Morning Update: Netflix hijacks presidential debate; Best US TV shows of 2015; Star Wars debuts; Facebook lets you hail an Uber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se44ed4KBMA
AdAge: Frank Underwood Hijacked the Presidential Debate
Last night on CNN, a surprise contender hijacked the Republican Candidate Presidential Debate to promote his own platform, Frank Underwood of Netflix’s “House of Cards.”
A cheesy campaign video (looking these days like the other run-of-the-mill political promos out there but, as one reader pointed out, taking cues from Hal Riney’s famous “It’s Morning in America,”) aired during the first hour of the program. It could have been shilling for any of the candidates, cutting together proud patriotic scenes from around the country with an inspiring voiceover:
“It’s a new day in America. Today, more people will go to work, return home to their families and sleep more soundly than ever before all because one man refuses to settle, putting people before politics. That man is Frank Underwood.”
AdWeek: The 10 Best New TV Shows of 2015
On Tuesday, I shared my picks for the best shows of 2015. With so many superb returning and concluding shows, only one new series managed to crack the list. Yet 2015 was actually a splendid year for freshman shows despite a weak fall season.
This year’s overabundance of quality TV warranted a second list featuring the best new programs from broadcast, cable and streaming outlets.
It’s no surprise that streaming has the largest representation on the list (four shows in total, plus five more that narrowly missed the cut). Netflix, Amazon and Hulu have all taken ambitious swings to entice audiences with exciting original series that rival anything on cable or broadcast.
The Guardian: Tour de force, say fans as Star Wars franchise stirs after 10 years
As global anticipation builds for what is undoubtedly the cinematic event of the year, if not the decade, Star Wars: The Force Awakens had its world premiere in Los Angeles in advance of its worldwide release.
Three auditoriums at the Hollywood and Highland complex in Los Angeles – including the legendary cinema formerly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre – were taken over for the world’s first public screening of the seventh episode of the science fiction series, originally created by George Lucas but since acquired by Disney and with JJ Abrams installed in the director’s chair.
The Force Awakens has recalled the original trilogy cast members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, as well as introducing a host of new faces into the labyrinthine Star Wars narrative – including little-known British actors John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, established figures Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver, and screen legend Max von Sydow.
The Verge: Facebook Messenger now lets you hail an Uber car
Facebook Messenger users who want to summon an Uber driver without leaving the comfort of their app will now be able to, thanks to Uber’s crusade to integrate with every app in existence.
The newest version of Messenger has been updated to include an Uber button, so users can hail a ride and track their drivers progress from within Facebook’s app. Users can also pay for the ride and communicate with their driver, all within Messenger. The integration is powered by Uber’s API, which the company is making available to app developers worldwide through its Strategic Partnerships initiative.
