Author | Lightnews

debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 9h

Just put it in my veins

Two flour tortillas filled with potato and egg sit on a piece of crumpled aluminum foil.

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 9h

Potato and egg tacos everyday. Every. Damn. Day.

thermodernamics.bsky.social @thermodernamics.bsky.social · 12h

Episode 9 of how to use 10lbs of potatoes and still want to eat potatoes -

Potato au gratin with hippie cheez'its on top. ...that I also used to stuff a fugazzeta... and the rest of which will become potato flautas tomorrow.

🍜

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 14h

The Department of Film & #Television at Boston University is hiring!

* Professor of the Practice, Multi-Cam Studio, and/or Field Directing
* Assoc. Prof. of the Practice, Multi-Episode TV Producing
* 3-year, renewable appt.
* Deadline 1/30/26

Ads will be in the Chronicle of Higher Ed soon!

debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 2d

If you haven't done your rewatch of THE EXORCIST yet, here's a musical nudge. 👹
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4kw...

Book Of Love – Tubular Bells (7” Mix) 1988

YouTube video by Deejaysark90

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️

Michelle Amazeen @commscholar.bsky.social · 3d

In my October Director's Letter from @bucomresearch.bsky.social, I talk with Drs. @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social & @morganweiland.bsky.social about public views on navigating governmental pressure, protecting free speech, and the future of media freedom.
#FirstAmendment
sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/10/...

A camera on a tripod with the American flag reflected in the lens and in the background is a blurred image of the US Capitol building.

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

2002 survey: 75% of doctors surveyed by FDA believed patients put too much faith in advertised drugs, and many felt pressured to prescribe them.

And here we are.

Thanks to James Johnstone 1993, Kenneth Feather 1997, Janet Woodcock, 2003, Frank Scussa 2001, Joseph Brown 2001

The end. (10/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

1998: DTC ads rank 13th out of 360 product categories

1994: Pharma ad spending at $266 million
1999 (after relaxed regulations): Pharma ad spending at $1.8 billion to promote 92 brands

2000: Pharma profits $28 billion
2001: Pharma profits $37 billion

And those only get higher, obvi.

(9/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

But what of those embarrassing oily stools and gas? Pharma tried to sidestep mentioning them, again by pairing reminder & health seeking ads in an ad break, both using same music and images to reinforce link b/t product name and the prompt to seek more info in the other ad. Perfectly legal. (8/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

1997: FDA revises guidelines bc patients can now seek out info online. By 1999 there's a broadcast-friendly list of requirements: ads must supply info hotline, recommendation to get print info, rec to ask doctor about the drug, website info, major side effects "in a consumer-friendly manner" (7/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

Pharma would also combine "reminder" ads (name the drug but not its function) with "health message" ads (name disease but not the drug) in one ad break so viewers could do the work of piecing together a whole ad on their own (but w/o hearing about those pesky side effects). (6/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

Continuation of status quo meant broadcast ads were effectively prevented b/c summary of side effects too long for a 30-second spot.

Emergence of cable TV offered opportunities to sidestep rules. FDA approved scrolling of side effects at the end of health shows on Cable Health Network. (5/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

FDA audience research shows people understand side effects as communicated by DTC ads.

1984: Pharmaceutical companies hold a conference on DTC ads. Most felt they were a bad idea b/c of liability, expense, and the manipulation of the doctor-patient relationship.

FDA ends moratorium. (4/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

1969: Regs updated: radio and TV ads only have to list major side effects

Early 1980s: DTC (direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical) ads appear in print

1983: FDA imposes moratorium on DTC ads until they could figure out if they should continue and how they should be regulated. (3/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

1938: Wheeler-Lea Act puts food & drugs under FTC, and by 1948 the FTC has food and drug labeling, too.

1962: Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments move exclusive regulation of pharmaceutical drug ads to the FDA & soften the mandate to fully disclose side effects: "brief summary" required instead (2/10)

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

I wrote about this years ago, so it's a topic near-and-dear to my TV scholar heart. This is as much a media history story as it is a drug story. This NPR story is quite brief, so I'm interrupting grading to offer a timeline of how shit got so bad. (This does not qualify as procrastination.) 🧵 (1/10)

NPR @npr.org · 4d

Prescription drug ads were once banned on broadcasts. But companies argued that infringed on free speech, and the drugs could help people. The FDA now permits pharmaceutical ads.

Opinion: Ask your doctor if the World Series is right for you ...

Prescription drug ads were once banned on broadcasts. But companies argued that infringed on free speech, and the drugs could help people. The FDA now permits pharmaceutical ads.

n.pr

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

Happy #Ciderday! Anyone else imbibing?
(I don’t know if #Ciderday is a thing, but if it’s not, I’m making it a thing.)

A mostly empty bottle of Bird Dog cider stands next to a glass with golden-colored cider. They are on a wooden cutting board in front of a blurred background..

debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 4d

Midterm grading day means pizza has no calories.

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 5d

Fucking hell. I read “An A.I. Pastor Legend,” and I was ready to scream A.I. CAN’T MAKE TACOS!

L.A. TACO @lataco.bsky.social · 5d

Plus, a collaboration pizza with a chile de árbol marinara and a surefire contender for L.A.'s most beautiful new restaurant.

The full guide: lataco.com/weekend-eats...

By Hadley Tomicki

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 5d

Which episode will be about Whataburger?

Texas Monthly @texasmonthly.bsky.social · 6d

FUN news: we have two TV specials airing on PBS starting tomorrow. 📺 🎉

'Being Texan' and 'The State of BBQ' are derived from the magazine’s Lone Star Emmy–nominated program 'Texas Monthly Presents.' https://www.texasmonthly.com/press-room/two-texas-monthly-tv-specials-on-national-pbs/

Two Texas Monthly TV Specials to Air on PBS Across the Country

‘Being Texan’ and ‘The State of BBQ’ are derived from the magazine’s Lone Star Emmy–nominated program ‘Texas Monthly Presents.’

www.texasmonthly.com

debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 5d

Also the worst time because useless cowards are defunding them.

This skeet will self destruct @pardoguerra.bsky.social · 5d

As I’ve said before, there’s no better time to be running a Latin American studies program because you learn about the future from our region’s past

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 5d

You Can Kill a Democracy Without a Dictator www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/o...

With a gift link because I think it is very important for people to understand this:

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 8d

I tried to use blue books, but my department only had nine.

They were covered in dust.

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 8d

No amount of Reese’s pumpkins will make my students forgive me for giving them a pen-and-paper midterm.

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Reposted by debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️

Michelle Amazeen @commscholar.bsky.social · 11d

One month until my book Content Confusion publishes on 11/18! It reveals how mainstream news & ads blur lines, fueling disinfo & shaping journalism itself. Ever noticed ads disguised as news? Share your stories! #Preorder here: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360... #MediaTrust @mitpress.bsky.social

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 11d

Good public TV energy in Hartford #NoKings #NutmegSky

A protester in a yellow bird costume in front of the Hartford capitol building.

A protester’s sign reads Real Strength has to do with helping others. A quote by Fred Rogers. Hartford capitol building is in the background.

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debZOMbie 🧟‍♀️ @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social · 14d

Ah yes. The promise of “disruptive” media.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 14d

I’ve had the good fortune of missing these ads entirely. I can’t believe our tax dollars are funding this crap.

F*CK ICE‼️

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