Podcasts about bleier center

The media scholar, educator, and author is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, where he is also a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. 

It annually is the biggest American television program of the year.  (Not even counting the global audience.) It's commercials are anticipated, reviewed, over-analyzed, and cost $7,000,000 for 30 seconds. Even even non-football-fans get drawn into the hype. Businesses and churches and groups adjust their schedules to avoid conflicting with one of the nation's hugest non-holiday holidays. The Super Bowl has come to have a massive influence on American society. For perspectives on how the game became so big, Family Life's Greg Gillispie talks with Robert Thompson, an expert of television and its effects on culture. Among the topics: How the calendar and the NFL's creativity have moved Super Bowl Sunday to such a national festival day What is it that makes Super Bowl commercials such a topic of conversation Why those advertisers see enough value to make it worth paying so much to buy the ad slot and produce a "film-festival-worthy" commercial How the Super Bowl has become one of the few "shared experiences" Americans have, in our fractured media landscape   Robert Thompson is director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.  He teaches courses on the impact of media and has written five books and edited an ongoing series about television and society.     Also from Family Life's News Podcasts:  Paul Asay of "Plugged In" offers his insights on Super Bowls -- including a Christian angle on the widespread popularity of the Super Bowl as a national event, how we need a few shared experiences across a wide swath of the culture, and how Christian messages like "HeGetsUs" can share the Gospel with millions in a single broadcast. Listen for that additional interview here.

Emmy's Top 75 moments in TV history Guest: Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, Syracuse University The Sattalites: New music from Canadian reggae legends Guest: Fergus Hambleton, co-founder and lead singer, The Sattalites What happened to Alberta's energy grid during the weekend's cold snap? Should this alert Ottawa's future energy plans? Guest: Andrew Leach, an energy and environmental economist, professor of Department of Economics and the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta A potential rise in development of nuclear energy in Canada Guest: David Novog, Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chair Department of Engineering Physics. McMaster University Donald Trump wins the Iowa Republican caucuses Guest: Chris Larimer, professor in the Political Science department at University of Northern Iowa Should Canada look to China during its EV boom Guest: Sandy Munro, an automotive engineer who founded industry consultancy Munro & Associates

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Screenwriter and producer Norman Lear—the man behind shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, Sanford and Son, and One Day at a Time, just to name a few—has died at the age of 101. Bonnie Crombie is responding to attack ads from Doug Ford's government. A new report from the Montreal Economic Institute shows Canadians paying far more for air travel than nations—because of the taxes. A record number of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP28 climate talks, analysis shows. Why don't they focus on getting world off coal? The Federal Liberals have released their framework for emissions caps. Draft regulations are planned to be published in the spring, with the regulations being put in place in 2025. The legendary Erik Tomas is retiring at the end of the month. We recap the end of an era, and a fantastic career with the voice of racing in Canada! It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of Television, Radio and Film; Director of the Bleier Center for Televisions and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. Peter Graefe, Professor of Political Science, McMaster University. Tim Progosh, Executive Director of the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame. Gabor Lukacs, President, Air Passenger Rights advocacy group. Kerry Bowman, Professor with the School of the Environment with the University of Toronto. Jason Opal, Professor in Department of History and Classical Studies with McGill University. Renaud Brossard, Senior Director of Communications with the IEDM/MEI (Montreal Economic Institute). Erik Tomas, The Raceline Radio Network Toronto. Scott Radley, host of the Scott Radley show and columnist with the Hamilton Spectator. Host – Scott Thompson Content Producer – William Erskine Technical/Podcast Producer – Tom McKay Podcast Co-Producer – Ben Straughan News Anchor – Dave Woodard & Jen McQueen Want to keep up with what happened in Hamilton Today? Subscribe to the podcast! https://megaphone.link/CORU8835115919

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The months-long Hollywood writers strike is over after the Writers Guild of America released the details of their tentative agreement with Hollywood studios. Did Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just apologize on live television? Seriously, we are asking. The word “apology” was used but does that count? What happens to parliament now that they are without a speaker? What has been the international fallout from Nazi Waffen SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka being welcomed into Canadian parliament, and applauded as a war hero, due to an alleged complete lack of education about history among our leaders. As we learn more about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, it paints a picture that is hard to see as anything other than a well-orchestrated assassination by a team. David Dodge, former Bank of Canada governor, delivered fiscal warnings to the feds while testifying to the House of Commons finance committee. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of television, radio and film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. Ravi Jain, of Jain Immigration Law; Barrister & Solicitor (Ontario) & Attorney-At-Law (Massachusetts), Co-President of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association; Certified Specialist on Citizenship & Immigration Law with the Law Society of Ontario. Elissa Freeman, PR and Pop Culture Expert. Nelson Wiseman, Professor with the Dept. of Political Science at the University of Toronto. Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Andrew Enns, Executive Vice-President, Central Canada, for Leger. Phil Gurski, President of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting, former CSIS analyst. Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor with the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. Scott Radley, host of the Scott Radley show and columnist with the Hamilton Spectator. Host – Scott Thompson Content Producer – William Erskine Technical/Podcast Producer – Tom McKay Podcast Co-Producer – Ben Straughan News Anchor – Dave Woodard & Jen McQueen Want to keep up with what happened in Hamilton Today? Subscribe to the podcast! https://megaphone.link/CORU8835115919

Director of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture Dr. Robert Thompson joins Good Morning BT with his take on the Writers Guild of America strike and its effects on Hollywood and television programming, and a streaming show recommendation based on what he has been watching the past few weeks and months.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Leaders of a Hollywood's actors union voted Thursday to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with the studios and streaming services broke down. Our friend Professor Steve Joordens has been on an adventure this summer: he and his wife are undertaking a Canadian Motorcycle Odyssey. They are at the halfway point, back in Toronto to rest for the weekend before taking off. The Liberal Party of Canada launched more than a dozen ads on Facebook to promote the government's messaging just days after the Trudeau government announced it would stop advertising on Meta-owned platforms because of the ongoing conflict over the Online News Act. The CEO of Hamilton Food Share has said that Hamilton is at a crisis level, with food banks registering 40 per cent more visits this past June compared with the same month in 2022. Many more Canadians will begin receiving Ottawa's climate action incentive payment starting Friday. There continues to be developments around Wagner Group in Russia, even with the surprisingly more diplomatic approach that Putin has taken with them. Now, the Russian leader had announced that Wagner “simply” does not exist as a “legal entity” in Russia. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of television, radio and film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. Jeff Atkinson, President of Honda Indy Toronto. Steve Joordens, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Elissa Freeman, PR and Pop Culture Expert. Karen Randell, CEO of Hamilton Food Share.  Marvin Ryder, Professor with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Michael Veall, Professor Economics at McMaster University, Academic Director, Statistics Canada Research Data Centre. Aurel Braun (PRONOUNCED "brown"), Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Scott Radley, host of the Scott Radley show and columnist with the Hamilton Spectator. Host – Scott Thompson Content Producer – William Erskine Technical/Podcast Producer – Tom McKay Podcast Co-Producer – Ben Straughan News Anchor – Dave Woodard & Jen McQueen Want to keep up with what happened in Hamilton Today? Subscribe to the podcast! https://megaphone.link/CORU8835115919

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: What is the state of the writers' strike and is there any movement or a time frame to be glimpsed? The Globe and Mail has launched a new “Freedom of Information project.” The database of FOI requests also includes instructions on how to file Freedom of Information requests, and digs into the system and how it works. We are hearing talk of war-weariness among Russia's elites. Are we rallying behind a fallacy or is this a sign of something major to come? The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is characterizing the initiative as “invasive technology” that threatens the privacy of Hamiltonians since there's no evidence any consultation with the public nor Ontario's Privacy Commissioner ever happened. Canada's unemployment rate ticked up in May for the first time in nine months, but forecasters say the Bank of Canada will have to see more softening in the economy before it takes it takes a step back from raising interest rates. Should we be surprised by news that Swoop is to be shuttered by WestJet airline? Canada's former national security and intelligence adviser told MPs Thursday that the people leaking sensitive intelligence information are not heroes, and are in fact potentially putting lives at risk. Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon "plan of attack" and shared a classified map related to a military operation. Guests: Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of television, radio and film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University Jeffrey Dvorkin, Senior Fellow at Massey College, Former Director of Journalism at the University of Toronto-Scarborough and author of Trusting the News in a Digital Age Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto Daniel Konikoff, Interim Director of Privacy, Technology and Surveillance Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor with the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University Marvin Ryder, Professor with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University Christian Leuprecht, Professor at both the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen's University, and a Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute Brian J. Karem, Political Analyst for CNN, White House Reporter, Columnist for Salon.com and The Washington Diplomat, and host of ‘Just Ask the Question' Podcast, Author of the book Free The Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It Scott Radley, host of the Scott Radley show and columnist with the Hamilton Spectator Host – Scott Thompson Content Producer – William Erskine Technical/Podcast Producer - Matt Taylor Podcast Co-Producer - Ben Straughan News Anchor – Dave Woodard & Jen McQueen Want to keep up with what happened in Hamilton Today? Subscribe to the podcast! https://megaphone.link/CORU8835115919

With two pieces of momentous news in the world of television—Tucker Carlson's ouster from Fox News, and the death of spectacle talk show pioneer Jerry Springer—Robert Thompson, professor of television, radio, and film at Syracuse University and the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, discusses the current moment in TV history, and how the medium continues to shape our public discourse.

While it's no secret that houses aren't cheap, there are some signs on the horizon that they might be getting pricier. Why is this and could it just be a seasonal thing? Guest: Judy Marsales, Broker of Record, Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd. - Canada is home to some of the most expensive phone plans on planet Earth. There's a possibility that won't be the case for much longer - assuming things go to plan. Guest: Marvin Ryder, Professor with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University - With the recent loss of Al Jaffee, the award-winning artist behind many of Mad magazine's cartoons, Scott reminisces on the incredible impact Mad had on its readers and asks what's happened to cartoons as a medium. Guest: Robert Thompson, Founding Director, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, Syracuse University

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk. Artistic Director and founding company member of Dance Theater of Harlem, Virginia Johnson, discusses her 40-year career in dance and the legacy of one of the most recognized ballet companies. The company is in the Houston area this week, visiting schools and providing outreach and education initiatives for local students.  Here are some of their public events. For the full list, visit PerformingArtsHouston.org/education Many Hues, One Line: Dance Theatre Harlem dancers will join Houston Ballet dancers for a panel discussion moderated by Virginia Johnson at the Houston Ballet dance lab on December 6, 2022, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Freedmen's Town tour: Dance Theatre of Harlem company members will take a tour of Houston's Freedmen's Town Conservancy on December 8, 2022, to learn about Houston's history. Public Master class: On December 10, 2022, at Houston Ballet, intermediate and advanced dancers are invited to challenge and expand sharpen their ballet technique in a masterclass led by Dance Theatre of Harlem company members. Registration is $20 and limited to 35 pre-professional and professional dancer participants. Holiday in the Tre: On December 10, 2022, Dance Theatre of Harlem dancers will attend the annual Holiday in the Tre festival at Houston's Emancipation Park, leading a workshop and offering a meet & greet for festivalgoers from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mini performance at Wheeler Baptist Church: Dance Theatre of Harlem's last event of the Houston Residency will be a performance of their work Holy, Holy at Wheeler Baptist Church, during the 11:30 am worship service on December 11, 2022. In the new year, Dance Theatre of Harlem performs at Jones Hall on February 3 – 4, 2023.  For more information, log on to PerformingArtsHouston.org. Then, we shift topics to discuss St. Nicholas. We hear his name in Christmas songs, but who is he? What is his relationship to the modern image of Santa Claus? Today, December 6th, is St. Nicholas Day, a day to celebrate the saint of the same name who was known for his kindness and generosity. Celebrated with parades, singing, and a hope to receive some treats in exchange for good behavior, this holiday certainly rings familiar. We talk with an expert on how St. Nicholas inspired Santa Claus, his evolution in America over the years, and the origins for all the attributes found in the modern image of the Christmas mascot, from the red suit to the flying sleigh with reindeer. Plus, we discuss equivalents of Santa Claus found in other countries from over the world and how their traditions compare with our take on the gift bringer.   Guests: Virginia Johnson Artistic Director and Founding Company Member, Dance Theatre of Harlem Robert Thompson Director, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture Trustee Professor, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Netflix is gearing up its cheaper option for subscribers who do not mind commercials. Earlier this month, a company called HYBE spent US$32 million to acquire another South Korean company called Supertone. Its main asset is some software that it claims can create “a hyper-realistic and expressive voice that [is not] distinguishable from real humans.” Over the weekend, The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum held its 50th anniversary gala, where it was announced the the museum is getting three new planes, including one used in the mid-to-late 1940s. The EA Inquiry: some are asking why Doug Ford is not testifying. Should the Premier of Ontario be brought into the conversation? Loblaw's is temporarily freezing the prices on all of its No Name branded products. It this good business or just good PR? Several men who appeared to work for the Chinese government attacked an activist protesting against China's ruling Communist Party at the Chinese consulate in Manchester on Sunday, when China began a key political meeting expected to hand the country's leader Xi Jinping an unprecedented third term. Today, Canada boasts a large diplomatic apparatus. Global Affairs Canada has not one, but three Cabinet ministers who oversee a staff of more than 12,000. But some maintain that our foreign policy remains in many ways as immature as the one we had a century earlier. Keanin Loomis joins us to look at the final stretch in the race for mayor of the City of Hamilton. Scott Radley joins us for a look back at today, and a look ahead toward what is happening on 900 CHML this evening. It is all coming up on Hamilton Today. Guests: Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of television, radio and film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University Alan Cross, Host of the Ongoing History of New Music Al Mickeloff, Marketing Manager with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Henry Jacek. Professor of Political Science, McMaster University Ian Lee, Associate Professor with the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University Charles Burton, Senior Fellow with the Centre for Advancing Canada's Interests Abroad at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute Dr. Jack Cunningham, Ph.D., Program Coordinator at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History, in Trinity College and the Munk School. Specializing in British foreign policy, Canadian foreign policy and politics, International history, U.S. foreign policy and relations with Russia; University of Toronto Keanin Loomis, Hamilton mayoral candidate Scott Radley. Host of The Scott Radley Show, Columnist with the Hamilton Spectator Host – Scott Thompson Content Producer – William Erskine Technical/Podcast Producer - Tom McKay Podcast Co-Producer – Ben Straughan News Anchors – Dave Woodard & Diana Weeks Want to keep up with what happened in Hamilton Today? Subscribe to the podcast! https://megaphone.link/CORU8835115919

What's the point of having an inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act? Will anything be changed by this inquiry? Guest: Stephen LeDrew, Host, The LeDrew Three Minute Interview & Former President, Liberal Party of Canada - What's with our obsession with getting new things? A new book aims at tackling that question and how it is that we always find a way to acquire more stuff. Guest: Paul Berton, Author of "Shopomania: Our Obsession With Possession" & Editor-in-Chief, The Hamilton Spectator - All of the top TV shows except for NFL football were dealt losses over the last year which is never a good sign. Why are these viewership numbers dropping so heavily and what could it spell for the future? Guest: Robert Thompson, Founding Director, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture & Trustee Professor, Television and Popular Culture, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University

Thompson and the guys talk about the quick death of CNN plus. After the media company spent millions of dollars and under 25,000 people signed up.

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson Hamilton has taken another hefty music loss today, legendary guitarist Jerry Doucette has died at the age of 70. Scott is shares his thoughts and joining him is Graham Rockingham, former music journalist for the Hamilton Spectator, who has a multitude of stories to share. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada is sending "heavy artillery" to Ukraine. First of all what does that mean? Second - why now, why not sooner? Is it enough and can we afford to send it? Christian Leuprecht, Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada joins Scott with some answers. A new poll from Ipsos for Global News shows what Canadians think of the federal Conservative Party leadership race. The results may surprise you but they do not surprise Sean Simpson, VP of IPSOS Public Affairs, joining Scott to break down the numbers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Jake Tapper that he doesn't believe the "Never Again" promise from the world. Joining Scott is Robyn Urback, who wrote in The Globe and Mail that those same calls of "Never Again" are meaningless, and that Putin knows it. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast. Guests: Graham Rockingham, former music journalist, retired from The Hamilton Spectator. Amanda Connolly.Senior political reporter for GlobalNews. Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of television, radio and film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.  Ted Michaels, Fry-Master Extraordinaire. Christian Leuprecht, Professor at both the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen's University, and a Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute. Carmi Levy Technology Analyst & Journalist. Sean Simpson, VP of IPSOS Public Affairs. Ian Lee, Associate Professor with the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University.  Robyn Urback, current affairs columnist with The Globe and Mail. Scott Radley. Host of The Scott Radley Show, Columnist with the Hamilton Spectator. Host - Scott Thompson Content Producer –William Erskine Technical/Podcast Producer - William Webber Podcast Co-Producer - Ben Straughan News Anchors – Diana Weeks, Dave Woodard Want to keep up with what happened in Hamilton Today? Subscribe to the podcast! https://omny.fm/shows/scott-thompson-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hamilton Today Podcast with guest host Scott Radley... The Around the Bay race is back as is Heartbreak Hill! Making his triumphant return to not just the race this weekend but also to 900 CHML is Mr. Ted Michaels!! Putin plans to make "unfriendly" nations pay for gas in rubles. What are the consequences going to be? We look at the results of yesterday's NATO meeting and as well as discuss what Canada's role in NATO is at this point in history. When Brian J. Karem last joined us, he was hours away from a flight to Europe. He has been traveling through Ukraine and Poland documenting the war and the stories of those involved. Canada has pledged to increase oil exports by up to 300,000 barrels per day in response to European supply shortages. Are the Oscars worth broadcasting anymore let alone having a glitzy ceremony? And every Friday night on The Scott Radley Show, Scott welcomes one guest to join him for the first hour and a half where a variety of topics gets covered on what's known as The Brightest Conversation in Hamilton. Tonight he continues that tradition for an extra long edition with Annette Hamm. Guests: Ted Michaels, Running enthusiast; Former D.J. of the 900 CHML News Room; Host, The Health and Wellness Show; Retired 900 CHML Anchor Eric Kam, Professor of Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics, International Monetary Economics, Implications of Monetary Growth, with Ryerson University Benjamin Zyla, Associate Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa, as well as a visiting scholar with the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University Brian J. Karem, Political Analyst for CNN, White House Reporter, Columnist for Salon.com and The Washington Diplomat, and host of ‘Just Ask the Question' Podcast, Author of the new book Free The Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for Affordable​Energy, Former Liberal MP Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of television, radio and film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University Annette Hamm, Co-Host, Morning Live, CHCH-TV See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University

The stock market has been an absolute roller coaster of ups and downs which has made many Canadians ask, "What's going on here?" Scott welcomes someone onto the show who'll be able to help provide some clarity on what's happening as well as provide some advice on navigating these seemingly turbulent waters. Guest: Don Fox, Executive Financial Consultant, Fox Group Private Wealth Management - While most of the world and its industries strive for innovation and the next best thing, television is looking to the past. Whether it's old shows that fans already know and love or news anchors that viewers have come to trust, it seems like everything old is being revamped and reintroduced to audiences. Why is this and what is it saying about TV viewership? Guest: Robert Thompson, Director, Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture, Syracuse University See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government's economic statement included Chrystia Freeland saying that the economy is back but is it really? Guest: Marvin Ryder, Associate Professor of Marketing, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University - We're seeing a lot of positive COVID-19 tests in the sports world which has been leading to postponed games and multiple players being unavailable for games at a time. Could this lead to leagues having to shutdown temporarily again or will we see the return of games without fans in the stands? Guest: Dr. Michael Naraine, Assistant Professor of Sports Business, Brock University - We've seen a big rise in the popularity of foreign TV shows and movies but are they here to stay or has their popularity in North America merely been a quirk of the COVID-19 pandemic? Guest: Robert Thompson, Director, Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture; Trustee Professor of Television, Radio and Film See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syrcause University on the recent mass coverage of the Gabby Petito story. Also the issues with censoring plus vetting stories.

Dr. Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. MTV turns 40. How it changed America and pop culture.

This is a special episode. As you know The Global Agora focuses on politics, international affairs, and security. But I have many interests and I decided to create a podcast about the worldwide phenomenon called Friends. Yes, Friends, the series. It is of course influenced by the recent Friends: The Reunion special. If you have not watched it already, my podcast may contain some mild spoilers. I am not a fanatical fan of Friends, I cannot repeat all the greatest one-liners, but the show made me laugh many, many times. And it also made me cry. A few times. About the cultural and societal impact of Friends, I talked to Professor Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. And there will also be some gossip. :-) Listen to our conversation. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you. ⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/amatisak⁠  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andrej-matisak/message

Today on Boston Public Radio: Saraya Wintersmith updates us on the investigation into former Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White amid allegations of domestic violence. Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH News. Next, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about transparency in police departments. Rob Anderson talks about what the past year has been like for The Canteen, his Provincetown-based restaurant, from the psychological impact of trying to keep business afloat during COVID-19 to a drop in employees. Anderson is the chef and owner of The Canteen in Provincetown. Charlie Sennott discusses the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how U.S. politicians have responded to the rising crisis. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Ali Noorani speaks about President Joe Biden’s meeting with DACA recipients last week, and the Biden administration’s decision to lift the refugee resettlement ceiling for this fiscal year. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III weigh in on House lawmakers’ advancement of a bill that would form a commission to develop proposals on reparations for slavery. They also preview this week’s episode of All Rev’d Up. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Then, we ask listeners how they felt about Gov. Charlie Baker’s updated COVID-19 guidelines. Bob Thompson discusses the end of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and comedian Ziwe Fumidoh’s new Showtime series, “ZIWE.” He also talks about the endurance of sitcoms. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Publicly available electric scooters could be gracing Hamilton's streets soon. While this will be similar to the SoBi bike program there's some rather large differences between an electric scooter and a bicycle. Would introducing these scooters be a good idea? Guest: John Paul Danko, Ward 8 City Councillor, City of Hamilton - He could have killed someone, literally, and yet he was only fined $5,000. That's how many people feel following an astonishing fight last night during the hockey game between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. What should the punishment be that Capitals winger Tom Wilson receives and why does the NHL suck at delivering punishments for bad behaviour? Guest: Mark Hebscher, Author; Podcaster; Former Host, CHCH-TV; Former Co-Host, Sportsline - Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to the movie theatre industry but it looks like there will be a rather large resurgence in patronage. What does the future hold for cinema owners and cinema-goers? Guest: Robert Thompson, Director, Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture; Trustee Professor of Television, Radio and Film See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about going mask-free outdoors following Gov. Charlie Baker’s updated mask mandate. Ali Noorani explains how the 2020 U.S. census could allow President Joe Biden to explore more channels for legal migration. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” Charlie Sennott talks about India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rising COVID-19 cases in the country. He also shares his thoughts on President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Bob Thompson recaps his most memorable TV moments of the week, from W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America” to Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III share their thoughts on Republican Senator Tim Scott’s rebuttal to President Biden’s joint address to Congress. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Christopher Muther talk about the spike in booking rates for summer, and updates us on Iceland’s decision to open its borders to fully vaccinated Americans. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what they thought about a national vacation week.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start off the show by talking with listeners about a Twitter free of former President Donald Trump. Ali Noorani discusses President Joe Biden’s initial decision to keep former President Trump’s historically low refugee cap, and his reversal after outcry from Democrats and activists. He also talks about refugee resettlement initiatives throughout U.S. history. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” Michael Curry shares his thoughts on police brutality in America, and the state of vaccine equity in Massachusetts following the suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Senator Chris Murphy talks about his book, “The Violence Inside Us: A Brief History of an Ongoing American Tragedy,” and weighs in on the difference in media coverage of white and Black victims of gun violence. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price weigh in on televangelist Pat Robertson’s statement on police brutality in America, and whether his condemnation of police violence could change the minds of Evangelical Christians and conservatives. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Bob Thompson shares his thoughts on Fox News’ new late night comedy show “Gutfeld!” and TBS’ show “Chad” starring Nasim Pedrad. He also talks about the upcoming Academy Awards. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. We end the show by asking listeners if they were inspired to pick up running in the spirit of Marathon Monday.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the country's perception of Boston as a racist city. Michelle Singletary walks us through tax season, explaining taxes collected on unemployment and the Child Tax Credit. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money,"  provides insight into the world of personal finance. Lylah Alphonse updates us on the latest Rhode Island-based headlines, from COVID-19 vaccination rates to the state of Providence schools. Alphonse is the Rhode Island editor for the Boston Globe, where she leads a team covering and exploring the Ocean State. Bob Thompson discusses the comeback of Court TV, and their coverage of the Derek Chauvin trial. He also touches on the controversy surrounding Dr. Oz hosting “Jeopardy.” Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price share their thoughts on the trial of Derek Chauvin, and the nationwide perception of Boston as a racist city. They also discuss a decline in church membership across the country. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Richard Blanco celebrates the start of National Poetry Month by highlighting Asian American poets. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. We wrap up the show by asking listeners how they felt about the reopening of elementary schools across Massachusetts.

Today on Boston Public Radio: E.J. Dionne weighs in on the Biden administration’s cross-country “Help is Here” tour after the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Next, we open the phone lines to hear what listeners had to say about Massachusetts’ Education Secretary James Peyser’s plan to address learning loss by expanding in-person summer school programs. Charlie Sennott discusses President Joe Biden’s charge to end the forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, touching on the current state of Al Qaeda in the Middle East. He also discussed Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Bob Thompson recaps Sunday night’s Grammys. He also shares his thoughts on how soon is too soon when it comes to joking about a tragedy. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discusses the Vatican’s decree to not bless same-sex unions, and famous evangelist Beth Moore’s decision to leave the Southern Baptists. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Robert Lewis, Jr. talks about his near-death experience with COVID-19, and what the past year has been like while working with kids. Robert Lewis, Jr. is the founder of the nonprofit The BASE. We wraps up the show by asking listeners if they’re ready to return to working in-person.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package. Michelle Singletary discusses how this year’s tax season could play out with the addition of stimulus checks. She also talks about the new Netflix show, “Marriage or Mortgage.” Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money,"  provides insight into the world of personal finance. Trenni Kusnierek speaks about Maia Chaka making history as the first Black woman to serve as an NFL game official, and allegations of sexism at the Golf Channel. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Bob Thompson recaps Oprah’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He also shares his thoughts on the Disney+ series “WandaVision.” Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett weighs in on Gov. Charlie Baker’s plans to reopen Massachusetts, and vaccine inequity in the state. She also responds to questions and comments from listeners. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School.

Today on Boston Public Radio: E.J. Dionne weighs in on what the events of last weekend’s CPAC can tell us about the future of Trumpism and the GOP. He also speaks about the nursing home scandal and sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Cuomo. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Next, we open the phone lines to speak with listeners about the Baker administration’s plan to reopen schools by April. Charlie Sennott discusses President Biden’s decision to not penalize Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He also talks about the firing of Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador Kyaw Moe Tu after he spoke out against the country’s military coup. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Bob Thompson recaps the Golden Globes, highlighting Andra Day’s historic win for her performance in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. He also discusses criticism over the lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price talk about vaccine inequity in Cambridge, and the Black exodus from the Catholic church. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Richard Blanco highlights the work of poet Denise Duhamel, and previews her upcoming book, Second Story: Poems. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. We end the show by asking listeners about meteorological spring.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jonathan Gruber weighs in on the debate over President Biden’s pledge to raise the federal minimum wage to $15. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream." Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners about the absence of office culture during the pandemic. Art Caplan talks about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as well as the lack of diversity in vaccine trial participants. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Tanja Bosak discusses NASA’s Perseverance rover, sharing what scientists expect to find on the Mars mission. She also talks about what it was like collaborating on the Perseverance rover in the midst of the pandemic. Bosak is a geobiologist for MIT and a return sample scientist on the Perseverance team. Bob Thompson reviews PBS’ The Black Church and Mr. Soul!, as well as NBC’s Kenan and Young Rock. He also highlights films predicted to win Golden Globe awards Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Juliette Kayyem shares her thoughts on Tuesday’s Senate hearing on the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Richard Blanco marks Black History Month by sharing poems from writers such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Terrance Hayes, and Danez Smith. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America.

Dr. Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University

Today on Boston Public Radio:  We kicked off the show by opening lines to talk with listeners about the rise of coronavirus cases in the U.S., and ask: does it feel like we’re back in March?  David Carroll, Director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program, talked about his organization’s shift in focus away from international elections and towards U.S. democracy ahead of the November election.  Immigration authority Ali Noorani discussed the 545 children who’ve yet to be reunited with their parents after being separated by immigration officials at the U.S. Mexico border, and the human rights groups working to help reunite the families. Chris Dempsey and Jim Aloisi discussed a range of transportation headlines, from news that Gov. Charlie Baker has started riding the MBTA Blue Line in an effort to show that it’s safe, to updates on how the MBTA is mitigating its enormous revenue losses. Dempsey is the Mass. Director of Transportation and former Assistant Secretary of Transportation. Jim Aloisi is former transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. TV Expert Bob Thompson talked about the death of streaming service Quibi, and reviewed “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” and the return of “Supermarket Sweep.” Thompson is a professor and founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.   Next, we opened lines to ask: are you planning on giving up holiday traditions this year, or will you be doing everything you can to keep Halloween and Thanksgiving alive? Celtics center and human rights activist Enes Kanter discussed his new campaign to raise awareness about the cruelty of factory farming, and how it was influenced by his time spent alone in the NBA bubble. He also offered a positive update to news from a few months ago about dismal levels of voter registration among players in the NBA. 

Today's confidence vote in the House of Commons has resulted in the Liberals keeping their minority government and no snap election being called. Though it may seem like that means nothing has changed, there are still some political spin-offs that come with the ruling. Guest: Stephen LeDrew, Political Commentator and former President of the Liberal Party of Canada - For the first time in decades "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" will not be shown on network television. On top of that the streaming service Quibi has gone under and it won't be much longer until Borat 2 is released to Amazon Prime Video. What's been going on in the world of streaming? Guest: Robert Thompson, Director, Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture, Syracuse University See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a lot of people who are collecting government support even though they don't need it and in some cases don't even qualify. What should be done about these people who are stealing from you? - CHL hockey players will now be paid to play! A class-action lawsuit was recently settled with a ruling in favour of players who compete in leagues like the OHL Now that they're paid employees, what will their salaries look like? What about benefits? Guest: Dr. Simon Black, Assistant Professor, Labour Studies, Brock University - If you haven't heard of Joe Rogan from his time on TV or through his podcast, you'll probably about him through the news now that he's signed a contract with Spotify to continue his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, for $100 million. How will this landmark deal impact the world of podcasting and entertainment as a whole? Guest: Robert Thompson, Director, Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture, Syracuse University

On this episode of Pop Life the celebration of Black History Month continues. The conversation begins with Ja'Net DuBois, but also includes Good Times, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son and more. Joining host Joe Lee to pay tribute to Dubois and to discuss some of the great sitcoms that featured African American ensembles on this Black History Month episode of Pop Life is the original guest expert Bob Thompson, founding Director of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture and Trustee professor of Radio, Television and Film at Syracuse University.

Does Big Win for Boris Johnson and Conservatives Make Brexit a Sure Thing? (0:33)Guest: Joel Selway, PhD, professor of political science, BYUBritain's parliament returned to work today with a new balance of power. The Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson just captured its biggest majority since the Margaret Thatcher era of 1980's. It's a stunning election outcome after more than three years of political gridlock over Brexit. So what's next? Why People Love Cheesy Hallmark Christmas Movies Year After Year (18:06)Guest: Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture at Syracuse UniversityBy the time the holidays are over more than 80-million people will have watched a Hallmark Christmas movie. They're so sappy and so predictable. Why are these formulaic romances such a hit for Hallmark at Christmas? What Happens When Companies Own Words? (37:32)Guest: Stephanie Plamondon Bair, Associate Professor of Law at BYU Law SchoolBeyonce and Jay-Z have trademarked the names of their kids –Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir. The NFL owns the trademark for the term “Super Bowl.” And boxing announcer Michael Buffer trademarked his catchphrase "Let's get ready to rumble." Trademarking a name or phrase is one way to lock down competitive advantage in the US. The first thing a new company does is trademark its own name. But what happens when the name is an everyday word –like “Backcountry.” Outdoor retailer Backcountry.com recently had a customer boycott on its hands when it started going after other companies for using the word “backcountry.” Dr. Asperger and the Nazi Origins of Autism (50:36)Guest: Edith Sheffer, PhD, Senior Fellow at the Institute of European Studies, University of California, Berkeley, author of “Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna”More awareness of autism has led to much higher rates of diagnosis over the last 30 years. As many as one in 68 children in the US has autism, according to the CDC. There's also a lot more awareness of the range of symptoms that might come with an autism disorder. For many years, children with a milder form of autism were referred to as having “Asperger's Syndrome.” It's named after an Austrian pediatrician whose dark history we're only now learning. In fact, his story is so dark, historian Edith Sheffer would like to see us stop using the term Asperger's. Does Political-Bias Influence Which Judicial Nominees Get Good Marks from the American Bar Association? (1:07:59)Guest: Amy Steigerwalt, Professor of Political Science at Georgia State UniversityThe US Supreme Court gets a lot of attention for its rulings because it's the highest court in the land. But it only hears a fraction of cases on hot button issues that Americans care about. Most of the time, it's the appeals court, one step lower than the Supreme Court, that has the final say on a case. Those judges are also nominated by the President and appointed for life. We just don't hear about them as much. To that point, did you know that President Trump and the Republican-controlled Senate have been on a judge-appointing-frenzy these last few years? That's prompted concern from Democrats that the judges being appointed are politically biased and unqualified. Republicans say the nominees are plenty qualified, it's the report card given to them that's biased. A Game-Changer for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing College Students (1:28:36)Guest: Mike Jones, Professor of Computer Science, BYU; Korey Hocker, CEO of SignGlasses, Mike Alder, BYU Technology Transfer OfficeRight now across the country there are tens of thousands of college students wrapping up the semester who are deaf or hard of hearing. Think about the challenge that would mean in a classroom setting. A student might have a sign language interpreter sitting with them. So that means keeping one eye on the interpreter and one eye on what the professor is writing on the board and one eye on your own notes. That's three eyes. Impossible? A startup called SignGlasses is working on a solution.

The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada jonis us as the first week of the campaign draws to a close. Guest: Andrew Scheer. CPC leader. - The SNC-Lavalin/Justin Trudeau refusing to lift cabinet confidence and allow Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott to share with Canadians and the TCMP their truth about Trudeau and PMO and demand of Wilson-Raybould that she intervene with the federal prosecution service to save SNC from facing a criminal charge in court.  Guest: Professor Donald Savoi. Canada Research Chair in Public Administration an Governance at the University of Moncton. - With the first weekend of federal election campaign on us, how does IPSOS Public Affairs assess the current mood of Canadian voters and the appeal of the various political parties? Vice president of IPSOS Public Affairs explains. Guest: Sean Simpson. VP. IPSOS Public Affairs. - Felicity Huffman, of Desperate Housewives, just became the first parent sentenced in a wide ranging US college admissions cheating scandal and received a 14 day prison sentence after pleading guilty to paying to rig her daughter's entrance exam. Roy is joined by the leading expert in pop culture to discuss the morals and legalities.  Guest: Robert Thompson. Founding director: Bleier Center for TV and Popular Culture. - Beauties & the Beast reconvene. Michelle Simson, former Liberal MP declares she will not vote for Trudeau. Guests: Michelle Simson. Fmr LPC MP Catherine Swift. Fmr Pres/CEO CFIB Linda Leatherdale. VP Cambria Canada. Fmr MONEY editor Toronto Sun. - RCMP intel director criminally charged in a major case. Civilian RCMP member with access to the most confidential RCMP files. It was America who alerted Canada of deep concerns about the activities of Cameron Ortis who appears to have perhaps been prepared to pass on highly classified information to an unknown entity. Guest: Mercedes Stephenson. Global News parliamentary bureau chief and host of the West Block on Global Television.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to hear listeners' takes on how the United States is handling Bahamians seeking refuge from hurricane damage. NBC Boston sports reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed Antonio Brown's deal with the Patriots, and other sports headlines. Chris Dempsey, director of Transportation for Massachusetts, broke down congestion pricing, and Governor Charlie Baker's hesitation to it. Corby Kummer, executive director of the Food and Society Policy program at the Aspen Institute, discussed how the movement to eat less meat is growing, to the concern of farming advocates. Abby Ellis, director of a new Frontline documentary that goes behind the headlines of the Flint water crisis, joined us to discuss the investigation, which revealed one of the country's largest outbreaks of Legionnaires disease was largely hidden from the public. CNN's John King gave us the latest on the breaking news Tuesday that President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton is out, and previewed the Democratic debates. Bob Thompson, founding director of Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse, reviewed his best and worst television of the week.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Chieppo and Jennifer Braceras joined us for a political round table. Chieppo is principal of Chieppo Strategies and senior fellow at both Governing and Pioneer Institute. Braceras is a political columnist, director of the Center for Law & Liberty at the Independent Women's Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. We spoke with WGBH News Analyst Charlie Sennott about the resignation of US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, one of a string of resignations in President Donald Trump's cabinet. Pat and Tammy McLeod joined us to discuss their new book *Hit Hard: One Family's Journey of Letting Go of What Was -- And Learning to Live Well with What Is, *about their son's traumatic brain injury sustained while playing football. We opened the lines to take listener calls about the news that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein apparently committed suicide while in jail. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III joined us for another edition of All Rev'd Up to discuss the legacy of late author Toni Morrison. Michael Maso, executive director of the Huntington Theater, discussed the theater's upcoming renovations. Media scholar Bob Thompson previewed this year's Emmy Awards in September. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Sue O'Connell and Joanna Weiss discussed the weekend mass shootings in Ohio and Texas and other national headlines in a political round-table. O'Connell is co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and in-depth politics reporter for NECN. Weiss is editor of Experience, a magazine published by Northeastern University. WGBH News analyst Charlie Sennott looked at how America compares to other nations when it comes to gun deaths, and why mass shooters who espouse white nationalism aren't charged with domestic terrorism in the country. We opened the phone lines to hear from our listeners about where they stand on gun control. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed what rural Christians heard during the Democrat presidential debates. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and a Visiting Researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University School of Theology. Emmett is Professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together they host the All Rev’d Up podcast. TV guru Bob Thompson previewed the American Experiences documentary on Woodstock, and reviewed other media headlines. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public communications at Syracuse. We got an acoustic set from musician Will Dailey, who will perform a series of concerts at Fenway Park this summer.

What MAD Magazine is doing to commemorate its past issues before saying goodbye. Do you remember reading this? Who was the magazine aimed at? Guest: Robert Thompson, Professor, Radio, Television & Film; Director of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture, Syracuse University  -  If you went to summer camp, those memories - good and bad - stay with you. What are the benefits of attending summer camps? What are some activities kids can do that you might not be aware of?  Guest: Steve Vanwinden, Executive Director of Sports Discovery Camp - In celebration of the annual 4th of July hot dog eating contest held in Coney Island, CHML's own Ben Straughan tries to beat this years' champ, Joey Chestnut, who ate 71 hot dogs, as well as past CHML employees. Also, What happens to your body when you eat food like this? Is there anything you can do to prepare if you plan on competing in a contest like this? Guest: Ben Straughan, 900 CHML Operator; Street Team&Guest: Dr. John Marshall, Chief of Gastroenterology, McMaster University

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable with Michael Curry and Joe Malone tackled the latest local and national news. Curry is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers, and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Malone is former state treasurer. Is the standoff between China and the United States the beginning of a broader economic war? Charles Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project and a WGBH analyst, weighed in. Do you feel cheated by the weather this spring? We opened up the lines and asked our listeners. After being exiled from TV, Billy Bush is making his return. Television expert Bob Thompson weighed in. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse. Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price tackled the moral issues of the day on “All Revved Up.” Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, as well as a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at  Boston University School of Theology. Price is a Professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about the death of the middle school dance. Is it time to bring this rite of passage back? Poet Richard Blanco read the winning entries to our acrostic poem contest. Blanco is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history, and his new book is "How To Love A Country."

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable featuring Jennifer Nassour and Michael Curry weighed in on the latest headlines. Nassour is former Chairman of the MassGOP and COO of ReflectUS, and Curry is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Charles Sennott analyzed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sennott is the founder of The GroundTruth Project and a WGBH News analyst. Will the economy be the defining issue of the 2020 election? We opened up the lines and asked our listeners. Social psychologist Michael Norton looked at the ways oversimplifying the ways we care for family and friends can backfire. Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and is the author of "Happy Money: the Science of Happier Spending." Then we opened up the lines and asked listeners for their stories. Another hate crime has rattled a synagogue. Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price discussed on "All Revved Up." Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and a* *visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University School of Theology. Price is a Professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bob Thompson shared his take on the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable with Jennifer Braceras and Jeffrey Sanchez discussed the news that Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is throwing his hat in the ring and running for president in 2020. Braceras is a political columnist, senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Sanchez is a former State Representative and Ways and Means Chairman. Charles Sennott discussed the rise of Christian Zionism in the United States. Sennott is the founder of The GroundTruth Project and a WGBH News analyst. Attorney General Maura Healey weighed in on the Mueller Report and took questions from our listeners. Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price discussed pushback from students at a Christian college after administrators decided to invite Vice President Mike Pence to speak at their commencement. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University School of Theology. Price is a Professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about Moulton's candidacy. Television expert Bob Thompson went over the best and worst TV moments of the week. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public communications at Syracuse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We went over the latest political headlines with Frank Phillips and Peter Gelzinis. Phillips is the State House Bureau Chief for The Boston Globe* *and Gelzinis is a columnist emeritus for The Boston Herald. Deal or no deal? Charles Sennott, WGBH news analyst and founder of The GroundTruth Project, talked about the latest on Brexit and what it means for Prime Minister Theresa May. In a recent piece for New York magazine, former Nevada state politician Lucy Flores alleged that Joe Biden inappropriately touched her at a political rally. We asked our listeners: Does Biden's history disqualify him from running for president? Television expert Bob Thompson weighed in on the final season of "Veep" and shared his picks for the best and worst TV of the week. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse. For seven weeks, Carolyn Beeler — the environmental reporter for The World — was on an Antarctic expedition living and working among a group of scientists who were studying Thwaites Glacier. She shared her takeaways from the trip. Richard Blanco helped us ring in National Poetry Month by teaching Jim and Margery how to pen their own acrostic poems. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history and author of, most recently, "How To Love A Country." Joe Mathieu, host of WGBH's Morning Edition*, *shared his reflections on a recent reporting trip to Cuba with Congressman Jim McGovern.

The full broadcast of Boston Public Radio from Monday, February 25th, 2019. Jennifer Nassour, former chairman of the MassGOP and COO of ReflectUS, and Steve Kerrigan, president and co-founder of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and former CEO of the DNC, joined us to talk about the latest political headlines and preview Michael Cohen testimony on Wednesday. Charlie Sennott, WGBH news analyst and the founder of the GroundTruth Project, discussed President Trump's peace summit with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un in Vietnam this week. Roger McNamee, the founding partner of the venture capital firm Elevation Partners, talked about his new book, * Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe* Keith Lockhart, Boston POPS Conductor, previewed the upcoming season of the POPS. Irene Monroe,syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University School of Theology, and Emmett Price, professor and founding executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, talked about the recent Vatican summit on the church's legacy of sexual abuse. Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a trustee professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse, talked about the Oscars and what to watch this week. We opened the lines to hear what you thought about last night's Oscars.

Charlie Chieppo, principal of Chieppo Strategies and senior fellow at both the Governing and Pioneer Institutes, and Shannon O’Brien, former state treasurer and Democratic nominee for governor, joined us to discuss the latest political headlines. TV guru Bob Thompson told us what to check out in the world of television. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a trustee professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse. Darla Shine, the wife of President Trump’s deputy chief of staff for communications, took to Twitter last week to promote anti-vaxxer dogma in response to a recent measles outbreak in Washington state. She suggested that diseases such as measles “keep you healthy and fight cancer.” Medical ethicist Art Caplan joined us to explore this and more. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty chair and director of the division of medical ethics at the NYU Langone Medical Center. He’s also the co-host of the Everyday Ethics podcast. It’s official: Boston has the worst traffic congestion in the U.S. We opened up the lines to ask if you’d be willing to carpool, if it would reduce congestion and get more cars off the street. After decades of sexual assault accusations, Theodore McCarrick has been defrocked for sexual misconduct. Is this a first step in accountability, or is the Catholic church still sidestepping a systemic problem? Reverends Emmett G. Price III and Irene Monroe joined us for this and more. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, a visiting researcher in the religion and conflict transformation program at Boston University School of Theology. Price is a professor and founding executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Steven Maler, the founding artistic director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, joins us to discuss the latest upcoming production, "Birdy," and how he’s given Shakespeare’s "Hamlet" a high-tech upgrade. Poet Richard Blanco joins us for a special birthday edition of "Village Voice." Blanco is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history, His new book, "How to Love a Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. It will be released in March.

The full broadcast of Boston Public Radio from Monday, February 11th, 2019. We went over the latest headlines with our political roundtable, featuring Jennifer Braceras and Michael Curry. Braceras is a political columnist, senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights; Curry is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Television expert Bob Thompson shared his picks for the best and worst TV of the week. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse. Charles Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project and a WGBH News analyst, explained the deepening crisis in Venezuela. In 2020 coverage so far, we've read about how Kirsten Gillibrand eats chicken and Elizabeth Warren drinks beer. We opened up the lines and asked you: Are you fed up with the superficial nature of the coverage and of our national discourse? On the latest installment of "All Revved Up," Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price looked at Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's refusal to resign from office after a racist photo of him surfaced. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, as well as a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University's School of Theology. Price is a professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Got home improvement questions? The folks from "This Old House" have answers! Kevin O’Connor, host of "This Old House" and "Ask This Old House" and Charlie Silva, a general contractor for "This Old House," took your calls.

It’s been five years since Jesse Pinkman took off like a bat out of a drug-making hell in the final episode of Breaking Bad. It’s been more than a decade since Tony Soprano may or may not have been whacked by that dude coming out of the Holsten’s bathroom. It was 20 years ago that Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and George were sentenced to jail time for, well, basically for being jerks, in the Seinfeld series ender. And viewers have been debating those television series finales ever since they first aired.  On this week’s Pop Literacy, Jennifer and Kim talk about the history of series finales with Syracuse University Professor Bob Thompson, whose Syracuse Press TV book series just released Television Finales: From Howdy Doody to Girls. Thompson, the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse, helps us recall the best and worst series finales ever (the Sopranos and Seinfeld enders have landed on both those lists through the years), reveals the finale that touched him and then made him angry (one word: purgatory), and shares some insights into what makes a good series wrap-up episode and whether or not he thinks viewers will be left satisfied by upcoming finales of Game of Thrones and The Big Bang Theory.

Professor Robert Thompson talks with Roy about about the Oval Office meeting between two of pop culture biggest influencers. Subscribe to The Roy Green Show on wherever you find your favourite podcasts, for interesting perspectives on the events shaping our world. Guest: Professor Robert Thompson, Director, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, author and editor of 'Television's Second Golden Age' (Photo: Oliver Contreras - Pool/Getty Images) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The full broadcast of Boston Public Radio from Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 In 1991, Clarence Thomas’ fate on the Supreme Court suddenly became uncertain when Anita Hill went public with accusations of sexual misconduct. Today, against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh finds himself in a similar situation, which will come to a head next Monday when he and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing him of sexual violence, testify before the Senate Judiciary committee. If Anita Hill’s testimony didn’t keep Thomas from being confirmed, why would Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony be any different? We opened the lines to ask you: What’s next? On Monday the New England Patriots uncharacteristically lost to the Jaguars, facilitated by an underwhelming performance by Tom Brady. Joining us to take on this and other sports headlines is Trenni Kusnierek. She’s an anchor and a reporter for NBC sports Boston and a BPR contributor. The Boston City Council has become fertile ground for a generation of new political leadership. Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell joins us for that, to talk about affordable housing, and more. It’s a jungle out there. Since Amazon took over, Whole Foods working conditions are getting worse and workers want to unionize. Food writer Corby Kummer joins us for that and more. Now that the fires are out, who is going to pay for the destruction and long-term consequences of the Merrimack Valley gas explosions? The Boston Globe’s Shirley Leung joins us for that and more. Then, the latest politics headlines with CNN’s Chief National Correspondent and Inside Politics anchor John King. Bob Thompson joins us to discuss how the Emmys handled the #MeToo era, plus the winners and losers of last night’s award ceremonies. He’s a professor and founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse.

The explosion of terms like "snow bomb" and "bombogenesis" amid the giant snow storm in the Northeast last week is just the latest example of how weather stories can take on lives of their own in the media. But when and how did the weather come to dominate the news cycle? This week, a brief history of the media's obsession with weather news and how this manifests today. Guests: Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University; Ed Vallee, meteologist, Vallee WX Consulting; Stephanie Sigafoos, online producer for The Morning Call. Music is by Ian Boddy, Andrew White, Anthony James, Huw Jones and Sam Brown. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Hugh Hefner died at the age of 91 this week. Despite criticism, Hefner was massively influential on society. Playboy also included interviews with some of the world's most influential and interesting people, as well as renowned pieces of fiction. Guest: Professor Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for TV and Popular Culture at the University of Syracuse (Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP Photo, File) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Roy Green Show Podcast   Hugh Hefner died at the age of 91 this week. Despite criticism, Hefner was massively influential on society. Playboy also included interviews with some of the world's most influential and interesting people, as well as renowned pieces of fiction. Guest: Professor Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for TV and Popular Culture at the University of Syracuse - Chronic pain patients are being increasingly marginalized and are having their opioid medications withdrawn, leaving them in severe agony and causing an increasing number of them to take drastic measures. Guests: Dr. Lynn Webster, past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine and author of “The Painful Truth”, based in Salt Lake City, Utah Dr. Gaylord Wardell, anesthesiologist and pain specialist in Medicine Hat, Alberta - Kristian Saucier is a U.S. Navy Petty Officer who took six photographs – intended to be personal mementos – of the inside of the 40-year-old submarine on which he was serving. He was sentenced to a year in prison for this. Now he wants to know why he was sent to prison for “improperly handling classified information”, but Hillary Clinton was not. Guest: Kristian Saucier - A charity that runs a Vancouver-area mosque has been penalized by federal regulators after an audit alleges its former president and imam spent tens of thousands of dollars on personal purchases. The audit also alleged the charity had a “relationship” with a Qatar organization accused of supporting terrorism. Guest: Stewart Bell, reporter for Global News investigating this story - A Mainstreet Research poll released suggests that Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi is on the road to defeat in the current mayoral race. Why is one of Canada's most highly profiled mayors on the brink of being rejected by voters? Guest: Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Research See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, James Comey testified at a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting. He told about how he took notes about his meetings with the president and how when Trump tweeted about having tapes of their meetings, it prompted him to leak memos. Guest - Ryan Hurl, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto. Ontario is going to expand personal emergency leave for ten days, including two paid days. How will this affect the workplace? Guest - Jon Pinkus, Employment Lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP Is Hollywood too hooked on the franchise machine? This weekend will see the movie “The Mummy” opening, which already does not have the greatest reviews. This film is supposed to kick start a series of films from Universal Studios featuring classic movie bad guys such as Dracula, the Wolfman, etc. Is there a need for these films or are we burnt out from franchise over franchise? Guest - Robert Thompson, Founding Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University

What is the pop-culture impact of a person like Roger Moore? Is he the greatest Bond of all time? Guest - Robert Thompson, Founding Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University

A study from the Fraser Institute finds that government employees earn nearly 15% more than similar jobs in the private sector. - Scott is joined by pop culture expert Professor Robert Thompson to discuss violence in television and movies, if our popular stories are more violent than they used to be, and why we are drawn to violent media. Guest: Professor Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture - The new CFL schedule has been revealed, and Scott thinks it is "interesting." Rick Zamperin joins the show to talk about what the upcoming season will look like for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Guest: Rick Zamperin, Assistant Program/News/Senior Sports Director at AM900 CHML) - The Merriam-Webster Dictionary a has added 1,000 new words to its next edition. Scott wonders how many of these words will be used in everyday life.

Robert Thompson. Professor of popular culture and director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, University of Syracuse. Donald Trump is certainly a pop culture icon(?)! And he 'could' be the next President of the United States of America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

40 years of SNL. Tonight a special anniversary Saturday Night Live show reviews four decades of how SNL satirized the news and newsmakers and introduced us to the likes of Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi, Eddie Murphy and Tina Fey, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin. The list is long for a show which almost didn't make it at first. Guest: Professor Robert Thompson. Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, University of Syracuse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.