Nick at Nite
Address: https://www.nick-at-nite.com
* What It Is: This Nick at Nite/TV Land combo site is primarily for marketing the cable channels, though those in charge insist it’s more a “fan club . . . that doesn’t require membership” for fans of classic TV. Whichever way you look at it, the site’s purpose is not to make money. Currently there is almost no advertising, though there are plans to add it, as well as other revenue streams including subscriptions and partnerships. For now, the site operates on Nickelodeon’s dime.
* How It Is: Before I go any further, I have to say something. The Nick at Nite site is home to what may be the coolest thing on the Web. They have this game called Odd Couple on Ice in which you move little Oscar and Felix figures around an ice rink to the tune of “The Odd Couple” theme, record it and play back the dance you’ve created.
Even without Odd Couple on Ice, Nick at Nite is just an all-around fun site. The graphics and backgrounds are fun, the shows are fun, the games are fun, the content is fun. It’s good for downloadable pictures and video from Nick at Nite/TV Land shows--”Dick Van Dyke,” “Happy Days” and the like--program schedules, trivia, cast and character bios, episode guides, retromercials, Nick at Nite Records info and lots of games.
Rough Cut
* Address: https://www.roughcut.com
* What It Is: A weekly online entertainment magazine based on TNT’s weekly entertainment news show of the same name. Rough Cut online is one of the few genuinely non-promotional sites put out by a cable network. It doesn’t even have advertising, and doesn’t plan to get any. TNT foots the bill, and will continue to, though plans for partnerships, sponsorships and distribution are in the works.
* How It Is: A breath of fresh air. You’d barely know it was put out by Time Warner, save for a couple of tastefully placed TNT logos and a little info about who’s on the network’s weekly show of the same name. It lacks the irritating self-promotion that other sites (including Nick at Nite) wallow in.
It’s a magazine--with articles, movie and soundtrack reviews, box-office numbers, interviews. Columnist David Poland is one of the best in cyberspace. His writing is intelligent and in-depth, with just enough attitude. The reviews can get a little indulgent and the big blocks of text are awfully hard to read. The film-rating system rates high on my list: It’s based on how much you should pay for the movies, from $1 (wait for cable) to $7.50 (pay full price).
For a daily dose of Rough Cut, you have . . . Rough Cut Daily, with news bites, daily box-office numbers, Web site reviews of their own, Poland’s Hot Button of hot topics and more.
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Please send comments and entertainment-related site suggestions to krissy@haringbat.com