Mass Media: 1950s Television Scavenger Hunt

For today's assignment, you will be researching the 1950's most popular television shows.

1) In trios, please follow this link.
2) Choose 1 of the shows other than I Love Lucy. The choosing of shows is a first-come, first serve basis. No duplicates!
3) You will have 1 class period to create a Google Presentation on the show. This presentation must include:

• Premise of the show


• Actors, Actresses & The parts they played


• Memorable Episodes


• Cultural Signifigance (why did people watch this show?)


• Pictures from the show

If you go above and beyond the minimum requirements, you will have a greater chance of earning a high mark.

This presentation MUST be shared with me via Google Documents no later than 2:00 pm today.

I will be posting links to all of your presentations on this blog. Tomorrow, you will each tell about your show and your presentation will be evaluated by the class.

Current Events: Supplemental

If you are reading the blog and would like to comment on this article, I think that it worth discussing. It doesn't really fit into our current unit, but does add to our overall conversation concerning mass media.

Here is the article and here is a link to the commercial.

If you post your thoughts, I might throw you some bonus points....

Mass Media: Current Events 10/26/2009

If everyone in the class posts to the blog by the start of class I will cancel the quiz.

Get ready for your last Current Events Quiz of the 9 weeks! As usual, you can use a 3 x 5 notecard with up to 20 words on it. Any words you want- 20 of them! Be sure to post a two paragraph response on this entry by the start of class Tuesday. If you have any questions, I will answer them before 9:30 pm tonight.

Here is a review of the new film about Amelia Earhart. It seems that her life was made for a movie.

Oh No!!! WORST NEWS EVER!

Movie theaters are no longer just for movies. See how the industry is keeping up by reading this article.

For the final article (the Hulu one was really short), I am going to plug one of my favorite shows: Madmen. Read about the set details here.

Bonus: I will throw you a couple of bonus points if you create your own Simpsons Character. While you do not need to enter the contest, you must answer all of the questions that they ask and post it to the blog.

Mass Media: Television Unit

For this assignment, you will begin researching a television show that you find interesting. Please follow the directions that I give throughout this blog post.

For this task, you will be using an article from time magazine and conduct brief internet "research". You will be required to post something on this blog.

First: Read this article entitled "How I Chose The List"

Second: Read through the entire list of Time's Top 100 Television Shows. Choose at least 5 shows that you found interesting. Read about these shows by clicking the title.

Third: Out of the 5 shows that you choose, pick 1 show that you would like to research more.

Fourth: Do "internet research" on your chosen show. This could be at wikipedia, tv.com, Entertainment Weekly or any other reliable television outlet

Fifth: Post a comment to this blog. This comment should include the following:

• The names of the 5 television show that you read more about.


• The name of the show that you wanted to research more about.


• Why you wanted to research that show (at least 4 sentences)


• What you found out after you researched your show (at leat a paragraph)


• Where you found this information

If this is not completed by the end of class it is homework.

Mass Media: Bonus Opportunity

A lot of you have asked me about bonus opportunities for this class. Since we have been working on radio broadcasting for quite some time, I feel that any bonus that I give should be an extension of what we have already done in class.

For bonus points, listen to the following interview from Fresh Air on NPR. The interview is with Spike Jonze, the director of Where the Wild Things Are. The clip is 20 minutes long and very interesting.

To earn bonus points, listen to the entire clip and post a 3 paragraph response to the interview on this post.

You have until Wednesday, October 21st to complete this. This will be the only opportunity for bonus.

Mass Media: Current Events 10/18/2009

In addition to the test that you will be having on Tuesday, there will be a current events quiz on Monday. Just like the other Monday quizzes, you will be able to write 20 things on a 3x5 notecard to help you on the quiz.

After you read all of the articles, write a two paragraph response on one of the articles. This is not a summary-- it is what you think about the article and why you think that way.

I will be posting review materials for the test later this evening. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Read about Pittsburgh finally getting some recognition in video games here.

One of my favorite comedians is Bill Cosby. Here is a review of one of his recent stand-up shows. Be sure to watch the clip at the bottom-- hilarious!

Balloon Boy is making a lot of news. Here is an article from CNN about media exposure and its affect on children.

I hope that all of you had a great weekend!

Mass Media: Current Events 10/11/2009

As per the previous weeks, please be sure to post a comment on this entry. Your post should be at least two paragraphs in length and us correct grammar, structure, etc. There will be a quiz on all of the articles and you will be allowed a 3x5 index card with at most 20 words on it.

Paranormal Activity was released this weekend. Read about why this movie is making headlines.

Here is an article about magazines going under. It is an interesting piece about the decline of the magazine industry as a whole.

Here is a really long article about the Beatles coming to Pittsburgh. I think that it is worth reading because of the local and historical context.

I will only post 3 articles due to the length of the Beatles article. I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend!

Mass Media: Radio Project

I have been listening to the radio all weekend. The more I listen to it, the more that I enjoy it. In fact, I might say that I am enjoying it more than listening to music. The only downside is that I did travel this weekend and I was listening to Wait..Wait..Don't tell me, but then I was too far away to recieve the signal. This is one of the reasons that Satelite Radio (XM & Serius) are doing [fairly] well.

Here is a list of links of the most popular syndicated radio shows.

National Public Radio has all of their shows streaming (I listened to Car Talk for the first time on Saturday. Very entertaining, even though I know nothing about cars!).

Here are some local Pittsburgh Stations:

• WDUQ
• Fox Sports 970
• WYEP

If you find some other radio shows that are worth posting, please feel free to comment (and I might give you a few bonus points).

Mass Media: Current Events 10/5/2009

Just like last week, you will be allowed to use a 3 x5 index card with up to 20 words on it. This will help you on the quiz. Please be sure to read all of the articles and write down what you think is important. Some of you need to do better on these quizzes.

As per other current events readings, you are to post at least a two paragraph response to one of the articles. If you would like to comment on multiple articles, that is encouraged, as long as you have at least two paragraphs on one of them. You have until 1:00 pm on Monday to do this for your work to be considered on time.

Dave Chappelle's "friend" is in the news- read about it hear.

A producer from the David Letterman show is in trouble for extortion. Read about it here and watch David Letterman address the issue here.

The Seinfeld cast is reuniting on Curb Your Enthusiasm*. Here is an article about it.

*While this show is not school appropriate, the fact that the most popular comedy show in history is having a reunion is a worthwhile event to discuss. I can NOT recommend that you watch this show due to its language and adult themes.

Here is why I have a picture of Sesame Street at the top.

TVWB: Online Tutorials

I know that it has been a while since I posted for your class (sorry Schuyler!), but we have been working in class, and homework was not really necessary.

Currently, you have a commercial-creation assignment due for Tuesday. Now that I have my computer updated, I hope that we can create these commercials during class time. Since we will not need any recorded material from the studio, I think that we can use these commercials to help us learn Mac's iMovie '08.

Here is a website that will help you with video and text tutorials as to how to use this software. Watching some of these tutorials will better prepare you for editing on this software.

Mass Media: Current Entertainment Events 9/27/2009

It is another Sunday evening (is it fall yet?) and time for another current events blog post. Please remember to post at least at two paragraph response to one of the articles on this post. Some of you are not earning full credit due to the fact that you are only writing 1 paragraph (and barely a paragraph at that!).

I would also like to remind you to check your work for spelling and grammar issues. Starting this week, you will also be graded on these aspects. There will be a quiz Monday but to make it fair, I will let each of you use a 3 x 5 notecard or piece of paper with 20 words on it. If you have more than 20 words, you will not be able to use it.

Ken Burn's new documentary premieres tonight on PBS. Here is an article about it.

New season of the simpsons tonight! See who guest wrote it here.

New season of SNL drops the bomb.

Roman Polanski was arrested for a crime he committed 30 years ago. Read about it here.

Don't forget to read the road!! Entire book due on Tuesday.

Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Here is a link to the assignment from today. If you liked Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!, you can download a number of episodes for free from the "Podcasts" section of iTunes.

Here is a streaming link to the episode that we listened to today.

Please remember to turn the assignment in no later than the start of class (for full credit) on google docs.

If you have any questions, you can post them here.

Mass Media: Current Events 9/20/2009

Once again, I will remind you to read all of the articles that I post. I may or may not have another quiz for you!

Here is an article from the post gazette about the upcoming fall tv schedule.

This is another article from the post gazette (I am trying to keep it local!) about zombies charing money for autographs (it will make sense when you read it!). [ If you remind me in class, I will tell you the story about when I met Greg Brady at a convention and how he was "charging for autographs". ]

Here is a short article (to make up for the longer zombie article) about the Emmys and changes they made to make it better. If you get a chance, remember to watch it! 8pm on CBS.

3-D television in the home? Read about it here.

Mass Media: The Road & Current Events 9/13/09

In addition to completing your "entertainment current events quiz", please remember that you have the first 100 pages of Cormac McCarthy's The Road to complete.

Please read all of the following articles and post a two paragraph response to one of them on the comments section of this blog post. Please remember that you are not summarizing the article, but responding to it in an intellectual fashion. Even though you are only responding to one article, I expect that you will have read all of them for class on Monday.

This is a graded assignment, so please check your writing for errors.

Guiding Light is ending a pretty impressive run (15,700 episodes!).

Show delayed for Maura Tuerney illness. Ellen and other daytime shows sued, new sytem for measuring viewership?

Big week for Jay Leno-- will the gamble pay off for NBC?

Kurt Cobain avatar on Guitar Hero irks band members & Courtney Love.

Mass Media: Newspapers 9/9/09

As an introduction to our unit on newspapers, I have asked each of you to spend some time with a newspaper finding an article that interests you. As millennial, you are more adept at searching online and having a great deal of information available to you with a click of your mouse.

For homework, I would like each of you to post a comment on this blog telling me in one paragraph how finding an article in the newspaper is different from browsing on the Internet.

Mass Media: Current Events 9/7/09

Here are some happenings in the entertainment world. There will be a quiz on tuesday.

The Beatles made the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Read why.

Top grossing films at the box office? Here you go!

The return of "At the Movies"- read about it here.

Here are some new shows that might be worth watching.

Read about Diane Sawyer's new job!

Mass Media

Just a reminder about the homework for tonight--

Please create a google account and share with me a link to an entertainment article. I want to make sure that all of you have a google account and are able to share documents with me. I hope that all of our documents will be turned in via google docs.

If you have any problems with this, please let me know!

Mr. Cullen

TV Writing

Sorry that this post is being put up so late...it was a long night...

That being said, here are some links to some Siskel and Ebert reviews from youtube:

Titanic

Braveheart

Dances with Wolves

Field of Dreams

Forrest Gump

Saving Private Ryan

Gladiator

There are a few to think about....

How is my summer going?

pretty, pretty, good!

PS: That is Dave Matthews

Sophocles PowerPoint

As promised: Sophocles PowerPoint


Here you go Austin, Michelle, Jon, Ryan and Julie!

Mr. Cullen