Matt's Musings

We're a couple weeks away from the 2020 NFL Draft, which means it's time to start thinking about Fantasy Football. And since there are literally no other sports right now, thinking about fantasy football seems like a nice distraction. Over the next couple weeks I'm going to be rolling out my initial rankings for the season, a Top 25 in Quarterback and Tight End, and a Top 50 in Running Back and Receiver. Today that begins with quarterback. This is going to be an interesting position, especially since we know the draft could have a big impact here. So, too, could the splitting of the position. Tyrod Taylor is the starter for now in Los Angeles for the Chargers, but it's expected they take a rookie. I also suspect he won't start the whole season. In Chicago its veterans who are competing, as Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles are both there, and I think they'll split the season. There's also Cam Newton and Jameis Winston currently sitting unemployed, and I dou...

This year I've been going through a new book, "The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers." Written by Amy Hollingsworth, a minister and friend of Fred Rogers, it chronicles nine simple lessons she learned about faith from him. I've read it through a couple times, and have been looking at it with my Sunday School Group. Over the next few weeks, I'll be offering short reflections on what I've learned from each segment. The eighth toast stick is about difficult times. Boy, that feels really timely at this moment, doesn't it. When I got this book at Christmas and started reading it in January, the world felt like a different place. Maybe it was a different place. But at this point, we can all identify with the struggle of going through difficult times. The chapter begins with the story of Fred Rogers' car being stolen. But those that took it didn't know it belonged to him. When they figured it out, they returned the vehicle with a note of apology. It was a...

Over the next 25 weeks I'll be rolling out my favorite films of the last decade. This is, as all lists of this kind, personal selections. Agree, disagree, make a comment and share your thoughts! No. 19 The Avengers (2012) Starring : Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Clark Gregg, and Tom Hiddleston Director: Joss Whedon Academy Award Nominations: 1 Academy Award Wins: 0 About: The Marvel Cinematic Universe took off and dominated the last decade. The biggest films of the year with fans and at the Box Office were part of this novel cinematic creation. I love a lot of those films, and there are some that are probably more personal favorites. But when thinking about this list, and choosing one that symbolized what it meant to the decade, the original "Avengers" film was an easy call. At the time, it was unlike anything we'd ever seen. The first gamble of the MCU was launching the world with "Iro...

A decade is a long time to do anything, including a TV show. That's where "Hawaii 5-0" is as it wraps up its 10th and final season tonight. The decade-spanning, 240-episode run is quite the achievement, especially considering no one knew what to think when it was first announced. "Hawaii 5-0" debuted in the Fall of 2010, and it hardly seemed like a lock. It is a re-make of the classic detective tale that kicked off in 1968 and itself spanned 12 years and 281 episodes. But it wasn't just the theme song and characters that were re-imagined here, the new series felt like something different and something contemporary. Alex Kurtzman and Peter Lenkov did a great job of providing a template that was fun, fast-paced, and action-packed. And it was a re-make template that's been followed a number of times by CBS and others as they've sought to recapture, and update, titles from the past. In fact, CBS currently has updated versions of "McGyver,...

I remember back in late 2015 when I got sucked into Netflix's true crime documentary series "Making a Murderer." It was engaging, engrossing and, at times, defied belief. It became a phenomenon, and it took the world by storm. That's the power of the streamer, at times, that it's able to grab people and create some nationwide buzz. We've seen it happen with a few series and movies since, but nothing like what happened the last couple weeks. It's a different time in America and the world as most of us are at home. Social engagements are off, the movies are closed and we've turned to streaming and binges to fill our time. And into this void, just when it was needed, came "Tiger King." Released on March 20, this seven-episode true crime documentary literally is like nothing I've ever seen, which is probably true of most people. Yes, this is a series about a true crime. And one of the principal characters, Joe Exotic, ends up in jail...

Here's a look at the new Streaming Films I saw last week. All the Bright Places (Netflix) Starring : Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, and Luke Wilson Synopsis : This film, based on the novel from Jennifer Niven, is a teen romance of sorts. It features Fanning as a young woman whose still grieving the loss of her sister and has become withdrawn. Smith plays a fellow student who is struggling with his own issues, but works to try and bring Fanning's Violet out of her shell. Both Fanning and Smith are very strong in this film, and it's their rapport together that makes the story go, and makes it more compelling. It's not an easy film to watch, and it's not hard to guess where the story might be going. But, again, these kind of films rise and fall thanks to the performances. I thought Smith was the best part of "Detective Pikachu," though I didn't care for the film, and I thought he was good and dynamic here, too. This isn't an incredible film, but it...

We're all stuck at home. There's no sports, and we can't go see movies. But there is still TV, and that makes the new offerings that much more important. But are they any good? Let these weekly posts be your guide as I check out the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Winter/Spring. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesday Nights: Motherland: Fort Salem, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Freeform (Premiered March 18) About: This series for Freeform is about a trio of young witches training to be the country's first line of defense. It's set in an alternate United States where instead of the Salem Witch Trials, witches became revered and part of the national defense. Now, years later, they are a special part of society that get called into service, training first at Fort Salem before becoming the front line. That seems like a cool idea, but this didn't really work for me. Granted, the demographic for Freeform doesn't...