I'll take Potpourri for $1,000, Alex

It would have been too easy to write about Jimmy Kimmel this week, and I’ll admit I was tempted. Ultimately, though, I just didn’t have the time. The issue isn’t really a political one—not for me, anyway. Rather, it’s a question of the rights and obligations of a television network, its affiliates, the FCC, and the use of the public airwaves. (And isn’t that a quaint phrase nowadays? "The public airwaves." It makes television sound like a public service instead of the noxious plague it so often seems to be.)

But I digress. To take a real dive into the ontological and existential aspects of that story would require more time than I care to spend right now. Having just returned from the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, I’ve got better and far more enjoyable things waiting for my attention.

This year’s MANC was another triumph. We came away with movies, autographs, merchandise, and a heap of good memories. We had dinner with friends we hadn’t seen in over a decade, caught up with fellow nostalgia buffs we meet only once a year, attended excellent talks, and even had our pictures taken with Hailey and Juliet Mills. I don’t know how you top a weekend like that—short of winning the lottery, and even then, I’m not sure it would.

Meanwhile, the latest "American TV with Mitchell Hadley" doubleheader features Dan Schneider and me talking about two television pioneers who deserve more attention than they get: Ernie Kovacs and Steve Allen. You can see them at this link.

Yesterday I also had a terrific conversation with Tommy Kovac's on his podcast "Splat from the Past," where we discussed—what else?—Darkness in Primetime. Since Tommy’s had me on before, he knows the right questions to ask, and that led us into more detail on individual episodes than I’ve gone into elsewhere. The show runs under an hour, and since it isn’t a video, you’re spared the ordeal of looking at me the whole time.

If, however, you’re a glutton for punishment, check out "The Two-Minute Author" series on my YouTube channel. In each short video I talk about the programs highlighted in Darkness in Primetime. If you don’t yet have the book (and why not?), the videos might nudge you into it. If you do, think of them as a companion piece that adds to the experience. I will eventually run out of things to say about Darkness, which is why, in the coming weeks, you’ll also hear more about my other projects: writing postmodern fiction, the writers who influenced me, book recommendations, and more. My interests extend beyond classic television, and this is where you’ll see that.

Speaking of which, have you subscribed to my monthly newsletter, "In Other Words"? It’s where I share updates on podcasts, new projects, book recommendations, and the occasional detour into something completely outside the writing world. It’s also where I talk more about my new novel in progress. Sign up for free here. The Two-Minute Author is a complement, not a duplicate, to what you’ll find there.

Finally, if you’ve read Darkness in Primetime—or any of my books—please consider leaving a review on Amazon or wherever you purchased it. Reviews matter hugely to independent authors. They help algorithms put our books in front of new readers, and they serve as the word-of-mouth every author relies on. On behalf of indie writers everywhere, thank you.

So yes, things are going very well here at Chez Hadley. With all of that good news, who really needs Jimmy Kimmel?  TV

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