The hottest Television Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 706 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. A single standout longform article can be flagged as a must-read and cut through the usual noise.
  2. Sharing a simple, nostalgic family recipe invites readers to try it and ties food to personal memories.
  3. Short weekly roundups that mix links and personal notes make a sustainable recurring format, with some items sometimes reserved for subscribers or seasonal breaks.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 87

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. One artist, James Niehues, paints most of the world's ski maps and is celebrated for the artistic quality of his work.
  2. John Grisham and Stephen King spent an hour chatting and bantering together, giving a rare, informal conversation between two top writers.
  3. Boeing's Doomsday Plane reappeared after 51 years; it's built to survive nuclear events and was recently spotted about 25 minutes from the White House.

The Weekend Press: Totalitarianism Can Be Relaxing

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 343 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. A life of endless comfort and convenience can hollow out struggle, passion, and meaning, so stories that imagine a relaxing dystopia warn that hardship helps make us human.
  2. Art and cultural institutions are increasingly retooled as political statements, which can reshape and polarize how audiences receive classic works.
  3. Short-form internet platforms rewired humor and attention, proving that six-second moments can define virality and change the way we experience culture.

Solstice vibes

Austin Kleon • 4556 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Reading is about choosing to read one book over many others. It's okay to not read every book out there.
  2. Music can be a great escape when feeling tired of other interests. Sometimes, music books can reignite that passion for reading.
  3. TV shows can be a fun distraction. It's nice to find joy in watching something simple and entertaining, especially during the holidays.
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Merry Christmas

Wrong Side of History • 332 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Culture and identity debates are everywhere now, shaping casting, museum displays, and how history is told. These fights feel political and change which stories and voices get prominence.
  2. Free speech and political conflict are getting harsher, with real legal and social consequences for people who speak out and with fiction and media strongly influencing political views. That combination is reshaping public debate and accountability.
  3. Britain still projects soft power through cultural exports like popular history podcasts, even as people worry about younger generations, rising authoritarian tendencies, and ongoing security and historical memory issues. These cultural and political anxieties are linked and feed into each other.

Thank God for Re-runs

Disaffected Newsletter • 2497 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Re-runs of old TV shows helped connect generations. They showed a version of life that parents and grandparents recognized but kids see as old-fashioned.
  2. Modern technology has changed quickly, and young people today don't have the same cultural links to the past that older generations had. This leaves them feeling disconnected.
  3. The absence of re-runs and gradual cultural change might contribute to a lack of understanding or appreciation for older ways of life, leading to discomfort with things from the past.

Your December Questions, Answered (2 of 2)

Singal-Minded • 148 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. This is a follow-up Q&A answering readers’ December questions on topics like Bari Weiss, Jewishness, the NFL, and The Simpsons.
  2. A reader asked about the Bari Weiss/60 Minutes controversy over a delayed segment on an El Salvadoran prison, and the writer said they’d devote a full article to that topic.
  3. The rest of the responses are behind a paywall, but the post offers a way to claim the free continuation or subscribe to read the full piece.

The Church of Minding One’s Own Business

Austin Kleon • 4256 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Minding your own business can be a refreshing approach to life. It allows you to focus on your own thoughts and interests instead of getting caught up in others' lives.
  2. Reading good translations can greatly enhance the experience of classic literature. Edith Grossman's work on 'Don Quixote' is a perfect example of how translation can bring a book to life.
  3. Nostalgia is powerful, whether through music or movies. Listening to favorite albums or watching beloved films can bring back fond memories and feelings.

NFL & Fox: The $1.6B Deal That Changed Everything

SatPost by Trung Phan • 127 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🎾 Sports Television
  1. Rupert Murdoch’s 1993 $1.6B bid for the NFC turned Fox into a major broadcast network and set a precedent that pushed NFL and other sports media rights values dramatically higher.
  2. Fox reinvented how football is shown by adding the constant score box, many more cameras and microphones, a lively one-hour pregame, a memorable theme, and star commentators, making sports TV feel like entertainment.
  3. Modern media trends now include live spectacle streaming (like Netflix’s Honnold event) and the rise of self-hosted personal AI assistants (OpenClaw/Moltbot), which offer big convenience gains but also create significant security and privacy risks.

Meghan Markle Is the Slop Princess We Deserve

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 440 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Her Netflix holiday special is a goofy, unhinged mix of cooking, crafts, and celeb cameos that many find unintentionally hilarious and downright charming.
  2. After stepping away from the royal family she tried a string of projects — a short-lived podcast, a lifestyle jam brand, and a Netflix deal that wasn’t renewed — but she kept hustling.
  3. She’s embraced a cozy, domestic shtick (wrapping gifts, making wreaths, cooking with guests) that makes her feel relatable and has helped people soften their view of her.

Tony Soprano and the Jungian Death Mother

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 2462 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Tony Soprano is a complex character who shows both deep flaws and a desire for change, but his life as a mafia boss makes real transformation difficult.
  2. The show portrays struggles with familial relationships, particularly the damaging influence of Tony's mother, which shapes his behavior and emotions significantly.
  3. Unlike other antiheroes in TV shows, Tony's actions often reveal a deeper horror, as he inflicts pain on loved ones not just for survival, but from a deep-seated need to manage his feelings of inadequacy.

Open Mic Day: Tells Us About Your Favorite Movies, Music, Books, Etc. of 2024

The Honest Broker • 5818 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Share your favorite movies, music, books, and more from 2024. Everyone loves to hear new recommendations!
  2. It's important to have fun and take a break from serious topics sometimes. Sharing our creative finds can lift our spirits.
  3. When sharing, try not to promote your own projects this time. This is about celebrating what others have created.

The Weekend Press: Siblings Are a Gift

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 398 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Growing up with many siblings can be chaotic but also creates deep bonds and a rich, joyful life — siblings are a real gift.
  2. Small acts of gratitude, like handwritten thank-you notes, are meaningful and worth making time for even when life is busy.
  3. After the holidays, give yourself a break: cook something simple, binge an entertaining thriller about elite meltdowns, and read a short book or essay to reset.

‘Stranger Things’ Didn’t Have to End Like This

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 292 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. The final season was badly delayed and plagued by production problems, including a 40‑month gap caused by the pandemic and the writers’ strike.
  2. Off‑screen scandals involving cast members added negative attention and made the season’s release feel messy and distracted.
  3. The biggest issue is how grown adults playing high‑school kids makes dialogue feel cheesy and breaks the show’s believability.

Within the Context of No Context, Revisited

Novum Newsletter • 323 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Television changed how we understand people by focusing on demographics instead of shared history. This shift made it easier for advertisers to target audiences but also lost the depth of personal stories.
  2. As people became more isolated from community and shared experiences, intimacy moved online. This created a false sense of closeness with celebrities and brands, making many feel disconnected and insignificant.
  3. The way we measure success and connection has evolved from the television era. Now, the internet often amplifies feelings of anxiety and loneliness, showing a stark contrast to the shared context that television once provided.

The Evolution of Sony’s TV: Key Innovations and Iconic Models

Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter • 99 implied HN points • 13 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Television
  1. Sony has been a leader in TV technology, starting with their portable TVs in the 1960s and advancing to high-definition and 4K models. They keep changing how we enjoy home entertainment.
  2. The Trinitron technology, introduced in 1968, set a new standard for color TV by offering sharper and more vibrant images. This invention marked a significant moment in TV history.
  3. Recent innovations, like the first OLED TV in 2007 and the introduction of 4K resolution TVs in 2012, show that Sony continues to push boundaries in display technology and enhance viewing experiences.

‘South Park’ Knows How to Mock Donald Trump

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1038 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Many late-night comedians have struggled to make people laugh about Donald Trump, and some have even lost their shows because of it.
  2. Comedy became very political during Trump's presidency, making it hard for comedians to joke freely without taking sides.
  3. Shows like SNL focused too much on serious themes instead of funny sketches, which changed the way viewers enjoyed comedy.

Suzy Weiss: Ozzy Osbourne Was America’s Dad

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1048 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Ozzy Osbourne was known for being a unique type of dad on his reality show, 'The Osbournes.' His family life was chaotic but entertaining, showcasing a very different picture of American family life.
  2. Despite his wild image, Ozzy had a relatable parenting style filled with funny and awkward moments, making him feel like a father figure to viewers.
  3. The show highlighted how families can have fun in their own crazy ways, breaking traditional norms while still bonding over their challenges.

What Are You Watching?!? (in August)

Culture Study • 961 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Being busy outdoors can disrupt your usual TV watching habits. It's normal to go through periods where you watch less.
  2. Getting back into a routine can help you enjoy watching shows again. Just like picking up a book, finding a way to get back into watching can make it easier.
  3. Using reminders or strategies can help keep your viewing habits consistent. It's all about creating the right environment for your interests.

"Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" as Franchise Hinge: Wednesday Comfort Watching

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 138 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Star Trek had two franchise hinge moments: the second pilot that launched the series and The Wrath of Khan, which turned it into a cultural and economic powerhouse.
  2. Nicholas Meyer rescued the movie by reframing it as a Hornblower‑in‑space naval adventure, stitching together multiple drafts in twelve days, and using tight direction and editing to get powerful performances and earn Spock’s death.
  3. After Wrath of Khan, a deliberate strategy of lower budgets, character‑first storytelling, and smart syndication (like TNG) let Star Trek grow into a long‑lasting franchise; without Khan it likely would have died after the first film.

Colbert and the slow death of dissent

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 855 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Colbert's performance on _The Colbert Report_ was truly exceptional and demanding, showcasing his skills as a solo performer. He was known for his sharp wit and ability to improvise brilliantly in front of the audience.
  2. His memorable appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner, where he directly mocked the president, is still talked about today and highlights his fearless approach to comedy.
  3. Colbert's transition to CBS raised questions about whether it was driven by financial reasons or a desire for political correctness, especially since his comedy often criticized powerful figures and institutions.

What the TV Market is Telling Us

The Ankler • 884 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Television
  1. TV market facing pitching slump in February and March due to budget constraints
  2. Series Business newsletter offers insights on TV industry trends and analysis
  3. Market forecast suggests TV industry is in an unsteady and nostalgic phase in 2024

On TWBA, Yuki's Revenge and One-Film Supercuts of Two-Part Movies

Textual Variations • 66 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Kill Bill works better as a single, unified film and the whole cut strengthens the final twist. However, poor theatrical projection and some redundant sequences (like duplicate driving scenes) hurt the viewing experience.
  2. Yuki’s Revenge is a Fortnite-style animated short adapted almost verbatim from an early unused chapter, showing how Yuki and Gogo were merged during rewrites. It’s entertaining but non-canonical and repeats material already present in the main film.
  3. One-film supercuts of two-part movies are surprisingly rare even though directors and audiences show interest. Practical barriers like cost, logistics, and studio choices seem to limit more combined editions despite their creative potential.

Making Tiny Classics for Public TV

Animation Obsessive • 1793 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Television
  1. Tissa David and the Hubleys played a vital role in producing animated content for children's educational shows like Sesame Street. Their work helped make learning fun for kids using creative animation.
  2. Sesame Street and similar shows brought innovative teaching methods to children by using entertaining formats similar to TV commercials. This approach helped sell educational concepts to young audiences.
  3. Creating limited animation can still result in high-quality work. Tissa David highlighted that limited animation is a different style and can be done effectively to convey engaging stories.

Taylor Swift, AI cults and the pain of the personal brand

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 638 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Modern living rooms heavily feature large TV screens, but there's a rising trend towards hidden technology, like TVs that blend into backgrounds.
  2. There's a significant shift towards concealing technology in everyday objects, like smart speakers disguised as lamps or laptops made to look like books.
  3. Personal screens have become an integral part of daily life, but there's a growing desire to minimize their visibility, especially accentuated during the pandemic.

Senior Jeopardy!

Soaring Twenties • 108 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
⚔ Fiction Television
  1. A lifelong Jeopardy fan finally gets onto a special Senior Jeopardy episode after years of trying, showing how quiet persistence can make a small dream come true.
  2. The episode mixes humor and tenderness — buzzer mishaps, rambling anecdotes, medical slips, and playful rivalries — to portray aging with warmth and comedy.
  3. A tiny wording quibble in Final Jeopardy ('the Google' vs. 'Google') costs the contestant the win, capturing the bittersweet blend of satisfaction in the experience and the sting of narrowly missing a goal.

100 things that made my year

Austin Kleon • 2917 implied HN points • 30 Dec 22
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Reflecting on the year can highlight significant moments and experiences that brought joy or growth. It's important to take time to acknowledge what made the year special.
  2. Books, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment can shape our experiences and provide comfort or inspiration throughout the year. Curating favorites can help in remembering those moments.
  3. Sharing recommendations and engaging with a community can enhance our enjoyment of various media and foster connections with others who have similar interests.

Do the Jo(h)ns Believe What They're Saying?

I Might Be Wrong • 20 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Comedian-journalists are losing automatic credibility as experts and now face growing skepticism from both fans and specialists.
  2. People debate whether their one-sided messaging comes from showmanship and chasing audiences or from genuinely believing the simplified narratives they promote.
  3. Satirical news shows increasingly resemble partisan outlets by simplifying and massaging facts, which undercuts their earlier role as a corrective to mainstream media.

What the NHS can learn from Dave

Odds and Ends of History • 670 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Branding is important for organizations like the NHS. They need to decide between having a unique identity or one that fits into a larger network.
  2. TV channels often change their look, showing a balance between standing out and fitting in. The BBC and Sky have both done this in their rebranding efforts.
  3. Consistency in branding helps people recognize and connect with a service or product, but sometimes change is needed to stay fresh and relevant.

Tuesday Thread: What Are You Watching?

Culture Study • 1859 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Watching shows can be a great way to escape tough emotions like grief. It allows us to get lost in stories that can be comforting.
  2. Having a show that moves quickly, like _The Diplomat_, can make it easy to binge-watch when feeling low. It provides a distraction from daily stress.
  3. Strong performances by actors, like Alison Janney's in _The Diplomat_, can enhance the viewing experience and make the story even more engaging.

What ‘Love Island’ Gets Right About Dating

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 561 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. 'Love Island' shows how dating can be fun and experimental, with flirting and trying again after rejection. It's like a game where you learn to navigate relationships.
  2. The show creates a feeling of connection by airing episodes daily, making viewers feel like they're part of the contestants' journey. It's like sharing experiences in real-time.
  3. While some may see it as shallow, there are lessons about relationships, jealousy, and how people interact in modern dating. The drama highlights real emotions we all experience.

Everything Old Is New Again in 2024

Drezner’s World • 569 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. The likelihood of a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the 2024 election is high, causing mixed reactions among Americans.
  2. The return of Jon Stewart to 'The Daily Show' as a host and executive producer in 2024 is seen as a major event for Comedy Central and Paramount Global.
  3. Stewart's comeback is anticipated to bring comedic relief and potentially influence the political landscape with his unique perspective.

RIP Richard Lewis

Castalia • 399 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Richard Lewis brought a unique, quirky energy to 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' standing out with his odd style and humor. His character provided a fun contrast to Larry David's more serious nature.
  2. The show uses clever storytelling, intertwining multiple plotlines that come together in unexpected ways. This structure keeps viewers engaged and makes every episode entertaining.
  3. Despite cultural shifts, 'Curb' remained popular by addressing everyday annoyances and experiences relatable to many. It skillfully balanced humor with observations about life, ensuring it stayed relevant over the years.

Tuesday Thread: Your Comfort Watch

Culture Study • 1564 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Television
  1. Comfort watches help people feel relaxed, especially during dark and cold seasons. They can bring a sense of coziness and emotional safety.
  2. Many comfort watches are holiday-themed, designed to create warm and nostalgic feelings.
  3. People enjoy revisiting favorite shows or movies because they offer a familiar escape from everyday stress.

The 3 pm blackout is a cartel move and you're all being had

Grace on Football • 1022 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Television
  1. The 3 pm blackout in English football prevents TV broadcasting to protect attendance, but it may not be justifiable.
  2. Supporters of the blackout rely on the status quo and need to prove its positive impact on attendance and fan support.
  3. The blackout benefits Premier League's financial interests by limiting TV broadcast to maintain higher demand and value.