Thank You, John Nolte

I was a bad boy in 2009. I promised at the beginning of the year at the time of Big Hollywood’s launch to get back into movies and some television. But it’s one year later, and I still have not seen a single episode of The Sopranos (even though I know I’d like it). I wasn’t much better on the film front either. I went to maybe 6 movies in the theater last year, and the same 3 DVD’s from NetFlix sat in our house for the entire year, only to be finally returned and unwatched.

How about that Bruno!

That doesn’t mean I completely tuned out – thanks to Big Hollywood.

On the one year anniversary of the site, I thank God that I chose John Nolte to be the editor in chief. It’s not just because he knows everything about film – though he does. It’s because the man has an impeccable moral compass, and it’s unbelievably refreshing to read his analysis of pop culture not through the typical NY TIMES/VARIETY/VANITY FAIR post-modern prism but through the ancient lens of right vs. wrong, decency vs. indecency, entertainment vs. nihilism.

And it has resonated. Everywhere I go in Los Angeles — and beyond — people come up to me and congratulate me for… well, hiring him. He’s the heart and soul of Big Hollywood.

On this first anniversary, I’d also like to thank from the bottom of my heart our contributors and readers. I am deeply grateful for each and every one of you.

A special thanks to Patrick Courrielche for his Pulitzer Prize Winning* (if Pulitzers were still awarded for great journalism) expose of the NEA/White House propaganda initiative. And a special acknowledgment to Stage Right, who came out as Larry O’Connor. I hope there are more who follow his lead.

And a last, but certainly not least, thanks to Alex Marlow, who is Mr. Big. He is the man juggling all the Bigs at all times.

One year in, I know that so many conservatives, JFK liberals, and libertarians in this town are a little more secure in voicing their points of view (in their work, on this soap box and beyond), And that is no small thanks to the environment that John, Alex, our contributors and our commenters have created here. Yes, Big Hollywood promotes the good stuff this town produces, and critiques the bad, but this mighty collective is mighty impressive when it is out there targeting what the left likes to call “The McCarthyites,” but in this case those entrenched in their institutional power who bully and punish those that disagree. Life (and, in many cases, box office returns) were less agreeable to those types in 2009.

Thanks for a wonderful year, my friends.

And, I’ll try to watch more movies and TV this year.