I lost a friend yesterday. Janeen was someone I knew before my vision loss through our work at our local fringe Festival. She was a lot of fun to work with. Sometimes frustrating, but she had this child-like voice that I think disarmed people. But, it amplified her kindness and humor, and made it a lot funnierr when she had a biting commentary. We both went through our vision loss journeys at nearly exactly the same time, though hers had a much more serious medical condition attached. While I took baby steps, and often still feel like I’m trying to find my footing, she entered the world like a wrecking ball, refusing to let her vision loss stop her. She loved board games. She loved theatre. She volunteered not just at Fringe, but also with give Kids The World. Both of us lost another friend from the Fringe festival a few years ago. she took up advocacy, and she took up space. she pushed for accessibility, and helped to try and expand Fringe’s offering of live audio described content. Not everyone loved her approach, because she was unafraid in every way. We were not super close, but she’d call me from time to time to talk about our vision journey, or to try and pull me out of my shell a bit more. she was fearless, and I think I didn’t talk to her as much as I could have, because she seemed to have taken her blindness with the kind of verve and vigor I reserve for posts like this, from the safety and comfort of home. Janeen Lea was truly one of a kind, in the worst and best possible ways, all of that complex shit that makes us real. the world lost her unique energy, but the blind community lost someone who wasn’t afraid to walk in somewhere and demand to take up the same space, have the same experience, as she felt we all deserved to have. I’m sure those she bristled along the way are reflecting with complex structures of feelings, but the truth was she was memorable, and unapologetically herself. She also really loved Cassadee Pope. I hope wherever she is, whatever afterlife she does or does not have, she has all her board games. rest, Janeen. I’m still trying to comprehend that you are gone.

TV Shows Watched: The Traitors: S4E1 (Peacock) with audio description, the Last Frontier: S1E6 (Apple) with audio description, The Pitt: S2E1 (HBO MAX) with audio description, and The Masked Singer: S14E1 (Disney Plus) no audio description

the traitors- Oh. My. God. You guys. they got rid of the old shitty AD company, and there’s this big bright beautiful new audio description. it sounds human, the writing is making as many choices as it can, and it finally has some decent audio description for the hottest reality competition series on the block. thank you Peacock, from the bottom of my heart. I actually did have an opportunity to dialogue with those in charge of accessibility for the NBC/Universal/Comcast/Peacock monster, before they spun off Verdant, and in that meeting, this was one of the things I called to task. I said you cannot have audio description that bad on your hottest reality show that is winning all these Emmys and has spinoff versions in three countries. If you like it, put a ring on it. Pay for quality AD. And by the heaven’s above, they did. this show, as with nearly every reality show, faces barriers in ever truly providing A+ level description without completely adapting and embracing extended audio description, but this is a massive step forward. Two shows this week got upgrades in terms of AD. I’m impressed. As far as the show, just after the first episode, I need them to keep Durinda this season at least for a while, Michael is excellent (not as a person) as an agent of chaos. As a person on this series, he has so much potential to be wildly entertaining as either a traitor or faithful;. I adore Monet. And, I kinda want to see Momma Kelsey go the distance. If I were a traitor, my first vote to eliminate would be Lisa, simply because she’s such an obvious choice. Alan did her dirty, because she clearly wanted it. I think jam Jam is the secret traitor, their new thing for the season. My other two picks are Momma Kelsey and Michael for that honor.

The Last Frontier- Love this show, I haven’t gotten to the finale yet, so I don’t know how much it’ll hurt, but this feels like a limited series. Then again, so did Hijack, and Season 2 of that drops this month. the AD here is still great.

The Pitt- I’m not going to say the first episode was stunning, but it got us warmed up. I learned from The Pitt last season, the best is yet to come, and that the biggest and best moments come when these doctors are exhausted. So, it is fine, and the same great AD team is back.

The Masked Singer-Not surprised by who got the boot. Some decent voices on that stage.I’m glad Rita is still there, but perhaps, Nicole could return now that Sunset Boulevard is over? then, Jenny can go do.. literally anything else. Hell, put her on Boston Blue with her husband. That’s a show destined to not surpass its predecessor. Season 15. Let’s make it happen. Start rotating judges out, and move Jenny next.