Houston Press | The Leading Independent News Source in Houston, Texas

From video vault to grocery store endcap.

Netflix Lost Its Identity

By Jef Rouner

May 18, 2022

The other day, I realized that every film or TV show I had subscribed to Netflix for was no longer there. My membership began back in the DVD days and just after Cactus Music had dropped their video rental service. Suddenly, there was no place for a true weirdo to...

Barry Manilow and Melissa Manchester at the Schaefer Music Festival, September 12, 1975 at Central Park in New York City.

Arista Records and the Quest for Musical Magic

By Bob Ruggiero

May 16, 2022

In the music industry, Clive Davis is a legend—and he’ll be the first to tell you so (or, you can watch the 2017 documentary, The Soundtrack of Our Lives). But while his long resume shows his fingers as an executive and label president in a lot of places, it’s his...

A rare shot of Mickey (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) driving himself

Netflix's New Lincoln Lawyer Has A Hard Time Filling McConaughey's Oxfords

By Pete Vonder Haar

May 12, 2022

Now that a large portion of the post-pandemic population is still working remotely or in a hybrid situation, is the concept of a defense attorney working out of his automobile less odd? Granted, most of our home office setups are less luxurious than a chauffeured Lincoln Town Car, but it...

Coldplay was originally scheduled to play NRG Stadium on August 25th, 2017. That was the night that Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Five years later, the band finally made it's much anticipated return to Houston.

Coldplay Makes Dreams Come True at NRG Stadium

By Marco Torres

May 9, 2022

Coldplay Music Of The Spheres World Tour NRG Stadium May 8, 2022 Happiness can sometimes sprout from adversity. Five years ago, adversity hit Houston in the form of Hurricane Harvey. Coldplay was forced to postpone and later cancel their show at NRG Stadium that was scheduled on the same night...

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse Of Madness

By Pete Vonder Haar

May 6, 2022

Title: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Describe This Movie In One Ren & Stimpy Quote: COMMANDER HOEK: They think I'm crazy. But I know better. It is not *I* who am crazy. It is I who am *mad*! Brief Plot Synopsis: Multiverse, meet Madness. Madness, Multiverse. Rating Using Random...

A man on the verge of forgetting it all.

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
Memory

By Pete Vonder Haar

Apr 29, 2022

Title: Memory Describe This Movie In One Memento Quote: Natalie: What's the last thing that you do remember? Leonard: My wife... Natalie: That's sweet. Leonard: ...dying. Brief Plot Synopsis: Liam Neeson tries out a new wrinkle in an old formula. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2 Roy Battys out...

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

By Pete Vonder Haar

Apr 22, 2022

Title: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Describe This Movie In One Full Metal Jacket Quote: PVT. JOKER: Is that you, John Wayne? Is this me? Brief Plot Synopsis: Movie star finally finds a way to make himself useful. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3.5 Rob Gordons out of 5...

Tig Notaro is bringing her unique style of humor this weekend.

Tig Notaro Says Hello Again To Houston

By Sam Byrd

Apr 21, 2022

Performing Arts Houston will present one of comedy's hottest acts, Tig Notaro, in Hello Again. The laughter-filled set will take place at 7 p.m. Friday at Cullen Theater's Wortham Center. True to her typical style, she'll share musings about her life and encounters spanning over the past few years.

All this so a few dudes could make more money selling bananas...

Opinion: Using Stranger Things to Teach a 12-Year-Old Why Ronald Reagan Sucked

By Jef Rouner

Apr 21, 2022

I recently decided that the Kid With One F was old enough to watch Netflix’s Stranger Things. This may or may not have been because I wanted to do a rewatch before the season premiere next month and it was a good way to claim the living room television without...

Former President Barack Obama says we can still save the natural world.

Obama’s National Parks Series is the Most Calming Thing on TV

By Jef Rouner

Apr 18, 2022

When Netflix announced that it had entered an agreement with former President Barack Obama to produce programming, I had no idea that the result would be the single most calming thing on television. Watch Our Great National Parks at your earliest convenience. Throughout the five episodes, Obama appears on screen...

DIAVOLO will be a sight to behold during Performing Arts Houston's 2022-23 season.

Now Introducing: Performing Arts Houston And Its 2022-23 Season

By Sam Byrd

Apr 12, 2022

Formerly known as Society for the Performing Arts, the organization has officially rebranded itself as Performing Arts Houston. And for the one-two punch, it revealed its 2022-23 season on the same day.

This dog is loved and has a home. But others like him are being tossed aside.

The Inconvenient Pet

By Mark Herman Reyes

Apr 11, 2022

The shelters are full, and adoptions have fallen since the lockdown was lifted. Springtime means more puppies and kittens are on the way. Is now really the time to buy baby chicks and bunnies?

Opinion: Morbius is an AIDS Revenge Story

By Jef Rouner

Mar 31, 2022

When I was a teenager in the ‘90s, I watched a man slowly die of AIDS. He was a friend of my theater teacher; someone she had worked with back when her focus was on acting instead of instruction. I don’t remember why she took me to see him one...

Bill Maher has a TV show, standup tour, podcast, and new HBO special coming out.

Bill Maher Has a Lot to Say about Trump, Ted Cruz, Wokeness, Millennials & More

By Bob Ruggiero

Mar 31, 2022

For one hour each week (and a little extra online), Bill Maher addresses, dissects, skewers, pontificates and debates with guests the social and political topics of the day on his long-running HBO series Real Time with Bill Maher. But given just how batshit crazy things are going these days in...

It's time to pull the plug on this nonsense.

Let This Be What Ends Oscar Night. Please.

By Jef Rouner

Mar 29, 2022

Will Smith laid some fresh prints on the face of Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony after the comedian made an ableist joke onstage at the expense of Smith’s wife’s appearance. The high-profile smack Smith delivered has launched a thousand think pieces of what is an isn’t an...

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
The Spine Of Night

By Pete Vonder Haar

Mar 25, 2022

Title: The Spine of Night Describe This Movie In One L.A. Confidential Quote: CAPT. DUDLEY SMITH: I admire you as a policeman, particularly your adherence to violence as a necessary adjunct to the job. Brief Plot Synopsis: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick...

A great web series got killed for very mediocre Hollywood bunk.

Even With Christina Ricci, Wednesday Feels Like a Ripoff

By Jef Rouner

Mar 24, 2022

Earlier this week, Deadline announce that Christina Ricci would be joining the Netflix series Wednesday, a show about a high school age Wednesday Addams from the Addams Family cartoons being helmed by Tim Burton. Ricci played Wednesday in the 1991 film adaptation directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and its sequel. Though...

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
Master

By Pete Vonder Haar

Mar 18, 2022

Title: Master Describe This Movie In One "My Old School" Lyric: STEEL DAN: California tumbles into the sea / That'll be the day I go back to Annandale Brief Plot Synopsis: Ever thought of going to college on the West Coast? Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2 FDRs out of 5. Tagline: "This...

Literature just became a lot more interesting.

Opinion: Hardy And Nance Studios' Banned Proves Reading Is Fundamental

By Sam Byrd

Mar 18, 2022

On Saturday from 5 - 9 p.m., Hardy & Nance Studios will present Banned: Art Inspired by Banned Books. In it, more than 30 artists will display their works that draw inspiration from across the boards for illicit literature.

There's a lot happening with this jewelry.

Understanding Ms. Marvel’s New Powers in the Recently Released Trailer

By Jef Rouner

Mar 17, 2022

The trailer for Disney +’s Ms. Marvel dropped this week, giving fans a look at one of the most beloved of modern superheroes and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Muslim hero played by Iman Vellani. The show will explore the life of superhero-obsessed Kamala Khan, who spends most of her...

Pop Culture

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
Lux Æterna

Houston Concert Watch 5/18: NKOTB, Ace Frehley, and More

I support

Keep the Houston Press Free.

Pop Culture

Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Lux Æterna

Houston Concert Watch 5/18: NKOTB, Ace Frehley, and More

I support

Keep the Houston Press Free.

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
Lux Æterna