TV, Myself, and I (Part II): Rediscovering Ed

by Christopher M. Rzigalinski

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TEASE

Imagine this article is playing out before your eyes like a television show. The screen is black. The Foo Fighters’ song “Next Year” plays as we fade in on a familiar scene and the voiceover says, “Last time on “TV, Myself, & I.” We flashback to Part I of this article in which I discuss the Four Factors of Televisual Familiarity, or the major reasons certain television shows become significant in our lives. A montage of clips illustrates the following examples:

  1. Finding shows during transformative periods in our lives.
  2. Someone we love turning us onto a particular show and sharing it with them.
  3. Shows with sex appeal and characters we find desirable.
  4. Programs that help us develop professional dreams and attitudes we carry into adulthood.

Finally, in a dramatic cliff hanger, the voice-over reminds you that these categories often overlap and a personal case study of my relationship with the cult-favorite Ed is promised for Part II. You laugh. You cry. You get a new plate of nachos. And we’re back.

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TV, Myself, and I (Part I): The Four Factors of Televisual Familiarity

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

The intimacy of watching television is different than bonding with movies or music. Whenever I enter new periods of confusion in my life, I make it a point to rewatch the The Graduate (1967) or blast the electric “I-don’t-give-a-fuck” Live 1966 “Royal Albert Hall” version of Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” I pursue the familiar wisdom born of disillusionment in these pieces of art because it’s comforting and gives me hope. Television shows come to me as ever-changing episodes that demand my attention in the present moment. Whatever happens in my life between these installments informs my perspective on the stories and characters.  

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Oscar Nominations 2017-‘La La Land’ is in the lead with 14 nods!

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Best Picture

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester By the Sea

Moonlight

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Directing

Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester By the Sea

Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Lead Actress

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga, Loving

Natalie Portman, Jackie

Emma Stone, La La Land

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

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Lead Actor

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington, Fences

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Supporting Actress

Viola Davis, Fences

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Supporting Actor

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Dev Patel, Lion

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Lucas Hedges, Manchester By the Sea

Animated Feature

Kubo and the Two Strings

Moana

My Life as a Zucchini

The Red Turtle

Zootopia

Animated Short Film

Blind Vaysha

Borrowed Time

Pear Cider and Cigarettes

Pearl

Piper

Cinematography

Arrival

La La Land

Lion

Moonlight

Silence

Documentary Feature

Fire at Sea

I Am Not Your Negro

Life, Animated

O.J.: Made in America

13th

Documentary Short

Extremis

4.1 Miles

Joe’s Violin

Watani: My Homeland

Foreign Language Film

Land of Mine

A Man Called Ove

The Salesman

Tanna

Toni Erdmann

Live Action Short Film

Ennemis Interieurs

La Femme et le TGV

Silent Nights

Sing

Timecode

Sound Editing

Arrival

Deepwater Horizon

Hacksaw Ridge

La La Land

Sully

Original Score

Jackie

La La Land

Lion

Moonlight

Passengers

Original Screenplay

Hell or High Water

La La Land

The Lobster

Manchester by the Sea

20th Century Women

Adapted Screenplay

Arrival

Fences

Hidden Figures

Lion

Moonlight

Best Original Song

“Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” – La La Land

“City of Stars” – La La Land

“How Far I’ll Go” – Moana

“The Empty Chair” – Jim: The James Foley Story

“Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Trolls

Best Costume Design

La La Land

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Florence Foster Jenkins

Jackie

Allied

Best Makeup and Hair Styling

Star Trek Beyond

Suicide Squad

A Man Called Ove

Best Production Design

La La Land

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Arrival

Hail Caesar

Passengers

Best Film Editing

La La Land

Moonlight

Hacksaw Ridge

Arrival

Hell or High Water

Best Visual Effects

The Jungle Book

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Doctor Strange

Deepwater Horizon

Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Sound Mixing

La La Land

Hacksaw Ridge

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Arrival

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

Michael Myers is Coming Home with Blumhouse and John Carpenter

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by Logan Myerz

If you have paid attention to the horror genre over the past ten years, you have probably been nodding off at the movie theaters during one of the god awful horror re-makes Hollywood has force fed us. But, once in a while, there is a film that is worth recognizing, and gives us a little hope for the genre. I am a huge horror movie fan and when I hear or read the word “remake,” I start to tune out the rest of the conversation.

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FYI – Info on the next Game of Thrones episode

JUNE 12th EPISODE

Episode #58 (season 6, episode 8): “No One”

Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: June 12 (11:35 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 13 (12:30 a.m.), 14 (9:00 p.m., 1:50 a.m.), 16 (11:00 p.m.), 17 (9:00 p.m.), 18 (12:10 a.m.) and 24 (8:00 p.m.)     HBO2 playdates: June 13 (8:30 p.m.), 17 (1:00 a.m.), 18 (4:00 p.m.), 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 26 (7:00 p.m.)

While Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) weighs his options, Cersei (Lena Headey) answers a request. Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) plans bear fruit. Arya (Maisie Williams) faces a new test.

Written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Mark Mylod.

FYI: May Episodes of Game of Thrones

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GAME OF THRONES

MAY 1 AND 8 EPISODES

Episode #52 (season 6, episode 2): “Home”

Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 1 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: May 1 (11:30 p.m., 1:30 a.m.), 2 (12:15 a.m.), 3 (9:00 p.m., 4:00 a.m.), 5 (12:15 a.m.), 6 (9:00 p.m.), 7 (11:50 p.m.) and 13 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 2 (8:30 p.m.) 6 (1:00 a.m.), 7 (4:00 p.m.), 8 (8:00 p.m.) and 28 (5:00 p.m.)

Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) trains with the Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow). In King’s Landing, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) advises Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman). Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) demands good news, but has to make his own. At Castle Black, the Night’s Watch stands behind Thorne (Owen Teale). Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) proposes a plan, and Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) entertains other proposals.

Written by Dave Hill; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.


Episode #53 (season 6, episode 3): “Oathbreaker”

Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: May 8 (11:30 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 9 (11:40 p.m.), 10 (9:00 p.m., 4:25 a.m.), 12 (11:00 p.m.), 13 (9:00 p.m.), 14 (10:00 p.m.) and 20 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 9 (8:30 p.m.), 13 (1:15 a.m.), 14 (4:45 p.m.), 15 (8:00 p.m.) and 28 (6:00 p.m.)

 Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) meets her future. Bran meets the past. Tommen confronts the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce). Arya (Maisie Williams) trains to be No One. Varys (Conleth Hill) finds an answer. Ramsay gets a gift.

Written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Dan Sackheim.

GAME OF THRONES RETURNS FOR SIXTH SEASON APRIL 24

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Following the shocking developments at the conclusion of season five, including Jon Snow’s bloody fate at the hands of Castle Black mutineers, Daenerys’ near-demise at the fighting pits of Meereen, and Cersei’s public humiliation in the streets of King’s Landing, survivors from all parts of Westeros and Essos regroup to press forward, inexorably, towards their uncertain individual fates. Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival, while new characters will emerge to challenge the balance of power in the east, west, north and south.

            The Emmy®– and Golden Globe-winning GAME OF THRONES returns for its ten-episode sixth season SUNDAY, APRIL 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT**), exclusively on HBO, followed by other episodes on subsequent Sundays at the same time. Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin, the hit fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom.

            Returning series regulars on GAME OF THRONES this season include: Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Aidan Gillen (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish), Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Jonathan Pryce (the High Sparrow).

            Additional returning series regulars this season include: Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Conleth Hill (Varys), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis), Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton), Hannah Murray (Gilly), Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton), Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand) and Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H’ghar).

            New cast members for the sixth season include: Pilou Asbaek, Essie Davis, Souad Faress, James Faulkner, Richard E. Grant, Ian McShane, Joe Naufau, Freddie Stroma and Max von Sydow.

April’s episode:

            Episode #51: “The Red Woman”

            Debut: SUNDAY, APRIL 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.

What to expect in the upcoming season?

Yes, Jon Snow is dead, Daenerys meets a new man with a strong physique, and Cersei sees her daughter again.

You still know nothing!!