Updated on March 19, 2023
Here’s some interesting stories from the past week, and my thoughts about each of them.
Media
George Takei’s graphic novel memoir “They Called Us Enemy” ranked as high as #2 on the New York Times’ nonfiction bestseller list within a week of the book’s July 16 debut. (It’s currently at #8 on the list.) The graphic novel covers Takei’s childhood in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.
It’s interesting that a graphic novel has gotten this much attention through the Times. The paper often strikes me as snobbish about comics as a medium. (In college, the Times’ lack of daily comic strips was admittedly one reason I usually subscribed to the local paper instead.) The Times notably dropped comics-related bestsellers’ lists a few years ago. More recently, the Times stopped running all political cartoons after a single problematic cartoon in its international edition.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turn 35 this year. Yes, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are nearly Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Or “Middle-Aged Mutant Hero Turtles” for those in the UK.)
Technology
Local PBS stations are now available to stream (or view content on demand) via YouTube TV, Google’s cable-replacement streaming service (which runs $50/month). This includes PBS Kids content, which is already available for 24/7 streaming and on demand through its website, on streaming devices, and through Android/iOS apps.
HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, will be the exclusive home of all modern “Doctor Who” versions. That is, every season since the show’s mid-2000s relaunch. BBC America will still air new episodes. HBO Max will also carry other shows from the BBC, including the original UK version of “The Office.” I wonder how this’ll affect Amazon Prime (the current streaming home of “Doctor Who”).
NBCUniversal (which means Comcast) plans on launching its own streaming service in April 2020. The service doesn’t have a name yet. It also plans on carrying mostly licensed content, despite the massive library NBCUniversal/Comcast owns. The US version of “The Office” will be a featured show of the service.
