Take 5 10/07/11

Each week I take 5 news items from the current week from the entertainment industry, list them out here and then give my take on them. This is Take 5.

1. Netflix vs. Amazon for Streaming Rights – Both Netflix and Amazon announced new streaming agreements today. Netflix with Dreamworks and Amazon with Fox Television. Both deals will add more content to the streaming arena. Being able to access both of these is great for me as it is more stuff I can stream whenever I want. The competition between these two companies is fierce and I love it. It is great for the consumer and helps to push the digital medium along further. I love my little DVD boxes, but I would much rather watch anything I want at the click of a button.

2. Arrested Development Returns . . . Maybe – It was announced this week that deals are in the works to bring back Arrested Development as a 10 episode series with a movie. While this feels closer than any other time, I’ll believe it when I see production actually starting. I loved Arrested Development, but I’ve gotten my hopes up to many times to get excited for this. Not to mention after 5 years will the show still be as funny as it was back when it first aired?

3. iPhone 4S Announced – It’s strange that the announcement of a new phone will dominate the news cycle for a whole day. The announcement of the phone came at the disappointment of many who were expecting something different. But I think if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The iPhone 4 has been tremendously popular, why mess with a good formula.

4. NBC cancels The Playboy Club and Free Agents – Well that didn’t take long. I never bothered to check out Free Agents and The Playboy Club probably belonged on cable, it would be a perfect fit for USA I think or maybe Starz. Either way both of these shows are not going to be missed, hopefully Hank Azaria will find a job one day that isn’t just a voice on the Simpsons.

5. The Death of Steve Jobs – I’m not really a huge Apple fan. I doubt I will ever buy an Apple laptop or desktop, I have PC rules built into me too deeply to give up that control. I do however have an iPad and iPods and I manage my music through iTunes. And with those, the iPhone and Pixar, Jobs was able to change the way people view things. He was a visionary and showman. He certainly left his mark on the world and he will be missed.