Melanie McFarland
@mctelevision.bsky.social
Senior Culture Critic Salon. Fmr prez TCA & Peabody Awards board. Opinions are mine, RTs don't ≠ endorsement. Subscribe to The Swell! https://salon-theswell.beehiiv.com/ You can find my other work here: https://www.salon.com/writer/melanie_mcfarland
Yup. Matt Damon as Odysseus is one Christopher Nolan's choices that made sense to me right away.
Erin Keane@erinkeane.bsky.social · 2d ago"Damon’s Odysseus captures all the heroic arrogance, bravery and selfish stupidity of an action-flick brawler who would shoot a giant cyclops in the eye as he’s making his escape, just because." — @mctelevision.bsky.social on why it had to be Matt Damon www.salon.com/2026/08/02/t...
Paramount is already on it cutting POC-featured projects, of course they’d do the same to WB/HBO
Melanie McFarland@mctelevision.bsky.social · 4d agoThere are lots of reasons to be concerned about what a Paramount-WBD merger would do to our media landscape. The probability that we'll see fewer shows like #DiarraFromDetroit is one of them. www.salon.com/2026/08/01/d...
There are lots of reasons to be concerned about what a Paramount-WBD merger would do to our media landscape. The probability that we'll see fewer shows like #DiarraFromDetroit is one of them. www.salon.com/2026/08/01/d...
"Diarra From Detroit" shows what a media merger could cost TV
A Paramount-Warner Bros. merger will mean less diversity and fewer hidden gems.
salon.com
Media people! @hanhonymous.bsky.social is truly one of the best editors I have ever worked with -- she's smart, creative, respects her reports and has a deep expertise in all things Culture. She would be a terrific addition to your team. Hire her!
👩🏻💻 Hanhonymous@hanhonymous.bsky.social · last wk.Today is my last day as Executive Editor at Salon.com. It’s bittersweet, but I'm so grateful for all the opportunities & working with some of the finest people I’ve met. The media landscape is tough right now. Not sure what’s next, but you can email me at hanh.b.nguyen74@gmail.com with leads
I promised myself after surviving #TheOdyssey that I would post this msg as a public service: If you are looking for a good spot for a restroom run, you can safely head there right after Samantha Morton instructs Matt Damon to go to hell.
"Love is like the sea. It’s a moving thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from the shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore." — Zora Neale Hurston 🌱📷
Maybe tonight #LateNightWithSethMeyers will give Lindsey Graham's needling granny a proper farewell, but in case she's gone for good, I wrote this brief tribute for @salon.com www.salon.com/2026/07/14/s...
'Night, Mee-Maw. "Late Night with Seth Meyers" will miss you
When Lindsey Graham died, Seth Meyers lost one of his best gags: the senator's imaginary, needling grandma
salon.com
BREAKING: E. Jean Carroll just received Trump's $5 million — plus interest. Despite Trump's repeated attempts to block Carroll from receiving the money, $5,625,005.48 was disbursed to Carroll's legal team this week. www.ms.now/news/e-jean-...
E. Jean Carroll finally gets Trump’s $5 million — plus interest
Despite the president’s repeated attempts to block Carroll from receiving the money, $5,625,005.48 was disbursed to Carroll’s legal team this week.
ms.now
In these dark times, it's nice to know that Trader Joe's has brought back dill pickle flavored popcorn. I am inhaling about half of a bag right now and it is glorious.
G.I. Joe: Knowing Is Half The Battle
Alt: G.I. Joe: Knowing Is Half The Battle
static.klipy.com
Brian Keith Jackson@bkjwordplay.bsky.social · 4w agoA great many men are like spinach. I love spinach. Yet, I find, what is packaged appears to be a lot more than you actually end up with. All it takes is a little heat to see what you're actually dealing with.
Late to this but The Husband and I are about to dive into #BaldursGate. Very excited!
Baldur's Gate 3 Capcut Effect
ALT: Baldur's Gate 3 Capcut Effect
static.klipy.com
Subscribe to The Swell to find out tomorrow which Miyazaki delight we're looking at next (salon-theswell.beehiiv.com/subscribe) . But here's a hint . . . (1/2)
Melanie McFarland@mctelevision.bsky.social · 4w agoAre you a Hayao Miyazaki fan? So am I! That's why The Swell is looking at one of his films each week this month, starting with last week's deep dive into "Spirited Away" & its influence on #AvatarTheLastAirbender. What's coming tomorrow? . . . www.salon.com/2026/07/08/h...
Are you a Hayao Miyazaki fan? So am I! That's why The Swell is looking at one of his films each week this month, starting with last week's deep dive into "Spirited Away" & its influence on #AvatarTheLastAirbender. What's coming tomorrow? . . . www.salon.com/2026/07/08/h...
How “Spirited Away” inspired "Avatar: The Last Airbender"
Nickelodeon's beloved cartoon saga is one of many modern fantasies inspired by Hayao Miyazaki
salon.com
I'm basing this on nothing but the concept, but I have high hope for Keith David's "Rick and Morty" spinoff. Stephanie Beatriz is also along for the ride.
Passions was an all-time great for so many reasons, w/ the Zombie Charity situation topping them. Also, maybe I was high on fumes, but didn't someone order a Jacob's Ladder off eBay or something to rescue someone from Hell? Now that was great TV.
👩🏻💻 Hanhonymous@hanhonymous.bsky.social · 4w agoI'm about to watch my first episodes of #GeneralHospital ever because of @lastweektonight.com star John Oliver. I don't really watch soaps (except for a brief stint back in the day when my PR office put on #Passions during lunch because we were situated next door to casting) #old 1/3
I hadn't seen #GeneralHospital for years, but John Oliver's stint made checking in on Port Charles absolutely worthwhile. www.salon.com/2026/07/07/j...
John Oliver's killer "General Hospital" turn did not disappoint
Move over, 007. The daytime drama transformed the "Last Week Tonight" host into a new international man of mystery
salon.com
Wish this were coming to a theater, but I'll take any new animated "Avatar" content from the creators that I can get. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b20...
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender | Official Movie Trailer | Paramount+ | Avatar
YouTube video by Avatar Legends
youtube.com
I love all the Afro Sheen TV ads, but this won me $ after I described it to someone who thought I was joking. "Frederick Douglass! You fought for freedom & dignity for all our people!" "Are you going to go out into the world with your hair looking like that?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ff...
Afro Sheen Commercial (Featuring Frederick Douglass)
YouTube video by coolloyd
youtube.com
Melanie McFarland@mctelevision.bsky.social · 4w agoAfro Sheen & Ultra Sheen were a part of nearly every Black kid's childhood in the '70s and '80s -- especially those of us raised in Chicago, where George Johnson founded a hair care empire that became a pop culture icon by way of "Soul Train." www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/b...
Afro Sheen & Ultra Sheen were a part of nearly every Black kid's childhood in the '70s and '80s -- especially those of us raised in Chicago, where George Johnson founded a hair care empire that became a pop culture icon by way of "Soul Train." www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/b...
George E. Johnson, Who Built a Black Hair-Care Empire, Dies at 99
nytimes.com
As a former coworker once said, "Youe at that many hot dogs that fast, theyre gonna come out angry." 😔
I've eating 62 hot dogs today and I'm pretty much a wreck.
Congratulations to Joey Chestnut also please explain to me how he is still upright
The Athletic@theathletic.com · last mo.18-time champion Joey Chestnut 🌭 Chestnut took down 66 hotdogs at the 2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. 📸 ESPN
