I watched the episode that aired on May 2, 2011, the day after Osama bin Ladan was killed. The show basically was a celebratory event of the death of the mastermind behind the 9/11 tragedy. It even went so far as to use the marriage of the Prince William as a smaller event, making it seem less important. The Hangover 2 was also featured. Jon Stewart even apologized to Philip K. Howard for his unfortunate timing on the show.
I couldn't help but laugh at this episode. It was one of the better episodes I've seen of the show. Maybe it's just me being patriotic. Osama was a symbol of the hatred of America. Stewart expresses how America has "won." Perhaps we haven't quite yet, but it puts confidence in the hearts of the people of our great country. He a very inspirational figure, even if his inspiration comes from satire and sarcasm.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
PSN Still Down, Sony's Dark Age Commences
WILL THE CHAOS EVER END?
Weeks after the initial hacking, Playstation's online service is still under construction. Understandably, this is majorly concerning to those of whom had their personal information in Sony's database. Now, their information is free to anyone who wants to place their greasy fingers on it. Obviously, the gaming giant needs to find a better way to protect its users. Otherwise, this type of catastrophe can occur once more. Playstation will be setting up a "Welcome Back" program to encourage its users to keep playing. Any current user affected by the hacking will receive Playstation Plus, the premium service, for free, for 30 days. Current Playstation Plus users will also get the package for free.
I hope that Playstation will be forgiven. The system has always been very reliable, and this one slip-up shouldn't bring the company down single-handedly. They are obviously quite apologetic (I mean, look at all the people they are willing to give free Playstation Plus service to). Plus, I believe the Playstation is superior to other gaming systems. Let's face it: the Wii's graphics are naturally terrible, and the Xbox's failure rating is a bit too high for this guy. Meanwhile, the PS3 continues to astound me, with no Red Ring of Death to send me into a frenzied panic. I stand by Sony and their Playstation. I'm very confident that they'll fix the problem AND more.
The Daily Show
Airing in 1996, with Craig Kilborn as the anchor, The Daily Show had a slow start to fame. In its early days, Kilborn primarily focused on pop culture only. Then, in late December of 1998, Jon Stewart took over the show and introduced a new concept to television: a comedy show that revolved around politics. And the worldwide audience ate it up. It has become one of the most successful shows of all time. Some even say that it's the way most young people get their news nowadays. And I wouldn't argue. Not only is The Daily Show more appealing than regular news casts, with its comedic and satirical aurora, but it also informs and keeps the people updated about major events in America. Add a team of weather experts and few sports freaks, and you've got yourself the greatest news station this world had ever seen. It goes even further by interviewing people, from political figures to novelists to actors, about their lives and viewpoints. In all, it's an excellent source to get a laugh from, but also a great place to find information, and hear what other important people's opinions are.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
A Problem With Ethics, But A Great Discovery
WILL THE SMITHSONIAN BREAK ITS OWN RULES?
A shipwreck was found off the coast of Indonesia by fishermen. There were several pieces of valuable Chinese ceramics onboard the ship. Without many laws concerning such things in Indonesia, the fishermen began looting the site and selling the pieces. Luckily the Indonesian government took charge and had a German company, Seabed Explorations, excavate the site. The exhibit can now be found in Singapore. The Smithsonian Museum wanted to bring the exhibit to the United States, but many believe they shouldn't do so because the merchandise was looted, and the policy of the Smithsonian says that they would never display items that have been stolen. However, members of the museum argue that the artifacts were from the German Seabed Explorations and not the looting fishermen. An announcement will be made later this month to determine if the artifacts will come to America.
To be honest, I think the Smithsonian is just pulling strings to attract more people to the site. The items were indeed looted.Therefore, the museum should have no business even taking a glance at the objects. If you're going to make a code and regulations to follow, make sure you stick by it. Don't try and bend the rules for yourself to make a profit. It will anger a lot of people, as the article shows.
Another thing, why aren't there any regulations in Indonesia about things like this? This is why America is so great. We have thought of every possible law there is, and have spelled it out so that all know what is legal and what is not. Clearly, looting is illegal here. Yet, Indonesia accepts such behavior. I think it's about time to start revising the laws in that country.
While reading the article, I received massive amounts of information...and I mean MASSIVE. My brain was at an overload. I wanted to cram everything in, but the cramming made me lose focus. With the radio, it was more enjoyable, but I missed some facts that I would have seen had I read it. Neither method captured me honestly. I think that seeing it for myself woud be better. I prefer a visual with an explanation. It simply helps me to retain all of the information.
A shipwreck was found off the coast of Indonesia by fishermen. There were several pieces of valuable Chinese ceramics onboard the ship. Without many laws concerning such things in Indonesia, the fishermen began looting the site and selling the pieces. Luckily the Indonesian government took charge and had a German company, Seabed Explorations, excavate the site. The exhibit can now be found in Singapore. The Smithsonian Museum wanted to bring the exhibit to the United States, but many believe they shouldn't do so because the merchandise was looted, and the policy of the Smithsonian says that they would never display items that have been stolen. However, members of the museum argue that the artifacts were from the German Seabed Explorations and not the looting fishermen. An announcement will be made later this month to determine if the artifacts will come to America.
To be honest, I think the Smithsonian is just pulling strings to attract more people to the site. The items were indeed looted.Therefore, the museum should have no business even taking a glance at the objects. If you're going to make a code and regulations to follow, make sure you stick by it. Don't try and bend the rules for yourself to make a profit. It will anger a lot of people, as the article shows.
Another thing, why aren't there any regulations in Indonesia about things like this? This is why America is so great. We have thought of every possible law there is, and have spelled it out so that all know what is legal and what is not. Clearly, looting is illegal here. Yet, Indonesia accepts such behavior. I think it's about time to start revising the laws in that country.
While reading the article, I received massive amounts of information...and I mean MASSIVE. My brain was at an overload. I wanted to cram everything in, but the cramming made me lose focus. With the radio, it was more enjoyable, but I missed some facts that I would have seen had I read it. Neither method captured me honestly. I think that seeing it for myself woud be better. I prefer a visual with an explanation. It simply helps me to retain all of the information.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Daily Show: A Synopsis
I have chosen The Daily Show to analyze for my Mass Media project. In a breakdown of a typical show, I have found the following facts:
Each show usually follows a certain layout. In the opening, an announcer cites the date of the episode (which is always the title of the show as well) and introduces the host, Jon Stewart. After the music (and audience) simmer down, Stewart tells the audience of the upcoming special guest of the show, then goes straight into the main story of the day. This session is all Jon Stewart-oriented. No other cast members take part in this portion of the show. Clips of other news casts are featured, and Stewart proceeds to make fun of them. There is much satire and comedic language. This makes up roughly the first 10 minutes of the show.
After the first set of commercials, the second portion of the show can vary. It will either focus on a secondary story or further analyze the first, fitting in less important news as a joke. This section brings in the rest of the cast. Some common members are John Oliver, Samantha Bee, and Jason Jones. This section lasts approximately 5 minutes. Then, the second set of commercials follow.
The final portion of the show (which lasts another 5 minutes approximately) is the anticipated guest speaker. The speaker is greeted with applause from the audience, and then Stewart talks with them about their book, career, movie, or whatever the case may be. The speaker's thoughts on the main story may also be inserted here. With the conclusion of the speaker's 5 minutes is the last set of commercials.
The final minute of the show is meant to inform the viewer of the next day's guest speaker, and send a personal goodbye and good night to the fans. Then, The Daily Show's signature music plays, and the camera fades out of the studio.
Now that I have analyzed the basics of how the show is set up, I will begin to analyze certain shows to prove or disprove my thesis.
Each show usually follows a certain layout. In the opening, an announcer cites the date of the episode (which is always the title of the show as well) and introduces the host, Jon Stewart. After the music (and audience) simmer down, Stewart tells the audience of the upcoming special guest of the show, then goes straight into the main story of the day. This session is all Jon Stewart-oriented. No other cast members take part in this portion of the show. Clips of other news casts are featured, and Stewart proceeds to make fun of them. There is much satire and comedic language. This makes up roughly the first 10 minutes of the show.
After the first set of commercials, the second portion of the show can vary. It will either focus on a secondary story or further analyze the first, fitting in less important news as a joke. This section brings in the rest of the cast. Some common members are John Oliver, Samantha Bee, and Jason Jones. This section lasts approximately 5 minutes. Then, the second set of commercials follow.
The final portion of the show (which lasts another 5 minutes approximately) is the anticipated guest speaker. The speaker is greeted with applause from the audience, and then Stewart talks with them about their book, career, movie, or whatever the case may be. The speaker's thoughts on the main story may also be inserted here. With the conclusion of the speaker's 5 minutes is the last set of commercials.
The final minute of the show is meant to inform the viewer of the next day's guest speaker, and send a personal goodbye and good night to the fans. Then, The Daily Show's signature music plays, and the camera fades out of the studio.
Now that I have analyzed the basics of how the show is set up, I will begin to analyze certain shows to prove or disprove my thesis.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
All Tripped Up: Music Stars in the Moment Have Mishaps Onstage
HOW CAN YOU NOT TRY AND FIND THESE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE?
Ah yes, concerts are what I live for. To see the shining stars perform their masterpieces and bask in their greatness as I look on, only wishing I could be of that calibre. And then, there are times when I am envious. Jealous. And that's what these moments are for. Maybe I'm just a sick person, but I like to see that those glorified stars onstage are just human beings like the rest of us. It makes me feel as though I really can achieve such a fanbase and can "make it" in the music industry.
Of course, these type of falls could end careers. Stephen Tyler's fall ended an Aerosmith tour that was highly anticipated. He was injured. But others could end it just from sheer embarrassment. Even being mocked by just a few people is too much for some. Try wiping out at the Grammies, a show that gives awards to the best performers on music, with an entire crowd laughing at your expense. That would be pretty rough. Even I have had personal experience with shameful moments onstage. In my first concert ever, on the first song I ever played to an audience, on the first word that came out of my mouth, I hit myself in the face with the microphone. For the rest of the show, it was cottonmouth central. All I could taste was blood. But you can't just stop. You have a duty to entertain, and that's what I did. And that's what any musician would do. Because, even though you're rich and famous (in regards to me, neither nor), you're still just an entertainer. You serve the people that like your music. And that's all.
Ah yes, concerts are what I live for. To see the shining stars perform their masterpieces and bask in their greatness as I look on, only wishing I could be of that calibre. And then, there are times when I am envious. Jealous. And that's what these moments are for. Maybe I'm just a sick person, but I like to see that those glorified stars onstage are just human beings like the rest of us. It makes me feel as though I really can achieve such a fanbase and can "make it" in the music industry.
Of course, these type of falls could end careers. Stephen Tyler's fall ended an Aerosmith tour that was highly anticipated. He was injured. But others could end it just from sheer embarrassment. Even being mocked by just a few people is too much for some. Try wiping out at the Grammies, a show that gives awards to the best performers on music, with an entire crowd laughing at your expense. That would be pretty rough. Even I have had personal experience with shameful moments onstage. In my first concert ever, on the first song I ever played to an audience, on the first word that came out of my mouth, I hit myself in the face with the microphone. For the rest of the show, it was cottonmouth central. All I could taste was blood. But you can't just stop. You have a duty to entertain, and that's what I did. And that's what any musician would do. Because, even though you're rich and famous (in regards to me, neither nor), you're still just an entertainer. You serve the people that like your music. And that's all.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Goodbye, Steve
Steve Says Goodbye to The Office
The last episode of The Office, starring Steve Carell, aired last Thursday. The hour long special featured the big boss attempting to say goodbye to all of his co-workers. It even had a suspenseful ending, the viewer thinking that he won't say goodbye to Pam (played by Jenna Fischer) after he hands the cameraman his microphone. In airport ambience, she runs up to Michael, Carell's character, and gives the last goodbye. What a great ending to a fantastic series by superstar Steve.
Of course, the show will continue on without him, but at what cost? Carell has made The Office the hit it is today. How could they ever bounce back from the departure? In all honesty, The Office was nothing, even WITH Steve. When he got to be such a success, that's when The Office became a success. I just don't see this ending well for the show, not to mention for the network. The Office was all that NBC had, and now what do they have to stay afloat? I really can't name anything off the top of my head.
The last episode of The Office, starring Steve Carell, aired last Thursday. The hour long special featured the big boss attempting to say goodbye to all of his co-workers. It even had a suspenseful ending, the viewer thinking that he won't say goodbye to Pam (played by Jenna Fischer) after he hands the cameraman his microphone. In airport ambience, she runs up to Michael, Carell's character, and gives the last goodbye. What a great ending to a fantastic series by superstar Steve.
Of course, the show will continue on without him, but at what cost? Carell has made The Office the hit it is today. How could they ever bounce back from the departure? In all honesty, The Office was nothing, even WITH Steve. When he got to be such a success, that's when The Office became a success. I just don't see this ending well for the show, not to mention for the network. The Office was all that NBC had, and now what do they have to stay afloat? I really can't name anything off the top of my head.
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