The New Teaser for ‘Will & Grace’ Will Bring You to Tears
Honey, it’s happening…
Storytelling is More Important Now Than Ever: Why Disney’s “Moana” is the Perfect Antidote to Trump’s America
It’s important now more than ever for stories about people of color to flood mainstream media; storytelling is the most powerful tool we have in the fight against hatred of any kind. Moana is a triumph in both storytelling and empowerment.
Kellyanne Conway, Kate McKinnon, and the Mask of Insincerity
The real Kellyanne Conway is perhaps less “real” than the fake one (played on SNL by Kate McKinnon), donning on a mask of insincerity because it’s her job to do so.
When Satire Gets Sincere: The HyperRealism of SNL
Sincere moments in satire, which in itself has become a medium of sincere truth, add an extra layer to the emotional moment of SNL’s cold open, where Kate McKinnon plays Hillary Clinton for possibly the last time, at least in an election context.
The 3 Ways ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ Failed, and What That Means for the Current State of Hollywood
(Hint: it’s all about diversity and a lack of strong representation.)
Marvel’s ‘Jessica Jones’ is a Frighteningly Stunning Look at the Human Psyche
Am I in control? Do I have any power in a seemingly powerless situation? How can I possibly “move on”? Is it possible to mentally survive a cycle of abuse? Most victims of physical and/or psychological abuse continuously ask these questions long after the actual acts of abuse have ceased; the lasting effects can and often do continue…
Chris Pratt and Male Body Image in Hollywood
Originally Posted August 4th, 2014; Updated June 26th, 2015 Chris Pratt is Hollywood’s latest TV funny man-turned viable Hollywood leading man; everybody seems to want a piece of the Pratt. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy may have been last summers most surprising smash hit, raking in an estimated 94 million in its opening weekend (and breaking August…
Grey’s Anatomy & the Rise and Fall of Derek Shepherd
SPOILERS! If you haven’t seen the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy, turn back NOW. Season 11 of the Shonda Rhimes-helmed Grey’s Anatomy has been a tumultuous rollercoaster for the show and it’s fans. After the previous season-long departure of original cast member Sandra Oh (who played fan favorite Cristina Yang), season 11 felt largely unknown. How…
The “American Sniper” Effect: The Narrative of Arab Americans in Post-9/11 America
It’s never ok to be desensitized to injustice. This is what the media does. This is why it’s important to fight for better media, for more equal representation. We need to raise awareness if we’re ever going to survive.
What Happened to ‘American Horror Story’?
Growing up, I had an irrational fear of clowns. I distinctly remember going to a neighbor’s birthday party when I was seven or eight and locking myself in a nearby closet, unable to move until my mom crawled in with me and coaxed me out. That clown had hair the color of a red delicious apple and…
How to Get Away With Murder. And Sex.
“He did this thing to my ass that made my eyes water.” It was the post-coital line heard ’round the world. Or at least reverberated off of the walls of every household tuned in to watch this Fall’s buzziest new late night primetime obsession How to Get Away With Murder. Connor Walsh, played by Jack Falahee, is…
DC Comic’s HUGE Announcement: 10 New Films + Wonder Woman Finally Getting a Standalone
Warner Bros. has released it’s film slate for the next 6 years. This list spans 10 films, many of which feature heroes that have yet to get the big Hollywood treatment that has been afforded to DC’s more well-known heroes (aka Superman or Batman, because let’s face it, outside of them, the DC movie universe has…
The Problem With Sookie Stackhouse: Thoughts on ‘True Blood’ Post-Series Finale
There’s a problem in Hollywood with the portrayal of female characters. They’re either so “strong” (objective word) that they come off as emasculating “bitches,” or they’re weak, perpetual damsels-in-distress, who want to be strong and want to get ahead, but can’t seem to figure out the proper balance, which leads to them falling back on finding…
“No Offense, But”: Reactions to the Possibility of The Walking Dead’s Daryl Dixon (Maybe) Being Gay
Whenever somebody begins with the phrase, “No offense, but…,” rest assured that it’s probably going to be somewhat offensive, especially where gay issues are concerned. No matter how progressive our culture seems to be on the surface, beneath that glossy, shiny exterior plastered with photos from Pride Parades, individual state marriage equality victories, and cover…
An Open Letter to Glee Creator Ryan Murphy About the Show’s Final Season
Dear Mr. Murphy: Remember the pilot episode of Glee? It was a fearless trailblazer propelled by ingenious writing and peppered with the perfect cast of outsiders. It was a humorous look at high school hierarchy that never took itself too seriously while at the same time making very real commentary on various hot-buttoned issues like teen…
Female Thor, Wonder Woman, and a Call for More Kick-Ass Heroines!
On Wednesday, July 15th, 2014, Marvel announced that a new Thor comic book series would star — wait for it — a woman in the title role as the new God(fess) of Thunder. Thor’s mighty hammer, Mjolnir, has rarely been wielded by a woman, and for the first time in the 52 years since Thor’s first comic…
‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ Is An Exploration In the Dark Side of Humanity
When I bought my ticket for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, I certainly wasn’t expecting a startling commentary on human nature and the great “Nature Vs. Nurture” debate; though I shouldn’t have been surprised that that was exactly what I got, especially given the nature of the first film, 2011’s Rise of the…
Zac Efron Should Just Take Off His Shirt and Shut Up: The Hyperreality of Efron’s Body
Zac Efron and Seth Rogen’s latest comedy Neighbors slayed the box office this past Spring; it racked up an impressive $147 million at the box office and beating The Amazing Spider-Man 2 for the #1 spot during release weekend. Most of the buzz around the film was due to the films word-of-mouth, BuzzFeed-esque viral media…
Disney Animator Glen Keane Releases “Duet,” Reminds Everyone How Gorgeous Animation Can Change Lives
Glen Keane, the legendary Disney animator responsible for designing Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin in Aladdin, Pocahontas in Pocahontas, Tarzan in Tarzan, and Rapunzel in Tangled, released “Duet,” a 3-minute long short which beautifully depicts growing up and discovering love. It’s a testament to what can be accomplished…
Girl Meets World: Nostalgic or Nonstarter?
After 14 years, Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel), the couple who taught every current twentysomething about the nature of true love and the definition of “soulmate,” returned to the small screen to prove that their love is quite possibly what every single Disney movie EVER has been talking about for the last 70 years.…
Beware the Frozen Heart: Is Disney’s ‘Frozen’ An Allegory for Coming Out?
Originally Published: December 2nd, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 Is Disney’s Frozen An Allegory for Coming Out? **WARNING: Mild Spoilers Ahead** Walt Disney Animation Studios, the brilliant tour de force behind animations greatest cinematic achievements like the use of a multiplane camera to help create the illusion of depth in animation, among others — ahem, Snow White and the…
What Dawson’s Creek Taught Me
Originally Published: November 4th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 It’s no secret that, around here, we watch a lot of TV. Like, a lot. No, seriously… So it’s no surprise that everything I know was taught to me by TV shows and I sometimes get a little too attached to these fictional worlds and characters BUT…
All You Need Is Love … and Glee
Originally Published: September 28th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 In the premiere of Glee’s 5th season, the episode aptly titled “Love, Love, Love” was a beautiful way to start a season that is sure to be ripe with sadness following the show’s third episode, “The Quarterback,” set to air on October 10th, which will deal…
Will & Grace 101: How to React in Almost Any Situation
Originally Published September 16th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 As a self-respecting gay man, and pop culture commentatór, naturally I have learned a lot from the oft-stereotypical, yet wildly forward-thinking-for-Network-TV-at-the-time Will & Grace. And by learned a lot, I clearly mean it’s my bible. For a very long time, it was my only real window…
The One About the TV Theory of Friendship
Originally Published: September 11th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 When I was growing up, I totally thought that life would be like an episode of Friends. You know, I’d have an incredible apartment in NYC’s West Village with my best friend as my roommate, and across the hall, in an equally nice-for-New-York-City apartment would be…
Roots Before Branches: A Personal Reaction to Cory Monteith’s Passing
Originally Published: July 15th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 Do I have a place in the world? What is my purpose? Where do I belong? Saturday night, July 13th, 2013, Glee star Cory Monteith, who plays Finn Hudson, passed away. There’s no official cause of death, but I’m willing to bet it was drug-related [Editor’s…
‘Wallflower’ in Reverse
Originally Published: June 24th, 2013; Updated: June 24th 2014 Any time a movie adaptation of a book that I love is released, I immediately tell whoever is within earshot to read the book before watching the movie. I do this for two reasons: The books often have crucial information and details that are inevitably left…
Will I Be Remembered? and Other Mortal Combats
Originally Published: October 14th, 2013; Updated: June 23rd, 2014 Will I be remembered? Will I make my mark on the world before it’s my time to exit? I’ve been asking myself these questions, and questions like it, a lot recently. Maybe it has something to do with my recent 27th birthday, the supposed “Saturn Return”…
The ‘Modern Family’ Stereotype
Steve and I recently started watching Modern Family. It’s been a life-changing experiencing. My best friend had been trying to get me into Modern Family (MOFY) for years, but I spurned her MOFY advances, only agreeing to watch an episode with her when we couldn’t decide whether we should watch Mean Girls or Bridesmaids for the…
An Open Letter to Hollywood
I loved the first Hangover film. It was pants-splittingly funny. Literally, I split my pants. Though that may or may not have been a direct result of my weight. It was unexpected. It brought me back to my college days, where I would wake up after a night of playing “Let’s See Who Can Drink the Biggest Handle of…
