Outside the Beltway

Thus far, Disney+ and HBO Max are additive rather than cannibalizing competing services.

A very low-spoilers review.

The days of one-stop media shopping are long gone.

Saruman’s rigid arrogance ultimately made him pathetic. Sound familiar?

The actor reflects on nearly three decades with Parkinson’s.

The actor best known for his roles as Jackie Robinson and Black Panther has been lost to cancer.

Some recommended reading.

Preying on the fears of old white people is good business.

A great character actor is gone.

A world in which we’re all contractors is a dystopian utopia.

The weirdness of Internet outrage culture.

A legendary comic is gone.

Something significant was going to happen to Tulsa. Who could have predicted a genre shift?

The “Leave it to Beaver” actor went on to a career with the LAPD.

Vastly more people died than needed to and the economy still crashed.

The status quo ante is not just waiting for us around the corner.

Social distancing is helping but too many aren’t taking it seriously enough.

He was the king of crossover hits long before Garth Brooks.

A sign of the times.

A bold new plan for security in the Middle East.

After an online backlash, The Hallmark Channel has reversed its decision to ban ads featuring a lesbian couple.

The Hallmark Channel caved to the complaints of a small group of so-called Christians who objected to a television commercial.

René Auberjonois, a long time character actor best known for his roles on Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space NIne, has died at 79.

A sad day for those of us who grew up watching Big Bird, Kermit, and the rest of the Muppets.

Given the times we live in, you may be tempted to argue about politics tomorrow. Here’s my advice — don’t do it.

South Park mocked Chinese censorship so, of course, they were censored in China.

Republicans have come up with a new target to blame mass shootings on, “violent video games.”

Part 1

This past weekend, Avengers: Endgame passed Avatar as the biggest-grossing movie of all-time, but there are several caveats.

Volkswagen recently announced that it was ending production of one of its most famous and recognizable models. The last Beetle rolls off the assembly line tomorrow.

After 67 years, Mad magazine is ceasing publication of new material.

Donald Trump has endorsed a proposal by a Republican Senator to ban flag burning.

A new report suggests that the Chinese movie-going market will surpass the American market in 2020.

Stan Lee’s former business manager has been arrested on charges that he used his influence over the late Marvel Comics founder to divert funds and alienate Lee from his family in his final months of life.

Legendary Comedian Tim Conway has died at the age of 85.

Que Sera, Sera

The original star of ‘Happy Days’ reflects on the shift to second fiddle.

Avengers: Endgame earned $1 billion worldwide in its first weekend, but it will take a lot more to become the biggest grossing movie of all time.

I sense a great disturbance in the Force. As if a billion voices are crying out “No, not Chewie!!!!”

Breaking up is hard to do.

The esteemed biographer on his process.

The first test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon appears to have been an all-around success.

A successful launch for SpaceX and NASA and a successful beginning to the return of American manned spaceflight.

Early tomorrow morning, NASA and SpaceX will be testing a crucial part of America’s return to manned space flight.

It turns out, The Duke wasn’t all that woke.

Ku Klux Klan jokes, fake lynchings, and the like were routinely depicted even at places like Cornell.

Is 50 percent too high a take? Or the best deal in town?

A reading recommendation.

Roger Stone, who worked with the Trump campaign in an official and unofficial capacity throughout the campaign, has been indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The damage done for Mickey Mouse in the name of Sony Bono is finally coming to an end.