Comments on: What Are You Missing? February 1-13

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:19:27 +0000

Had to add that there’s been a response to that Cinematical article, then the author of the first article responds to the response. So article one is above, article two is here http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/what-do-women-want-from-a-film.php , and article three is here http://www.cinematical.com/2010/02/18/when-it-comes-to-movies-what-do-women-want/ .

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:38:33 +0000

Just came across a new Cinematical article on the women’s film issue: http://www.cinematical.com/2010/02/15/girls-on-film-we-have-to-stop-forgiving/

By: Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey Jones — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:33:35 +0000

True, true.

By: Derek Kompare

Derek Kompare — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:30:30 +0000

Tony Cornheiser is the spitting image of about 30% of students' dads I've seen in the past few years... Anyway, as for Betty White and SNL: Jeffrey's right. Back in the 70s, they really did have a broader range of hosts, and lots of acknowledgment of their roots. Buck Henry hosted several times. Even Desi Arnaz and Milton Berle each hosted once (though the latter was apparently the worst host they've ever had, according to Lorne Michaels). These days, "history" on SNL might go back far enough for, what, Jim Carrey? Jason Alexander? Sean Hayes? Sigh. BTW, Betty White is the all-time Queen of TV. She's been on television since the freaking 1940s!!! The 1940s!!! Does anyone else kick ass in eight different decades?!? NO! :)

By: Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:05:40 +0000

Agreed. Betty White’s persona as elderly imp reminds me of ESPN’s PTI. When it started making something of a buzz a few years ago, ESPN’s research noted that college students loved the program partially because it fit their schedule, but also because they liked watching “two old people joyfully bicker with each other cause it reminded them of their parents”.

By: Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey Jones — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:57:23 +0000

What I love about the Betty White campaign is it demonstrates how lame SNL has become in its choices of hosts. When SNL first began, it would include hosts like Buck Henry. Obviously a creative genius, I had no idea who he was at the time. But the producers realized it was about comedy, not celebrity spectacle. The push for Betty White is a reminder by the public that yes, it is about comedy, not having the latest dim-witted “hottie” (male or female) because, well, they make news and the youngsters will recognize them (see Peyton Manning).

By: Christine Becker

Christine Becker — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:21:11 +0000

If that FT link gives you registration frustration, Wired has good hassle-free info on the Apple pricing too: http://bit.ly/aQwDX3

By: Christine Becker

Christine Becker — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:59:09 +0000

Very good points, Kyra, and Julie and Julia is a great example to raise (though I have not seen it). We’ll just have to see if this is sustained, as it seems like a perennial trend for Hollywood to suddenly discover that women like movies too, then a female-centered film (like, gah, The Women) flops, and suddenly the studios retreat again. Just ask Manohla Dargis how she feels about women & Hollywood: http://bit.ly/5OHYxh.

And for those who want more on the Apple pricing issue, Financial Times broke the story here: http://bit.ly/dyJvP6

By: Kyra Glass

Kyra Glass — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:49:52 +0000

Great list Christine! I think your list is absolutely spot on! I would like to say a word in defense of The Wrap, although not in defense of Nicholas Sparks. I do see the clear understanding of a lucrative female audience for mainstream cinema releases a good sign. While Sex and the City or New Moon may only do marginally, very marginally, better on the Bechdel Test, the surprisingly successful Julie and Julia (although not quite a blockbuster) would ace it. Although the narrowcast of women-centered blockbuster films may be a cause for concern, the active courting of a largely female audience has the potential to produce interesting films that improve upon the current offerings (ABC’s female-centered television shows are a good example of this). If nothing else the trend has spared me many a Terminator/Transformers only movie-going weekend and for that I thank it. In other, related, news, there is a rumor that Apple may be dropping their price on TV episodes to 99 cents, the idea of paying per episode for anything but favorite shows is still problematic but a price drop may be an important boost for them and their attempts to sell Apple TV and the iPad.