The ‘Public Interest’ The ‘Public Interest’
For years Pittsburghers have witnessed the low regard in which public television station WQED holds its second channel, WQEX.
Dec 18, 2002 / Books & the Arts / Bill O’Driscoll
Beauty Tips and Politics Beauty Tips and Politics
Hot media news: Women want hard-hitting reports on issues that affect them.
Aug 15, 2002 / Books & the Arts / Lauren Sandler
Beam Us Back, Scotty! Beam Us Back, Scotty!
Science fiction routinely gets away with subversive gestures that would never be allowed in any realistic program. Thus it is that people who don't watch Star Trek are probably u...
Mar 7, 2002 / Books & the Arts / Donna Minkowitz
Ellison Unbound Ellison Unbound
"I remind myself that much of television is now comic strip," Ralph Ellison told TV Guide in 1988. It is not surprising that the author of Invisible Man would be uncomfortable wi...
Feb 14, 2002 / Books & the Arts / David Yaffe
Black Entertainment Television’s ‘Lifestyle’ Choice Black Entertainment Television’s ‘Lifestyle’ Choice
The departure of Tavis Smiley leaves a hole in the programming calendar of BET, but that's only part of the problem.
Apr 26, 2001 / Books & the Arts / Makani Themba
The Black Box The Black Box
OK, no Lifelines, no 50-50s, no Audience Participation if you want to be a millionaire: Name the first great African-American sitcom of the New Millennium... Correct! The 2000 pre...
Mar 30, 2001 / Books & the Arts / John Anderson
Our Mobsters, Ourselves Our Mobsters, Ourselves
Why The Sopranos is therapeutic TV.
Mar 15, 2001 / Books & the Arts / Ellen Willis
Murdoch’s Fox News Murdoch’s Fox News
They distort. They decide.
Feb 23, 2001 / Books & the Arts / Daphne Eviatar
All That Jazz All That Jazz
Let's cut to the chase on Ken Burns's Jazz, which rolled out on PBS January 8, by invoking Wallace Stevens. 1) Is it entertaining TV? Mostly, in PBS fashion. ...
Jan 12, 2001 / Books & the Arts / Gene Santoro
Block That Rush! Block That Rush!
I suppose it would be in my financial interest if Rush Limbaugh were to get his wish and become part of the broadcast team for ABC's Monday Night Football.
Jun 1, 2000 / Books & the Arts / Al Franken