Why Aren't Shows About Missouri Filmed Here?

Another year, another show/movie/whatever that involves Missouri, but wasn't filmed here. Saint Louis is an interesting place, and the new program, "DTF Saint Louis," is getting rave reviews...but it was filmed in Georgia. Why is so little that involves Missouri actually filmed on location, though? As with most things, it comes down to money.

One of our local news stations had an article discussing how, "Georgia’s tax program, put into place nearly 20 years ago, has helped make the state one of the nation’s busiest filming spots." You see, Missouri has an 8 million dollar cap on its film tax credit program to offset expenses in the hope that the money that is spent by a production makes more than is credited. Georgia...has no cap. A one-off film or indie production can benefit from filming in Missouri, but a major show or movie is going to quickly find it a lot more appealing to film in Atlanta or any other Georgia location (Atlanta itself is starting to rival Hollywood, California, for being the go-to place for flicks or shows).

People might be saying, "Get rid of the tax cap, then, and perhaps more companies will come, and that'll make more money than would've even been lost!" Well, Georgia has a 20-year-or-so head start and, "Once a state builds a defined group of crew members, soundstages, production facilities, and networks like Georgia has, it becomes even harder for other states to catch up to them. Productions often choose locations not only for tax breaks, but also for predictable practices and planning." You see, Missouri let the cap expire in 2013...but brought it back in 2023. I imagine a big studio would be hesitant to put millions into a new big ol' location with such unpredictability, and that's okay! I mean, I support things that make lots of money paying taxes. Too often, the rich skate by and pay less than they should. The cap both makes sense and is a hassle for that reason. As it stands, things won't change too much in Missouri for making movies or shows, and while we may be the subject of many programs, they won't be made here, I guess. That isn't to say Saint Louis lacks creativity or art, by any means, we just aren't the next Hollywood or Atlanta. I mean, at least the incredible story of John O'Leary, "Soul on Fire," had parts filmed here. He's a fascinating person, and that's cool!

Happy Ninth Birthday, Clarkson!

Our first child, Clarkson, is nine years old! He was born today, all those years ago, and has grown into quite the smart, curious, and sweet boy. Plus, it is astonishing how tall he seems compared to a few years ago! Lately, he has really been into books, often requesting to have stories about Pete the Cat or the David character from the, "No David!" books read to him. He still is pretty picky about food, preferring a steady diet of McDonald's, pizza, noodles, waffles, bacon, apples, and bananas, but has expanded his palate a bit lately, being willing to try the occasional vegetable, some ice cream, or licking on a lollipop! 

I love it when Clarkson and his little brother, Gibson, are sweet with each other and cuddle or tickle one another--it is definitely a great deal more fun to witness than when they argue over a toy! I also am so happy when he wants to give his mommy or me hugs and kisses--he can be quite affectionate! Clarkson has continued growing in his use of his talker device, and after we noticed he seemed to understand letters, it was confirmed by his school that he can tell every letter apart in uppercase and lowercase, along with being able to read a good deal of words! I am so proud of everything Clarkson has accomplished and continues to learn and grow into. He is a wonderful boy, and I'm excited to celebrate his turning nine!

Paramount to Buy Warner Brothers Discovery After All?

It was early December when we learned how Netflix was tentatively set to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. Then, Paramount and its owner, David Ellison, threw a fit. The son of the sixth-richest man in the World (Larry Ellison), he utilized various resources and launched a hostile takeover. It seemed doomed, but Paramount kept chipping away at the seeming all-but-assured victory of Netflix with big offers, whining to Trump's administration (the Ellisons are friendly with Trump due to giving him lots of money at various points), and otherwise being a pain. Like a toxic lovebomber that WBD knew it should avoid but couldn't help but listen to, WBD ended up being won over by all the promises. Paramount was confirmed to have a superior offer, with Netflix given four days to make its own new-and-improved bid for WBD. Well, Netflix said, "Nope," and left, awaiting the guaranteed 2.8 billion that was promised if it didn't acquire WBD-Paramount will foot that hefty bill to Netflix if everything goes through.

The mood at Warner Bros. Discovery is less than jovial. I mean, this is really a case of one super-big company simply losing to another, but there seemed to be more optimism with Netflix involved. There was definitely a lot less political/ethical/moral baggage than with Ellison and all the B.S. pulled with CBS lately (from the hiring of Bari Weiss to the supposedly purely financial firing of Stephen Colbert). Plus, DC's movies and comics are owned by WBD. How will all this impact them? I mean, we don't know, but we imagine not in a good way. It looks silly to be cheering for one megacorporation while booing the other, but things really did appear to be on a better track for Warner Bros. Discovery with Netflix acquiring it as opposed to Paramount. Nothing is set in stone yet, and someone else could very well try to swoop in and snatch victory from Paramount's hands in the same manner they did to Netflix. For now, however, this looks kind of sucky, to put it in a blunt manner.

Violent Ends and Beginnings--"The Power Fantasy," #16 and, "The Punisher," #1 (2026)

Two comics came out this week. One isn't completely ending so much as taking a break for a bit after an epic 16-issue run (so far). It is the superb series known as, "The Power Fantasy," which I have often expressed fondness for on this blog (Image publishes it). Another series is a fresh-ish start, "The Punisher," #1--the latest relaunch of Frank Castle's vigilante identity. Both comics show the impetus and downfalls brought about by violence--either on a worldwide or relatively small and personal scale. One features people where the idea of having a superpower means they could single-handedly destroy the planet, with the fact a handful of individuals more powerful than 100 atomic bombs hold each other in check being the only reason our planet as survivied. The other comic features a single man who exists in a World of powered beings, overshadowed by metal claws, flying, laser beams, and so forth, but he still persists in his compulsory urge to, "Fight," crime in a brutally violent manner. Both comics examine the hollow reward of violence, just with differing stakes. Let's discuss.

"The Power Fantasy," has been quite the read. The World as we know it was the same until the first atomic bomb test gave birth to a literal angel on Earth. From there, other beings with powers that could utterly wreck our planet emerged, with only the risk of Mutually Assured Destruction keeping things from getting out of hand. That said, with the last handful of issues...things really got out of hand. Some characters died, the balance was thrown off, and this issue opens with Earth barely escaping ruin...before (spoiler alert) it all blows up anyway, and the one surviving being who witnesses it from the Moon goes back to early in the story to try and fix things. It almost should feel like a cheat to say, "Hey, let's have a re-do," but from the very start, writer Kieron Gillen told us if any of these characters ever did let loose, it would literally end Earth...and he and artist Caspar Wijngaard made good on that promise this issue. 

Gillen admits in some backmatter of the comic that he debated ending things here, with a sad-yet-kinda-hopeful note, but it was decided to take a little break and come back with more later in 2026. I, personally, am glad he and Wijngaard want to do more, because this is such a great comic. A series where the whole point is, "Nobody can fight or everybody dies," sounds dull, but this book has been anything but, and hey, we got some fighting finally, and the end result of, "Everybody dies," did indeed occur. 

People with the ability to end all life on Earth if they decided to resort to fisticuffs is a scary thought to the degree that the idea of one man roaming around New York City killing criminals he deems, "Dangerous," sounds a lot less frightening, yet the latest relaunch of, "The Punisher," manages to fill the reader with dread and comment on how in some ways Frank Castle being a mere mortal who manages to make an impact in a World full of gods, mutants, and so forth is itself astonishing. Yes, the, "The Punisher: Red Band," mini-series was a hit that brought Frank Castle back to our reality after his last, "The Punisher," series, where he led the Hand (for some reason) was critically panned, hated by readers, and ended with him going to another dimension. In the five-issue mini, it is addressed how he came back (the reason isn't given and can probably be glossed over anyway) and found himself under the influence of the Kingpin due to a mind control chip that really messed him up. 

Anything you need to know about Frank Castle/the Punisher is covered in this issue, so don't worry if you skipped the, "The Punisher: Red Band," mini, even though with this having the same creative team of Benjamin Percy and José Luis Soares Pinto, it flows into this new ongoing well. Frank's returned, and it is back-to-basics as he tears through the criminal underground. We see one reporter trying to cover it, but she's told he's of little interest when the news should focus on superheroes. The idea of Frank being, "Just," a human despite everything he's been through in the Marvel Universe (and depending on what stories you think count, there were times he's been fighting literal demons or turned into a Frankenstein's monster-style creature) is examined heavily in this debut. After all these years and attempts at continuity tweaks, the heart remains the same--he keeps persisting due to a single-minded mission of killing the killers. Castle even knows it's a lost cause and brings no reward, but he just can't stop because there is nothing else for him.

We had a comic this week where the main characters could not be violent without mass death, and a comic where the protagonist knows only violence. Both books illustrate the pointlessness of brutality while reveling in it for readers to enjoy the snazzy artwork of Earth going, "Boom," or anyone who gets in Frank's way exploding into a pile of bloody viscera due to his bullets. A story scolding us for enjoying the very thing it provides is not a new concept, of course, but it is fun to compare and contrast these two comics and their approach to, "Might makes right, or wrong. Very, very wrong." That both comics are fantastic reads helps too. This week, we read a comic where Earth ends savagely in, 'The Power Fantasy," #16, before a hopeful reboot/rebirth. Within this week, we also got the debut of the latest volume of the story of a man who will never know happiness as long as Marvel keeps putting out comics about the fellow, as his being at peace would defy the foundation of his characterization. Just as one violence ends, another begins--so goes the entirety of human existence.

The New, "Wolverine," Game is Due This Fall

For quite some time (announced in 2021 and then there was a 2023 hack/leak of early game elements), we've been aware of a, "Marvel's Wolverine,' video-game in development from Insomniac Games. Well, it is finally ready to be released on September 15th, 2026. That gives it just enough breathing room from another big title due in November (GTA VI), and if the officially released material is to be believed, this could be a fun romp! 

Going right for that, "Mature," rating, you can expect plenty of blood from Wolverine ripping up enemies but there is also an intriguing plot taking advantage of how Wolverine/Logan's gaps in his memory result in his being an unreliable narrator of the game's story, to a degree. Exclusive to the PlaytStation 5, I look forward to trying, "Marvel's Wolverine," out for myself via checking it out from the library or renting it from Vintage Stock (I almost always sample games before ever committing to buying them due to how expensive they are). Between this and GTA VI, it should be a fun Fall for gamers!

The Cherry Float Coke Zero Flavor is Pleasant but Overly Familiar

I love Coca-Cola. I switched to the zero-sugar version to reduce my calories a bit, but thankfully, many of the specialty flavors are available in regular and diet/zero/etc. There is a new cherry float Coke Zero, and it is good! That said, it isn't that different from if you had mixed cherry Coke and vanilla Coke together--do they still do Vanilla Coke? There is the crispness of Coke and a dash of cherry and vanilla--it is nice, but has a vibe like, "Well, we've been here before." That isn't a bad thing, as sometimes Coke has tried some very esoteric flavors that were, simply put, bad. If you enjoy Coke, like its most popular flavor variations, and think mixing the two together sounds appealing...then the cherry float Coke/Coke Zero is for you! Just don't expect anything too exciting or different.

3 out of 5 Stars.

Music Mondays: "Choosin' Texas," is a Country Song...and I Really Like it!

I can generally count on one hand the number of (modern) country music artists I enjoy. You've got Garth Brooks, the Chicks (formerly Dixie), Trace Adkins, Kacey Musgraves, and I guess my pinky finger can now be used to signify an affinity for Ella Langley's jams. I was listening to a radio station that plays various genres of popular music, and I heard, "Choosin' Texas." I was about to change the dial due to not being big on country, but...I liked it! Give it a listen:

Yes, "Choosin' Texas," is the first single off of Langley's second LP, and it is really catchy. The tune basically is about how Langley has a man who seems to like her, but now he's apparently finding himself attracted to a woman from Texas. There are lots of metaphors about cowboys, and it is peppy in its sound, but it has a clear tinge of sadness about everything going on. I really dig it and will be exploring Langley's discography further now!

"1490 Doom," Looks Like a Fun Tabletop Game

I have friends who play tabletop games like, "Warhammer," or such. They spend hours painting miniatures, designing massive and complex battlefields, and then engaging in big ol' fights full of rules. It sounds fun, but it is also insanely imposing to consider trying to learn/play/etc. Hence, I was intrigued by this article at the AV Club from Cameron Kunzelman discussing, "1490 Doom." It involves just a few minatures, does not require too large a space to play with (and you can be as detailed or laid-back in preparing the landscape as you want), and the games go by quickly as opposed to taking an eon. 

Minimal setup and easy rules that allow people to just dive in and play make for an appealing prospect. I also like reading how, "What takes the game over the top is that it is pretty specifically geared toward getting you, the player, to engage in some creation yourself. There are official 3D printable miniatures for the game, but it seems like the vast majority of players will source their own miniatures by either crafting them or grabbing what they like from other games. This creates a strong baseline for creativity," and being able to experiment and be creative always is more fun with any kind of game than boring and rigid rules. Seriously, raise your hand if you've ever tweaked even the most old-school board game like, "Monopoly," in various ways to spice things up. I haven't really ever played a tabletop game with minatures, despite the insistence of my friends that I should try them. That said, something like, "1490 Doom," sounds, in fact, doable compared to the more intricate games out there. I may try to explore it further in the future, that's for sure! Oh, and here is a link to the game's official website for those wanting to learn more as well.

What's Up with the Xbox?

Hey, you know the Xbox? It is pretty popular in all its forms, but lately has struggled to succeed as much. Well, the Xbox division of Microsoft is having a huge shake-up. To summarize, "Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer's retiring, his assumed replacement and Xbox president Sarah Bond has resigned, and the suit now being tapped to take over Spenny's gig currently has the following job title: president of Microsoft’s CoreAI product." Well, that's interesting. It is a new era with Microsoft Gaming's new CEO, Asha Sharma, assuming control with the promise that Microsoft isn't giving up on the Xbox as a brand or has plans to force, "AI Slop," upon us. The Xbox isn't dead, although some have called it as much.

To return to my headline, "What's up with the Xbox?" Do you need one, really, anymore? A lot of Xbox games are going over to Nintendo and Sony devices, as well. Rebranded PCs are little handheld Xboxes, and so forth. You don't need an Xbox to play so-called, "Xbox," games...so, why? I mean, if you love the exceedingly expensive Game Pass, I can see how that can be handy for trying out games you don't get to ever actually, "Own," without plopping down more cash. I did enjoy the Game Pass, but I gave up on it with the wild price increases.  Will Sharma be able to bring us a bright new era of Xbox, or is this the first bell ringing out in the cemetery to mark the funeral procession? That's a messy metaphor, but its fitting considering how much of a mess this all seems to be. The people expected to take over Xbox in the near future are out, some random AI exec, few seem to have heard of in regard to video-games is in, and I haven't even mentioned the new AI head will be working quite closely with Sharma (a bit worrisome for promises of avoiding AI slop), and is named Matt Booty. Yes, I giggled the first time I read his name.

New CEO, Asha Sharma

The Xbox has an unclear future despite claims otherwise. I see a lot of buzzwords and flowery language, but bragging about AI integration or promising a bright new future with a, "Reinvention of play," can end up ringing hollow if not backed up by clearly evident action--and hopefully action with a positive impact. Clearly, 2026 is going to be an interesting year for the Xbox as we know it, and that's an understatement!

Robert Kirman and Friends Announce, "Terminal," from Skybound

Robert Kirkman is a notable name at Image and the head of its imprint, Skybound. When he announces a new comic it tends to be a big deal because while some have gotten barely any buzz ("Firepower"), others have been huge hits that spawned multimedia empires ("The Walking Dead," "Invincible," and such). Therefore, it is newsworthy that Kirkman and a number of talents are bringing us, "Terminal," this Summer. It involves, "There is a secret war being waged across the world by two violent forces with superhuman abilities who blur the lines between good and evil. When Marilyn Howe’s search for her missing sister Alessandra puts her in the center of this conflict, she’ll learn that the power to save the world comes from unlocking your genetic code and giving up everything you thought you knew about yourself…if you survive the experience." Sounds fun!

Kirman and Joe Casey will be co-writing this new series with Andy Kubert, David Finch, and Arthur Adams on art, plus colorist Dave McCaig, and letterer Rus Wooten.  That's an impressive lineup, and the first issue is set to hit shops this July with this mash-up of ideas evoking, "Invincible," and, "X-Men," in a new Universe. Oh, and yes, there will be blind bag variant covers because you know that trend has turned into a metaphorical dead horse the industry can't stop beating. Kirkman knows how to write a good comic, blind bag or not, and Joe Casey does too. Plus, with such artistic talent involved, I imagine whether this becomes a hit or is, "Just," a lovely read, it'll be fun.