Blogs
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A Year of Goodbyes: The Legacies of Ron, George, Melissa, Rosemary, Jay and Evan
Every year, a number of respected home entertainment executives leave their jobs — and sometimes the business — for an assortment of reasons. Some are laid off — in the press, you’ll typically read that they are leaving “to pursue other opportunities.” Others find work in another field, while some simply retire. In this unprecedented … Continue reading “A Year of Goodbyes: The Legacies of Ron, George, Melissa, Rosemary, Jay and Evan”
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PlayStation 5 Review: New Console Takes Gaming to Next Level, But Good Luck Finding One
Sony’s PlayStation 5 was officially released to retail on Nov. 12 at $499 (with physical disc capability) and $399 (digital only) — and it’s been in short supply ever since. As far back as September, TechSpot reported that retailers had sold out of their pre-order allotments in less than 24 hours, and predicted the video … Continue reading “PlayStation 5 Review: New Console Takes Gaming to Next Level, But Good Luck Finding One”
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It’s Time to Streamline Streaming Services
Last Sunday evening, we played Twister with our daughter after she complained, “I’m bored and there’s nothing on TV.” Are you kidding me? We have Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime, Apple TV +, Hulu, Pluto, Tubi and Peacock streaming to us here in Silicon Valley; and you can’t find anything? You’re not trying! But we … Continue reading “It’s Time to Streamline Streaming Services”
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Top Five Reasons Movie Studios Are Pushing Lucrative Streaming Debuts
Like so many industries laid low by COVID-19, the movie business has absorbed its share of blows over the past nine months. Public health mandates closed the doors of most theaters across the country and shut down film productions. Then, even in areas where theaters and film sets have since begun to open up again, … Continue reading “Top Five Reasons Movie Studios Are Pushing Lucrative Streaming Debuts”
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When the Good Ones Go
“It’s Hufjay.” Back in the heyday of packaged media, when DVDs were selling like crazy and people still made phone calls, many a weekday morning began promptly at 9 a.m. with a call from veteran Warner Bros. Home Entertainment publicity executive Melissa Hufjay. To be sure, I received many phone calls from studio publicists as … Continue reading “When the Good Ones Go”
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Windows Are Closing
Several “captains” in this month’s Women in Home Entertainment section noted that one of the long-term effects of the pandemic may be a change in how entertainment is distributed to consumers. Indeed, we’ve already seen the beginnings of that dramatic shift in content windowing with premium VOD releases such as Trolls World Tour and Scoob!, … Continue reading “Windows Are Closing”
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Not Ron Sanders!
In my more than 30 years of covering the home entertainment business, for a wide range of outlets ranging from Video Store Magazine to the Hollywood Reporter, USA Today and the Los Angeles Times, I have witnessed more than a dozen top leadership changes at the major studios. At Universal Pictures, I witnessed the departures … Continue reading “Not Ron Sanders!”
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Ending a Relationship
It had been a long time coming. Cable TV had been a big part of our lives for decades, a constant entertainment companion, but being together so much during the pandemic took a toll on the relationship. Suddenly, those ever-expanding commercial breaks seemed endless after watching ad-free streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon … Continue reading “Ending a Relationship”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘The Mystery of the Wax Museum’ and ‘A Thousand Clowns’
The Mystery of the Wax Museum Available via Warner Archive Warner, Horror, $21.99 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh. 1933. This above-and-beyond is even more impressive for licking the salvage job that had to be done as opposed to the movie’s visual content, which is by nature on the dark … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘The Mystery of the Wax Museum’ and ‘A Thousand Clowns’”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘King Creole’ and ‘Destry Rides Again’
King Creole Paramount, Musical, $29.99 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones,Walter Matthau, Dolores Hart, Dean Jagger. 1958. King Creole was, like most of Elvis’ pre-army screen outings, shot in black-and-white. But there was nothing stingy about the production, and the New Orleans locales that producer Hal Wallis sprung for add immeasurably to the ambience … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘King Creole’ and ‘Destry Rides Again’”