Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

Trump should be leading, not lying.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

Fear and negativity are contagious, but so is courage!

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

Not rolling over. fuck you, make me.

You are here: Home / Archives for Medium Cool

Medium Cool is here once a week on Sundays at 7pm Eastern to offer a thread on culture, mainly film & books, with some TV thrown in.

We wanted to call the series Culture as a Hedge Against This Soul-Sucking Political Miasma We’re Living In, but decided that was a bit too long, so we settled on Medium Cool.

We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered.

Remember: Medium Cool is on Sundays at 7 pm.

Medium Cool – Best Of…

by | 195 Comments

This post is in: , ,

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Medium Cool – Best Of...

I signed up for Apple TV so I could watch the current seasons of Slow Horses and The Morning Show.  But when I finished Slow Horses, I started re-watching Shrinking, and then moved on to *The Morning Show.  With just 3 episodes left of that show, I have 25 days left of my now-cancelled Apple TV.

And of course, having just put my tax info together for 2025, I am feeling like I am wasting money that could better be used elsewhere.  I’m starting to think that TaMara’s approach to streaming might be best – sign up for a month of a streaming service, watch some shows you want to see, and then cancel and move on to the next streaming service.

So I’m selfishly hoping we can collectively come up with a Top 10 Shows list for each of the streaming services.

Prime
Netflix
Apple TV
Acorn
Britbox
Disney
Hulu
Paramount+
Peacock
YouTube

Those are the 10 steaming services I can think of, but if there are others, I can add them to the list.

ADDED
Kanopy (free thru libraries, no ads)
Hoopla (free thru libraries, no ads)
PBS Passport (donat $60)
Tubi
Pluto
Roku (yes they have a service that doesn’t require their box)
MHz Choice (best collection of international shows)

When you nominate a show, please tell us at least 3 things about it:

  • which streaming service it’s on
  • what genre it is
  • what makes it a great show

Also, too.   When I started watching the current season of The Morning Show, I found myself wondering why I had been watching the show because it seemed sort of lame.  I figured I’d give it an episode or two to give them a minute to find their footing.  And they did!  But it struck me yesterday that it feels like a soap opera. A pretty good soap opera, but a soap opera, nonetheless. Am I crazy?  That got me to wondering about how many other popular shows might just be the new soap operas.  (I don’t even know, are the regular soap operas even still running in network television?)

Feel free to take a meta view and  talk about things like that, as well as building the Top 10 lists for the various streaming services.

In case you are new to Medium Cool, these are not open threads.

 

 

Medium Cool – Best Of…Post + Comments (195)

Medium Cool – Movie Trailers!?

by | 85 Comments

This post is in: , ,

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

So tonight let’s talk about all things movie trailers.

Seems like movie trailers were HUGE in the past.  Is that still true?

What are some of the greatest movie trailers of all time?  The worst?  Which were misleading?  Which trailers were better than the movies themselves, because they put all the good stuff in the trailer, so the movie was a letdown?  Are there ever lame trailers for great movies? I wonder if there are people who specialize in making trailers.

What makes a great trailer?  Not telling us too much?  Or too little?  Catching the vibe of the movie?

Are new movies even being released in theaters?  Big blockbusters?  Seems like I hardly hear about those anymore.  Is streaming of shows basically pushing the big films aside?  Are there trailers for new streaming shows?

Please link to the best,  worst, and most noteworthy trailers, if you can, but for sure let us know what made them great, or terrible, or lame.

Also, since this is the last Medium Cool of 2025, I would love some feedback on the kinds of topics you have enjoyed the most, and the least, and share any ideas you have for topics for the coming year.

Medium Cool – Movie Trailers!?Post + Comments (85)

Medium Cool – I’m Thinking of a ….

by | 317 Comments

This post is in: , , ,

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Are you guys up for playing some games?

I’m thinking of a movie.  Ask me questions to figure out what movie I’m thinking of.

After you guys solve that one, someone else jump in with I’m thinking of a book or a song or a limerick or whatever.  (To be fair, you have to make it something that is not totally obscure.)

In case you are new to Medium Cool, these are not open threads.

Medium Cool – I’m Thinking of a ….Post + Comments (317)

Medium Cool – Things That Hold Up Well, and Things That Don’t

by | 280 Comments

This post is in: ,

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Medium Cool – Opposite Day!

Tonight let’s talk about things that hold up well and things that don’t.  Books, movies, TV shows.  Bands.  Musical genres.  Songs, musicals.  Even adult beverages, holiday activities.   Anything culture-related.

Anybody want to play?

In case you are new to Medium Cool, these are not open threads.

Medium Cool – Things That Hold Up Well, and Things That Don’tPost + Comments (280)

Medium Cool – All Things Snow!

by | 164 Comments

This post is in: , , , ,

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Medium Cool – All Things Snow!

I think we’ve already had more snow this year than in all of 2024 combined.  For me, snow is the only redeeming thing about winter, so I am definitely not complaining!

For the past week, when I’m at the computer I have a wall of windows in front of me that shows me snow, snow, snow.

So tonight, let’s talk about all things snow.  Books, movies, TV, poetry, even music – though I might personally argue that snow in holiday songs is kind of schlocky, anything goes.  I am not an opera person, but maybe there’s an opera out there where snow is part of the story?  (Not sure how you’d pull of the snow on stage, though, so maybe not?)

Since I love snow, I love it when snow is an integral to the plot line of books and shows.  In the written word, I love mysteries where everyone is snowed in and there’s something afoot.

Please don’t just list books or shows or whatever that are snow related.  If it’s a poem, share it if you can, but either way, please talk about it.  For books and TV and films, tell us how the snow fits into the plot line, why or how it’s effective, what you like about it, etc.

As always, with the suggestions above I’m not trying to limit what you talk about, just trying to share some ideas to help get things rolling.

Okay, let’s jump right in!

In case you are new to Medium Cool, these are not open threads.

Medium Cool – All Things Snow!Post + Comments (164)

Medium Cool – What Are You Watching These Days?

by | 120 Comments

This post is in: 

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Ack.  So busy with the Pet Calendar that I forgot to put together a Medium Cool for tonight!

So I guess that makes it a good time for a “what are you guys watching these days” thread.

 

Medium Cool – What Are You Watching These Days?Post + Comments (120)

Medium Cool – Mysteries & Thrillers (Books, Movies, TV Shows)

by | 118 Comments

This post is in: , , ,

Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in. We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered. We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Tonight let’s talk about mysteries and thrillers!

Books.  TV shows.  Movies.

Old ones, new ones, best ones.

Do you have a favorite writer?  Favorite director?  Favorite series?

Don’t just tell us what, or who; please also tell us a little bit about it (or them) and what you particularly like or why you would recommend it.

Here we go!

In case you are new to Medium Cool, these are not open threads.

 

Medium Cool – Mysteries & Thrillers (Books, Movies, TV Shows)Post + Comments (118)