Dark passage, dark night

It’s fair to assume that most wired-in people have at least one or two favorite primetime television shows that demand a weekly watch. I’ve heard the phrase “appointment TV�... Read More

Television

Binge-worthy television for wintertime

By Michael Snyder

Even sunny California suffers inclement winter weather, inspiring us to spend more evenings in cozy surroundings — like in front of our video screens, rather than venturing out t... Read More

Television

Sifting through the fall television season

By Michael Snyder

Are viewers suffering from narrative fatigue due to the unprecedented year-round increase in television programming since we entered the era of streaming video content? Maybe, but ... Read More

Television

Welcome to the age of video overload: Here’s what’s worth watching

By Michael Snyder

As mass media became increasingly massive during the past five decades, some pundit or scholar developed the concept of “information overload.” One might imagine a poor unfortu... Read More

Television

Handicapping the fall TV schedule

By Michael Snyder

The anticipation of the fall network television season has been diminished in part by the year-round premieres of shows on cable and, in a relatively recent wrinkle, streaming serv... Read More

Television

Tuning in to new tube treats

By Michael Snyder

The now-prevalent year-round barrage of television premieres assures viewers will receive another selection of new and returning programs throughout the summer, whether riches or r... Read More

Television

Found in translation

By Michael Snyder

Globalization can be seen as a curse or a blessing, but in the television business, it’s been a welcome business model. The thought came to me as I was catching up to the Fra... Read More

Television

From best to worst on fall TV

By Michael Snyder

Although new television programming comes our way all year long in the modern, multiplatform digital world, there’s still something comforting and even a little exciting about th... Read More

Television

As the seasons change, so does television (for the better)

By Michael Snyder

When I was a kid, there were only two TV seasons: one in the fall and one in the summer. After our favorite shows ran for 20-plus new episodes from September to May, we had nothing... Read More

Television

Deck the screen with yuletide broadcasts

By Michael Snyder

It’s that most wonderful time of the year — if you’re a department store Santa, a pine tree salesperson, or a child of privilege. For the rest of us, Christmas (and any other... Read More

Television

Joining the cults

By Michael Snyder

Cult TV. Sounds a little sinister, but it’s fairly harmless, other than the problems associated with any obsession. People find an under-the-radar television show they embrac... Read More

Television

Corporations, cable, consumers, and the broadband conundrum

By Michael Snyder

In the craven new world of entertainment on demand, a strange landscape stretches before us. And it isn’t just the idea that in the not-too-distant future we’ll be acce... Read More

Television

Serials make a killing

By Michael Snyder

After a marathon viewing of all eight episodes of the charming and clever comedy series Mozart in the Jungle, I have one more reason to acknowledge the astonishing rise in quality ... Read More

Television