That attitude in this case feels like a dodge. The piece lets Chase characterize some pretty infamous incidents with little input from the others involved.

I’m really tired of big media institutions explaining away actions of toxic, powerful white men. Chevy Chase has spent an entire career acting like a jerk towards any number of people. But this NYTimes interview implies he’s just been misunderstood. Sigh. loom.ly/081Kbmg

To close out 2025, check out my list of the Best TV shows this year other critics aren't talking about: https://loom.ly/EttdD1Y

Facing a New Year where traditional journalism outlets face gigantic challenges, there is a bit of good news: Consumers have never had more power to choose where and how they get information. Here's an essay w/some ideas on how to pick trustworthy sources. https://loom.ly/dSUyk5c

As the discourse over Sinners' place in awards season heats up, I'm reminded of how personal identity and experience can affect how people receive art. Here's my Substack on why Sinners is such an eloquent argument for DEI in Hollywood: https://loom.ly/2qhfU-4

In her memo pushing back against the massive backlash over her decision to hold a story on 60 Minutes, editor in chief Bari Weiss insults staff at CBS News by implying - with no specifics - that the news, which they help report, lacks integrity. Good luck leading them now. https://loom.ly/6_Bzgt8

kinda wish someone had paid attention to this Substack essay when I first wrote it. https://loom.ly/LGIokiI

Yashar Ali has the spiked 60 Minutes segment on his Substack. See the story Canadian viewers watched that was withheld from US viewers. loom.ly/6Ab3IMo

Well, the other knock against her is that she’s not spending enough time on duties like this and didn’t see the story until late in the process. Guess that can happen when you’re busy booking and hosting town hall specials.

Yashar Ali has the spiked 60 Minutes segment on his Substack. See the story Canadian viewers watched that was withheld from US viewers. https://loom.ly/6Ab3IMo

Interviewing Pluribus and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan for KCRW’s show The Business made me reflect on all the cool guest interviews I’ve done. This Substack essay links my Top Nine, including Gary Oldman, Leslie Jones, Pam Grier, Roy Wood Jr. READ: https://loom.ly/4wNmBRM

Ugh. NYTimes failing again…

The biggest newsmagazine audience on TV, in fact.

I’m sure I’d trust the news judgement of a TV news novice and ideologue over experienced journalists working for what was the best newsmagazine in the industry. No one believes this explanation.

My colleague Chloe Veltman was kind enough to include my comments in her story on Bowen Yang leaving SNL. It's a blow, not just because he elevated portrayals of gay and Asian characters, but because he was that rare castmember who made any sketch funnier. https://loom.ly/xz_DPG8

Interesting to see someone w/no experience in TV news pull a 60 Minutes story the correspondent said was vetted by lawyers and editors. Wonder if Weiss will ever say exactly why she pulled the story? Or if CBS News new ombudsman will somehow surface? https://loom.ly/SnYFb1w

Interviewing Pluribus and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan for KCRW’s show The Business got me to reflect on all the cool guest interviews I’ve done for the program. This Substack post lists some highlights, including Gary Oldman, Leslie Jones, Pam Grier and Roy Wood Jr. READ: loom.ly/4wNmBRM

Thanks so much for allowing me to do the interview!

I do, indeed!

This film was separate from SNL's official 50th special or the musical concert special that aired just before the 50th special. So its worth pointing out to people who maybe didn't catch it with all the other SNL 50 stuff going on.

As Xmas vacation beckons, check out my list of the Best TV Shows in 2025 that critics mostly AREN'T talking about. READ MORE HERE: https://loom.ly/EttdD1Y

Honored to have my story on late night TV's past and future highlighted in the TV Critics Associations' end of year spotlight for 2025. READ: loom.ly/CM3TMBE

From a kid accused of killing a classmate to a modern noir set in Tulsa and a virus which unites almost every mind on the planet, NPR critics -- including me -- picked some amazing stories as the best TV shows and films in 2025. Check our list here: https://loom.ly/wJxe8Jo

Tthis…is not great. https://loom.ly/82uUhLU

Hollywood Reporter cites a study from UCLA noting that 92% of streaming series are made by creators who are white. Welcome back to the bad old days of serious underrepresentation in the TV industry. Feels like 1999 all over again. https://loom.ly/-2NfKps

Thank you for having me on!

On the day NPR drops its list of Best TV and Film from 2025 -- with contributions by Yours Truly — I also decided to drop my list on Substack of all the great programs in 2025 unlikely to make most other critics’ best of lists. READ: https://loom.ly/Hm361pc

Vanity Fair interview w/ Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles reads like an attempt to position herself as a reasonable voice while spinning a chaotic and toxic administration. She said her boss has "an alcoholic's personality," among other zingers. READ: loom.ly/kG46ir8

Had a blast discussing the Netflix/Paramount/Warner Bros Discovery shenanigans for KQED this afternoon. Upshot: No matter who buys WBD, the public probably loses. LISTEN: https://loom.ly/W97S-8s

Join us online or over broadcast!

Thanks so much for this link!

Editor and Publisher magazine has an interesting piece on how 2025 has become a "year of fear" for American newsrooms, buffeted by direct attacks from the Trump administration and anger from the general public. READ: https://loom.ly/JqqtTU8

What kind of person - let alone, president and world leader - responds to the brutal murder of another person like this? It is time to stop pretending this man is anything other than the most toxic narcissist in the world.

Was SO honored visit NPR's new podcast, Books We've Loved, to talk about Anthony Bourdain's breakout book, Kitchen Confidential. I actually listened to it via audiobook, so it felt like Bourdain was telling me his story himself. Check our convo here: https://loom.ly/atbL-RQ

Citing "multiple sources" who are anonymous, People magazine reports that actor/director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were killed by their son, Nick. https://loom.ly/siN1nAQ

TMZ reporting director/actor Rob Reiner has been found dead in his home with his wife, Michele, citing unnamed "law enforcement sources." https://loom.ly/TfOtN9E

Realized today how much I really enjoy writing essays and analysis for my Substack site, Switching Codes. It's kept me in touch w/a smart audience, fleshing out ideas I use everywhere from teaching to punditry on CNN. Check out my array of essays here: ericdeggans.substack.com

My Substack essay on providing interviews for the new PBS documentary Starring Dick Van Dyke, includes a little bit where I talk about one of my favorite episodes from The Dick Van Dyke Show. https://loom.ly/GxK-fHg

Kind of boggles my mind that all the surveillance stuff conservatives accused democrats and liberal officials of doing the Trump administration is ACTUALLY doing.

PBS has a great new documentary on Dick Van Dyke which features me as a talking head. Appearing in it and writing a companion piece for New York Public Media helped me learn how much this legendary performer contributed to my pop culture life. https://loom.ly/GxK-fHg

Warner Bros Discovery board members likely must choose between a bid from Paramount backed by funds from problematic Middle Eastern countries serving a company willing to muzzle CNN for the president, or a Netflix offer Hollywood fears hobbles the film industry. Thanks David Zaslav. loom.ly/O2IPjT0

Well, especially because that criticism is often applied selectively. People are often tapped to cover certain geographic areas because they grew up there or lived there for a long time. Is that so very different than allowing a woman or Black person who wants to cover gender or race to do it?

As apt as that is, I'm worried she might actually take pride in that designation. LOL.

In Donald Trump's first term, journalists reported he called predominantly Black Haitian and African nations "shithole countries," which he denied. Now in his second term, he admits using the phrase proudly at a public rally. This is America now - led by a liar and racist. https://loom.ly/wVQ8XPY

If you had a chance to update the most prominent Ethics Code for journalism, what would you change? I'm on a committee charged w/updating the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics for the modern age. And I'm interested in YOUR ideas. READ: loom.ly/syOVwBM

CBS has been in third place in the evening news race since Dan Rather was the anchor. And John Dickerson had more national profile than Dokoupil. If they were interested in profile, they could have kept him around.

My Substack essay on why, when traditional journalism has never faced more challenges, I have joined an effort by the Society of Professional Journalists to recommend updates for its near-100-years-old Ethics Code. And I want to hear YOUR ideas! READ: https://loom.ly/pDKOQq8

Went on the BBC to try explaining Netflix and Paramount's fight over Warner Bros Discovery - check it out and let me know how I did! WATCH: loom.ly/TQwVBCA

As always, you nail it, my brother...

So...Bari Weiss deposes yet another journalist of color - Maurice DuBois - to install CBS Mornings anchor Tony Dokoupil as lead anchor of the CBS Evening News. I guess DEI is okay if it works in certain directions? https://loom.ly/fNDlGDE