DramatistDreamer

Really pleased for Gael and how he's starting his season. I hope builds on this success.

Also, talk about awful to hear--Ben Vereen is facing allegations of sexual assault during a 2015 production of Hair in Florida. Apparently he has apologized for "inappropriate" behavior. Ben Vereen Accused of Sexual Assault During 2015 Florida Production of Hair It's become painstakingly clear that we really can no longer be surprised by the breadth of this sexual misconduct epidemic anymore.

Aren't they supposed to be in Echo Park? It may be a case of trying to tackle too many issues at once but I believe Echo Park has been undergoing some pretty radical changes with gentrification and some of that was mentioned in the previous season. (Also, Schneider who manages the building is somewhat symbolic of the very hipster that is gentrifying the neighborhood, although they obviously love him and he's a part of their lives- he likely represents the positive side of gentrification ) Also, I think that showrunner lived in Echo Park and perhaps feels like setting the show there, she can draw on her personal knowledge of the area so that her characters feel more realistically grounded in a specific place, rather than writing generalities about somewhere abstract or somewhere she doesn't know that much about. When I write, I like to be as specific as I can, the writing feels more genuine to me. One complaint I had about a show like Friends was despite the fact that they were supposed to be set in NYC, it didn't truly feel like NYC. I still enjoyed the show but that aspect grated a little.

Calhoun gets credit from me. I consider them to be a team. Yes, Marland was out in front but perhaps Calhoun also preferred it that way. In most forms of media entertainment the EP wasn't really out in front, that's a relatively contemporary phenomenon (and it hasn't been for the better IMHO). Perhaps Calhoun was old-school in that particular way.

A "silent ban" at that. In other slightly tangential Aussie news

I never thought Serena was playing but I think she might have held off announcing for as long as she did out of courtesy to the tournament's promotion/marketing department.

I forgot where I read it (admittedly I only read the headline and skipped the entire article) but I read that Omorosa is having difficulty finding takers (i.e. publishers) for her proposed book. Not surprised. It's what she deserves. I will never forget that she once claimed that everyone would be bowing to "a president Trump" during the 2016 election, then promptly cried and whined that her family disowned her after the elections. That told me all I needed to know about her and I had no interest learning any more. Like @Khan, I am not here for any words that come out of her mouth, or on paper.

It's official.

Clearly they couldn't keep up the sham that was the voter fraud commission.

There is a move to add a question about citizenship status on the next Census questionnaire in 2020, which seems like a poor decision. Many experts think this could render the results inaccurate and could also skew results that will affect redistricting and funding. Critics Say Questions About Citizenship Could Wreck Chances for an Accurate Census

Just when you start to think the accounts behind the sexual assaults and harassment couldn't get any worse. I've read of some bizarre incidents that took place during the 1970s but this is one of the worst. I mean, this guy was going around forcibly spanking women in the newsroom? He blames it on the indiscretion of youth? He was 40, old enough to damn well know what he did was wrong! And the newspaper's response was to hire a woman just to warn other female employees to steer clear of this man but apparently no one thought the man who spanked women was enough of a problem??! Star’s former publisher accused of assaulting reporters in 1970s

Springsteen just seems like the type of guy who wouldn't deny a sincere request from a fan. It was uplifting to see that Eddie got his request met. On a different note, This might have been mentioned earlier but Billy Magnussen is in Season 4 of Black Mirror, which I haven't seen yet but plan to see this weekend.

When they say deregulation, this is where it often leads to.

Andy Murray posted a statement on FB regarding his withdrawal from Brisbane as well as his current health status. https://www.facebook.com/andymurrayofficial/photos/a.231935561965.134843.16814976965/10155183696646966/?type=3&theater

This Time's Up initiative seems like a good start. Reese Witherspoon, America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Shonda Rhimes Launch Anti-Harassment Action Plan

The GOP pushed Tax Law looks as if it will inspire highly-taxed states to look for loopholes the way that corporations have historically looked for loopholes. Many Democratic-run states are now stating that the new tax law has, in effect, broken the social contract with the states so "the game has changed". Democrats in High-Tax States Plot to Blunt Impact of New Tax Law

Wow, thanks for posting those classic episodes, @victoria foxton! Looking at those emergency scenes at the symphony, it's funny to think that ATWT's action camera-work was actually better in 1979 than it was in in 2004 or whenever it was that they decided to try that bad version of Blair Witch tracking shots. Bennett struck me as so volatile that he could flip his lid at any moment. Lisa seems somewhat afraid of him, I'm surprised her engagement lasted as long as it did. When you're trying to stall your ex-husband from accelerating the divorce, it's time to re-examine your current romantic relationship. Those 1980s scenes between Barbara and James were fascinating, they clearly had chemistry. I wonder what made the writers decide to go from the dark, mysterious but romantic Rochester-like (Jane Eyre reference) character to the clear villain he would become less than two years later? Also, I wonder why they decided to make James Swedish as opposed to Maltese or of Austro-Hungarian stock from the Balkans, etc? Just curious. Those very early 80s fashions! Brad Hollister looks like he escaped from Studio 54, not to mention the creepy vibe he gives off. I tried to give the character the benefit of the doubt and not judge but he just came off as skeevy. Oof! Ellen Stewart would say the Don't Call it a Comeback, the "P*U*SS*Y Bow" has been around for years! Colleen Zenk is so chic and glamorous that she's probably the only one (other than Laura Ingalls Wilder) who could pull off that dress with the Peter Pan collar (the one she is wearing in the flashbacks). The dialogue is a bit labored in the February 1980 episode and some characters pull it off better than others. For those who are able to pull it off, the awkward pauses and quasi-stutters give it an even more naturalistic flow (like the way people talk) than more fluid dialogue. The problem is that not a lot of the actors were able to pull it off.

You know what? Several points made.

Nope. LOL. Credit to Victoria Rowell though, because as one of the show's stars, had she wanted to actually block Stafford from the show, she probably could've done it but I don't think Rowell would block another actor from being able to work.

There's an episode of Diagnosis Murder where Michelle Stafford is a guest star, LOL. I was a bit surprised to see her there, TBH.

Japan needs a serious Sea Change in how they view/deal with cases of sexual assault and rape. Ms. Ito embodies the very definition of a 'silence breaker' and I hope she gets justice. She Broke Japan’s Silence on Rape

They were both pretty contemptible. Cohn denied he was gay, even as he lay dying of Aids. I read a long-form article last year during election season all about their relationship. I don't expect anything near humanity from either Trump or Pence. I wish there were some way to remove them both from office. Speaking of politicians that I would love to see lose their job, did Marco Rubio have the never to say "Probably"??