Showing posts with label Network Programming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Network Programming. Show all posts

Thursday, August 3, 2017

What Are Anna H's Answers To Your Questions About Music, Anime, & Pets?

How's it going my gumdrops? Today I am answering more questions. Like I have said in the past, I normally reserve Q&A blogs for September 23rd. Next month, on the 23rd will be the 4th anniversary of It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.

Since a number of my subscribers typically have a lot of questions to ask, I have been trying to decide if I should do Q&A blogs more routinely.

Here are 3 questions from Victor. Victor asks the following:

1) Have you ever listened to a song, that you liked but you can't remember the artist or name of said song and would get it stuck in your head for hours hoping to remember the artist's name?

2) What brand of anime do you like that are of your taste buds? (Dark Comedy, Horror, Gritty Grindhouse, mature shows, etc.)

3) Did you ever have pets when you were younger and wish you had seen them one last time?

These are excellent and fun questions to answer, Victor! I am actually glad that you asked them. To answer the following questions you asked:

1) Yes! This has happened, since childhood. You would be amazed at the many times throughout my life, that I have heard songs but didn't know, who sang them. This is something most of us listeners face at least once in our lifetime, I'm sure.

After watching commercials that advertise music compilations, if not watching a classic music video on MTV Classic (nowadays), I'll usually say either, "Oh! So that's who sang this song! I always thought it was ___," or something similar.

In fact, I was in the middle of watching MTV Classic the other night and saw the music video for the song "Broken Wings." I always thought it was Don Henley's growing up. It turns out it was Mr. Mister, who sang "Broken Wings."

Interesting enough, Mr. Mister DID actually go on tour with Don Henley, The Bangles, The Eurythmics, etc. during the 1980's.

Also, the Indie Grebo Industrial Rock band, Pop Will Eat Itself. For the last 2 decades, I never knew who sang the song, "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer," meaning "I am a foreigner"  in German. 

When 102.1's Radio DJ, Raven hosted her radio show, Industrial Nation on late Saturday nights, she played Industrial Metal and Electronica remixes of Rock songs. 

It wasn't until a year or 2 ago, that I learned the name of this band. To be more specific, Raven used to host her Saturday night show, Industrial Nation, in my hometown at New Rock 102.1, during the mid to late 1990's.

2) When it comes to Anime, I try not to limit genres and sub-genres. I watch a wide variety of Japanese animation meant for both genders, different age groups, sexual orientations, etc. both English subtitled and dubbed.

Lately, I haven't had as much time to watch as many as I used to because I'm busy both on and offline. I still have yet to stream xxxHolic in its entirety. However, I am currently watching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, Tokyo Ghoul, and re-watching Naruto Shippuden dubbed in English on Adult Swim's Toonami block.

If I had more time, I would stream Anime again. My biggest complaint about both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim these last 5-9 years has been, that both only care about Shonen Jump Action Anime.

Because of these restrictions, both networks have bred a lot of ignorant, entitled, and highly misinformed sycophants and zealots for fans in America.

Toonami only represents Action Animation specifically meant for teenage boys. It does not represent the female demographics. 

Those currently running Cartoon Network AND Adult Swim intentionally alienate most of their viewers regardless of their age and gender.

Colours TV was the only network that represented a wide variety of Anime genres for both genders. 

Even though Colours TV was a highly syndicated multi-cultural network, it STILL aired Shonen, Shojo, Comedy, Romance, Action, Mystery, etc.

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim could afford to tear a page out of Colours TV's book. Colours was EXTREMELY  lowly-funded. Although, those running it were still able and willing to air something for most types of Anime fans.

3) Yes, I've had 3 dogs and 4 guinea pigs, during my youth. I haven't owned any pets for the last 13 years. 

Pets require a lot of time, money, energy, and care. I always took care of my guinea pigs and they normally lived for at least 5 years.

After my last dog, Alexis had to be euthanized in 2004, I stopped wanting pets. I hate the fact, that my pets normally died around Christmas.

Who wants to wake up to dead pets on Christmas Day?

I sure as hell don't. I don't want to be in tears on Christmas Day because my pet died naturally or was euthanized without being told about it, until the very last minute.

I REALLY  wish I could've seen my dog, Mendy 1 last time before doing my high school final exams before Christmas Break, almost 2 decades ago. After coming home from school and learning, that he was euthanized, I cried my eyes out.

Hopefully, all 3 questions have been answered Victor. Since I mentioned Pop Will Eat Itself, here is their music video for "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer."

Pop Will Eat Itself "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer" Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994)

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Say What? Shonen Jump Block Monopolizes Saturday Midnights On Adult Swim

This blog was originally published on Xanga May 21, 2013.

 

Hey Xangan friends, readers, and subscribers! A few days ago, I published another blog about Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Without any complaints, that same blog continues to get readers. 

After publishing the blog and replying to others on my page, I researched to see what other viewers' thoughts were about Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. This included reading Adult Swim's forum.

As I read their comments, 1 Adult Swim poster mentioned, that Adult Swim's so-called "Toonami" block recently became a Shonen Jump Block. After thinking about what the poster said, I realized that he/she was onto something. 

By Adult Swim currently showing Bleach, Naruto, One Piece (a.k.a. the so-called "Big 3"), and Soul Eater, the Saturday midnight viewers have OFFICIALLY been alienated more than ever within these last few years. 

I am not saying this to completely insult every Shonen Anime, that is currently airing. I am a Bleach and Naruto fan, but I have never been a One Piece or Soul Eater fan.

Aside from my personal bias, these Shonen Jump Anime are perennials much like American soap operas. Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's main purpose behind airing Anime is to expose their viewers to shows, that lack having exposure. Most casual Anime fans already know about Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. 

It is not terrible for those Shonen to be mainstream. However, if the networks' goals are to expose viewers to Anime in general, chances are great, that he/she might not watch any or all those shows. "The Big 3" mostly have filler arcs.  

Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece's arcs have tendencies to go on really long tangents with irrelevant characters to their main plots. Adult Swim should've ONLY aired 1 perennial Anime at a time as opposed to simultaneously airing 3. 

Even though I hated Deadman Wonderland last year, at least Adult Swim was somewhat moving in the right direction in regards to airing more adult content. 

By NO means am I a prude, but Deadman Wonderland had GRATUITOUS violence, unrealistic writing, and a crybaby for a protagonist. At the same time, Deadman Wonderland wasn't a perennial with mostly filler arcs for teenage boys. 

Sometimes I get the impression that Adult Swim revels in alienating their current and potential viewers. Some of us viewers of both genders say the network should diversify its Anime genres and sub-genres instead of ALWAYS playing things safe with 1 group of fans. 

Other viewers have told me in the past, that Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are not Anime networks. They are completely justified in that argument. At the same time, Anime helped keep their ratings high whether the anti-Anime fans and the networks want to accept it or not. 

Mind you, this was before, during, and especially after Adult Swim acquired the rights to air canceled WB cartoons, Family Guy, and other Fox cartoons. 

Don't get me wrong. I love watching Family Guy, American Dad, The Boondocks, Robot Chicken, and Metalocalypse, whenever they have new seasons. 

Like I already said, Anime helped boost Cartoon Network and Adult Swim's ratings. Some give Anime fans grief because some are bratty fans with mental/behavioral problems and identity crises. Those few Anime fans ruin it for us sane people, who love watching Anime, but aren't pretentious zealots and sycophants about it.

To viewers with little or no knowledge about Anime, they are Japanese cartoons meant for ALL ages. Yes, I said "cartoons" because they are a Japanese form of animation, dating back to the 1920's and '30s. *Gasps* 

Anime has genres and sub-genres for children (Kodomo), girls (Shojo), women (Josei), boys (Shonen), and men (Seinen). There are also the pornographic kind (Hentai) and a few others. 

To be more specific, Kodomo, Shojo, Josei, Shonen, and Seinen are actually age and gender demographics. Those of us, who actually follow Anime OUTSIDE of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, know that Anime is NOT always Shonen Action. 

There are Anime and Manga in Action, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Slice of Life (which depicts everyday life in Japan much like America's Seinfeld), etc.

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim fail to realize much less care to realize, that only airing Shonen Action Anime helps generate ignorance; Some Anime "fans" only know about Shonen. 

Then again, I mostly blame our American marketers for knowing nothing about Japanese entertainment, culture, religions, and sub-cultures.

Those who really want to watch other genres and sub-genres can order certain channels, buy the DVD/Blurays, and/watch legal and illegal online streams and downloads. Although, that only helps the industry to an extent. 

I think most people have at least basic cable/satellite, as well as local channels but not every channel airs Anime. When the Industry reached its pinnacle, during the early 21st Century, Syfy, Chiller TV, Colours TV, Fuse TV, IFC, Starz, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim all showed Anime.

Since we're no longer in the early 21st Century and more people can ILLEGALLY download and stream Anime (as I'm blogging), the Anime Industry is suffering. Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are the most convenient and consistent. Both networks can help give newer Anime and genres more exposure. As I said earlier, Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece have the most exposure and enough of it.

If these 2 networks really want to spike their viewer ratings, while begging their Anime fans to watch them, they must:

1) STOP patronizing their viewers with a CGI robot (He self-righteously lectured fans about being a "hater")

2) START diversifying their programming by airing something their viewers and potential viewers want to watch.

Adult Swim's male viewers have especially been throwing in their towels left and right, since the network mostly airs mindless garbage. Anytime most of its male audience hates watching most of the programming, that should be a red flag. 

Anyway, I'll continue to only watch Bleach on Saturday nights. Until Adult Swim's Toonami airs more shows, that we want to watch, my TV will be turned off.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Chiller TV Or Not So "Chiller TV"?

 This blog was originally published on Xanga February 3, 2013.

Chiller TV or not so "Chiller TV"? 

That is the question I have been asking myself for a while. Originally, I started watching Chiller TV for Horror Anime such as Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei) and Tokko.

Considering that Chiller TV is Syfy's sister channel, I should've known the network was going to be a disappointment. Once it turns March 1st next month, it will be 6 YEARS, since Chiller was launched. After 6 years, some of us Horror fans already lost interest.

Chiller TV looks like a network that was only launched 5 minutes ago. Most of its programming consists of censored Horror Movies and TV shows in syndication.  

NOTHING about the network "chills" me to the bone. I have watched movie trailers both old and new, as well as movies on other networks with more frightening scenes than what is being aired on Chiller. Is that pathetic or what?

NBC Universal owns Chiller TV AND Syfy. Both have phenomenal special effects used in their commercials to help promote each network. yet their content is like eating a Shit Sandwich.

Sometimes, I watched Chiller TV to help me fall asleep in the morning because I have Chronic Insomnia.

Does anybody other than myself find that last statement to be somewhat abnormal?

Horror was NOT  meant to be used as a sleeping aid. It is meant to frighten its audience to the extent, that we are too scared to sleep for days, not bore us to sleep. I understand that Chiller TV is supposed to be low budget.

If NBC Universal is advertising Chiller TV and Syfy, the quality of programming should be much better than they are on both networks. 

Maybe LESS time and money should be spent on their promos and MORE time and money should be spent on their content.

Chiller TV should NOT  repeatedly marathon the same shows everyday, while occasionally airing new Horror countdowns and documentaries like some fine china. 

It would not be so bad, if Chiller left every syndicated movie and TV show UNCENSORED.

Horror is not meant to be censored. If Chiller TV is supposed to be attracting Horror fans, the network is doing a poor job of it.

When it comes to airing content, Chiller TV should be a premium channel like HBO, Starz, Encore, etc; Chiller TV should be an UNCENSORED Horror network, that can be watched on basic or premium cable and satellite packages.

By Chiller not being included on Time Warner's basic cable package, its viewership is extremely niche. Only those with Direct TV and Dish Network can watch Chiller. 

Coming from a Horror fan and author, Chiller TV is disappointing. When I see a channel for Horror fans, I expect to watch independent, mainstream, and banned movies that were too controversial to be released in movie theaters.

At the rate Chiller TV is going, the network would be better off airing R.L. Stine's Goosebumps TV series from the mid-90's, which used to air on Nickelodeon.

Don't get me wrong, I do NOT  hate R.L. Stine's novels. He's like the Stephen King for pre-teens and younger. Also, I find Stine's novels more entertaining than King's.

However, I like movies based on Stephen King's novels better than movie's based on R.L. Stine's.

Anyway, with decades worth of Horror movies, Chiller TV could air so many of them throughout the hours. 

Instead, the network's programmers choose to air censored, syndicated shows from over 10 to 30 years ago. Follow those same shows up with films, which have terrible script writing and talentless, unknown actors we don't care about watching.

If NBC Universal and Chiller TV want to maintain their viewers and attract more fans, they should modify the network's programming. Chiller's programming is barely worth watching, most of the time. I occasionally watch the channel for their documentaries.

Chiller TV's programming is starting to mimic music channels. Just like MTV and VH-1 spend most of their time discussing music videos from the last 10 to 30 years, Chiller mostly wastes time discussing Horror films throughout the decades.

That is when the network OCCASIONALLY decides to air a new Horror documentary.

For the love of God, Chiller TV, please air uncensored Horror and NOT  "child-friendly" content. STOP discussing Horror and START showing it. Be like Nike and "Just DO it," already! 

Trust me, your ratings would probably soar, if you actually aired something, that Horror fans WANT  to watch.

Do you agree or disagree? Let me know what you think!