Posted on May 17, 2021 by Leona in 31 genders - NYC, Academy Awards, Colin Kaepernick, common sense, culture, diversity, gender, gender-neutral pronouns, Instagram, Joe McCarthy, society, sports, television, The View, Walt Disney Company
Television and movies have changed dramatically. (I won’t even get into the music business.) Where men used to be noble, dignified supporters of their family, they are now often depicted as buffoons and slobs. Francis Reagan, the patriarch of Blue Bloods, as well as the other men on the show, are definitely exceptions – that’s […]
Posted on June 16, 2013 by Leona in culture, society, television, U.S. holidays
I’ve posted this for the last two years. I thought it was worth posting again. My parents had me and my brother late in life (but not by today’s standards). When I was born in 1951, my father was 46, my mother 38. By 1960, my father was a widower raising an 8-year girl and […]
Posted on June 7, 2012 by Leona in America's Got Talent, television
So maybe you’re asking yourself. Who’s Andrew De Leon? Well, he’s a young man who appeared on America’s Got Talent the other night and “blew the roof off” when he sang the aria, O Mio Babbino Caro from Puccini’s opera, Gianni Schicchi. To those people who like to judge books by their covers (remember Susan […]
Posted on March 23, 2012 by Leona in American Idol, culture, society, television
I think American Idol jumped the shark when Simon Cowell left the show. We’re now left with Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson who are nothing more than cheerleaders with limited vocabularies. I’ve often thought of sending them a thesaurus because Steven’s raves are limited to, “you’re beautiful, man” and Jennifer knows no other […]
Posted on March 19, 2012 by Leona in celebrities, childrearing, children born out of wedlock, feminism, society, television
I’ve written before about the results and consequences facing children who are born out of wedlock. The whole “I don’t need to be married in order to have a child” lifestyle, encouraged by the example of numerous celebrities who the media glorify, will continue to have an enormous negative impact on society. Legitimate studies already […]
Posted on December 30, 2011 by Leona in television
Earlier in the year I wrote an article entitled “Good Christian Bitches:” High Concept/Low Blow about a new television series. The series is based on a book by Kim Gatlin. While the name may be acceptable as a book title, I didn’t get why the ABC network would use the original name which, to me, […]
Posted on November 1, 2011 by Leona in culture, television
I like Dancing with the Stars because I love watching great dancers. I particularly like the “results” show because it showcases dances by the professionals. If you haven’t watched the show, they team “stars” with professional dancers who are required to dance several required dances throughout the season and are judged by three professional dancers. […]
Posted on October 4, 2011 by Leona in exploitation of children, television, Toddlers & Tiaras
I shouldn’t be surprised when I see disturbing photos of provocatively dressed and made up young girls in an issue of French Vogue or that some French company is launching a line of lingerie for 4- to 12-year olds. After all, this is the same country which gave convicted child rapist, Roman Polanski, safe haven […]
Posted on July 26, 2011 by Leona in Barack Obama, election day 2012, politics, television
Conversation which took place over twenty years ago: Colleague: “Heard you were getting married; do I know him?” Me: “Salazar, in Department 404.” Colleague: “He’s marrying you? But, he’s so nice…” Me: (Puzzled look) Colleague: “….oh, I mean, it’s not that you’re not nice, uh, you’re just different.” In my professional life, I was viewed […]
Posted on July 16, 2011 by Leona in culture, Jane Fonda, television, Vietnam War
It looks like the American public hasn’t lost its collective memory and is not ready to embrace Jane Fonda any time soon. She was supposed to appear on QVC to hock her new book, Prime Time, but was canceled when viewers threatened to boycott the show if she showed up. Her response, “I am, to […]