Author: jh staff

Jim Harbaugh: Life Coach

In 1995 the Roman Catholic Pope John Paul II offered his perspective on what he saw as the “culture of death.”

The pontiff wrote about a belief system that had supplanted an existing ideology; one that had for centuries stood as the prevailing moral compass.

Pope John Paul II warned that the underlying assertions of the culture of death could cause the world to “revert to a state of barbarism which one hoped had been left behind forever,” adding that such presuppositions prompt individuals to disregard the sacredness of human life and view the world in a cold utilitarian way.

“In this way a kind of ‘conspiracy against life’ is unleashed. This conspiracy involves not only individuals in their personal, family or group relationships, but goes far beyond, to the point of damaging and distorting, at the international level, relations between peoples and States,” the Pope wrote.

News headlines from around the globe seem to confirm that we are living in the middle of a tug-of-war over the value and meaning of human life itself.

With his extensive experience and faith background, former quarterback and current football coach Jim Harbaugh has a lot of wisdom to contribute to the cultural discussion.

Harbaugh is presently the head football coach for the University of Michigan, having played football there as a student.

While in the NFL for 14 seasons on numerous teams, a memorable stretch had him in the quarterback position for the Chicago Bears.

In 1995 he led the Indianapolis Colts to the AFC Championship Game, was selected to the Pro Bowl, and was honored as NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Prior to his Michigan stint, he gained experience as head coach for the University of San Diego, where he won two consecutive championships.

He moved on to another head coach position at Stanford, where he led the team to two bowl appearances and an Orange Bowl win.

He also served as head coach for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers before returning to his present position at his alma mater, the University of Michigan.

As icing on the cake, Harbaugh’s Michigan team just won the College Football Playoff National Championship.

What did the coach do after securing the trophy in the national college football championship?

Well, he didn’t go to Disneyland.

Instead he headed to the annual “March for Life” rally, which took place on the National Mall this past weekend, to lend his support.

Harbaugh is a committed Catholic Christian. He spoke to a gathering of marchers who share his unshakable belief that human life, at all stages from conception through natural death, is a sacred gift.

“Just have the courage to let the unborn be born,” he said. “The testimony of so many here…just so thankful and grateful for that.”

Noting the cold temperature, he added, “This is a great day for a march, it’s a great day for the sanctity of life, and it’s football weather, so let’s go!”

He then introduced former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, who proceeded to urge folks to engage in “the new fight for life.”

Harbaugh spoke further about the life issue in an interview with the Daily Caller.

“You know, we all talk about human rights. There’s really no rights that are important unless you have the right to life,” he said.

Following the rally, social media commentator Jon Root asked him about his many NFL coaching prospects.

Harbaugh had recently interviewed for a number of NFL head coaching positions and is reportedly receiving offers to come back to the NFL as a head coach.

What does someone as accomplished as Harbaugh do when confronted with tough decisions?

In his case, he looks to his faith and his family for guidance.

“I just take the counsel from God and the Holy Spirit, and Mr. Jack Harbaugh, my dad, and my wife Sarah,” he shared.

“Just taking the advice, just living one day at a time, one day at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time,” he said.

It all sounds like a good game plan in moving the ball forward in life and for life.

Canceling Captain Kirk

The “Star Trek” series made its television debut back in 1966.

The show would prove to be a game changer that would ultimately become a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon.

If only NBC had known.

The network unfortunately canceled the series after a short three-season run. But the saga lives on to this day.

“Star Trek” became a franchise of its own, giving birth to TV reboots, spin-offs, movies, video games, novels, comic books, and so much more.

For those who weren’t around at the start, the show takes place in the 23rd Century, and tells the tale of the starship USS Enterprise and its team of onboard futuristic characters.

In the original series, the mission of the Enterprise is enunciated in dramatic fashion at the beginning of each episode: “To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

The lead star of the original series and the figure that truly personifies the “Star Trek” brand is William Shatner.

For three seasons Shatner played the role of Captain James Tiberius Kirk, the charismatic leader of the starship.

He also provided the voice of the animated version of Kirk in “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” and portrayed Kirk in seven “Star Trek” films. He was essential to the establishment of the franchise.

In a strange turn of events, it now appears that Paramount is deliberately trying to redact Shatner’s iconic Kirk character.

The subject recently came up on Shatner’s Twitter/X account, when a follower wanted to find out the actor’s reaction to Sir Patrick Stewart’s announcement that a new Captain Picard movie is in the works.

“I think that a new movie with Sir Patrick is wonderful news,” Shatner graciously wrote.

Another user asked, “But will we ever see Captain Kirk again?”

Shatner replied, “All you have to do is look at the Paramount+ graphics to answer that question.”

Along with his tweet, he posted a picture of “Star Trek Originals,” which included images of characters from across the history of the franchise. Noticeably absent is a picture of Shatner as Captain Kirk.

A third follower asked, “Has anyone at Paramount come out with an official explanation for this MASSIVE FLUB?”

In response, Shatner posted another example of the promotional imagery from Paramount+. Once again Shatner in the Captain Kirk role was nowhere to be seen.

“It’s not the first time it’s been going on for years,” the actor wrote. “It makes no difference to me that a group who think they are ‘enlightened’ (or whatever they think they are) obviously feels threatened by the Kirk character.”

“It’s a character from a 1960’s TV show- get over it,” he added, tweeting, “It it doesn’t bother me in the least.”

“A bunch of self righteous strangers thinking they are sending a message by erasing the past? Who is going to forget? It’s everywhere. It’s so indoctrinated that it will take many generations to be forgotten no matter what they do, Let it be,” Shatner stated.

It’s no mystery that Shatner’s “Star Trek” captain character was given the Paramount snub.

His version of Kirk is the kind that drives the Hollywood woke crowd crazy – a distinctly male leader who is competent, confident, and courageous. And what makes matters worse for them is that fans simply adore him.

The truth is that without Shatner’s Captain Kirk the “Star Trek” phenom would never have been. And after seven decades in film, television, and audio, the 92-year-old actor just keeps on keepin’ on.

In addition to his acting gigs, he is an award-winning horseman and owns a farm in Kentucky where he breeds American Saddlebreds.

In 2021 he found time to venture out into the real-life cosmos, hopping aboard a sub-orbital capsule. At age 90 he was the oldest person to fly into space.

His work ethic is a big part of the values that were instilled in him by his parents. A few years ago he shared with the Sydney Morning Herald his perspective regarding his personal belief system.

“My father and mother had an observant religious life. They went to temple every Sabbath, prayed to God, and I was dragged along. I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual. I read avidly on philosophy and animals, plants and trees; how connected all of life is,” he stated.

His background imbued him with valuable guideposts that are manifest in his life.

“There’s a value system. Giving to people. Being generous and charitable,” he said.

“Star Trek”’s Captain Kirk once uttered the following words: “What is a man but that lofty spirit, that sense of enterprise, that devotion for something that cannot be sensed, cannot be realized, but only dreamed, the highest reality?”

Words from a visionary “Star Trek” script that sound as if they describe Shatner himself.

The Lopsided Humor of Late Night TV

Laughter is apparently built into our DNA, because I recently saw an ultrasound of a pre-born baby in full smile mode.

I don’t know what the little guy thought was so funny, but it’s a pretty sure bet he wasn’t listening to one of TV’s late-night comedy shows. They stopped delivering laughs a long time ago.

It all started when late-night hosts began moving further and further to the political left. Then so many of the jokes went woke. And finally Big Censorship came in with a knockout punch.

It’s no wonder that over the past several years late-night revenues have plummeted. Shows on CBS, NBC, and ABC are down significantly from five years prior, and network executives have even cut back on programming.

The following info may shed some light on what appears to be a major contributing factor in the demise of late-night humor.

While participating in a panel discussion, former host of the “The Daily Show” Trevor Noah stated that he and his team of writers look to the underlying news for their joke inspiration.

“I’ll say, ‘What is the news, what are the facts, what’s the truth?’ and then we will put the jokes on top. It’s the icing on the cake,” Noah said.

The problem is the icing on the cake tastes rotten to a huge segment of viewing audiences.

Some eye-opening research underscores the extreme partisanship that is embedded within late-night television programming.

The Media Research Center (MRC) released some compelling data, which were obtained during the time period between Labor Day and the Monday night that preceded Election Day of 2022.

Results of the study indicated that there had been 47 left-leaning guests who had appeared on late-night shows.

During this same time period, not a single conservative-leaning guest was booked to appear on the late-night shows.

In September of 2023, Bill Maher said out loud what late-night hosts are really up to.

“What they do is say exactly what a liberal audience wants them to say…,” Maher stated.

Maher also responded to a question about why other talk show hosts are handed Emmy Awards, despite having much smaller audiences than his own.

“Because I tell the truth,” Maher said. “I don’t perform for just one-half of the country and say the things that will make them applaud.”

A study recently conducted by the MRC provides additional evidence of the political bias that exists on the part of late-night television hosts and writers.

The MRC study analyzed the comedic content contained within the programming of the major late-night shows, which included ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and up until the show stopped airing in April 2023 “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”

An extraordinary 81% of the comedic material contained within the programming was aimed directly at conservative-leaning public figures.

Certain shows contained more one-sided material than others. Kimmel’s show led the pack when it came to partisan bits aimed at right-of-center targets. Programming included slanted humor that 88% of the time lampooned conservatives.

Late-night TV took the same asymmetrical approach with the Supreme Court. Conservative-leaning Justices were on the receiving end of punch lines at a ratio of 64 to 1.

Late night shows used to be an American staple. Now at least half the country has tuned out because folks are tired of being the butt of old worn-out unfunny mediocre jokes.

Try poking at both sides and you just might bring back the funny.

Our babies in waiting are already primed to laugh.

Hollywood Dream to Hollywood Nightmare

If only it were just a bad dream.

That’s what a lot of folks in Hollywood are thinking at this year’s end.

The entertainment industry definitely had its share of ups and downs in 2023, with the labor strikes, internal friction, and even some rare ideological divisions.

But nothing compares to the disaster of the incredible shrinking box-office.

Disney, which is the largest entertainment company in the world, un-merrily continues on its downhill trajectory.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is one of the most popular film franchises, is in serious condition, as was exemplified by “The Marvels” lower-than-expected revenues of $84.4 million, after costing $250 million to make.

Despite the successes of the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” films, Hollywood executives are still wondering whether the once-invincible Marvel brand’s tanking will cause the entire cinema business to falter.

The Disney animated feature called “Wish,” with its $200 million budget, only managed to gross about $50 million domestically.

The live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” the fifth installment of “Indiana Jones,” and the reboot of “Haunted Mansion” all ended up far below box-office expectations.

Pixar isn’t what it used to be either. “Elemental,” the company’s only film of 2023, was below par in performance, with a box office of $154 million and a price tag of $200 million.

Warner’s “Aquaman” sequel, the DC superhero movie “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” had an embarrassing release, opening with a meager $28 million and having a domestic gross as of this writing of just over $46.6 million. The movie tracked the feeble box-office numbers of “The Flash” and “Blue Beetle.”

In developing my own perspective on things, I did a bit of research on Hollywood box-office numbers of the past and their comparison to those of the present.

Here’s what I found.

As of this writing, the ranking of 2023’s top-10 highest-grossing films in North America is as follows:

1. “Barbie” $636.2 million

2. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” $574.9 million

3. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” $381.3 million

4. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” $358.9 million

5. “Oppenheimer” $326.1 million

6. “The Little Mermaid” $298.1 million

7. “Avatar: The Way of Water” $283.0 million

8. “Ant-Man and the Wasp” $214.5 million

9. “John Wick” $187.0 million

10. “Sound of Freedom” $184.1 million

Now here’s a look at the top box-office hits of 50 years ago.

The ranking of 1973’s top-10 highest-grossing films in North America (Unadjusted & Inflation-Adjusted) is as follows:

Unadjusted Gross (millions) Inflation-Adjusted Gross (millions)

1. “The Exorcist” $193.0   $1,013.3

2. “The Sting” $159.6    $815.7

3. “American Graffiti” $115.0 $601.1

4. “Papillon” $53.2     $352.9

5. “The Way We Were” $49.9 $352.2

6. “Magnum Force” $44.6  $314.9

7. “Live and Let Die”$35.4  $250.0

8. “Robin Hood” $32.0    $225.9

9. “Paper Moon” $30.9   $218.9

10. “Serpico” $27.2     $192.0

It is truly an eye-opening experience when you compare the top-10 domestic box office of 1973 to that of 2023 using inflation-adjusted numbers.

The combined inflation-adjusted top-10 domestic box office of fifty years ago is approximately $4.3 billion, which is significantly higher than the top-10 domestic box office of 2023, which is about $3.4 billion.

It was fifty years ago that a group of film school graduates set out to make artistic entertaining movies the likes of the legendary filmmakers that they admired most: John Ford, Howard Hawks, Frank Capra, and other greats.

In my humble opinion, the list of 1973 movies, when compared to the list of 2023, is far superior in terms of substance, originality, artistry, and wide-ranging popular appeal.

At its essence the focus of the entertainment industryused to be entertainment. It was the very reason the industry came to be and was able to flourish to the degree that it did.

So much appears to have been lost in this regard, and the stats seem to show it.

Almost all of the top movies of 1973 were actually groundbreaking creative achievements and at the same time were appealing to the public.

The top three titles, “The Exorcist,” “The Sting,” and “American Graffiti,” are still considered to be the best films of their respective genres, and they continue to have an impact on the culture to this very day.

There was a bright spot in the movie business in 2023. It came in the form of faith-based films, which met with unexpected success.

“His Only Son,” “Sound of Freedom,” and “After Death” all surpassed box-office expectations.

On the Fourth of July, “Sound of Freedom” opened ahead of Disney’s “Indiana Jones” installment. “His Only Son” opened with the No. 3 slot during its opening weekend. And “After Death” became the top-grossing documentary since 2019.

Another faith-based film, “Jesus Revolution,” which features “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer as Southern California pastor Chuck Smith, made it to the third spot on its opening weekend.

I’m truly hoping that in the New Year the entertainment industry does some soul-searching and begins to make its way back home.

If not, I fear that the Hollywood nightmare is destined to be a recurring one.

‘Seinfeld’ Episode Seemingly Springs to Life

“How can anyone not like him?” the famed TV Mom utters about her son in an episode of the smash sitcom “Seinfeld.”

The character she is referring to happens to be playing himself. He’s the one and only Jerry Seinfeld, comedian extraordinaire.

Along with his lovably quirky television family, Seinfeld and friends are still hanging out in living rooms around the globe, thanks to the wonderful world of syndication.

In the 1980s, Seinfeld was at the top of his stand-up game. Hugely funny and for the most part family-friendly, the comic was able to maintain the trademark style that garnered him scores of late-night guest spots and other sought-after appearances.

The inevitable happened fairly quickly. Television executives chased after him, trying to make a deal that would give him a show of his own.

As fate would have it, he was friends with comedy writer Larry David. The two collaborated on a sitcom in which Jerry would play the real-life character with whom he’s most familiar, himself.

The show “Seinfeld” ended up becoming one of Hollywood’s highest-rated sitcoms ever.

The Landmark Theatre, located in downtown Syracuse, New York, is a venue where Seinfeld was recently set to take to the stand-up stage.

Protestors gathered outside the entrance in anticipation of his performance.

Before he was able to deliver his first punch line, a protest march began, complete with the usual antagonistic bells and whistles.

Protesters hurled around the “genocide” word and called for the comedy show to be shut down.

The mob’s targeting of Seinfeld reportedly began with an Instagram post from the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Other socialist groups were reportedly involved, including the Syracuse chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Resilient Indigenous Action Collective, and the Syracuse Collective for Palestinian Liberation.

The Instagram post accused Israel of “genocidal atrocities” and stated that the United States is “directly responsible” for them.

Another post by the organizers accused the “Seinfeld” star of being “one of several celebrities denying the genocide of Palestinians.”

The Hollywood community itself remains divided over the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel. Seinfeld is one of a significant number of celebrities who have spoken out against the attack that occurred on innocent civilians.

His name appears alongside hundreds of other Hollywood celebrities in two open letters that condemn Hamas, show solidarity with Israel, and call for the 240 hostages that were taken by the terrorist organization to be returned.

Days after the Hamas attacks Seinfeld posted an image on his Instagram account, along with the following words: “I Stand With Israel.”

He shared that when he was 16 years old he had the experience of living and working in Israel.

“I have loved our Jewish homeland ever since. My heart is breaking from these attacks and atrocities. But we are also a very strong people in our hearts and minds. We believe in justice, freedom, and equality. We survive and flourish no matter what. I will always stand with Israel and the Jewish people,” he stated.

The story highlights the social media division that has occurred, which is similar to the Hollywood one. Most are pointing out that Seinfeld is an individual who is merely trying to continue in his profession. He has no ties to any government and is not speaking from a political perspective, but rather a human one.

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., agrees, as he has indicated on social media.

“Jerry Seinfeld is an iconic American COMEDIAN who’s also Jewish,” Rep. Donalds posted on X.

The congressman added that “he’s a COMEDIAN not a diplomat or gov official.”

Invoking another “Seinfeld” episode, was it all just a protest about nothing?

We can only wish.

Steven Spielberg and the Hollywood Divide

The terrorist attack by Hamas, which killed 1200 unsuspecting Israeli civilians, has resulted in what Hollywood trade publications are characterizing as a “crisis.”

Despite having been affiliated with a slew of left-wing causes over an extensive course of time, many members of the Hollywood community were appalled at the sight of the October 7 massacre in Israel.

Several prominent Jewish figures within the entertainment industry have been absolutely stunned by some of the reactions and rhetoric of their fellow colleagues.

Many are questioning why organizations that purport to advocate for women’s rights have been silent about the raping of Israeli women.

Many are puzzled as to why LGBTQ groups would express support for a movement that promotes the killing of gays and lesbians.

And many are confounded at the glorification of atrocities by Black Lives Matter.

Enter Steven Spielberg.

The most commercially successful director in entertainment history and one of Hollywood’s most respected is weighing in on the October 7 carnage.

It’s a big deal for Spielberg to publicly comment on the Hamas terror attacks. A really big deal, especially for the Democratic Party.

He has donated mega-bucks to the Democrat establishment and fundraised for the Democratic Party, its candidates, and its causes.

In a recent announcement from the USC Shoah Foundation about a new campaign to record eyewitness testimony to the Hamas attacks, his comments regarding October 7 were made public.

Spielberg founded the USC Shoah Foundation in 1994, and the foundation is currently working with production teams on the ground in Israel to collect accounts of the ill-fated day.

He lauded the foundation’s team for “leading an effort that will ensure that the voices of survivors will act as a powerful tool to counter the dangerous rise of antisemitism and hate.”

He then shared his opinion of the horrific events, and he didn’t mince words.

“I never imagined I would see such unspeakable barbarity against Jews in my lifetime,” he said.

The eyes of Hollywood liberals have watched, while in Democrat-controlled cities and on Ivy League university campuses, demonstrators have overtly expressed their support of the October 7 barbarism.

Some recent videos featuring the presidents of Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT have gone viral; ones that show the individuals unable to state outright that calling for the genocide of the Jewish people violates the codes of conduct of their institutions.

This has created a major rift within the Hollywood community.

Actress Susan Sarandon was unceremoniously dropped as a client by her talent agent after she spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally.

And actress Melissa Barrera, one of the stars of the horror film franchise “Scream,” was recently fired from her role in the next installment of the series as a result of her social media posts.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, “Wonder Woman” star and former Israeli soldier Gal Gadot took to Instagram to rally support for Israel’s response to the terrorism, posting, “I stand with Israel you should too.”

And producer Matti Leshem, a self-described progressive, was quoted by The Wrap saying the quiet part out loud.

“Our problem is not right wing antisemitism. Our problem is left wing antisemitism,” Leshem stated.

The notion that the radical left poses a threat to Jewish people is a new revelation to many who have long worked in the entertainment business.

Over time the political left in Hollywood drifted away from the previously dominant centrist view; one that had affirmed strong U.S.-Israel ties and emphasized the importance of Israel’s security.

The Hollywood left became increasingly enamored with a neo-Marxist agenda that divides the world into two categories: those who are oppressors and those who are oppressed.

In addition, terms such as “colonial occupation” and “apartheid state” have been being used to describe Israel’s policies, framing those who are in leadership as the oppressors of marginalized groups.

This increasing polarization in Hollywood is creating a major divide in the entertainment community.

A divide that has the potential to dramatically alter the course of Hollywood’s political history.

Governor Kristi Noem’s V.P. Possibility

In the fast-approaching 2024 presidential election, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s name often appears near the top of the list of potential vice presidential candidates from whom former President Donald Trump could choose.

For many Republicans who are already familiar with Gov. Noem, she appears to be an A-list pick.

But the GOP primary field has been a crowded one, and others have managed to grab the attention of mainstream media talking heads and veep candidate prognosticators.

From my perspective the South Dakota governor appears to be the V.P. pick that’s been hiding in plain sight.

A little background on Gov. Noem may be enlightening.

After serving in the South Dakota legislature for several years, Gov. Noem was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Through the governmental positions that she secured, she was able to gain a considerable amount of valuable legislative experience.

The early days of her congressional career actually had her continuing her college studies via online courses. For her ambitious endeavors, The Washington Post dubbed her Capitol Hill’s “most powerful intern.”

In 2018 she was elected South Dakota’s first-ever female governor, after having run on a platform of low taxes, limited government, and strong families.

The people approved of her political positions and performance, so much so that she handily won re-election in 2022.

The pandemic years would elevate Gov. Noem to national prominence. Her refusal to issue a statewide face mask mandate and her keeping of South Dakota generally “open for business” secured her the admiration and appreciation of folks across the nation.

She has continued to enjoy a rising-star status, particularly among those on the conservative side of the political spectrum. She is also in good stead with the GOP base.

Similar to the 45th president, Gov. Noem is often viewed as a DC Beltway outsider. She has demonstrated that she has no timidity when it comes to challenging the status quo.

She maintains a strong record on the issues that are important to Republican as well as independent voters. And her policies for dealing with the economy, immigration, life, and the right to bear arms resonate with folks across the land.

Gov. Noem’s experience in raising three children, along with her likeability and empathy, give her a family appeal that has the potential to raise the level of enthusiasm across numerous demographics.

However, there’s another reason why Gov. Noem’s national standing has been increasing. She recently raised awareness of some important issues that impact residents who live in areas beyond the borders of her own state.

She specifically expressed concerns about an issue that is extremely important to each and every one of us; that being, the U.S. food supply.

Americans have become increasingly alarmed about foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, especially when it comes to China-controlled companies.

Gov. Noem argues that foreign ownership of farmlands could give foreign countries an excessive degree of control over our nation’s food supply, which poses a national security risk.

She recently announced her support for two pieces of legislation related to this subject.

The first is the bill H.R. 4577 of Congressman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., which would prevent potential enemy nations from owning American agricultural land.

Gov. Noem wrote the following to Rep. Gallagher:

“Food security is a matter of national security… We have seen China use fear and control to perpetuate their agenda for generations. If they successfully control our food supply, they will be able to control the United States.”

She additionally offered to testify before the House Select Committee (of which Rep. Gallagher is Chairman) in support of this legislation.

Secondly, Gov. Noem has endorsed legislation sponsored by Congressman Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., that would allow states to prohibit the use of state assets in investments involving China and to divest assets in Chinese investments.

“I am grateful that Congressman Johnson sees the national security threat that China poses,” Noem stated.

Politicians often refer to issues that impact the lives of ordinary people as “kitchen table issues.”

It looks like Gov. Noem has hit on the ultimate one.

And it just may be the one that wins her a brand new title.