tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30075145837156653362024-12-18T22:30:51.204-05:00Covering media, culture, politics and tech, the RONTHINK blog is a source of insight, opinion and humor. Progressive but never PC! The blog is written and managed by founder Ron Hebshie. RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-56907142051202513212018-07-11T11:29:00.001-04:002018-07-11T11:29:53.429-04:00

This version of the RONTHINK blog is no longer active. We will not be posting new content here or updating the site beyond this final informational post.  We launched the public beta of our new site in February. As of this writing, the transition to the WordPress platform is complete and the new RONTHINK blog is live.  Please visit the new blog at ronthink.com 

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-88077756585070835392016-08-12T10:36:00.001-04:002016-08-12T15:33:17.733-04:00

TWO WORDS: DARTH VADER! The first official trailer for ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY was a pleasant surprise. The newly released follow-up is an epic wow! Make no mistake about it: this promo is a loving valentine to longtime fans of the original trilogy. The mood here is decidedly darker, with a scope and grandeur that harkens back to our favorite memories of the scariest elements of raw

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-24394814681916107282016-07-15T14:49:00.001-04:002016-07-15T19:40:21.792-04:00

UNVEILED AT “STAR WARS CELEBRATION EUROPE” IN LONDON Enjoy this specially curated selection of STAR WARS CELEBRATION and ROGUE ONE news. Check back for additional updates as SWC continues in London. CLICK HERE: Official STAR WARS CELEBRATION site. CLICK HERE: Official ROGUE ONE site. CLICK HERE: Watch the new ROGUE ONE sizzle reel. CLICK HERE: Comments from Mark Hamill. CLICK HERE: Will STAR

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-45773708752796879492015-10-31T20:25:00.001-04:002015-11-14T19:10:34.121-05:00

MULTIPLE MANIACS ARE ON THE LOOSE IN THIS DIABOLICAL INSTALLMENT OF “TERROR IN BLACK AND WHITE” Sometimes the scariest monsters aren’t invaders from another planet or creatures stitched together by a mad scientist; they’re other people. You know, seemingly ordinary folks like you and me…except for one big difference: their need to kill. This installment of TERROR IN BLACK AND WHITE brings you

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-51668058195231566112015-10-28T04:59:00.001-04:002015-11-14T19:11:11.657-05:00

CLASSIC SILVER SCREEN MONSTERS ARE ON THE LOOSE IN THIS INSTALLMENT OF “TERROR IN BLACK AND WHITE” When fans of classic black and white horror films are asked what they love most about the genre, monsters are usually at the top the list. Iconic creatures like Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man come to mind immediately. It seems only fitting, then, that this opening

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-40929191369996331722015-10-26T19:38:00.001-04:002015-10-27T19:28:42.626-04:00

OVERPRAISING A FRUSTRATINGLY FLAWED PILOT DOESN’T DO TV VIEWERS (OR FEMALE SUPER HEROES) ANY FAVORS AIRS MONDAYS AT 8PM E/P ON CBS The good news: SUPERGIRL doesn’t totally suck. It’s no ARROW or THE FLASH but it is more fun than that torpid Marvel clunker AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. The bad news: SUPERGIRL is on CBS. Everything has been run through their de-fanger and given a sanitizing scrub-a-dub;

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-76908920455130275662015-10-26T12:27:00.000-04:002015-10-26T03:14:41.279-04:00

A GORGEOUS SECOND FULL PROMO REEL REVEALS A CREEPY NEW YEAR’S TREAT FOR “SHERLOCK” FANS When SHERLOCK executive producers Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue teased an upcoming episode set in the Victorian era, fans at San Diego ComicCon went wild. If the first full trailer for this stand-alone special is any indication, the excitement is most definitely justified. It’s packed with lush, creepy visuals

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-34639376880748775082015-10-21T21:00:00.001-04:002015-10-26T23:55:49.668-04:00

RYAN MURPHY COMMITS YET ANOTHER TV HATE CRIME WITH A FLACCID “COMEDY” THAT’S DEAD ON ARRIVAL AIRS TUESDAYS AT 9PM E/P ON FOX (NEXT-DAY STREAMING ON HULU) Full disclosure: I despise Ryan Murphy and pretty much anything that bears his prissy paw prints. GLEE was a one-season wonder that quickly wore out its welcome and AMERICAN HORROR STORY is currently the single most reprehensible piece of

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-72422427900686603672015-10-19T01:29:00.000-04:002015-10-20T04:24:26.006-04:00

NEW “STAR WARS: TFA” TRAILER PACKS ENOUGH PUNCH TO CRASH TICKET SITES AND FREAK OUT RACIST DARK SIDE   As it turns out, the newest trailer for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS hews remarkably close to what appeared (and didn’t appear) in the poster art released Sunday. Indeed, it looks like the left hand knows what the right hand is doing at Disney/Lucasfilm marketing. That means shot after

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-10911640255090948922015-10-16T03:27:00.001-04:002015-10-16T03:32:51.378-04:00

WITH SNAGGLE-FANGS BARED, DEBDUSA UNLEASHES HER INNER KRAKEN. WHERE’S PERSEUS WHEN WE NEED HIM? When you stockpile Toni Home Perm solution and use it as often as meth-heads suck on a glass pipe, all those noxious fumes are bound to cloud your judgment and reasoning. In the case of DNC Chair DEBBIE WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ, the damage goes much deeper than a fry job on her poorly coiffed rat’s nest.

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-21580376241078653302015-10-06T00:34:00.001-04:002015-10-06T13:10:56.518-04:00

NBC CAN CLAIM BRAGGING RIGHTS TO THE BEST NEW DRAMA ON ANY BROADCAST NETWORK THIS FALL AIRS MONDAYS AT 10PM E/P ON NBC (NEXT-DAY STREAMING ON HULU) Over the course of the past few seasons, Comcast-owned NBC has amassed a spotty track record when it comes to scripted drama. In addition to the last vestiges of the venerable LAW & ORDER franchise, there have been numerous high profile flops

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-49731622932386365672015-09-23T12:08:00.001-04:002015-09-23T12:25:21.595-04:00

MEAGAN GOOD FIGHTS CRIME (WHILE STRUGGLING TO STEAL FOCUS FROM HER BREASTS) IN THE FIRST BOMB OF THE SEASON AIRS MONDAYS AT 9PM E/P ON FOX (NEXT-DAY STREAMING ON HULU) Back in 2002, Tom Cruise starred in MINORITY REPORT. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film is set in a semi-dystopian future where perps are collared and convicted in advance of their criminal acts (known as PreCrimes) thanks to

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-23512954227298698222015-08-26T19:59:00.000-04:002015-10-06T01:46:12.192-04:00

SYFY FINALLY KICKS OFF A NEW SEASON OF ONE OF TV’S SCARIEST SHOWS. DON’T WATCH ALONE…   EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS REVIEW OF “PARANORMAL WITNESS” FIRST APPEARED IN JUNE, 2013. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BECOME ONE OF OUR ALL-TIME MOST POPULAR POSTS. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A FULLY UPDATED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL, WRITTEN AND REFRESHED TO COINCIDE WITH THE SEASON FOUR PREMIERE ON AUGUST 26, 2015.   AIRS

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-7019289599588995462015-06-14T16:23:00.001-04:002015-06-14T16:53:30.891-04:00

MAY 27, 1922 – JUNE 7, 2015   EDITOR’S NOTE: To ensure the integrity of this posthumous tribute, sponsored content and retail links are not included in our “Legacy” posts. We encourage you to discover and enjoy the work of this talented artist by conducting an online search for any of the titles cited.   In a world where words like “icon” and “legend” are overused and often misapplied

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-48015300883060078332015-02-13T11:07:00.000-05:002015-11-03T23:57:27.796-05:00

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS POST WAS UPDATED ON OCTOBER 31, 2015 HOUSE OF CARDS might get all the attention, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the variety of scripted drama series available on Netflix. We selected six of our favorites, each one a worthy addition to your streaming queue. It’s a mix of past hits you may have missed, previous seasons of current favorites and lesser

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-16701247816902012172015-01-28T19:34:00.000-05:002015-01-29T00:07:47.074-05:00

EMPIRE: WATCH! WHERE? WHY? Have you ever found yourself lost in the unexpected pleasures of an amazing meal? You stumbled upon the restaurant and the food is a delicious surprise. Hooked at first bite, you can’t wait for the next course. The sudsy drama EMPIRE is like that; a gorgeous guilty pleasure tossed with shiny objects and fancy flourishes. There’s some serious brain food in the mix but

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-68115767961464147802015-01-19T21:13:00.001-05:002015-01-19T21:49:13.741-05:00

MILEY CYRUS: She Opens Wide While class acts like Lorde and Meghan Trainor were topping the charts without going topless, a familiar face crawled out of the skank tank. Shocking no one, Miley Cyrus kicked off the new year by spreading for a spread in V magazine. She (and V) dropped a bunch of the photos on Instagram because Cyrus doesn’t think there’s enough female nudity on the internet.

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-9014866108752647632015-01-16T15:29:00.001-05:002015-01-16T15:38:41.766-05:00

Remembering. Reflecting. Recovering. This blog was only a few months old when terrorists set off two homemade bombs at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Though it was never our intention to cover breaking news, RONTHINK became a temporary clearing house for the latest developments almost immediately after we heard about the explosions from friends who were on-site at the event. We spent days separating

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-57356196247256348682014-12-13T22:44:00.003-05:002015-04-19T18:59:30.871-04:00

While the Negative Nancy contingent at the USGS continues to sound alarm bells of impending seismic doom for the West Coast, the good folks at Warner Bros. aren’t waiting around for Mother Nature to unleash The Big One. The 2015 Summer blockbuster blitz kicks into high gear on May 29th with the release of SAN ANDREAS, a disaster film that makes the wildly overrated EARTHQUAKE (1974) look quaint

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-69285898911650486642014-12-06T10:24:00.002-05:002015-01-16T09:59:36.900-05:00

In the week since the release of the first teaser for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, the 88 second clip has been viewed more than 58 million times. That breaks the record for any trailer posted on YouTube in 2014. If you’ve been living under a rock somewhere on Tatooine and haven’t seen it (or want to watch it again) it’s included at the end of this post.   The original plan was to do this

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-85071733342436510362014-10-31T13:33:00.001-04:002015-01-16T09:57:45.016-05:00

Last Halloween, we unearthed a special three part series that revealed our picks for the “Scariest Movie Moments.” If you’re still looking for the perfect fright film to watch during the witching hour, it’s a can’t miss guide. From well-known classics to gore obscure, there’s something for horror fans of every stripe.   While big screen titles are still the lifeblood of the genre, TV series

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-42173694404229317262014-10-24T00:10:00.000-04:002015-01-16T09:56:25.523-05:00

Welcome to the new RONTHINK. While we put the final touches on our redesign, we thought it would be the perfect time to launch a new feature: The Archive. Well, technically, it’s the concept that’s new. As the name implies, at least some of the content will indeed come from deep in our back pages. That doesn’t mean we’re going spray digital Febreze on a parade of old clunkers and send them back

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-44828675466726502352014-06-11T21:00:00.001-04:002014-10-30T16:01:03.851-04:00

It’s Wednesday and we’ve got something for everyone tonight. Unscripted competition series? Check! Goofy sitcom? Check! Moody police drama? Check! Viva Hump Day! In addition to this trio of Wednesday “best bets,” you can also check out new episodes of the hit ABC Family sitcoms MELISSA & JOEY and BABY DADDY. Both are holdovers from my 2013 “Summer TV Guilty Pleasures” list and make for

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-76545583415965551072014-06-10T20:49:00.001-04:002014-10-30T16:06:30.758-04:00

After a strong start to the week with a quartet of tune-in worthy dramas on Monday, it looks like the TV Gods have declared Tuesday their day of rest. There’s a boat load of unscripted crap to sift through, including two hours of Duggar hell on TLC (home of some of the worst programming this side of WE and MTV). While some people think FARGO is the bee’s knees, I think it’s as insufferable and

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007514583715665336.post-61865592180320585672014-06-09T21:46:00.001-04:002014-10-30T16:16:06.329-04:00

Start your week off on a high note with four scripted dramas that will add some sex, humor and intelligent crime drama to your Monday nights. These quick hit reviews will give you the highlights you need to know and enough of a tease to match the right show with the right viewer. Fire up those DVRs and enjoy! MAJOR CRIMES (TNT) WHY IT'S A BEST BET: Not only is this spin-off from THE CLOSER a

RONTHINKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843472612106226160noreply@blogger.com