The Grouchy Editor

TV Tidbits

Creeping Woke

Hollywood is nothing if not sneaky. It’s taken a look at dismal box-office returns, and the (relative) unpopularity of recent Marvel movies, Disney shows, and anything deemed too woke.

But rather than dispense with woke altogether, Hollywood’s become sneaky about it. Case in point: Best Medicine on Fox. In early episodes of this new comedy-drama, gay bar-owners George and Greg (pictured above) are lovable supporting characters who were featured briefly in each episode. But the big event of the show’s season finale? A very public wedding for George and Greg, highlighted by a prolonged kiss between the two. 

Don’t get me wrong. Overall, I enjoy Best Medicine. I even enjoy George and Greg. But it’s obvious what Hollywood is up to: downplay the woke elements early in a season, wait until a decent-sized audience is hooked on your show … then go big on leftist issues.

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Something Very Bad Was Going to Happen

Now that I’ve seen the entirety of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, I recommend it. It has elements I’m not fond of, such as murky lighting throughout and supernatural plot points. Normally, I am not a big fan of the supernatural; it makes it too easy for writers to cheat.

But Something Bad was never boring and it was unpredictable. That compensates for a lot, these days.

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Artemis II

OK, that was fun.

But I’m old enough to remember the 1969 moon landing (assuming it actually happened) and, sorry kids, but just flying around the moon ain’t quite the same thing.

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Trump’s No-Good-Very-Bad Month:

• The Iran war — and rising gas prices
• Deportations — are they even happening?
• SAVE America Act — is Congress worthless?
• Birthright citizenship — is the Supreme Court worthless?

It does not seem like The Donald is having a good month. His campaign promises are either dead or on hiatus. His base is fracturing and is no longer “tired of winning.”

Is Trump playing some sort of 4D chess that we mere mortals don’t recognize? Or is the “art of the deal” defunct?

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I’ve been watching a Netflix series called Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen (pictured above). It’s a horror miniseries and it’s paradoxically both compelling and off-putting.

Part of the problem — for me, anyway — is the show’s cinematography. It’s much too dark.

This trend of desaturated color, or mud-like lighting, is the subject of much Web debate. For some reason, Hollywood has decided we all want to watch things we cannot see.

It reminds me a bit of 25 years ago, when every horror movie featured a sort of blue-green filter. See below.

Gothika

The Ring

I suppose that if you’re making a horror movie or a thriller, it makes atmospheric sense to present it in moody darkness. The Ring wouldn’t be the same movie if it was filmed in glorious technicolor, or in Dorothy-opens-the-door-and-sees-Oz hues.

But this trend is getting ridiculous. When Harry Potter and pals first see Hogwarts (below), I want to see Hogwarts, dammit.

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Weekly WTF

If someone could explain to me just exactly WTF is happening in the two photos below, I would appreciate it. Is it some sort of Indian ceremony involving the public humiliation of elder males? Is it an instructional ceremony for young females? Is it an OnlyFans account? (Click photos, if you dare, for a bigger view.)

© 2010-2026 grouchyeditor.com (text only)