A New Kind of Letter

Pinocchio (1940) 

Walt Disney Pictures

     I mailed this letter to ABC & Disney; I encourage you to write and send your own letter as well. Social media posts can be ignored; letters occupy all kinds of spaces, making them much more challenging to brush off. 

September 22, 2025

Disney-ABC Home Entertainment 

and Television Distribution

500 S. Buena Vista St

Burbank, CA

91521-3515

 

Dear ABC & Disney, 

As media companies, you are supposed to be one of the safeguards of free speech. You are also the same companies that have no problem making blockbuster movies mere feet away from internment camps in China (BBC, September 7, 2020). Your aggressive focus on heteronormativity in your products and content makes it clear you do not value inclusion and diversity (Variety, March 9, 2022). Given all this, I guess it should not come as a surprise to me that you would choose to kiss the ring of “Dear Leader,” and ignore the very foundations of the country that has made you rich.

 

Your suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show at the illegal and unjustified demand of Donald Trump and the chair of the FCC, Brendon Carr, is a direct violation of the First Amendment. As always, the coverage on mainstream news is biased to the conservative viewpoint, and it sickens me that you’ve collectively decided to submit to the whims of a whiny, petulant, thin-skinned Authoritarian President!

Therefore, I have canceled my subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu indefinitely! I intend to ensure everyone else in my life does the same. If, however, you reverse course, protect First Amendment rights by not caving to our Authoritarian President, start creating more inclusive content, and actually stand by the values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in a non-performative way, I would happily be a customer again. 

 

You have contributed to the ongoing destruction of our American Democracy and everything it represents! Shame on you all!

 

 

Yours truly, 

Norman Luce

The Thursday Murder Club - Enjoy with a Good Cup of Tea

 

Streaming on Netflix

    One of the many goals I set for myself this year is to enjoy more films produced overseas, specifically from the UK. I'm not sure why I find myself drawn to works from that beautiful country (perhaps it's the cultural differences that allow for greater freedom of expression). Still, I have often found myself aligned with the wavelength of humor, drama, and general creative direction that permeates most of the UK's film and television content. Case in point: Monty Python is still, and will forever be, superbly funny! It may be that acceptance of a healthy dose of silliness in most things that attracts me to their content. 

    Indeed, that same bit of silliness is what caused me to thoroughly enjoy their latest offering, The Thursday Murder Club. A witty, entertaining, and mindful, dramatically comedic mystery with an all-star cast of well-established gentlemen and ladies. Despite a few minor issues, I found this to be a delightful watch! 

    Based on the book by Richard Osman, the story follows a group of friends who live together in an old English mansion converted into a retirement community for seniors. These friends form The Thursday Murder Club, where they examine cold cases in an effort to provide a new chance at justice. While starting up their latest cold case and welcoming a new member to the team, the group finds itself with a fresh murder. It seems the co-founder of the retirement home has been killed under mysterious circumstances. This could not have happened at a worse time, as the other co-founder wants to sell the property and convert it into a luxury hotel, forcing the present residents to leave. In an effort to save their home and seek justice for their friend, the gang joins forces with a new officer on the police force, eager to prove her mettle, as they take on the case. 

    This movie is an absolute gem! The characters are charming and likable, the mysteries are engaging, the dialogue is witty, and the cast has excellent chemistry throughout. While I might have preferred that the first few minutes handled its exposition a bit differently, the film as a whole is excellent enough to forgive its faults. Also, anytime Helen Mirren is on screen, she makes whatever she says or does feel like pure gold. 

    This is yet another compelling reason to keep your Netflix account active. Absolutely give this one a watch! 

 Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/