Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:00 am
Hurray for the Muppets and hurray for Disney and Jason Segal for bringing them back! “The Muppets” is one of the best movies of the year. When your children want more, try The Muppet Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-_QLNkh-zI
Posted on November 19, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Roger Ebert reviews the new PBS two-part documentary about Woody Allen:
“Woody Allen: A Documentary” benefits from both its masterful construction and the willingness of Allen to offer commentary on everything from his oeuvre to his explosive divorce. Allen drives the narrative with wit, honesty and pathos, which Weide supplements with perfectly chosen clips, pictures and talking heads. The deft editing provides a seamless flow of ideas and concepts beholden to the central theme: An artist’s personal demons and compulsions can influence his body of work. Allen’s views on religion and mortality have a kinship with Martin Scorsese’s, even if the views and ultimate outcomes are completely different. Scorsese fears where he’ll go when he dies. Allen fears death, period, so much so that the documentary keeps returning to the topic in ways that are morbidly funny but never tiring.
Watch it tomorrow and Monday at 9 Eastern on PBS.
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I’m delighted that PBS Indies are now available on iTunes for rental or purchase. Great documentaries like “Between the Folds” (it’s about origami and it is fabulous), “Carmen Meets Borat” (real Kazachs respond to Borat’s comic portrayal), and “Wham! Bam! Islam!” (about a comic book that promotes Islam) can now be seen anytime. Enjoy!
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:59 pm
The Hub, the television network for kids and their families is premiering “Clue” on November 14. It’s a five-part, live-action, miniseries event based on the iconic family game brand.
The serie and introduces the iconic game characters as young modern-day sleuths, with the classic weapons and locations. Remember Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum? And the candlestick? But this time, the characters need to find a way to work together. The six very different kids discover they have a lot more in common than they thought as they uncover hidden treasures and decipher cryptic knowledge to reveal a secret society. The mystery they unravel and the accusations they make, could very well define their own futures.
Produced by Hasbro Studios, “CLUE” will premiere two back-to-back, half-hour episodes Monday, November 14 (8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET). Additional new episodes will premiere daily through Thursday, November 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET, culminating in a five-episode, back-to-back marathon on Saturday, November 19 (1:30 p.m. ET). Encore marathons will run throughout the Thanksgiving holiday week. For a complete schedule go to Hubworld.
The Hub’s “Get A CLUE” sweepstakes makes it possible for viewers watching live to win prize packages representing each of the six popular characters from the game. During each new episode of the five-part mini-series as well as the encore marathon on Saturday, November 19, Hub viewers will have the chance to call in and win one of six character-themed prize packages. Online visitors will be able to decipher clues to earn virtual rewards, unlock an interactive map, take quizzes and polls, get caught up on episodes they may have missed, and much more. Fans can follow the series and characters on Twitter at @HubTVNetwork and Facebook and extend the viewing experience online by participating in special mini-mysteries after each episode is televised.
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:00 am
How families use media and what it means for kids’ health and well-being is the subject of Zero to Eight: Children’s Media Use in America, the first study by Common Sense Media’s new Program for the Study of Children and Media, released late last month.
The study shows that everything from iPods to smartphones to tablet computers are now a regular part of kids’ lives, with kids under 8 averaging two hours a day with all screen media. Among the key findings:
What troubles me most in the results of this study is the pervasive exposure to media for under-2’s, contrary to the recommendations of pediatricians and the increasing digital divide that limits the opportunities to use the best of what is available to kids who already have greater access to traditional resources.
I agree with the recommendations of Common Sense Media:
