primosprimos
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Posts posted by primosprimos
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I have no problem with them making money, otherwise TCM wouldn't exist, but I draw the line with commercials within the movies. The day AMC started doing what they called "commercial intermissions" during the films, was the last day I watched them and I'm not kidding, I've boycotted AMC ever since.
For that matter, I simply won't watch any movie, on any channel, with commercials in it. There's nothing I want to see bad enough to put of with five minutes of commercials every eight or nine minutes. I don't mind TV shows so much because they're made to be shown in "acts" with breaks in between , but movies weren't.
It is funny how many people, especially some on these boards, expect TCM to be run as a public service. Even PBS has to make money somehow.
And when PBS starts their commercial, yes commercial for Ralph Lifshitz hawking his brilliant design*, I turn away to another channel and come back when he's done doing what the oldest profession did.
RO with his airbrushed face does the exact same with his DVDs and his cruises and anything else he can hawk. His hawking between movies are commercials, let's call a spade a spade. Leave the euphemisms to the apologists.
Yes, I left AMC when they fired Bob Dorian and Nick Clooney and brought in that young twit who has gone on to obscurity. Ben won't because he has old money. Yes, I boycott Mad Men.
You want to excuse TCM, that's fine. I don't care. I have other avenues now. But TCM IS NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS.
Period.
*Ralph Lauren.
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While I checked out the February 2015 schedule hoping for a few pre-1950 titles that have not been shown before (or very rarely shown), I fully knew what to expect, based on past experience.
There is a reason the Oscars month schedule is available on the 1st of the month as opposed to the 10th or later.....they had it finalized some time ago. This was also the case last year and probably a few years prior as well.
I'm having a hard time getting upset with the scheduler at this time, because October included many RKO early 1930's pictures that are broadcast very rarely.
I guess my point is that, in my eyes, there is nothing different about the upcoming Oscars month schedule than several years before, and that I have every confidence the schedule will return to "normal" on March 4th.
Quite true, it is as big a hunk of junk as it has been for untold years now.
The good part is that Foreign Correspondent and North By Northwest are in rotation, and those never get boring. NEVER.
Poor TCM. They used to be SO beautiful. Cary Grant beautiful. Warren William beautiful.
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Apologists are people who are going to apologize for any mistake TCM makes no matter what, and they are going to excuse any shortcoming by pointing out irrelevant information in a desperate and unrealistic attempt to downplay any valid or constructive criticism. In my view, the apologists are only loyal to themselves and their perfectly fragile 'me-me-me & TCM' relationship. Loyal viewers are people who stick with the channel though it's a pain to stick with the channel when it makes questionable decisions and when standing up for the truth is going to bring a tidal wave of temper tantrums from the apologists.
This is from page 17 in the TopBilled Handbook for TCM Viewing and Message Board Posting. Check Amazon or your local library to see if a copy is available.
HAH!!!!!!!!!! Love it. Can I get it used on Amazon for 99 cents?
Good one, TB. Will go over the heads of some, but those in the know will laugh...........out..............loud. Judas Priest, I hate LOL.
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This conversation maybe moot, in terms of cable vs. streaming. The home entertainment market is in a state of flux, not unlike cable's introduction in the late '70s/early '80s. Streaming has seriously eroded enough of the market that telecommunications is rethinking it all again.
HBO has seen the light. Mine is but a small voice, but I hope TCM just starts transition from cable to streaming. The feedback from sales is once the buyer has a AppleTV/Roku/Chromecast device, they start cancelling the cable. And these devices sell at a relatively painless price once the technology jumps again for upgrading. Comcast and Time Warner have held on too long to their old model and technology. Even the oldsters like me are abandoning them.
Well said, Casablanca100views. Gone are my days of rushing to tape all the wonderful classically classic movies TCM showed, and boy did they show them! No more. Now if I get one or two good days in a week, I feel like a junkyard dog who is thrown a bone.
Worst part (or best part) is: I no longer care. TCM can devolve into whatever it is they are devolving into, and the apologists can defend them to the hilt. I no longer care. Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry to see it, but so it goes.
I agree on the modem device. I finally signed up for ACORN, but am waiting for them to get their app into Amazon, so I can get the Fire TV.
Finally, it looks like I will get my wish - FIOS will finally realize their stranglehold and price gouging days are over, and they will suffer, thanks to all the customers who didn't grow up with the Cablevision and Verizon monopoly abandon cable companies. I couldn't be happier.
Now, if only people would stop buying 1.5 quarts of whey and air **** ice cream that used to taste like real ice cream and came in half gallons. Too much to hope for.
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Way way way way way tooooooooooo many post-code movies on this schedule. Thumbs down.
This is not your grandma's TCM anymore.
And never will be again.
With a very few exceptions, it's an entire month I can ignore TCM.
And so it goes.
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For my own edification, why do carriers (cable, satellite, etc.) determine whether or not to carry TCM and in which tiers to present it?
Since TCM doesn't do ratings, do the carriers? Seems that if they are paying full-cost for TCM (I assume), they would want to know how many people watch it and lengths of time. Maybe their computers tell them this?
I assume TCM doesn't pay carriers?
What a very good question. Perhaps someone in the know will answer.
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As much as I like some non-Hollywood cinema, I agree that TCM is trying a little too hard to cover all the bases. As a result, some of the channel's programming is all over the map, and not in a good way. So I can see why loyal viewers would be a little unhappy.
Quite right, TopBilled. TCM has been doing this for awhile.
No matter, it's not going to go back the way it was.
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Arrived in London last night. For those of you who are interested in what's on TCM on this side of the pond, here's much of today's offering (SKY-TV is my friend's cable company):
Timecode -- shown at least twice (I stopped counting)
New Police Story -- ditto
Black Dakotas
Savage Guns
Left-Handed Gun
And many, many, episodes of Gunsmoke!
Sounds AWFUL! Wonder if this is a portend of the TCM to come here across the pond?
At any rate, Swithin, enjoy London. A great town, along with the surrounding country towns.
Too bad they are treated so shabbily by TCM.
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I have a dear friend in England. I was so excited that she was getting TCM (they have a version of cable tv that's free at a lower level ). Until I found out what it was she was watching. The sad part is that it doesn't even show classic British films either. Just action films from the 80's with a good classic mixed in once in a while.
These message boards are like free marketing. They are overall a net profit for them.
AMC creates some of the most popular programs in all of television. When Walking Dead premieres, it draws more viewers than any network program. Why wouldn't they cash in on that ??
I agree.
I stated that before and missed a major point. TCM is owned by Turner which is part of Time Warner as in Time Warner Cable. They want you to keep cable for this channel. They know 80% of channels are watched by probably 5% of subscribers.
How many of the channels in your package could fill a cruise ? Or make crowds at a festival ? I don't see any TLC cruises lol. This channel is cheap to run, they own a vast majority of the films already. So its not moving anywhere unfortunately.
What many here are not factoring in is, new "channels" are popping up all the time. Streaming, OTA t.v., roku, amazon etc... and many are showing classic films. Maybe not the big ones but, they are classics. Who knows what the future holds ??
If they show commercials, they are no better than Get tv except Get tv is free.
AMC creates some of the most popular programs in all of television. When Walking Dead premieres, it draws more viewers than any network program. Why wouldn't they cash in on that ??
Don't forget Mad Men. TCM isn't stupid. No matter how pie in the sky the apologists continue to be, TCM has to be eyeing the profit shown by AMC.
After all, when RO finally retires, TCM won't be replacing him with another old man. Or.....................HEAVEN FORBID!!!!!!!!!.............an old WOMAN!
On to the future and commercials at TCM!
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I don't think I expressed my point fully, perhaps because I had just arrived in London and was extremely jet-lagged. My point was, organizations that do a lot of the "public good" sometimes float, or encourage discussion, of controversial issues, so that, when the time comes for them to do something, they will already have the sampling of a group whose imprimatur (albeit nose-holding) makes it easier for them. I've been involved with various presenting organizations that justified raising fees that way -- slyly "encourage" conversation from people who were afraid of a huge increase; then give them a little one.
I also have a reasonable knowledge of licensing issues as related to performance/screening. The more you earn, the more you pay. An increasingly commercial TCM would probably have to pay more for prints, which would defeat the whole exercise.
Absolutely, Swithin. Called 'floating a balloon', organizations and corporations that don't do public good also engage in this underhanded tactic. You've seen it, you've heard it - we're raising your bridge toll X, your subway token XX, your insert the next hosing here. Then, when the public is hit with only a smaller - the actual hike already worked out, of course - increase, they stupidly breathe a sigh of relief.
Ditto on food manufacturers - we're going to take away your X, e.g., Twinkies which actually did go away. Then, when these products come back, a shadow of their former selves, i.e., more chemicals, more fillers, less product, higher prices, the stupid public again breathes a sigh of relief.
How does the old saying go? There's no underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
But no matter, TCM will do what it will do, and we either go along for the ride, or we turn to our Roku and our Amazon Prime and our Fire TVs. It no longer matters to me, I've gotten quite used to watching television on my laptop.
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...but I like it too!
Same here, Mrs. Capuchin. When I first saw this movie, I couldn't decide which I liked better, the car or the gorgeous dolman sleeved satin gown Constance Bennett was wearing.
Naturally, Cary Grant was more gorgeous than both!*
*But, not as gorgeous as my Warren William.
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All I can say in response to that is that I guess you must never record movies. For those of us who do, mid-movie commercials just to have a bathroom break would be a tradeoff that isn't even worth considering.
You're right, of course, Andy. Television shows in the 1950s used to have commercials at the 15, 30, and 45 minute break, and of course at the top of the hour, with 51 minutes of programming. Now the average hour show is 42 minutes, and the 30 minute show is 22 minutes, interrupting whenever and wherever.
Sure, go ahead and trust TCM to have just one break for commercials - I won't.
I don't watch movies or television shows with commercials. Well, save one, which sadly isn't on On Demand. Manhattan is a fantastic show, and is must see teevee for me.
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More "evidence" of a changing landscape today-
"FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has proposed a change to the rules controlling who broadcasters sell content to, and would bar them from refusing to sell to Internet-based providers. That translates to a big opportunity for Apple to add new channels to Apple TV without cutting deals with cable providers like Comcast."
This is just in the newswires.
So a la cart service may be happening soon. This will force others to follow.
Ha............ha.................ha.
I look forward to seeing how this shakes out. Anything to drive FIOS and Cablevision out of business - OR make them sit up and notice they have a CUSTOMER out there - is music to my ears.
I just turned off an embarrassing Robert Ryan movie and am enjoying the heck out of Alpha House on Amazon Prime. Yes, Robert Ryan, one of the most SAAM men in movies. I was embarrassed for him, and I imagine he was embarrassed to be in this steaming soapy stinker.
Guess I am the wave of the future. Not bad for a dinosaur.
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Are you aware of the Internet Movie Cars DataBase? You need merely type into the search box the name of a movie and it will provide a list of many of the automobiles used in the movie.
I think you let us know this a long time ago, Mrs. C., and I TOTALLY forgot! Thank you, thank you.
I was driving Mr. primos, a car nut, nuts about the car in Hot Saturday. As I described it, he knew it was a dual cowl phaeton, but now I know and call tell him - 1931 Lincoln Model K Dual Cowl Phaeton! You could have had one for only $159K in 2006:
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Yes but the doomsayers' comments always provoke a response, don't they? So there is probably some truth in the idea that the channel is changing (and some fear it may eventually be a drastic change). Again, if there was nothing to worry about, then wouldn't you ignore the raw hand-ringing? Unless you're a dermatologist.
You know, that's an excellent point, TB. So far, with the exception of the incredibly intrusive hawking by RO to buy his DVDs and the rest of the announcers who want you to buy their cruise or tee shirts (TEE shirts, seriously TCM?), nothing major has occurred. Never say never, however, because greed and bottom line trumps art.
As to your point, one of my boards involves former/current employees of the lovely
corporation for which I worked, and right before a major firing, like clockwork, the paid apologists (usually former managers) clog the board with their flag waving, trying to shout out the retirees and employees.Very good point, TopBilled.
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2+2=5.
This post is going to bring out the sycophants and apologists who insist that 2+2=4.
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I agree with you. I think we should be open to discuss all topics here, even when it gets a bit nasty -- but TCM's financial state is the one realm I think it's kind of dumb to get involved with.
Told you, MovieMadness.
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How does the line go? Reports of [TCM's] death have been greatly exaggerated.
It is beyond .................................................................................................so tiringly often.
Told you, MovieMadness. In case you forgot:
Now, now. You know you're only going to bring out the sycophants who will holler at the naysayers and then all heck will break loose and then the thread will be locked - don't you?
Relax, it don't matter, who cares, que sera, la di da, whatever it is they say these days.
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With the recent rejection of a takeover and new cost cutting, it is inevitable that changes will happen at TCM. The idea is what changes would be acceptable and what changes would end the channel as we know it (in other words - what would we like to have happen and what would we not like).
On this issue I did notice something very interesting a couple of days ago and that is the value of AMC. Apparently the price of ads on AMC is relatively high, higher than many other channels. The worst ad pricing I saw was The Weather Channel.
So I would not be surprised to see TCM add commercials in between movies at some point if this value is real. I would not have a problem with that if it meant more movies and less repeats.
This is the easiest way to increase revenues at TCM. It also would not detract from the ad free movie viewing they currently have.
Think of this as TCM being a baseball team and now starting to sell hotdogs and hamburgers between innings. If TCM has to add commercials to save the channel then do it!
PS Maybe TCM could make it so some of the commercials are classic commercials that would fit the format.
Now, now. You know you're only going to bring out the sycophants who will holler at the naysayers and then all heck will break loose and then the thread will be locked - don't you?
Relax, it don't matter, who cares, que sera, la di da, whatever it is they say these days.
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Louise Brooks wrote that of all the characters played by Bogart, Dixon Steele was the most like him in real life.
Yikes. So much for Rick Blaine.
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"I was born when she kissed me . . . I died when she left me . . . I lived a few weeks when she loved me."
Talk about a line that is both romantic and poignantly sad at the same time. Would those three sentences strung together, as written by Dixon Steele in In a Lonely Place, not qualify as a kind of fatalistic romantic poetry?
Bogart is mesmerizing as the screenwriter with violent rages, and I suspect that it was very close to the real man. Lauren Bacall had an incident on a yacht with Bogie in which she was frightened by a sudden inexplicable rage of his.
Gloria Grahame, though young when she made this film, had a lived in quality about her, so that you're not aware of the age difference between the two. She ranks, I feel, as one of the actor's greatest female co-stars based upon this one film they made together.
But I also suspect that Bogart's vivid characterization, brilliant as it is, must be very disturbing to those female viewers who have experienced a relationship with someone who has irrational rages that seemingly can't be controlled.
I'll say. What an ending.
That thing Bogie does of holding the face of whomever he's kissing with both hands - phew, it's hot on that screen.
I didn't know that about Bogie having rage issues. Yes on your last sentence - I'm glad to see she didn't take him back. The shelters and cemeteries are filled with women (and children) who stupidly thought about the violent men they chose because of low self esteem: I can change him, you just watch, I can change him.
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Just thought I would start this since it is far more accurate than the MeTV one.
Interesting. THIS TV is new to me, didn't know it existed. Partnered with one of the favorite channels from my youth, WPIX, no longer any good of course.
Thanks, TheCid. Sadly, they have commercials, but there you go.
Still and all, it's TCM who is cutting in on TCM's audience with the garbage it programs - did you see the horrid lineup it had yesterday? - so no, these other movie channels with commercials will never cut in on TCM.
TCM will be the cause of its own demise, well in this house at least. 98% of this board loves TCM just as it is.
La di da. Let the flames begin.
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Sorry to have to say this (but truly, not sorry at all) in my book, Dumb & Dumber is one of the funniest motion pictures ever made. So, if I'm right, that makes it great--great! Disagree if you like, but I can't wait for the sequel soon to come out, Dumb & Dumber, To.
Sorry to have to say this (but truly, not sorry at all) in my book,
Congratulations, Mac. Well prefaced. You've crossed all the t's and dotted all the i's, and you may THINK you're out of the woods before voicing your o.p.i.n.i.o.n., but you're not.
Opinions are not tolerated on this board by one and all. Personally, I am magnanimous to give everyone the freedom of speech to express their OPINION, but.............................give it some time, Mac, you'll no doubt have a war on your hands.
Buck up, Mac, and stick to your guns and damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead, or something like that!
corporation for which I worked, and right before a major firing, like clockwork, the paid apologists (usually former managers) clog the board with their flag waving, trying to shout out the retirees and employees.
It's time for commericals on TCM to save the channel
in General Discussions
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Yes, it is a good post. But no one has the answer, that's the sad part. The bogus statistics from the apologists are bunk.
This question has been in rotation for YEARS now - the best part is that it gets in a twist the knickers of all the red faced apoplectic apologists, and if there's anything I love to do online and in real life
it's to get the knickers in a twist of those who can't handle the truth.
And I do it so well.