The Small Screen Diaries: The Weekly Rankings
We’re back, and we have some new shows breaking onto the list. Joining an already tight block of shows are The last Of us (MAX), Your Friends And Neighbors (Apple Plus), Government Cheese (Apple plus), Ransom Canyon (Netflix), and Number One Happy Family USA (Amazon). Winner: The Handmaids tale (Hulu)- The venerable drama produced a somewhat calmer fourth episode that really allowed characters like Luke and Moira to unleash their emotions, as well as a dance for Serena that definitely made us wonder if Serena was headed for a happy ending, or if she was getting drawn back in by … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: The Weekly Rankings
The Small Screen diaries- 04/19/25
TV Shows Watched: Ransom Canyon: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Yellowjackets: S3E10 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Will Trent: S3E14 (Hulu) with audio description, the Connors: S6E4 (Hulu) with audio description, Wolf King: s1E6 (Netflix) with audio description Best Episode: Yellowjackets- While the show has definitely continued its descent into madness in the third season, i thought the finale wrapped up the narrative for the third season rather well. Based on where we are, I’m wondering if Season 4 is the last. This show definitely wouldn’t be able to sustain more than two seasons, at best. But, it was horrifying, … Continue reading The Small Screen diaries- 04/19/25
The Twister: Caught In The Storm
I remember one evening in May looking at my Facebook feed and seeing a lot of posts about severe weather. It wasn’t severe weather for where I currently live, but where I grew up. In the coming days, I would see pictures of devastation, hear stories of lives lost, and wonder if any of them would be people I knew. As a resident of Orlando, and LGBTQ, I had a similar moment waking up on a morning in June. But, while I had friends who had gone to Pulse on a regular basis, i had never been. I didn’t know … Continue reading The Twister: Caught In The Storm
The Four Points
I recieved a screener request for the Four Points, asking me to consider reviewing the film. I could have requested a screener link, but it seemed deeply redundant as the film was already on Tubi. It does not have any known audio description, and is definitely independent cinema. I don’t believe that is necessarily the blanket excuse for lack of accessibility in cinema, but I do believe there are a lot of indie, first time filmmakers, who because they don’t need the accessibility, are unaware of it, or how important it is. that is why I’m here, doing this, because … Continue reading The Four Points
The Small Screen Diaries- 04/18/25
TV News: Amazon has wiped Clean Slate off their table, cancelling the freshman Laverne Cox sitcom after one season. I had a feeling this would happen, but the show runner was sending out good vibes like he was having productive conversations with Amazon. Never trust a showrunner. TV Shows Watched: Good American Family: S1E6 (Hulu) with audio description, The Bondsman: S1E4 (Amazon) with audio description, Survival Of The Thickest: S2E3 (Netflix) with audio description, Survivor: S48E8 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Got To Get Out Of Here: S1E2 (Hulu) with audio description, Lazarus: S1E2 (MAX) with audio description, 1923: S2E4 … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 04/18/25
Bloat
I always love when studios hype “from the producers of”, like having a past hit under your producing credit gives you the same credibility as writing or directing. I think because we’ve seen a couple of producers rise to the top through careful curation of the type of film they make this has bled into other producers. But am I really supposed to believe that the producer of Searching is going to only make films with that unique perspective? And, isn’t Searching more of a success based on the ingenuity of the concept and choices made initially in the screenplay, … Continue reading Bloat
The Small Screen Diaries: 04/17/25
TV Shows Watched: the Studio: S1E5 (Apple plus) with audio description, The Righteous Gemstones: S4E5 (MAX) with audio description, The Residence: S1E6 (Netflix) with audio description, The Wheel of Time: S3E5 (Amazon) with audio description, Long Bright River: S1E8 (Peacock) with audio description, Dying For Sex: S1E4 (Hulu) with audio description, deli Boys: S1E6 (Hulu) with audio description, Surface: S2E7 (Apple Plus) with audio description, and Ghosts: S4E16 (Paramount Plus) with audio description. Best Episode: The Studio- Two of the supporting cast got to shine in an episode that had two execs facing off to see whose pet project would … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 04/17/25
The Small Screen Diaries- 04/16/25
TV Shows Watched: Daredevil: Born again- S1E9 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Government Cheese: S1E1 (Apple plus) with audio description, Tracker: S2E16 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Top Chef: S22E? (Peacock) with audio description, North of North: S1E3 (Netflix) with audio description, and Have I Got News For You: S2E9 (MAX) no audio description Best Episode: daredevil: Born Again- While not a victory totally based on merit, it is based on the shows it was up against. The finale was by far the most brutal and gory episode we’ve had from a Disney Plus MCU show, and featured the return … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 04/16/25
The Small Screen Diaries- 04/15/25
TV Shows Watched: The Handmaid’s Tale: S6E4 (Hulu) with audio description,American Idol: S23E10 (Hulu) no audio description, Devil May Cry: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, Dope Thief: S1E6 (Apple Plus) with audio description, Midcentury Modern: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, and The Daily Show: Monday (Paramount Plus) no audio description Best Episode: The Handmaids Tale: the episode was a series of great beats for several of the supporting cast. When June once again tried to martyr herself because she felt that Luke and Moira are incompetent, they railed against her for infantilizing them. Moira is tired of living June’s life, … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 04/15/25
The Small Screen Diaries- 04/14/25
TV Shows Watched: The Last Of us: S2E1 (MAX) with audio description, American Idol: S23E9 (Hulu) no audio description, Side Quest: S1E4 (Apple Plus) with audio description, St Dennis Medical: S1E16 (Peacock) with audio description, Pulse: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, Long Bright River: S1E7 (Peacock) with audio description, Million Dollar Secret: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, and Last Week Tonight: Most Recent (MAX) no audio description Best Episode: The last Of us- Without question. The return of this show is like Christmas morning. And, for those of us aware of what happens in the second video game, I’m finding … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 04/14/25
The Small Screen Diaries- 04/13/25
TV Shows Watched: The residence: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, North of North: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, Jurassic World Chaos Theory: S3E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Lazarus: S1E1 (MAX) with audio description, The Traitors UK: S3E3 (Peacock) no audio description, Will Trent: S3E13 (Hulu) with audio description, The Bondsman: S1E3 (Amazon) with audio description, Dying For Sex: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, Happy Face: S1E5 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Suits LA: S1E7 (Peacock) with audio description, and Your Friends And neighbors: S1E1 (Apple Plus) with audio description. Best Episode: Your Friends And neighbors- this show has an excellent … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 04/13/25
Going In blind: Presence
First Person Audio description is so interesting. I loved how Nickel Boys navigated the complexities of the perspective being one of the characters in the film, with other characters interacting with you. Presence, directed by Steven Soderbergh, feels like a departure from his typical fare, and also serves as further exploration of first person audio description. Universal Studios, the theme park element, was built on the idea that you can “ride the movies”. Now, with the right VR headset and a good first person movie, you can live the movies. In Presence, you wouldn’t exactly be alive. What makes Presence … Continue reading Going In blind: Presence
The Small Screen Diaries- The Weekly Rankings
Another week, and another reminder of the shows across my broad watchlist. Joining the list this week are The Handmaids Tale (Hulu), North of North (Netflix), Hacks (MAX), Got To Get Out (Hulu), Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (Netflix), and Lazarus (MAX). WINNER: Hacks (MAX) with audio description- this was a tough decision. I had two award winning juggernauts returning, and The Studio really deserves to stay on top. But, ultimately, I love the premiere of Hacks, which puts Deborah and Ava on a completely different playing field, while also bolstering the supporting cast and giving them all stuff to do. … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- The Weekly Rankings
The Small Screen Diaries- 04/12/25
Starting off today with a RIP for actor Nicky Katt, who may not be the most recognizable name, but I remember him from movies like Knockaround Guys, TV Shows like Boston Public, and he was also featured in The Dark Knight. He was 54. The next piece of business is that Apple Plus has cancelled Mythic Quest after 4 seasons, but is planning to upload a revised season finale this week that will offer a bit more closure for the series. TV Shows returning this week include The Last Of Us (HBO/Sun,MAX/Mon with audio description) and Law And Order: Organized … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 04/12/25
A Thank You To Dianne Newman
Recently I was made aware that a lovely voice talent in the audio description community passed. Dianne Newman was prolific enough that I knew her name, and could remember it when mentioned on a project. Thanks to the work we’ve done at The ADNA (theadna.org), some of her credits are posted. I’m sure this isn’t all of her work. I’m fairly certain I heard her recently on a horror title, perhaps Bloat? Let’s stroll down memory lane. Anne With An E (Netflix)- I never did get around to watching this, but I know this series has fans. hopefully, Dianne gave … Continue reading A Thank You To Dianne Newman
MacTheMovieguy.com 