Simon Good Night, and Good Luck

Edward R. Morrow (picture to the left) was arguably the most famous t.v. personality of his time. He spoke of many things that Americans during the 1950's were to scared to even think about. But it is interesting to question, would Edward R. Morrow be as successful doing his job in modern day America? Personally I am not sure. Morrow had a style and ease in the way he talked. He spoke in a very humanistic way, very calm, but very powerful. That does not sound like many of the famous news reporters of our time. Today we can watch people like Al Roker and Kathie Lee Gifford all but making a fool of themselves on national t.v. everyday, and yet America seems to not be able to get enough of it. The work of Morrow has gone completely to the circus in that sense. Although, I could very well see him working as the new Larry King. They both seem to have that charisma and magnetism that almost entrances people in what they say. Even though Larry King has become more of a celebrity interviewer, it would not be a far stretch to see him tackling and issue like Morrow addressed when speaking of Senator McCarthy. So to fully answer the question, yes, I do believe that Edward R. Morrow would be successful in the modern world of HD television, but I also think that he would have to change some things to be as affective. He would have to give a bit more energy and make his broadcast more of a show to compete with the monkeys dancing around on the new today.

Simon I.B. Hugo Stiglitz

In Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, there are many iconic and memorable characters. After all, the film is full of Hollywood A-listers working with one of the most recognizable directors in the world. Having to choose my favorite character was like asking a pre-teen girl to pick her favorite Hannah Montana song...its rather difficult, but thinking more about there was one character that I found to be extremely compelling and rather misunderstood. Hugo Stigliz is a relatively minor character in the over all plot, but I believe the major reason why he is sometimes over looked is because Til Schweiger, the actor who plays Stiglitiz, is an unknown to the American audience. Compared to Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, and Eli Roth, Schweiger had some major co-star rivals. Although, what the others did not have was an entire montage devoted to their characters that also had the voice over of "God" himself, Mr. Samuel L. Jackson. The montage is about a minute long telling the compelling story of Stigliz's life as a German solider in WWII. I found this scene extremely entertaining, and I have to admit that while watching this in the movie theatre I could not help but to burst into laughter. It did not help that the scene that the montage in is extremely violent and awesomely gory. But right in the middle of the Bastards executing German men all of a sudden this random montage appears that is rather hysterical and completely adds to the scene a much needed comedic relief. I believe Tarantino did this tribute to Stiglitz to add to the over all comedic feel to the film, but it also shows a side of German soliders that we as an audience hardly ever see. We saw a man who was a great German soldier turn on his own country, then ultimately die trying to bring his former commander down. This is why Hugo Stiglitz is my favorite character. Not only is his intro scene absolutely hilarious, but his character has a very emotional and interesting past.





P.s. It is not allowing me to post a picture so I am going to post the url to the one I would have posted. I hope this works.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deviantart.com/download/154543120/Hugo_Stiglitz_by_tjprettyman.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tjprettyman.deviantart.com/art/Hugo-Stiglitz-154543120%3Fq%3Dsort%253Atime%2Bfavby%253ASgtHugoStiglitz%26qo%3D1&usg=__58_zhficvIKtDdiTBRYHuXkwisM=&h=1800&w=2400&sz=2741&hl=en&start=33&zoom=1&tbnid=knIEH0aKOozraM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=168&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhugo%2Bstiglitz%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D546%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C893&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=732&vpy=210&dur=236&hovh=126&hovw=168&tx=212&ty=116&ei=RpCrTOf5MY_CswabtLyTBw&oei=N5CrTPulN9vPjAernbDLBw&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:33&biw=1024&bih=546

Simon West Wing

I believe that the most important political issue that the President must face in the pilot episode of the West Wing is how much scrutiny he will allow his family to endure for his own public approval.

Taking the title "Chief of Staff" audomatically places a target on the backs of everyone close and dear to the President, but when President Bartlet's granddaughter recieves a direct death threat, he is forced to take immediate action. The threat came in the form of a raggady anne doll with a knife in her neck. The doll came from a religious activist group that clearly do not aggree with the Presidents political and or religious views. It is implied that the radical group has targeted the young girl before, and that brings us the issue how much will the President let slide before taking matters into his own powerful hands?

Having such a high profile position, the President of the United States has to be extrememly careful on what he does and says and who he says it to. Saying one wrong word could unltimitly end up in his name becoming tarnished for eternity, but even with the risk of public disapproval the President decided that the threats on his  families safety is far too great. His frustration with the radicals comes to a climax while another group, that is some how linked to the religious group, comes to the White House for a meeting. The President enters the room naming off the first commandment to show them that he himself is not strictly political, that he also has a religious back ground. He then makes his disapproval for them clear when he demands they cut all ties to himself or anyone affiliated with him. Not only does he tell them he does not support them, he demands they leave his home immediately. So it is clear that the President felt the need to take the matters in his own hand, rather than send someone else to do it for him. This simple action speaks loudly of his frustration with this issue. Being the President, he could simply have anyone say the same thing to them, but he took time out of his horrendously busy schedule to speak his disapproval.