“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moment’s notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-16 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of May 30, 2016
This Week’s Podcast:
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Digital Childhood
One
of the best things about the Internet is also one of the worst. It’s
the fact that nothing ever really goes away.
of the best things about the Internet is also one of the worst. It’s
the fact that nothing ever really goes away.
What
brings this to mind is an opinion piece originally written three
years ago. It’s about a parent’s concern over the digital future of
their newborn child. Before it was even born they decided to never
post anything about the child until the kid was old enough to decide
who their online persona was going to be. The concern was less
“stranger danger” than it was that various tracking algorithms
associated with social media was going to rob their child of, and I’m
quoting them now, “…any hope of true anonymity”.
brings this to mind is an opinion piece originally written three
years ago. It’s about a parent’s concern over the digital future of
their newborn child. Before it was even born they decided to never
post anything about the child until the kid was old enough to decide
who their online persona was going to be. The concern was less
“stranger danger” than it was that various tracking algorithms
associated with social media was going to rob their child of, and I’m
quoting them now, “…any hope of true anonymity”.
Couple
things upfront. These folks have my full support to make the
parenting decisions they feel are best for their child. Second
guessing on parenting for anything short of life threatening
situations is pointless and overreaching. Second, taking an interest
in what your children are doing on line is not a bad parenting
decision either.
things upfront. These folks have my full support to make the
parenting decisions they feel are best for their child. Second
guessing on parenting for anything short of life threatening
situations is pointless and overreaching. Second, taking an interest
in what your children are doing on line is not a bad parenting
decision either.
I’m
just not sure what these folks are really hoping to achieve. They
spent time researching the possible names of the kid to make sure
they weren’t connected to any untoward activities. They spoke with
great concern that something posted about their child, might keep
them getting into a really good university. They had set up their
child’s email account, Facebook account and several other social
media accounts so they could “reserve” the name. The idea was
that they would provide the master password to all these unused
accounts when they felt their child was old enough handle it. It
simply becomes an exercise in parental paranoia very quickly.
just not sure what these folks are really hoping to achieve. They
spent time researching the possible names of the kid to make sure
they weren’t connected to any untoward activities. They spoke with
great concern that something posted about their child, might keep
them getting into a really good university. They had set up their
child’s email account, Facebook account and several other social
media accounts so they could “reserve” the name. The idea was
that they would provide the master password to all these unused
accounts when they felt their child was old enough handle it. It
simply becomes an exercise in parental paranoia very quickly.
First,
you can’t even predict what is going to be happening when your child
comes of age. If your child was born in 2004, here’s the world they
were born into – Facebook had just launched and was college student
only, Gmail had only just launched as well. The hot social media of
the day would have been blogs, MySpace and Friendster. If you have a
12 year old, go ask them how excited they would be to get the keys to
those accounts today. In fact ask them how excited they’d be to have
you setting up all their social media accounts way back then.
you can’t even predict what is going to be happening when your child
comes of age. If your child was born in 2004, here’s the world they
were born into – Facebook had just launched and was college student
only, Gmail had only just launched as well. The hot social media of
the day would have been blogs, MySpace and Friendster. If you have a
12 year old, go ask them how excited they would be to get the keys to
those accounts today. In fact ask them how excited they’d be to have
you setting up all their social media accounts way back then.
What
I would tell these parents is this – don’t worry too much that
something from little Suzy’s childhood is going to follow her the
rest of her life. Beyond that I’d say the same thing I tell
teenagers. Keep the negative stuff offline. If you’re having a rough
day with your teen, deal with it in real life, not the social media.
Show your children all through their lives how to be online
responsibly.
I would tell these parents is this – don’t worry too much that
something from little Suzy’s childhood is going to follow her the
rest of her life. Beyond that I’d say the same thing I tell
teenagers. Keep the negative stuff offline. If you’re having a rough
day with your teen, deal with it in real life, not the social media.
Show your children all through their lives how to be online
responsibly.
Then
you won’t have to worry about what never goes away.
you won’t have to worry about what never goes away.
Life After Berman
There
was some big news coming out of the world of sports broadcasting last
week when multiple sources, including Sports Illustrated,
reported that ESPN icon Chris Berman would be retiring at the end of
the upcoming football season. Shortly thereafter Berman’s agent
jumped in to claim that the story was false. Given that the long
time star’s contract expires in February of next year it raises some
interesting questions. Is the man known as “Boomer” retiring, or
being shown the door?
was some big news coming out of the world of sports broadcasting last
week when multiple sources, including Sports Illustrated,
reported that ESPN icon Chris Berman would be retiring at the end of
the upcoming football season. Shortly thereafter Berman’s agent
jumped in to claim that the story was false. Given that the long
time star’s contract expires in February of next year it raises some
interesting questions. Is the man known as “Boomer” retiring, or
being shown the door?
Berman
has been the face of the sports super network for as long as most of
us can remember. He signed on just a month after the cable network
debuted. He and Bob Ley are the longest tenured on-air
personalities. Berman brought something new to network sports. A
brash form of journalism that was heavily flavored with fandom. He
became renowned for giving nicknames to a wide range of sports figure
and his knowledge of popular music. Over the years he has done many
different sports over the years, plus anchoring the flagship
broadcast of Sportscenter. But he is best known for his
connection with football. Berman has hosted NFL Countdown for
31 years.
has been the face of the sports super network for as long as most of
us can remember. He signed on just a month after the cable network
debuted. He and Bob Ley are the longest tenured on-air
personalities. Berman brought something new to network sports. A
brash form of journalism that was heavily flavored with fandom. He
became renowned for giving nicknames to a wide range of sports figure
and his knowledge of popular music. Over the years he has done many
different sports over the years, plus anchoring the flagship
broadcast of Sportscenter. But he is best known for his
connection with football. Berman has hosted NFL Countdown for
31 years.
But
the times they are a-changing at the “World Wide Leader in Sports”.
A whole lot of veteran talent have been shown the door or permitted
to leave. Monday Night Football play by play man Mike Tirico is
headed to NBC, Skip Bayless is leaving, Chris Carter, Ray Lewis and
more have left the network in relatively short order. There’s a lot
more competition out there than there used to be and some ESPN’s
schtick is starting to grow old. Berman is 61 and is no longer the
brash, young turk. He is now the establishment and it’s not hard to
believe that the network may be looking to do some freshening on it’s
big money programs, like those that Berman dominates.
the times they are a-changing at the “World Wide Leader in Sports”.
A whole lot of veteran talent have been shown the door or permitted
to leave. Monday Night Football play by play man Mike Tirico is
headed to NBC, Skip Bayless is leaving, Chris Carter, Ray Lewis and
more have left the network in relatively short order. There’s a lot
more competition out there than there used to be and some ESPN’s
schtick is starting to grow old. Berman is 61 and is no longer the
brash, young turk. He is now the establishment and it’s not hard to
believe that the network may be looking to do some freshening on it’s
big money programs, like those that Berman dominates.
In
many ways, Boomer has become something of a caricature of himself.
His signature phrases, like “Backbackbackback” and “He could go
all the way” sound worn today. His musical references tend toward
the oldies end of the spectrum as well.
many ways, Boomer has become something of a caricature of himself.
His signature phrases, like “Backbackbackback” and “He could go
all the way” sound worn today. His musical references tend toward
the oldies end of the spectrum as well.
Yes,
Chris Berman has been the face of ESPN. Yes, he held a pivotal role
in their rise from laughingstock (never forget, virtually no one
outside of ESPN’s offices believed the network would succeed) to one
of the dominant forces in broadcast. He has won Emmys and been named
National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and
Sportswriters Association six times. He was the first cable based
sportscaster to win the award.
Chris Berman has been the face of ESPN. Yes, he held a pivotal role
in their rise from laughingstock (never forget, virtually no one
outside of ESPN’s offices believed the network would succeed) to one
of the dominant forces in broadcast. He has won Emmys and been named
National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and
Sportswriters Association six times. He was the first cable based
sportscaster to win the award.
The
reality is that no one, other than maybe Vin Scully, lasts forever in
the media. If ESPN isn’t thinking about life after Boomer, they
probably should be.
reality is that no one, other than maybe Vin Scully, lasts forever in
the media. If ESPN isn’t thinking about life after Boomer, they
probably should be.
Captain America
I
have been all over the lot with this topic. I started with outrage
and disgust and ended up with just disgust. The news that the latest
Captain America comic series will reveal that the iconic American
superhero has, in fact, been a Hydra double agent all along.
have been all over the lot with this topic. I started with outrage
and disgust and ended up with just disgust. The news that the latest
Captain America comic series will reveal that the iconic American
superhero has, in fact, been a Hydra double agent all along.
A
little background for those who are not aficionados of the superhero
comic.
little background for those who are not aficionados of the superhero
comic.
Captain
America was created by two Jewish artists, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon,
for Timely Comics, a predecessor of today’s Marvel Comics, and
debuted in March of 1941.
America was created by two Jewish artists, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon,
for Timely Comics, a predecessor of today’s Marvel Comics, and
debuted in March of 1941.
Known
as “Cap” to his fans, Captain America fought our enemies during
World War II and became Timely’s most popular wartime character.
When the war ended, superheroes went into a bit of a decline. By
1961 Timely Comics would go through a couple of changes and become
Marvel Comics, which had previously been just a comic book line of
the company. Shortly thereafter they would bring Cap back.
as “Cap” to his fans, Captain America fought our enemies during
World War II and became Timely’s most popular wartime character.
When the war ended, superheroes went into a bit of a decline. By
1961 Timely Comics would go through a couple of changes and become
Marvel Comics, which had previously been just a comic book line of
the company. Shortly thereafter they would bring Cap back.
Hydra
is a long time terrorist organization bad guys in the Marvel
universe, first appearing in 1965. Think of them this way, if Darth
Vader had pledged a fraternity, it would look a lot like Hydra.
is a long time terrorist organization bad guys in the Marvel
universe, first appearing in 1965. Think of them this way, if Darth
Vader had pledged a fraternity, it would look a lot like Hydra.
So
a lot of fans, yours truly included, were predictably outraged when
word came out that the series was scheduled for this huge swerve in
the story line. It betrays everything that the character has always
stood for, it betrays the vision of the creators of the story and, in
simplest terms, it’s just a stupid idea.
a lot of fans, yours truly included, were predictably outraged when
word came out that the series was scheduled for this huge swerve in
the story line. It betrays everything that the character has always
stood for, it betrays the vision of the creators of the story and, in
simplest terms, it’s just a stupid idea.
Once
my initial outrage wore off I began to remember things about the
comic book world. Like the fact that it is filled with these kinds
of bizarre changes of direction. From supernatural powers changing
reality to alien technology…changing reality, this kind of stuff
happens all the time. It’s a lot like when someone died on the soap
operas. Never believe until you see the body and sometimes not even
then.
my initial outrage wore off I began to remember things about the
comic book world. Like the fact that it is filled with these kinds
of bizarre changes of direction. From supernatural powers changing
reality to alien technology…changing reality, this kind of stuff
happens all the time. It’s a lot like when someone died on the soap
operas. Never believe until you see the body and sometimes not even
then.
This
past week someone asked Marvel patriarch Stan Lee his opinion. While
allowing that it was a strange idea, he did note that it will
probably drive an increase in sales, as fans try to see if it’s
really true. In the end, that is the business Marvel is in, selling
comics books.
past week someone asked Marvel patriarch Stan Lee his opinion. While
allowing that it was a strange idea, he did note that it will
probably drive an increase in sales, as fans try to see if it’s
really true. In the end, that is the business Marvel is in, selling
comics books.
At
the same time, if the only way you can create an increased interest
in your product is turning everything about the character on its
head, what’s really left? Long time Captain America fans will
certainly not follow this new version for the reason that it turns
its back on what we love about Cap. Yeah, idealism and duty are out
of style but they are the core of Captain America.
the same time, if the only way you can create an increased interest
in your product is turning everything about the character on its
head, what’s really left? Long time Captain America fans will
certainly not follow this new version for the reason that it turns
its back on what we love about Cap. Yeah, idealism and duty are out
of style but they are the core of Captain America.
So
I’m not going to believe it for a minute. Not Cap. No way.
I’m not going to believe it for a minute. Not Cap. No way.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2016
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Stories Are My Life 
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