Tales of Balloon Boy: Front and Center at a Media Circus
On October 15th, the big “Balloon Boy” incident involving the quirky Heene family took over broadcast and cable news. By now you know the story – a boy named Falcon went missing in a UFO-shaped weather balloon flying across the Eastern Plains of Colorado. Miraculously, he turned up safe and sound in the family’s attic. That should have been the end of the story. It wasn’t. Covering the story for a national media outlet I thought that once the Larimer County Sheriff announced Falcon was found everyone would wrap things up and go home. Instead I was surprised to find a media monster... [Read more]
Letterman Scandal Could be Ratings Bonanza for CBS
In a time where network influence is waning, CBS will likely emerge as the big winner in the aftermath of the David Letterman scandal. As CBS’ most enduring star, having hosted a highly rated late night talk show there since 1993, Letterman has tremendous audience pull. During his program on Thursday, Letterman confessed to a studio audience and viewers watching at home that he had been the victim of a would-be multimillion-dollar extortion plot, perpetrated by a former CBS colleague. Letterman also admitted that he had had sex with female co-workers. The news shocked the nation and tabloids... [Read more]
Summer Movies in Review
As the weather cools, it’s time to look back and see how we did on our Summer Movie predictions. We’re all about the money and 2009 was the biggest summer in Hollywood history. Movies are an international obsession so we prefer to look at international box office instead of merely the domestic totals. The reason… international box office now accounts for about 60% of theatrical revenue and is crucial in determining a film’s profitability. Angels and Demons is a great example, having had so-so business domestically but cleaning up in the foreign markets. Leading the box office charge... [Read more]
The Mouse That Roared
The news that Disney is buying Marvel for $4 billion has taken the entertainment world by storm. Although the deal itself came out of nowhere, it certainly makes sense. Each company possesses a wealth of content (70 years of characters and stories) and more importantly, licensing opportunities. As DVD sales sink, Hollywood has been scrambling for new sources of revenue. This just might be the shot in the arm Disney needs. While Disney has traditionally been known for its wholesome family creations, the purchase of Marvel adds an edgier, more violent element. By marrying Spiderman, X-Men and the... [Read more]
