[+] 20 Feb 2024
the fab four, madame web, ec comics, and a deteriorating culture
This is the beta of foofaraw[+], the temporary home of something new.
Thanks for coming along for the ride, let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for how it can be improved.
Pretty great edition of [+] today if I can say so myself. I think this format of focusing on 3-6 big articles is the way to go moving forward. When it comes to the number of issues I write in a week when I officially launch, I think I need to follow a model similar to Sam’s LWNYR, where the more people subscribe, the more he covers—fiction, weekend essay, etc. I don’t think segmenting is quite as easy here, as the entire point is getting all of the important links in the entertainment and media world in front of your eyeballs, but we will see.
Another thing I’m thinking about is the naming convention for issues. So far I’ve just been relying on the date, but part of me wants to do something more creative with it. Looking at some of the other newsletters I follow, it’s a mixed bag. Maybe I’ll riff on the leading story moving forward. I’ll give that a go starting tomorrow.
Top of the News
All four members of the The Beatles are getting biopics | The FADER
This is some of the most exciting news I’ve heard in a long time.
Sam Mendes at the helm of all four, but no word on who will be penning the scripts. I honestly haven’t seen most of his filmography, but Skyfall was superb.
All four films appear to be slated for 2027—I imagine they lead with Paul and wrap with John. I’m more excited for Ringo and George though.
Interesting that it’s “fully licensed”… I imagine Paul and Ringo will be pretty involved…
See also: Sam Mendes Sets Beatles Biopic Movie Series at Sony
EC Comics return from Oni Press, Bermejo, Aaron, Ward and more
I’m not really familiar with EC Comics, I think it was from before my time, but this is incredibly exciting to me.
A true murderers row of talent being brought in for two anthology series’—we need to make sure this is a success for Oni. Seriously.
So many exciting things happening in licensed and “universe” comics as of late with Energon, Thundercats, Star Wars, Ram V/Watters, etc.
HBO Is Holding Back ‘Last Week Tonight’ Clips From YouTube – The Hollywood Reporter
I can see that John Oliver isn’t a fan of this move, but it makes sense…
LWT is a darling of TV and HBO, and they are giving away the longest and best parts for free. If they stopped putting them on YouTube altogether, I would get the pushback, but it’s only being delayed a couple days. Pay for price for HBO or have some patience… (easy for me to say, I use my father-in-law’s HBO login…)
See also: John Oliver Offers Clarence Thomas $1M Annually to Retire From SCOTUS — The Hollywood Reporter
I love this.
It will obviously never happen, but I wonder if he took out an insurance policy, just in case. I don’t know if that kind of policy actually exists, but they do for those half-court shot giveaways, so why not this?
The State of the Culture, 2024 - by Ted Gioia
The fastest growing sector of the culture economy is distraction. Or call it scrolling or swiping or wasting time or whatever you want. But it’s not art or entertainment, just ceaseless activity.
The more addicts rely on these stimuli, the less pleasure they receive. At a certain point, this cycle creates anhedonia—the complete absence of enjoyment in an experience supposedly pursued for pleasure.
Who knew the state of culture could be so depressing…
Gioia nails it though—the rise of dopamine chart he put’s together gets to the point, although I’d say all of the tracks, including sports, journalism, and communication, all end in scrolling tiktok’s and reels…
Madame Web's Box Office Is Bad Enough To Squash Sony's Spider-Man Spin-Off Plans
This sounds like a complete and utter disaster.
They aren’t going to stop though. They’ve already got two more this year and I guarantee there will be more in the future.
The Spider-Verse movies alone make it worth it for them (as long as they don’t hemorage money on these). I think a lot of people want these rights to go back to Disney, but that’s just not going to happen. Eventually Tom Holland will be done with Spider-Man and they will probably give it another go without Disney’s help.
See also: ‘Madame Web’ Review: Dakota Johnson Can’t Save This Spidey Spinoff - The New York Times + Nic Cage Reportedly In Talks For Live-Action Spider-Man Noir Series — Empire
Ye Has a No. 1 Album for the 11th Time With ‘Vultures 1’ - The New York Times
This is disgusting. I honestly hate bringing him up at all in this newsletter, but apparently people are listening—to music that’s apparently not even that good.
See also: ‘Vultures 1’: Where the New Ye Meets the Old Kanye - The New York Times
TV
‘True Detective: Night Country’ Finale’s Ambiguous Ending Explained – The Hollywood Reporter
Rachel Brosnahan Is 'Stalking' Journalists To Become Superman: Legacy's Lois Lane
Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Homecoming Has Ratings Halo Effect — The Hollywood Reporter
One Piece stars publicly beg Danny DeVito to come be on their show — The A.V. Club
Music
Lil Jon shares guided meditation album Total Meditation | The FADER
Beyoncé Just Became the First Black Woman Artist With a Number One Country Song — Rolling Stone
Comics
Movies
Guest Essay: J. Robert Oppenheimer Biographer on the Nearly Impossible Adaptation
Ridley Scott Making A Deal To Direct Bee Gees Biopic — Empire
Misc.
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