the current media consumption landscape evolving? Absolutely—but it always has. While I’m not particularly old, I grew up in a household where the Chicago Tribune was delivered daily. It was a common sight to see the newspaper spread across the breakfast table, surrounded by empty coffee cups. Those mornings sparked my love for reading, introducing me to Bernie Lincicome’s columns at a young age. And let’s not forget the comic sections—they’re the reason I fell in love with Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, and “The Far Side.”
Going to YouTube for your “independent journalism”? It seems more like a feel-good platform that often feeds into tribalism. Studies show that 64% of Americans believe social media platforms, including YouTube, tend to divide people rather than unite them (Pew Research Center, 2021). On YouTube, you can easily find creators who align with your views and reinforce the narratives you prefer. Mainstream media, while offering branches catering to different leanings (left, right, etc.), often isn’t extreme enough to satisfy certain preferences. According to Gallup, trust in mainstream media has declined to just 34% among Americans in 2022, pushing many toward alternative sources. Whatever happened to simply seeking the truth, gathering facts, and forming your own opinion? Nielsen data reveals that 57% of adults admit they prefer content that aligns with their beliefs rather than challenges them. We seem to be living in an age where people say, “Just tell me what to think,” rather than taking the time to think for themselves. It’s troubling how often I hear opinions and can almost guess the exact source they came from.
Disney’s decision to potentially revive the Jimmy Kimmel show highlights the strategic importance of late-night programming in shaping public perception and maintaining cultural relevance. While these shows often operate at a financial loss, they serve as powerful tools to engage audiences, attract advertisers, and reinforce a network’s identity. The uncertainty surrounding the show’s return underscores the delicate balance of profitability and brand-building in entertainment. If Kimmel does return, it could signal a renewed investment in creating content that resonates with viewers, even amid shifting media consumption habits. It’s worth noting that all the major late night shows put key parts, dialogues, and interviews on YouTube to expand their presence. A lot of people just wait until the next day to “See what they missed.”
Lastly….
The long-awaited sequel is finally in the works, and fans of the original cult classic couldn’t be more excited. With its hilarious parody of sci-fi favorites and iconic one-liners, Spaceballs 2 promises to deliver plenty of laughs and memorable moments. Get ready to revisit the galaxy of ludicrous speed, dark helmets, and pizza-loving villains!