Winnipeg Free Press - September 10/09
TIRED of reruns, derivative reality TV and programs that are only worth watching because there’s nothing else on? The fall TV season is right around the corner and it looks as if the networks are going to do a full-court press to make sure audiences don’t change the channel. With a new batch of programs fighting it out for viewers — and the precious ad dollars that come with a big audience — there are going to be some hits and misses this TV season.
Don’t want to miss the return of your favourite show? Want to make sure you give all the new programs a chance? TV Addict has put together a comprehensive, printable schedule for the busy fall TV season.
Time magazine’s 50 best websites
ALTHOUGH there are still four months left in 2009, Time magazine has decided it wants to be first out of the gate and has published its list of the 50 best websites of the year. Not surprisingly, the news mag has offered up some safe choices. Do we really need another list that includes Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube and Amazon? These obvious choices really go without saying, but the magazine does highlight some under-the-radar sites, such as online recipe generator Supercook, on-demand music service Spotify (yet to launch in North America), file-sharing service drop.io and information aggregators like popurl.
WHILE VHS beat out Betamax in the first round, it looks like digital video recorder technology is going to ensure the only place you see tapes and VCRs over the next few years will be at garage sales. First available to consumers over 12 years ago, the high initial price of the devices kept them out of most homes. That’s all changing, as cable/satellite companies and third-party providers like Tivo aggressively price new models and compete for your business by dangling deals for new customers.
Still not sure you need to dump your trusted VCR and get on the DVR bandwagon? Are you sick of being forced to watch the nearly 25,000 commercials a year the average Canadian is exposed to? Want to grab a drink during the next Bomber game and not miss Michael Bishop scrambling for his life? The Digital Home blog takes a look at Five Reasons to Buy a DVR.
25 indie films to catch this fall
SO you went to Transformers 2 and G.I. Joe: you’ve had your Hollywood blockbuster fix. Paste magazine knows that not everyone is satisfied with CGI explosions, subpar acting and characters seemingly created by a focus group.
If you still want to hit the theatre, but aren’t sure what to watch, this list of 25 indie films worth seeing should be a good place to start. From Mike Judge’s Extract to Youth in Revolt with Michael Cera to Pirate Radio starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, there are plenty of movies worth checking out over the next few months. Not convinced? Trailers for most movies are available in the article.
