Eric Deggans
@edeggans.bsky.social
Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington&Lee U. Critic at Large, NPR. Blerd. Drummer. Author: Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Media bloviator.
Pinned
The Best TV Shows from 2025 Critics Aren't Talking About
Instead of providing yet another best of list with the same old names, I tried to think of the shows I liked the most this year which aren't on anyone else's roster
open.substack.com
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
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 have no skin in this game, but I think you’re misreading the piece. The interviewer is (imo) reasonably skeptical of the idea (which comes from the documentary not the NYT) and asks good questions. CC is pretty well exposed by the end.
January 2, 2026 at 7:29 PM
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
loom.ly
January 2, 2026 at 7:09 PM
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
December 31, 2025 at 3:45 PM
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
December 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
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
December 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
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
Bari Weiss Defends Pulling ‘60 Minutes' Story as a Step Towards 'Restoring the Integrity of the News'
Sometimes it means holding a piece about an important subject to make sure it is comprehensive and fair, CBS News leadership says in a memo
www.thewrap.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:36 AM
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
Giving political voices control over CBS News won't help the journalism
Moves which seem aimed at elevating conservative and anti-woke voices at CBS News won't help the journalism, but could tank their ratings
ericdeggans.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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
December 23, 2025 at 2:15 AM
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.
If Weiss had more skill she could have spiked the CECOT segment much earlier in the process because it didn‘t reveal enough new information about a widely reported story. This would also have been a terrible decision, but would at least display some knowledge of how things actually work.
December 23, 2025 at 2:14 AM
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
BREAKING: Here’s the 60 Minutes Segment Trump and CBS News Executives Don’t Want You to See
Hours before it was set to air last night, CBS News executives pulled the segment, but Canada’s Global TV app received it prior to broadcast.
www.thereset.news
December 23, 2025 at 2:07 AM
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
December 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
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…
This is NYT headline morning after JD’s grotesque hot blast of white supremacist nativism at Turning Point’s hate-fest?!
December 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Ugh. NYTimes failing again…
The biggest newsmagazine audience on TV, in fact.
Even if there wasn’t sufficiently new, wouldn’t just the benefit of exposing the story to a wider audience be newsworthy
December 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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.
She appears to be claiming there was nothing sufficiently new in the story, although the proposed remedy of getting interviews with the administration doesn't really seem like a remedy at all?
bsky.app/profile/just...
bsky.app/profile/just...
During today's editorial call, Bari Weiss doubled down on pulling the CECOT segment while lashing out at Sharyn Alfonsi:
"The only newsroom that I'm interested in running is one where we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest and editorial matters, and do so with respect."
"The only newsroom that I'm interested in running is one where we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest and editorial matters, and do so with respect."
December 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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
Bowen Yang leaves 'SNL' midway through his 8th season
The comedian appeared in his final show on Saturday, alongside Wicked star Ariana Grande.
www.npr.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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
CBS News chief Bari Weiss pulls '60 Minutes' story, sparking outcry
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment on allegations of abuses at an El Salvador detention center where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.
www.npr.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
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
Vince Gilligan, Pam Grier and Gary Oldman: Some of my favorite interviews for The Business
My new interview with the creator of Pluribus and Breaking Bad inspired me to whip up a list of my favorite guest interviews for KCRW's show on Hollywood
loom.ly
December 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
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!
We have a great @edeggans.bsky.social interview with the brilliant Vince Gilligan, from X Files to Pluribus. Check it out.
Plus @mattbelloni.bsky.social and got your banter.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Plus @mattbelloni.bsky.social and got your banter.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Vince Gilligan wants the audience to decide what ‘Pluribus’ is about
Podcast Episode · The Business · 12/19/2025 · 30m
podcasts.apple.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Thanks so much for allowing me to do the interview!
I do, indeed!
@edeggans.bsky.social
I did not realize that you also have a home here on Bluesky.
I did not realize that you also have a home here on Bluesky.
December 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
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.
SNL 50 was all over social media, and QuestLove did a great job, so maybe critics don’t matter on that one (sorry).
December 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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
December 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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
December 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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
The best movies and TV of 2025, picked for you by NPR critics
Whether you plan to head out to the theater or binge from the couch, our critics have gathered together their favorite films and TV shows of 2025.
www.npr.org
December 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
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
This Is What Presidential Panic Looks Like
Donald Trump delivered a fear-drenched rant live from the White House.
www.theatlantic.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:02 AM
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
Nearly 92% of the Top Scripted Streaming Series Come From White Creators
Women in leading roles slipped from 39 percent last year to 34.3 percent, UCLA’s latest diversity-on-streaming-TV report found.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:08 AM
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