tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224446362011-09-03T08:12:57.075-07:00A critical look at the good and bad of media and entertainment.Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.comBlogger251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1161033085742646752006-10-16T14:04:00.000-07:002006-10-16T14:11:54.476-07:00

I've decided not to carry on with this blog. It's never become what I wanted it to be -- all my fault for not caring to dedicate the time to do so. I know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, and this blog is looking like a seven two off-suit with three pictures on the flop.Eh, it was fun to play while it lasted. I welcome you to continue reading my personal blog at your leisure.

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1159635034703414242006-09-30T09:49:00.000-07:002006-09-30T09:50:34.713-07:00

If you read this blog, I'd like to know where in the world you are! Please visit my Frappr! site at the link below and put yourself on the map. Thanks!http://www.frappr.com/michaelsterlingblogreaders

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1159208724363481562006-09-25T11:20:00.000-07:002006-09-25T11:25:24.413-07:00

I'm in the process of watching whatever looks interesting this fall season. There are a few shows that look like they'll tickle my fancy, so I'm making sure to watch them either when they run or afterward on the DVR.Tonight, the DVR is set to record something during all three hours of primetime. The Class and How I Met Your Mother on CBS and Heroes and Studio 60 on NBC. This is on top of the

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1157978906226645292006-09-11T05:44:00.000-07:002006-09-11T05:48:26.250-07:00

Kudos to CNN for utilizing their "Pipeline" service to show LIVE streams of today's memorials and -- my favorite -- a real-time stream of their TV coverage on 9/11/2001.Take a look if you get a chance.

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1157732930479776072006-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:002006-09-08T09:28:50.493-07:00

Paris Hilton, after being arrested recently on drunk driving charges, said in an interview this morning, "Everything I do is blown out of proportion and it really hurts my feelings."Guess what, honey: You're a celebrity now -- whether you deserve it or not. You've got to take the bad with the good. When a celebrity drives while under the influence and gets caught for speeding, the paparazzi

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1157586690652275522006-09-06T16:41:00.000-07:002006-09-06T16:53:45.516-07:00

Vanity Fair magazine got the scoop on pictures of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' new baby Suri. The pictures come after months of speculation over when we'd see pictures. When time "dragged" on with no visual confirmation of the baby girl's existence, the media took great pleasure in asking the question, "Does Suri exist?" Many wondered why, if she is real, it took so long for her pictures to go

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1151465813233478202006-06-27T20:35:00.000-07:002006-06-27T20:36:53.243-07:00

The MSR 360 will return later this...I dunno, summer, with more updates and improved criticism! In the meantime, stay safe.Smiles,Michael

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1150566459750324342006-06-17T10:30:00.000-07:002006-06-17T10:48:31.740-07:00

I hate entertainment "news" programs like Entertainment Tonight, Extra, and so on. I think they're shallow, way too flashy, and are contributing to the downfall of society by constantly promoting celebrities who, themselves, are shallow and way too flashy. Why does our society devote millions of dollars to tell America what kind of car what's-his-butt-in-the-latest-action-film drives? I even

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1150032076768043902006-06-11T06:15:00.000-07:002006-06-11T06:21:16.780-07:00

If you have an high-definition television and you love watching sports on it, I found a cool site that you may want to check out:HDSportsGuide.com has listings for all the various domestic HD providers and what events they'll be showing as well as the latest HD sports news. As the site says, "If it's not in HD, it's not in this guide."Now I need to buy an HD set...and digital cable...or

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1149598444675987102006-06-06T05:41:00.000-07:002006-06-06T05:55:05.910-07:00

The Kansas City Star has just redesigned their paper, printing it on new presses. It results in a smaller overall size, brighter colors, sharper pictures and text, and a more contemporary overall look. It really looks great!What I DON'T like is how many freaking ads there are! I don't read the actual paper much, usually getting my news online. When I was browsing through the new paper

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1148141833810653772006-05-20T09:00:00.000-07:002006-05-20T09:17:13.823-07:00

Thursday's series finale of Will and Grace had moments reminiscent of nearly every episode of the series before it: There were moments of side-splitting laughter and teary-eyed emotion. It's the incredible writing that made me a fan of the show in the first place, and it's incredible writing that brought an end to the show's long run on NBC. WARNING: Here be spoilers.Going into this finale,

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1147698681337731202006-05-15T05:54:00.000-07:002006-05-15T06:13:02.163-07:00

As the TV networks' seasons end, so ends a couple of my favorite shows forever. The first was 'The West Wing,' which finished its run with the inauguration of a new president. My grade for the finale: a solid B. WARNING: spoilers follow.The show ended expectedly: President Santos was installed, Bartlet left, sentimental one-liners were said by all, MANY wide shots were seen of some

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1147181614573637042006-05-09T06:24:00.000-07:002006-05-09T09:53:05.553-07:00

If you haven't seen the finale of 7th Heaven and don't want to know what happens, stop reading now.I don't watch the show, but read on CNN's Web site that the series finale was Monday night. While reading through, I noticed that three of the Camden children and their respective spouses were ALL expecting twins. Not one set of twins. Not two sets of twins. THREE sets of twins.Now I know that

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1146705953097605172006-05-03T18:02:00.000-07:002006-05-03T18:28:27.636-07:00

In a world of gansta rap talking about f-ing some b -- well, you know -- and punk rock artists screaming at the top of their lungs about how they hate everything, there's a country song for the rest of us. It has nothing to do with losing your girl, losing your truck, or losing your dog. No, this one is about is about a...90 Pound Suburban Housewife Drivin' in Her SUV.It debuted on NPR's Car

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1146328721943314052006-04-29T09:02:00.000-07:002006-04-29T09:38:41.956-07:00

KCTV 5 News in Kansas City is a terrible news operation. Recently, they stirred up a lot of controversy with an investigation they did into how local police departments handle requests for complaint forms against officers. What ended up was a story about "Police Station Intimidation" when the Independence Police Department arguably handled the situation poorly. At this point, I should note

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1145548153034388962006-04-20T08:41:00.000-07:002006-04-20T08:49:13.046-07:00

There's a trend in TV news that really bugs me. I kind of think it's insulting:"What's the number one addiction in the U.S.? The results will shock you."I'm thinking they won't."You won't believe what this teenager did to save his pet cat."I probably will."This footage is very disturbing."Not as much as the twisted murder on CSI tonight.Tell me the facts and let me decide for myself. Sure,

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1145364802086722642006-04-18T05:50:00.000-07:002006-04-18T05:57:53.803-07:00

VW has an ad out right now for their Jetta. Without giving away the "plot" of the whole thing, it has these two guys talking about how one says "like" every other word...then a surprise.Wow. What an effective advertisement. For a while we ran a PSA on City 7 with a message similar to this one. It also grabbed your attention and made you take notice.Keep an eye out for this VW ad...and then

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1145117120348681322006-04-15T08:49:00.000-07:002006-04-15T09:41:46.463-07:00

The VCR turned 50 this week, with the original machine being released by Ampex on April 14, 1956 at a trade show. If you'd like to read more about it, check out this article from TVTechnology.com.Since that day, we've seen technology progress to video cassettes like Betamax and VHS, and progress on to DVDs and hard-disk based recorders. Soon we'll see HD-DVD and Blu-ray disks. Today, the

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1145020821930786272006-04-14T06:11:00.000-07:002006-04-14T06:20:21.940-07:00

Zacharias Moussaoui continues to shock America by saying he wished 9/11 could happen every day, that he's willing to kill Americans "any time, anywhere," and numerous other objectionable statements.Why are the news media playing into this guy's hands? I understand that this trial is important, but reporting what he says does nothing but irritate Americans and give him exactly what he wants. I

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1144895779671995822006-04-12T19:10:00.000-07:002006-04-12T19:36:19.690-07:00

I won't sugarcoat this: NBC's new sit-com Teachers is bad. Really bad. Really, really bad. Imagine watching a re-run of Saved By The Bell, adapting it into a show for adults, and updating it for 2006. THAT is Teachers. And it's, well, bad.Honestly, I'm surprised. I'd expect that the executive producers, who worked on NBC's hits Scrubs and Will and Grace, would have come up with a MUCH

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1144723592756195702006-04-10T19:36:00.000-07:002006-04-10T19:46:32.773-07:00

Kiefer Sutherland has signed on to star in three more seasons of FOX's hit '24.' Good to know. Now I don't have to worry every time his character is about to be killed for the next couple of years. "No worries! He's still under contract! Where's the popcorn, honey?"Why would Fox Television really announce this? You're killing your storylines, people! If a viewer is watching knowing full

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1144507434792986762006-04-08T07:27:00.000-07:002006-04-08T07:45:08.196-07:00

For those of you who are familiar with PBS, you know about the late Bob Ross and his show The Joy of Painting. Apparently the people in charge of his properties are developing a video game for PCs and the Nintendo platforms.This concept is fascinating to me. Instead of teaching kids how to ACTUALLY paint, we're going to have a game so that they can VIRTUALLY paint. I suppose if it's a stepping

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1144196165348095922006-04-04T17:14:00.000-07:002006-04-04T17:17:39.156-07:00

I have to laugh at Cingular's latest TV ad. It's the one where the teenager under the umbrella talks about her dropped calls. How convenient that the audio goes out (intentionally) in the middle of the ad.Having worked at a couple of TV stations, I bet that, the first couple of times this ad played, Master Control Operators everywhere flipped out!:"What the f*ck?! What happened to our audio?!"

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1144034309303028732006-04-02T20:03:00.000-07:002006-04-15T09:46:10.390-07:00

For once I set up the DVR to record a show without knowing anything about it. The very little bit I saw on FOX's preview for Unan1mous (sic) piqued my interest. Turns out it's another reality show. The premise this time: nine people have to decide unanimously who of the group deserves a whopping cash prize. In this case, the starting number was $1.5 million.Of course drama ensues when one gal

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22444636.post-1144020571297293562006-04-02T16:29:00.000-07:002006-04-02T22:33:33.006-07:00

Welcome to "The Media Situation Report 360!" I've been wanting to do a blog for a while that deals with analysis of the media and entertainment industries. When I was back in college going for my Broadcasting degree, one of my professors drove home the need to constantly have a critical eye of media because we will be the ones creating it. He emphasized that we need to know what's good and what's

Barefoot Michaelnoreply@blogger.com3