Top 10 AC Pop Culture Articles of 2006

10 - Keeping Your Kiddie TV Sex- and Violence-Free by Audrey Esposito

This is a short, simple explanation of the content rating of TV shows. Parents really don't have any excuses for letting their kids watch something objectionable. Although the ratings only appear about twice per hour, parents also need to watch TV with their kids and not use the screen as a babysitter. Esposito makes that point, too.

9 - The Social Consequences of TV Commercials by Humberto R. Cervera III

This is an important article, simply because we are bombarded by advertising every day of our lives. Kids are less likely to zap commercials with a remote or TiVo, so Cervera notes that it's the parent's job to help kids make sense of what they are seeing. Often, we are so concerned with the content of the TV shows our kids watch (see above) that the commercials tend to slip through the cracks.

8 - Three Movies In Search of a Sequel by Timothy Sexton

There are so many sequels out there, that I appreciate the efforts of Sexton to find some movies that are not getting the sequel treatment they deserve. I agree with him that The Candidate would be a good idea, because there is a natural progression to Robert Redford's character once he actually achieves power. Diner doesn't need much of a plot - simply revisiting the cast of characters offers a variety of plot directions. I don't think any sequel to A Clockwork Orange could live up to the original.

7 - Why to Get Satellite TV by Madbum

If you've only had cable and never tried satellite TV (like me), this is a useful article because it lets you know the truth, not what the competing industries tell us. Madbum says satellite TV providers offer lower prices, more features and clearer pictures than cable. But what about bad weather? That's what I've always heard. Apparently, those problems are a thing of the past. Sounds good - where do I sign? Madbum doesn't really offer the other side of the story, but looking at the title, he's not trying to do that.

6 - The Greatest Radio and TV Broadcasters of the Twentieth Century by Colin Campbell

This article gives a good overview of broadcasting from the early days, beginning with legends like Orson Welles and Edward R. Murrow. It was good to see Harry Caray and Keith Jackson mentioned among the sportscasters. Jack Buck was a great baseball announcer for the Cardinals. Campbell said he was "controversial," and I'd like to know why. Anyway, it takes guts to write an article like this, because someone is bound to write in and say, "Hey you forgot this person!" So if I think someone notable was omitted, like Walter Cronkite for example, I'll just keep it to myself.

5 - Oscar TV:Many Actors Nominated Got Start on Small Screen by Abe

I like articles like this, because I always enjoy telling my wife, "Hey, this person used to be on this show." With so much television available on DVD, this article is a good guide to seeing some more work by performers like David Strathairn and Terrance Howard. Abe really did his homework and produced a good article with a lot of interesting Hollywood connections.

4 - Ten Funny Movies You Missed - by Victor Medina

I'm always on the lookout for a movie I can watch with my wife, because she often says "We've seen this before, haven't we?" during the opening credits of a movie. I think it's funny that he included "From Justin to Kelly," the critically savaged musical starting the two finalists from American Idol's first season. I'm also pleased to see one of the most underrated baseball movies ever, The Sandlot. The rest of list features some obscure titles, because it means the reader has a real chance to find some cinematic gems.

3 - Breaking into Reality TV by Cassondra Marshall

The author has a firm grasp of the reality TV genre and some good ideas about how to make it onto a show. The best idea is to stand out. If something about the way you look or act is noticeably different, it could help you win a spot on the show. You have to remember that the producers are looking at hundreds or thousands of other applicants. Also, bringing your sob story is another good idea, because the producers (and the audience) will be rooting for you to beat the odds. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is the prime example of a sob story translating into a chance to be on TV.

2 - Greatest Animated Movies of All-Time by Eric Williams

This is a list that is sure to inspire controversy and second-guessing, but Williams does a great job of recognizing quality films from the old days (Snow White) to the modern era (Lion King) to the computer era (The Incredibles). It's tough to compare films with such disparate technology. Great job including Mulan. If I were Williams, I would have numbered my list and started with No. 10 (as I'm doing here) instead of immediately blowing the surprise that his No. 1 film is The Lion King (oops!)

1 - Acting and Auditioning for Film and TV by A. Bertocci

Like trying out for a reality show, making it as an actor is very tough. The competition is fierce and you have to have just what the producers want. So, any help an article like this can provide is very valuable. Betrocci really understands the differences between stage acting (Project your voice to the back row) and TV acting (the camera is RIGHT THERE). The author also makes a good point about understanding the entire story, since the scenes are often shot out of sequence. If I were an actor who was trained on the stage, this article would help me a lot.