“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY, 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 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 2013-18 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see and hear? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Programs from the week of April 7, 2019
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.
The Movie Question
This
is a week of questions! All of my programs this week will focus on a
question. I make no guarantee of arriving at an answer, but we will
toss the question out there for everyone to ponder.
is a week of questions! All of my programs this week will focus on a
question. I make no guarantee of arriving at an answer, but we will
toss the question out there for everyone to ponder.
Today’s
question is about what qualifies as a movie? That might seem
obivious to most of us, but it’s a question that is being examined
at the highest levels of the government these days. Here’s the
deal-the U.S. Department of Justice has warned the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences about any attempt to keep Netflix from
winning an Oscar in the future. This is an interesting concern given
that a Netflix movie, “Roma”, received ten nominations this past
year and won for Best Foreign-Language picture.
question is about what qualifies as a movie? That might seem
obivious to most of us, but it’s a question that is being examined
at the highest levels of the government these days. Here’s the
deal-the U.S. Department of Justice has warned the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences about any attempt to keep Netflix from
winning an Oscar in the future. This is an interesting concern given
that a Netflix movie, “Roma”, received ten nominations this past
year and won for Best Foreign-Language picture.
So
what’s the concern? The bottom line question is this – what
exactly is Netflix? Is it a movie studio? Is it a television
channel? Enquiring minds want to know! So I checked in with the
resident millennial here at Chez Phlipside to get a younger point of
view. Kid Phlipside came down firmly that it was both and neither.
Which is where a lot of people find themselves at the moment.
what’s the concern? The bottom line question is this – what
exactly is Netflix? Is it a movie studio? Is it a television
channel? Enquiring minds want to know! So I checked in with the
resident millennial here at Chez Phlipside to get a younger point of
view. Kid Phlipside came down firmly that it was both and neither.
Which is where a lot of people find themselves at the moment.
“Roma”
was released in theaters. Not very many and not for very long. But
enough to meet whatever passed for the standards to qualify for Oscar
consideration. Netflix makes more movies than any other company in
the industry. But there is no agreement on where to slot those
movies. And it makes a difference for the awards. If they are a
movie company, then they compete for the Oscars. A television
company? Then it’s the Emmys. To be honest, I’m not sure either
competition wants to lay claim to the Netflix output.
was released in theaters. Not very many and not for very long. But
enough to meet whatever passed for the standards to qualify for Oscar
consideration. Netflix makes more movies than any other company in
the industry. But there is no agreement on where to slot those
movies. And it makes a difference for the awards. If they are a
movie company, then they compete for the Oscars. A television
company? Then it’s the Emmys. To be honest, I’m not sure either
competition wants to lay claim to the Netflix output.
I
remember when HBO became The Big Thing. There was a certain level of
grumbling that they weren’t a “real” television channel, and
that they shouldn’t be competing with the actual television
networks. That boat sailed a long time ago, and the cable television
channels have racked up impressive numbers of trophies.
remember when HBO became The Big Thing. There was a certain level of
grumbling that they weren’t a “real” television channel, and
that they shouldn’t be competing with the actual television
networks. That boat sailed a long time ago, and the cable television
channels have racked up impressive numbers of trophies.
But
Netflix is the next step beyond that. A streaming service can be
viewed on a television, although that may not be the most common
delivery system. And some movies do get shown, if every so briefly,
in movie theaters. Steven Spielberg has said it’s television, the
Department of Justice seems to think otherwise.
Netflix is the next step beyond that. A streaming service can be
viewed on a television, although that may not be the most common
delivery system. And some movies do get shown, if every so briefly,
in movie theaters. Steven Spielberg has said it’s television, the
Department of Justice seems to think otherwise.
There
is a massive change underway, as I’ve noted here before. The
ripples of that change will touch on many different areas moving
forward.
is a massive change underway, as I’ve noted here before. The
ripples of that change will touch on many different areas moving
forward.
Although
the next person to explain what the Justice Department is doing will
be the first.
the next person to explain what the Justice Department is doing will
be the first.
The Music Question
It’s
a week of questions on The View From The Phlipside! All
of my programs this week will focus on a question. I make no
guarantee of arriving at an answer, but we will toss the question out
there for everyone to ponder.
a week of questions on The View From The Phlipside! All
of my programs this week will focus on a question. I make no
guarantee of arriving at an answer, but we will toss the question out
there for everyone to ponder.
I’m
not sure if I have mentioned that my radio career began in Country
music. A tiny, day time only radio station south of Pittsburgh that
play only those songs that did not show drinking, cheating or other
bad behavior in a good light. Yeah, it was interesting trying to
choose the music some days.
not sure if I have mentioned that my radio career began in Country
music. A tiny, day time only radio station south of Pittsburgh that
play only those songs that did not show drinking, cheating or other
bad behavior in a good light. Yeah, it was interesting trying to
choose the music some days.
Anyway,
there has been a recent uproar in Country music circles about a song
title “Old Town Road”. American rapper Lil Nas X created a
sensation with the release of the song late last year. In early
March of this year, the song entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs
chart. And a week later, removed it. The explanation is that while
it was a song about traditional country topics (it’s a song about
cowboys), it wasn’t country enough to meet their standards.
there has been a recent uproar in Country music circles about a song
title “Old Town Road”. American rapper Lil Nas X created a
sensation with the release of the song late last year. In early
March of this year, the song entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs
chart. And a week later, removed it. The explanation is that while
it was a song about traditional country topics (it’s a song about
cowboys), it wasn’t country enough to meet their standards.
And
the cow patties got flung into the campfire at that point. Who gets
to decide what is or isn’t Country? Or any other kind of music?
Who gets to be the “gatekeeper”?
the cow patties got flung into the campfire at that point. Who gets
to decide what is or isn’t Country? Or any other kind of music?
Who gets to be the “gatekeeper”?
It’s
not a new debate. In fact, pick any kind of music you want and you
will see this battle repeated over and over again. In classical
music you go from Baroque to Romantic to Avante Garde to Modern. At
times, riots broke out when new styles were introduced. How about
Jazz? Beginning with New Orleans vs Chicago, then Big Band, Bebop,
Cool, Acid, Fusion, Contemporary and Light among the contenders.
Jazz fans have gotten quite heated over the years about what is and
isnt’. And let us not forget good old Rock music. Starting with
Rock and Roll, Pop Rock, Psychedelic, Country Rock, Corporate Rock,
Punk and more. Who gets to decide?
not a new debate. In fact, pick any kind of music you want and you
will see this battle repeated over and over again. In classical
music you go from Baroque to Romantic to Avante Garde to Modern. At
times, riots broke out when new styles were introduced. How about
Jazz? Beginning with New Orleans vs Chicago, then Big Band, Bebop,
Cool, Acid, Fusion, Contemporary and Light among the contenders.
Jazz fans have gotten quite heated over the years about what is and
isnt’. And let us not forget good old Rock music. Starting with
Rock and Roll, Pop Rock, Psychedelic, Country Rock, Corporate Rock,
Punk and more. Who gets to decide?
History
tells us two things. First, that the old guard will always, ALWAYS,
try to be the gatekeeper. Claiming to hold the high ground of the
traditions of the genre, the purity of the style, they will always
try to stop any innovation. The second thing history teaches us is
that they will always, ALWAYS, fail.
tells us two things. First, that the old guard will always, ALWAYS,
try to be the gatekeeper. Claiming to hold the high ground of the
traditions of the genre, the purity of the style, they will always
try to stop any innovation. The second thing history teaches us is
that they will always, ALWAYS, fail.
When
I was a Country DJ way back when folks were up in arms over the
influx of artists with strong music roots in Rock. Garth Brooks
and Alabama weren’t “really” Country. Three decades later and
the music world is ready to change again.
I was a Country DJ way back when folks were up in arms over the
influx of artists with strong music roots in Rock. Garth Brooks
and Alabama weren’t “really” Country. Three decades later and
the music world is ready to change again.
The Book Question
It’s
a week of questions! This week I’m dedicating the program to a
series of questions. I make no guarantee of an answer, but I hope it
will give us all something to think about along the way.
a week of questions! This week I’m dedicating the program to a
series of questions. I make no guarantee of an answer, but I hope it
will give us all something to think about along the way.
Today’s
question has to do with what it means when you buy something. I’m
not talking about paying for a service, or renting something (though
we will circle back on this idea later), but rather the simple
process of paying for an object which you then own.
question has to do with what it means when you buy something. I’m
not talking about paying for a service, or renting something (though
we will circle back on this idea later), but rather the simple
process of paying for an object which you then own.
At
least that’s what we think happens.
least that’s what we think happens.
Last
week the folks at Microsoft announced they were discontinuing their
e-book store. What’s that you say? You didn’t realize that
Microsoft had been trying to compete with Amazon, and Barnes and
Noble and other e-book retailers? Well, that hits the nail head
actually. The Microsoft attempt in this area has been a total flop.
Books were made available throug the Microsoft Store for Windows 10
users. Who yawned a mighty yawn and paid the idea no attention at
all. So on April 2, the folks in Redmond Washington pulled the plug.
week the folks at Microsoft announced they were discontinuing their
e-book store. What’s that you say? You didn’t realize that
Microsoft had been trying to compete with Amazon, and Barnes and
Noble and other e-book retailers? Well, that hits the nail head
actually. The Microsoft attempt in this area has been a total flop.
Books were made available throug the Microsoft Store for Windows 10
users. Who yawned a mighty yawn and paid the idea no attention at
all. So on April 2, the folks in Redmond Washington pulled the plug.
So
what’s the big yoohoo here? It was the note that anyone who had
purchased a book through the program would no longer be able to
access it. In simplest terms, Microsoft was taking the book back. I
will note here that folks are getting refunds for those purchases.
But that’s not the point.
what’s the big yoohoo here? It was the note that anyone who had
purchased a book through the program would no longer be able to
access it. In simplest terms, Microsoft was taking the book back. I
will note here that folks are getting refunds for those purchases.
But that’s not the point.
When
you buy a book, you assume that you own a copy of that book. That’s
the way the system has worked for centuries. In the age of digital
information that is not always what happens. This has happened
before. A couple years ago, Amazon reached into peoples libraries
and snatched back some books. That did not go over well at all.
you buy a book, you assume that you own a copy of that book. That’s
the way the system has worked for centuries. In the age of digital
information that is not always what happens. This has happened
before. A couple years ago, Amazon reached into peoples libraries
and snatched back some books. That did not go over well at all.
The
underlying cause is the question of digital rights and the ease of
copying an e-book file. As an author, I don’t want people handing
out free copies of my work when I’m trying to make a shekel or
three. At the same time, I can’t get excited by the idea that
people are paying for a limited rights license. A license which can
be revoked at any time. That’s not the relationship I want with my
readers. Writers want you to buy our books, read them, love them and
read them some more. Forever.
underlying cause is the question of digital rights and the ease of
copying an e-book file. As an author, I don’t want people handing
out free copies of my work when I’m trying to make a shekel or
three. At the same time, I can’t get excited by the idea that
people are paying for a limited rights license. A license which can
be revoked at any time. That’s not the relationship I want with my
readers. Writers want you to buy our books, read them, love them and
read them some more. Forever.
But
in the digital age, forever is a term that comes with limits. At
least at the moment.
in the digital age, forever is a term that comes with limits. At
least at the moment.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2018
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
Stories Are My Life 
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