Nina Metz
@ninametz.bsky.social
TV and film critic for the Chicago Tribune
https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/nina-metz/
Newsletter: Nina Watches Everything
https://buttondown.com/NinaWatchesEverything
https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/nina-metz/
Newsletter: Nina Watches Everything
https://buttondown.com/NinaWatchesEverything
Pinned
Nina Metz
@ninametz.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Why is the reboot of “Law & Order” so bad?
It’s as if everyone forgot how to make the show.
buttondown.com
Why is the reboot of “Law & Order” so bad?
I get into it in this week’s newsletter
Read! Subscribe! It’s free!
I get into it in this week’s newsletter
Read! Subscribe! It’s free!
Reposted by Nina Metz
new from me on how an uptick in series endings and cancellations is bad news for queer and trans representation on TV
Nearly half of all queer characters on TV will disappear next year | Xtra Magazine
An uptick in series endings and cancellations is bad news for queer and trans representation on the small screen
xtramagazine.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
new from me on how an uptick in series endings and cancellations is bad news for queer and trans representation on TV
Reposted by Nina Metz
POPCORN DISABILITIES is out
tomorrow and the wonderful Kelly McClure at @salon.com published an excerpt you can read now.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/e...
tomorrow and the wonderful Kelly McClure at @salon.com published an excerpt you can read now.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/e...
The cost of being the "exceptional" disabled person
"Popcorn Disabilities" reexamines "Edward Scissorhands" as a deeply coded disability narrative.
www.salon.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
POPCORN DISABILITIES is out
tomorrow and the wonderful Kelly McClure at @salon.com published an excerpt you can read now.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/e...
tomorrow and the wonderful Kelly McClure at @salon.com published an excerpt you can read now.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/e...
Reposted by Nina Metz
A Gen Z-led advocacy group announced a boycott campaign targeting major corporations “that enable, profit from, or directly collaborate with ICE.” Beyond the Ballot launched “Not With My Dollars: ICE Out of My Wallet” just days before Black Friday kicks off.
Boycott Campaign Targets Companies Tied to ICE Ahead of Black Friday
The Not With My Dollars campaign takes aim at Amazon, Whole Foods, Dell, Microsoft, Home Depot, Spotify, and Target.
truthout.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A Gen Z-led advocacy group announced a boycott campaign targeting major corporations “that enable, profit from, or directly collaborate with ICE.” Beyond the Ballot launched “Not With My Dollars: ICE Out of My Wallet” just days before Black Friday kicks off.
Reposted by Nina Metz
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Donate - Native Organizers Alliance
Supporting organizing and advocacy initiatives for Indigenous justice.
nativeorganizing.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Reposted by Nina Metz
This essay about how (straight) WAGs are the tradwives of men’s sports:
WAGs are the tradwives of men's sports
They represent a very specific version of the American Dream.
www.thefrankiedlc.news
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This essay about how (straight) WAGs are the tradwives of men’s sports:
Reposted by Nina Metz
I know I’m biased, but I think I do very cool and important work! Some of my favorite newsletter editions include: this story on how the gentrification of the New York Liberty mirrors the gentrification of Brooklyn itself:
the gentrification of the WNBA
While “investment in women’s sports” is often uncritically celebrated among league owners and the media, reality is much more complicated.
www.thefrankiedlc.news
November 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I know I’m biased, but I think I do very cool and important work! Some of my favorite newsletter editions include: this story on how the gentrification of the New York Liberty mirrors the gentrification of Brooklyn itself:
Reposted by Nina Metz
Full disclosure: I’ve lost nearly 40 paid subscribers since leaving Substack and this newsletter is 2/3 of my income. If you want to support an independent trans journalist, this is a great way to do so. bit.ly/ooylsagseaso...
November 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Full disclosure: I’ve lost nearly 40 paid subscribers since leaving Substack and this newsletter is 2/3 of my income. If you want to support an independent trans journalist, this is a great way to do so. bit.ly/ooylsagseaso...
Reposted by Nina Metz
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
Reposted by Nina Metz
People in pajama pants have shown incredible amount of spine this year
November 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
People in pajama pants have shown incredible amount of spine this year
Also relevant and also not talked about: This is the new president of Paramount 👇
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Also relevant and also not talked about: This is the new president of Paramount 👇
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
Reposted by Nina Metz
Also, no one seems to talk about all the MeToo accusations leveled at Ratner anymore.
November 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Also, no one seems to talk about all the MeToo accusations leveled at Ratner anymore.
Reposted by Nina Metz
I am of the simple opinion that stuff like this is the peak of human endeavour and we can cut it out with the missiles and demonic computers in favour of getting really good at a cool little thing
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I am of the simple opinion that stuff like this is the peak of human endeavour and we can cut it out with the missiles and demonic computers in favour of getting really good at a cool little thing
Campbell's Exec Sparks Backlash After Allegedly Calling Soup 'S--- for F------ Poor People' with 'Bioengineered Meat': Executive Martin Bally was also recorded allegedly making racist comments and saying he consumes marijuana edibles before work, according to a lawsuit
Via People
Via People
Campbell's Exec Sparks Backlash After Allegedly Calling Soup 'S--- for F------ Poor People' with 'Bioengineered Meat'
Former Campbell Soup Company employee Robert Garza is suing the company for wrongful termination after he reported a November 2024 meeting with chief information security officer Martin Bally.
people.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Campbell's Exec Sparks Backlash After Allegedly Calling Soup 'S--- for F------ Poor People' with 'Bioengineered Meat': Executive Martin Bally was also recorded allegedly making racist comments and saying he consumes marijuana edibles before work, according to a lawsuit
Via People
Via People
Reposted by Nina Metz
By me:
A spirited Mavis Staples cover of Tom Waits‘s “Chicago” gives @robertloerzel.bsky.social reason to muse on music, migration, and our city.
Maybe Things Will Be Better in Chicago
A spirited Mavis Staples cover of Tom Waits‘s “Chicago” gives us reason to muse on music, migration, and our city.
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
By me:
Reposted by Nina Metz
“The Black women of the film are lightning rods for the most forceful conversations the film can bear, and it’s thrilling to watch them embody what Anderson’s script can only loosely hold.” www.vulture.com/article/blac...
Black Actresses Are Carrying One Battle After Another
Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, and Regina Hall propel the film’s most conflicted ideas, for better and worse.
www.vulture.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“The Black women of the film are lightning rods for the most forceful conversations the film can bear, and it’s thrilling to watch them embody what Anderson’s script can only loosely hold.” www.vulture.com/article/blac...
Reposted by Nina Metz
I think it’s pretty clear at this point that one of the main impacts of LLMs is to disrupt thinking: to make it so that far too many people never properly learn how to do it, and then to control the output so there are thoughts that people never learn how to think.
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I think it’s pretty clear at this point that one of the main impacts of LLMs is to disrupt thinking: to make it so that far too many people never properly learn how to do it, and then to control the output so there are thoughts that people never learn how to think.
From TikTok to PBS: Kiki Rough’s ‘Recession Recipes’ are filling a need
Kiki Rough really is just darling. We spoke
Gift 🔗
Kiki Rough really is just darling. We spoke
Gift 🔗
From TikTok to PBS: Kiki Rough’s ‘Recession Recipes’ are filling a need
The resident of Porter County, Indiana has gained popularity after launching her TikTok series less than a year ago
www.chicagotribune.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
From TikTok to PBS: Kiki Rough’s ‘Recession Recipes’ are filling a need
Kiki Rough really is just darling. We spoke
Gift 🔗
Kiki Rough really is just darling. We spoke
Gift 🔗
Reposted by Nina Metz
No editors. I have clients who have been editors for years and they’re losing their jobs to ai
Every day I see spelling and grammar mistakes in ads, TV chyrons, and other places where, in the past, it would be deeply embarrassing and a deal breaker for the source, but now they just fly, and where are the editors. Just hire me or something, damn.
Tell me, bro, where is your EDITOR?
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
No editors. I have clients who have been editors for years and they’re losing their jobs to ai
Reposted by Nina Metz
Since Bovino left it seems every day or every other day I hear of someone abducted by ICE agents. It’s slower, less flashy, but still happening.
“Rey Wences, senior director of deportation defense at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, noted that “abductions” continue happening “every day in both the city and the suburbs.”
November 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Since Bovino left it seems every day or every other day I hear of someone abducted by ICE agents. It’s slower, less flashy, but still happening.
Reposted by Nina Metz
The new Kevin Hart stand-up special ("Acting My Age" on Netflix) is not great. But I think it largely reflects what many audiences seem to prefer from comics today: Safe, deeply self-referential comedy with zero political or topical commentary at all. It's boring and toothless.
November 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The new Kevin Hart stand-up special ("Acting My Age" on Netflix) is not great. But I think it largely reflects what many audiences seem to prefer from comics today: Safe, deeply self-referential comedy with zero political or topical commentary at all. It's boring and toothless.
Reposted by Nina Metz
Here’s a directory of nonprofit newsrooms; many of which are part of this program right now: you’ll surely find information on that on their donate page.
bsky.app/profile/tani...
bsky.app/profile/tani...
3. Here's a page you should bookmark: It's the directory of nonprofit newsrooms that belong to the Institute for Nonprofit News. You can look for locality covered, including national newsrooms. It's so rich: explore! Find your niche!
findyournews.org/explore/
findyournews.org/explore/
November 22, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Here’s a directory of nonprofit newsrooms; many of which are part of this program right now: you’ll surely find information on that on their donate page.
bsky.app/profile/tani...
bsky.app/profile/tani...
Reposted by Nina Metz
a PSA: most nonprofit newsrooms right now are probably participating in the NewsMatch program RIGHT NOW. That’s a program funded by a few foundations that “matches” your end-of-year donation.
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
i promise i don’t mean to high horse this but if you’re thinking about giving lizza ten bucks there are a lot of good independent journalists whose work you could subscribe to for a month instead
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
a PSA: most nonprofit newsrooms right now are probably participating in the NewsMatch program RIGHT NOW. That’s a program funded by a few foundations that “matches” your end-of-year donation.
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
Reposted by Nina Metz
One of these days, people will understand some audiences really wanted to see that movie and they really didn't want to see that other movie. And sometimes movies in either category can be good or bad.
🕛 MOVIES ARE DEAD!
🕐 MOVIES ARE BACK!
🕑 MOVIES ARE DEAD!
🕒 MOVIES ARE BACK!
🕓 MOVIES ARE DEAD!
🕔 MOVIES ARE BACK!
🕐 MOVIES ARE BACK!
🕑 MOVIES ARE DEAD!
🕒 MOVIES ARE BACK!
🕓 MOVIES ARE DEAD!
🕔 MOVIES ARE BACK!
November 23, 2025 at 9:28 PM
One of these days, people will understand some audiences really wanted to see that movie and they really didn't want to see that other movie. And sometimes movies in either category can be good or bad.
This story lacks scrutiny and analysis and is really just advancing the subject’s (HBO’s) preferred narrative
Which is alarmingly lackluster btw: The big plan is to … just do versions of what worked before vs. originality?
Also isn’t this all beside the point with the co’s imminent sale?
Which is alarmingly lackluster btw: The big plan is to … just do versions of what worked before vs. originality?
Also isn’t this all beside the point with the co’s imminent sale?
HBO Max’s Big Plan: Be HBO Again
Casey Bloys is embracing a brand position for TV's crown jewel as a complement, not a replacement, for Netflix — kind of like how it was back when it was a premium cable add-on.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This story lacks scrutiny and analysis and is really just advancing the subject’s (HBO’s) preferred narrative
Which is alarmingly lackluster btw: The big plan is to … just do versions of what worked before vs. originality?
Also isn’t this all beside the point with the co’s imminent sale?
Which is alarmingly lackluster btw: The big plan is to … just do versions of what worked before vs. originality?
Also isn’t this all beside the point with the co’s imminent sale?
Reposted by Nina Metz
i just reviewed 50+ applications for an arts award and most of them were written by chatgpt. And then the other reviewers said they put them into Gemini to rank them. At a certain point, if everyone is giving their thinking entirely over to AI, why are we even bothering with any of this anymore?
November 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
i just reviewed 50+ applications for an arts award and most of them were written by chatgpt. And then the other reviewers said they put them into Gemini to rank them. At a certain point, if everyone is giving their thinking entirely over to AI, why are we even bothering with any of this anymore?