Hollywood Trumped

Don Surber ^ | 12/24/17 | Don Surber

[markomalley]

So Hollywood bravely took on President Trump this year, spurning and mocking the choice of the people of more states than anyone had won since Reagan was president (Bush in 1988 carried 40 states).

And this year, lefties mocked the Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel.



Michael Schneider reported on December 1: "Hallmark’s Cheesy Christmas Movies Are Already Dominating Cable This Holiday Season — Ratings Watch."

Cheesy.

His was not an opinion column but a straight-forward report on ratings -- and journalists consider calling Christmas movies on Hallmark cheesy.

The Washington Post had noticed in August: "The feel-good Hallmark Channel is booming in the age of Trump."

It was the only non-news cable outlet to see a substantial increase in viewers. The Post said, "Turn on the news and you see people who can't get along, even in the same party. Turn on Hallmark and everyone ends the show smiling. You get re-runs of 'The Golden Girls' and lots of romantic films. The characters work together to save their town or store or farm."

Naturally, if middle-class Americans like something -- Chick-fil-A, Velveeta, Donald Trump -- lefties gotta hate it.

Salon said, "A super white Christmas: The Hallmark Channel gives us TV’s most homogeneous view of the holiday."

From Salon:

Unless you’re a holiday die-hard or a regular Hallmark viewer you may be wondering why this matters. Let’s begin with the obvious statement that holiday-themed viewing plays a huge role in the annual traditions of all kinds of families. So, yes, this is a cultural representation issue and one made especially disheartening when you take into account the way these movies sell a nostalgia for a false, if durable, vision of an America that never existed. But it’s also a problem of hiring and economics.

Sugar-spun traits of “real” America dominate Hallmark’s movie plots through the year, in fact. Plots typically involve characters from or living in the mythological small towns of “real” America, melting the hard hearts of big-city folks or bah humbug grinches with their honest optimism and pure, decent values.

To be fair, Hallmark isn’t the first or only entertainment entity to sell viewers on this kind of imagery. “Dreaming of a white Christmas” isn’t merely a nostalgic Irving Berlin lyric; it’s also a standard television industry practice.

But trucking in such marshmallow fuzziness has increasingly paid off for Hallmark.

Enjoying the holidays by watching a movie in which the protagonist works through a Christmas crisis is somehow evil.

Steve Goldstein wrote on Friday, "What Is It About Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies That Attract 70 Million Viewers?"

Wow. 70 million people.

That's a lot of people.

That's more than are watching NFL games these days.

Meanwhile, in Hollywood, the Los Angeles Times reported that after a year of feuding with President Trump, "Even with 'Star Wars' surge, movie-going could hit 22-year low. Blame bad sequels, rising ticket prices and streaming."

From the LA Times:

Although movie ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada are expected to dip just below last year's record of $11.38 billion, the number of tickets sold is projected to drop 4% to 1.26 billion — the lowest level since 1995, according to preliminary estimates from studio executives. 

The falloff in ticket sales can mostly be explained by a handful of movies that flopped, especially during the dreary summer season that posted the worst results in more than two decades. Even such massive hits as “Wonder Woman,” “Thor: Ragnarok” and “It” couldn’t make up for a lackluster summer lineup populated by rickety franchises (“Alien: Covenant”) and poorly reviewed retreads (“The Mummy”).

However, the long-term decline in attendance reflects systemic challenges facing the industry. Audiences are spending less time going to the movies and are consuming more entertainment on small screens and through streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon that are spending billions on original video content.

Here's an idea: Stop feuding with Trump.

The Trump Effect is real.

Here's another idea: Try a little cheese.

People like to feel good about a movie.

The Trump Effect List:

1. Casey Affleck.

February 2017: "Casey Affleck Slams Trump Administration’s ‘Abhorrent’ Policies in Spirit Awards Speech."

November 2017: "Thousands Sign Petition To Keep Casey Affleck From Presenting At Oscars."

2. Alec Baldwin.

2016: "Alec Baldwin totally nailed Trump on the 'SNL' premiere."

2017: "Alec Baldwin Admits He's 'Bullied Women,' Calls for a Change in Hollywood."

3. LaVar Ball.

November 2017: "LaVar Ball Is Feuding with Donald Trump Over His Son's Release From China."

December 2017: "LaVar Ball sends his sons to play in LITHUANIA after pulling them both out of school in the United States after UCLA-Trump row."

4. Hillary Clinton:

2016: "Clinton has 90 percent chance of winning."

2017: "Hillary, I love you. But please go away."

5. George Clooney.

2016: "Clooney's Vow: Trump Will Not Be President; See Trump's Response."

2017: "Clooney's 'Suburbicon' tanks, 'Saw' sequel No. 1 with $16.3M."

6. John Conyers.

2016: "Rep. John Conyers: Donald Trump Is the Next Richard Nixon."

2017: "Rep. John Conyers Jr. resigns over sexual harassment allegations."

7. David Corn.

2016: "MSNBC’s David Corn destroys Ann Coulter for defending Trump’s decision not to release tax returns."

2017: "David Corn investigated for inappropriate workplace behavior."

8. Bill Cosby.

2011: "During an appearance on the 'Today Show,' Bill Cosby slammed Donald Trump's political aspirations, telling him to 'run or shut up'."

2017: "Bill Cosby trying to take out $30M loan to pay mounting legal bills."

9. Lena Dunham.

2016: "Lena Dunham: I'll move to Canada if Trump is president."

2017: "Lena Dunham Apologizes for Defending Girls Writer Accused of Rape."

10. Eminem.

October 2017: "Eminem unleashes on Trump: The 11 fiercest lines."

November 2017: "Eminem is SKEWERED on social media after his bizarre performance on SNL."

Bonus: "Rapper Eminem ‘extremely angry’ that Trump didn’t respond to castigating freestyle rap."

11. Al Franken.

2016: "Al Franken Hilariously Mocks Donald Trump."

2017: "Al Franken to Resign From Senate Amid Harassment Allegations."

12. GQ.

2016: "If You Vote For Trump, Then Screw You."

2017: "Layoffs Hit GQ as Condé Nast Cuts Continue."

13. Kathy Griffin.

2016: "Kathy Griffin Thinks Comedy Should Go All Out on ‘President Piece of Shit’ Donald Trump."

2017: "CNN fires Kathy Griffin."

143. Alcee Hastings.

2016: "Democratic congressman calls Donald Trump 'pile of excrement'."

2017: "Taxpayers paid $220K to settle sexual harassment case involving Hastings."

15. Stephen Henderson.

2016: "Henderson: Vote for Trump was a consent, purposeful or not, to bigotry."

2017: "Free Press’ Stephen Henderson terminated for misconduct."

16. Megyn Kelly.

2016: "GOP Debate: Donald Trump's 'Spat' With Megyn Kelly Is Sexism."

2017: "Megyn Kelly drags down 'Today' ratings."

17. Garrison Keillor.

2016: “So, he won. The nation takes a deep breath. Raw ego and proud illiteracy have won out and a severely learning-disabled man with a real character problem will be president. We are so exhausted from thinking about this election, millions of people will take up leaf-raking and garage cleaning with intense pleasure. We liberal elitists are wrecks. The Trumpers had a whale of a good time, waving their signs, jeering at the media, beating up protesters, chanting ‘Lock her up’ — we elitists just stood and clapped. Nobody chanted ‘Stronger Together.’ It just doesn't chant.”

2017: "Minnesota Public Radio Fires Garrison Keillor Over Allegations of Improper Conduct."

18. Shia LaBeouf.

January 2017: "Shia Labeouf Verbally and Physically Assaults Trump Supporter."

April 2017: "Shia LaBeouf Thriller ‘Man Down’ Sells Just One Ticket at U.K. Box Office."

19. Ryan Lizza,

2016: "Trump Gets Ready to Be a Bad Loser."

2017: "New Yorker Fires Star Reporter Ryan Lizza Over 'Improper Sexual Conduct'."

20. Louis C.K.

2016: "Louis C.K. Compares Donald Trump to Hitler: ‘He’s an Insane Bigot’."

2017: "FX fires Louis C.K. after comic confirms sexual misconduct claims."

21. Macy's.

2015: "Macy's Drops Donald Trump's Fashion Line Over Immigrant Remarks."

2017: "Macy's Announces Store Closings for 2017."

22. Rose McGowan.

2016: "Rose McGowan Blasts Donald Trump, Murdochs, Networks in Open Letter: 'You Are Causing a Worldwide Sickness.'"

2017: "Rose McGowan arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance."

23. Alyssa Milano.

March 2017: "Alyssa Milano on Trump: 'Removing him will be up to' women."

June 2017: "Anti-Trumper Alyssa Milano is broke as a joke, didn’t pay taxes and stiffed her employees."

24. Democrat Ed Murray.

2016: "Seattle mayor decries Trump, says immigrants welcome."

2017: "Seattle Mayor Resigns After Multiple Sexual Abuse Allegations."

25. Rupert Myers.

January 2017: "British GQ writer: Could Obama ‘murder Trump and Pence’ then pardon himself?"

October 2017: "Male feminist writer fired by GQ Magazine after woman accuses him of sexual assault."

26. NFL.

September 2017: "After Trump Blasts N.F.L., Players Kneel and Lock Arms in Solidarity."

November 2017: "NFL TV Partners Set To Lose Up To $500 Million On Ratings Decline."

27. Barack Obama.

During the campaign, Trump tweeted, "President Obama will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States!"

Obama went on Jimmy Kimmel's show, read the tweet, and replied, "At least I'll go down as a president."

Fifteen days later, we elected Trump as Obama's successor.

28. Rosie O'Donnell.

1996: "Queen of Nice Can Rosie O'Donnell Clean Up Trash TV?"

2017: "Rosie O’Donnell Admits: ‘I Spend 90% Of My Hours Tweeting Hatred’ At Trump."

29. Tony Podesta.

2010: "Tony Podesta, Superlobbyist."

2017: "Tony Podesta stepping down from lobbying giant amid Mueller probe."

30. Brett Ratner.

June 2017: "Brett Ratner Regrets Not Naming 'Tower Heist' After Trump."

November 2017: "Six women accuse filmmaker Brett Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct."

31. Eric Schmidt.

January 2017: "Google's Eric Schmidt: Trump Administration Will Do Evil Things."

December 2017: "Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is stepping down as Alphabet’s executive chairman."

32. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

2016: "Arnold Schwarzenegger: ‘I Will Not Vote for the Republican Candidate for President.’"

2017: "He won't be back: Schwarzenegger's Terminator franchise terminated."

2017: "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Legend of Conan Isn't Happening."

2017: "Donald Trump Says Arnold Schwarzenegger Fired From ‘Celebrity Apprentice.’"

33. Andy Signore.

June 2017: "I am so damn sick of bully @realDonaldTrump taking words out of context to act out his agenda of fear, corruption & bigotry. #NotMyPresident."

October 2017: "‘Honest Trailers’ Creator Andy Signore Fired for ‘Egregious and Intolerable’ Sexual Behavior."

34. John Skipper.

October 2017: "Report: ESPN’s John Skipper Attacks President Trump, Fox News, and Clay Travis, in Private Employee Meeting."

December 2017: "John Skipper's resignation caps a tumultuous year at ESPN."

35. Tavis Smiley.

2016: "Tavis Smiley: BFOTs (Black Friends of Trump) Are Normalizing Racism."

2017: "PBS Suspends Tavis Smiley For Allegedly Forcing Women and Men to Have Sex With Him to Keep Their Jobs."

36. Kevin Spacey.

2016: "Kevin Spacey mocks Donald Trump and calls him a 'disease' at Cannes."

2017: "Actor Anthony Rapp: Kevin Spacey Made A Sexual Advance Toward Me When I Was 14."

37. Alwaleed Bin Talal.

2016: "Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Trolls Trump: ‘I Bailed You Out Twice’."

2017: "Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal arrested in corruption crackdown."

38. George Takei.

2016: "George Takei: Trump's Muslim registry is 'prelude to internment'."

2017: "George Takei’s Facebook empire strains under sexual harassment allegations."

39. Teen Vogue.

2016: "Donald Trump Is Gaslighting America."

2017: "Teen Vogue is going to cease printing."

40. Harvey Weinstein.

2016: "Harvey Weinstein says Trump 'appeals to the worst in us'."

2017: "Harvey Weinstein Is Fired After Sexual Harassment Reports."

41. Brian Williams.

2012: "Donald Trump has driven well past the last exit to relevance and veered into something closer to irresponsible."

2015: "Brian Williams Demoted to MSNBC Breaking News Anchor."

[lgjhn23]

All in all, based on that list, I’d say the POTUS has had a pretty darn good year.
And if the Hallmark white heterosexual mush movies cause the ire of the left, great!!!! They reflect mainstream America which is tired of the filth of the left and their ilk. All the commies gotta do is just change the channel. Millions of mainstream Americans do it all the time....on CNN and the NFL.

[Bobalu]

[sparklite2]

Hallmark? To me, Hallmark is another chick channel like Lifetime. Don’t watch either one.

[UCANSEE2]

Bookmark

[Fiddlstix]

Click the Pic

[raybbr]

“”””To me, Hallmark is another chick channel like Lifetime.””””

You couldn’t be more wrong.

[Inyo-Mono]

Yet another bookmark.

[sparklite2]

At their website, they are showcasing, “When Calls the Heart,” “Royal,” Love on the Slopes,” and “Full House.”
IMO, that’s a chick channel. YMMV

[Rurudyne]

Some thoughts:

First off there is nothing braver than a liberal living in an echo chamber.

Secondly, it the America of Hallmark Channel never existed then what were those idiots in the sex liberation movement etc of the 60s and 70s so proud of themselves for breaking away from?

Yes, the good old days weren’t good for everyone so what if they weren’t?

Life isn’t fair.

Fixing a few things isn’t an excuse for letting Cultural Marxist crap become dominant in half of America to the point it becomes inspescapable for the other half and even pretends the other half is the aberration whose America never existed.

It would have been better had we attended our problems and NOT let loose every vile, perverted and corrupt thing the left champions.

[jonascord]

The $64 question is whether they will learn from this year, or double down on their Stupid.

[Yaelle]

Plots typically involve characters from or living in the mythological small towns of “real” America, melting the hard hearts of big-city folks or bah humbug grinches with their honest optimism and pure, decent values.

---

The lefties would prefer another kind of Christmas movie. One where poor, dark skinned people living in the worst of conditions in the projects or inner cities, but with hearts of gold, get into a horrible situation at the hands of white cops, bosses, or other cruel racists, and then somehow overcome and have a merry Christmas full of plenty while the evil whites are rotting in jail or killed.

[Yaelle]

The list makes me smile like Lily Allen’s song.

[Theodore R.]

Hallmark films are of high moral quality; Lifetime, less so.

[raybbr]

Yes, the movies on hallmark are romantic. They have happy endings and people fall in love. I like them. I don’t watch all the time but I once in a while.

[RoseofTexas]

If you can’t beat them join them! The Hallmark surge is real! I know many many women plus Rush who are into the Hallmark movies...poopoo them if you must but it’s real!

[OttawaFreeper]

I’m a TCM guy myself, but tune away whenever Alec Baldwin is on. I wonder if the ratings for MeTV and other nostalgia/classic TV show channels have been quite respectable compared to the news channels?

[FreedomPoster]

The Trump Effect is awesome. Anytime you see someone trashing Trump, make a note. As this list shows, watch your notes, you’ll probably see those folks in the news in not so wonderful (for them) ways.

[gogeo]

Wow... I’d have to conclude that if you hate Donald Trump, you’re a pervert.

[Mr. Mojo]

I still watch reruns of old TV shows portraying the so-called “mythical” America leftists claim never existed — Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith, Bonanza, etc. They’re a welcome respite from the hellish world the Left has created.

I’m sure that Hallmark viewers feel similarly.