OVER TWO MILLION WATCHED SUPER BOWL LIVE STREAM
This is the first time the NFL live-streamed the Super Bowl and the hook was what they called a “second screen” experience, which sounds like the idea was to convince those watching the game on television to also keep their computers on.
How many people, though, watched because they didn’t have access to a television? In the car, for instance? The NFL has to sell this as a “second screen” experience or else cable and satellite providers will howl. If this kind of programming starts streaming, people will cancel their cable packages.
Two million is less than 2% of those who watched the Super Bowl, but that’s still a lot of people.
Right now, the NFL and content providers make a fortune off of cable fees, but you have to wonder if numbers like these won’t have them looking for a way to cut out the middle man.
WHY DENZEL WASHINGTON IS THE LAST OLD-FASHIONED MOVIE STAR
The author of this piece makes some good observations, but misses the big one. Denzel has never insulted, talked down to, or offended his audience. I’ve seen him hug Obama, I’ve seen him visiting our troops in the Middle East, but there’s nothing divisive about him — nothing anyone can hold against him. That used to be the norm in Hollywood — class — and now it’s an endangered species. Washington is also a family man and openly Christian. What’s not to like about him?
Audiences also trust Denzel not to offend with his film choices. He not only chooses quality projects, but also sucker-punch free projects. We can relax during a Denzel Washington film. We can settle in and not worry about the cheap shot.
Most importantly, every once in a while he chooses a project that appeals to the conservative heartland. “Book of Eli” and “Man on Fire,” for instance. That’s not to say he doesn’t also make left-of-center films. “John Q” and “The Siege” are both liberal fantasies. But a true movie star doesn’t choose films based on politics but rather story and script. If you look at Gene Hackman’s output, he did the same thing — which is why we miss him so much.
Of course, it also helps that Washington is a phenomenally talented and charismatic actor. But there are many phenomenally talented and charismatic actors — but only one Denzel Washington.
Will Smith, Sandra Bullock and Adam Sandler are in also in Denzel’s league, but that’s about it. Tom Hanks had it but blew it by starring in two openly anti-Catholic films and his trashing of WWII and the War on Terror as wars of terror and racism.
It all comes down to goodwill, doesn’t it?
NETFLIX LESS ABOUT FLICKS, MORE ABOUT TV
Two billion hours were streamed this last quarter, 60% of those hours were devoted to television. The article points out what I’ve said many times and that’s that people want to “dig in” to a show and watch one episode after another.
The article doesn’t reveal that most important truth, though, and that’s that the quality of television is ten-times better than 90% of the films produced today.
As a response to this unexpected demand, Netflix is bulking up its television content and worrying less about films.
And this is what I was talking about last week, as far as the studios having no muscle with their obnoxious 28 day waiting periods for their lousy film product.
Streaming is the perfect place for television shows old and new, television shows are more entertaining than today’s films, and so that’s where the customers are.
I know I drive you crazy covering this every day, but no one else is connecting the dots as the dots appear. Believe me, it would eat up much less of my time to simply link to someone else, but there is no one else and someone needs to tell this story.
Ahem. A-ah-ah-hem: Viacom Agrees To Stream TV Shows Through Amazon Prime
‘THE WOLVERINE’ SET FOR SUMMER 2013 RELEASE
The first “Wolverine” was a pleasant surprise, a simple story well told with plenty of action. Liev Schreiber might have been slumming but his presence added an unpredictability to his character (and therefore the film) few others could’ve pulled off.
FOX DELAYS ‘THIS MEANS WAR’ OPENING TO AVOID BOX OFFICE FACE-OFF WITH ‘THE VOW’
Reese Witherspoon looks astonishingly gorgeous in the “This Means War” trailer and poster, but the trailer is itself is exhausting. My biggest issue is how after you’ve watched those 150 seconds, you feel as though you’ve already seen the movie. All that remains is the question of who gets the girl, but the two guys are so unlikable and selfish, it’s hard to care.
DREW BARRYMORE TO SCALE BACK ON HOLLYWOOD CAREER
Yes, but will anyone notice.
CONSERVATIVE ANGER OVER M.I.A.’S FINGER GESTURE
Really? Only conservatives? Doesn’t say much about liberals, does it?
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COMING SOON TO HOME VIDEO
CLUELESS: Outrageously Funny Satire Makes an Entrance on Blu-ray™ May 1, 2012
Paramount Home Media Distribution invites you to revisit the halcyon days of high school in the ’90s; a time filled with camaraderie, chaste dances and fervent study…AS IF. Instead, kick off your designer shoes and enjoy the whip-smart comedy of the contemporary classic CLUELESS when it debuts May 1, 2012 on Blu-ray. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), CLUELESS stars Alicia Silverstone in a break-out performance as Cher, a beautiful and self-absorbed high school student who spends her days focused on assembling the ideal fashion ensemble, talking her way out of bad grades and searching for the perfect boyfriend. What Cher discovers is that popularity only gets you so far, looks can be deceiving and love is sometimes found where you least expect it. Whatever.
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LAST NIGHT’S SCREENING
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) — One of those lovely, leisurely, classic MGM Dream Factory entries that replenishes your faith in human nature. The conflict doesn’t come from bad people, it comes from the humility and insecurity from the title character (Oscar-winner Robert Donat) over the course of his six decades as a teacher at a prep school for boys in England.
A nice movie, as well as also a genuine artistic achievement.
Can’t imagine life without DVD.
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SCOTTDS’ EPIC LINKTACULAR
OUR OWN MEIRA PENTERMANN’S ‘NINE-TENTHS’ HIT #1 IN POLITICAL FICTION AT AMAZON
TV PILOTS 2012: THE COMPLETE GUIDE
VAUGHN DISCUSSES HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH STEVE MCQUEEN
BRETT RATNER TO DIRECT AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCE FOX’ NEW SPY DRAMA PILOT
MORE PHOTOS FROM ‘ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER‘
CONCEPT ART FOR PIXAR’S UPCOMING FILM, ‘BRAVE’
EXCLUSIVE NEW ONE-MINUTE TV SPOT FOR ‘JOHN CARTER’!
DIRECTOR BRYAN SINGER AND TV WRITER/PRODUCER BRYAN FULLER WANT TO BRING ‘STAR TREK’ BACK TO TV
‘KARATE KID’ SEQUEL MOVING FORWARD
VINCE VAUGHN AND OWEN WILSON WILL REUNITE AS INTERNS
FIGHT OVER WHO OWNS ‘RAGING BULL’ CARRIED UP TO 9TH CIRCUIT APPEALS COURT
TWO WRITERS CONFIRMED FOR ‘DOCTOR WHO’ SERIES 7
10 UNFORGETTABLE OSCAR SPEECHES
GUIDE TO RONALD REAGAN MOVIES AVAILABLE FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE
SIGOURNEY WEAVER SAYS JAMES CAMERON WANTS SPECIAL SUBMARINE FOR ‘AVATAR’ SEQUELS
9 MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT ‘GODZILLA’
CHARLTON HESTON AS A JEDI? A LOOK BACK AT ‘THE PHANTOM MENACE’ RUMOR MILL
COOL INFOGRAPHIC: MOVIE MONSTER SIZE CHART
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CLASSIC PICK FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
4:30 AM Boom Town (1940) — Friends become rivals when they strike-it-rich in oil. Dir: Jack Conway Cast: Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert. BW-119 mins, TV-PG, CC.
Oil men portrayed as pioneers and heroes. Hollywood didn’t always suck.
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Please send comments, suggestions and tips to jnolte@breitbart.com or Twitter @NolteNC.
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