It's My Screen Time Too

Peter Thiel and the San Diego Zoo gorillas help guide our conversation about our families’ back-to-school screen time policies.Previous Episodes We Mention:Are Dumb Phones a Smart Choice for Kids? Gorillas at San Diego's zoo are getting too much screen time Tech billionaire Peter Thiel says he only allows his children 1.5 hours of screen time a week The Contrarian by Max ChafkinPeter Thiel’s War on Gawker: A TimelineZoos’ New Dilemma: Gorillas and Screen Time We mistakenly refer to Claudia Kishi from The Babysitters Club as Claudia Schiffer. They are, of course, two different people - one fictional, one not. Our apologies for the slip.What we’re watching with our kids:Fly Me To the MoonLego Stop Motion CookingWhat we’re watching during grown-up screen time:Fabulous FourDeadpool and WolverineContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We have a great time reviewing Apple TV’s nerdy time-traveling adventure series Time Bandits, which manages to make ancient history look realistic while still being fun.Previous episodes we mention:Pretzel and the Puppies Harriet the Spy Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock The Snoopy Show Jane Ghostwriter Better Nate Than Ever As of our taping, the original Time Bandits movie was available to steam on Max. Time Bandits made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:Quantum LeapGooniesDoctor WhoRomeContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

The box office numbers are in, and parents’ taking their kids to see movies like Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 are saving an otherwise disappointing season in Hollywood. We pat ourselves on the back for rescuing the entertainment industry and discuss what such a multiplex-heavy summer means for movies in general and our families specifically. As usual, we take time to catch up on what we’re watching with our kids and during grown up screen time.Kids’ Movies Are Saving the Summer Box Office by Chris Lee for Vulture Previous episodes we mention:Elemental Despicable Me 4 Kung Fu Panda 4 What we’re watching with our kids this week:Grizzy and the LemmingsBrown and FriendsThe OlympicsDuring grown-up screen time, we’re watching:AcolyteA Family Affair The Idea of YouPresumed InnocentTwisterContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We review the latest installment in Disney’s juggernaut tween Descendants franchise: The Rise of Red. Can Aurodon survive the replacement of its core cast? Does the soundtrack live up to previous installments? Most importantly, how happy are we to see Brandy as Cinderella again? Spoiler alert: very happy.Previous episodes we mention:Teen Beach Movie Zombies Zombies 2 Zombies 3 Sneakerella Check out Katie’s magnum opus on Cinderella adaptations featuring the Brandy version from the 90s. Katie was not misremembering. Anne Hathaway did, in fact, play the White Queen in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Descendants: The Rise of Red made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:13 Going on 30Back to the FutureCluelessWe cast our gritty reboot with these actors:Anne Hathaway as RedTessa Thompson as UmaAngelina Jolie or Jessica Shore as the Queen of HeartsJohn Cho as Prince CharmingAdrien Brody as HadesNatasha Lyonne as the Fairy Godmother or the Evil StepmotherContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at w

We talk about the trend of people dumping their smartphones for so-called dumb phones and whether this could be a smart strategy for our kids. We reminisce about our favorite flip phones and catch up on what we’re watching with our kids and what’s on our grown-up screen time watch lists.Previous episodes we mention:Despicable Me 4 Americans are ditching smartphones for 'dumb' devices that only call and text to avoid 'zombie mode' by Rob Waugh, June 30, 2024, in The Daily MailVice’s roundup of the best dumbphones from January https://www.vice.com/en/article/3akyyy/best-dumb-phonesSome books:The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt The Quiet Zone by Stephen Kurczy Jonathan Chait, political columnist for New York Magazine Gabb phones Our beloved Motorola RAZRHere’s what we’re watching with our kids this week:Doctor Who Lion KingUnfrostedHere’s what we’re watching during grown up screen time:SuitsThe BearContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Fa

We review the most anticipated release of the summer: Despicable Me 4! Did we need a sixth movie about Gru and his little yellow henchmen? Maybe not, but we did appreciate the opportunity to re-familiarize ourselves with the works of Culture Club and Franz Kafka.Things we mentioned in this episode:The classic of high school English classes: Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Previous episodes we mention:Kung Fu Panda 4 Inside Out 2 IF Garfield Despicable Me 4 made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:Silicon ValleyThe FlyThe RichesThe AppleTV series Loot did our gritty HBO reboot casting for us with Benjamin Bratt as Gru, but Deborah would also like to see an SNL skit with Amy Poehler and Fred Armisen as minions.Contact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We discuss two short articles about screen time: one from Time that says it’s totally fine to talk about screen time using the language of diet culture as long as we don’t count minutes like we count calories and one from the Wall Street Journal that refutes our closely held beliefs about the harm caused by screens before bed. We also catch up on what we’re watching with our kids and what’s on our grown up watch lists.Previous Episodes We Mention:Screens and Diet Culture Stop Counting Screen Time Screen Time Before Bed Might Not Be That Bad After All Here’s what we’ve been watching with our kids:Ghostbusters AfterlifeElementalWhat we’re watching during grown-up screen time:Outlander Season 7AcolyteThe SympathizerHacksPresumed InnocentContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

In our review of Inside Out 2, we pick our faves from Riley’s new emotions and get into the puberty of it all by comparing Inside Out 2 to another similarly themed Pixar title, Turning Red.Previous episodes we mention:Turning Red Elemental Lightyear Soul This series of puberty books by Robie H. Harris:It’s So Amazing It’s Not the Stork It’s Perfectly Normal The Screenwriting Life Podcast Inside Out 2 made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:Annie HallYou’re the WorstWilfredWe cast the gritty HBO reboot of the movie with: A tension-filled voice cast featuring Uma Thurman, Ethan Hawke, and Maya HawkeA resurrected Gene Wilder as DepressionContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We discuss summer movies--the films we want to watch with our kids and a few we’re planning to watch for date night. We cover our hopes for all the new installments of our favorite franchises including Inside Out 2, Despicable Me 4, Descendants Rise of Red, Twisters, and even Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Plus, Katie taunts Deborah about the impending release of Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure.Things we mention in this episode:23 Summer Movies to Watch, Vanity FairSummer Movie Guide, AP NewsPrevious Episodes We Mention:IF The Garfield Movie Check out Deborah’s post about rewatching Beetlejuice with her kids. Here’s what we’re watching with our kids this week:Inside OutHere’s what we’re looking forward to this summer for our grown-up screen time:ThelmaFly Me to the MoonBabesThe Fabulous FourIt Ends With UsContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

In our review of The Garfield Movie, Deborah mourns the absence of the fundamental pathos of the Garfield comic strip in this zany animated take on everyone’s favorite lazy tabby. Katie betrays her co-viewing values and dares to suggest this would make a good solo watch for kids. We talk product placement and adapting dated but beloved material for a modern audience.Previous episodes we mention:Kung Fu Panda 4 The Super Mario Bros Movie Garfield made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:KeanuBack to the Future trilogyWe cast the gritty HBO reboot of the movie with: Nick Offerman or Donald Glover as GarfieldKerry Washington as LizRebel Wilson as ArleneContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We discuss lawsuits filed by parents against video game companies for allegedly causing psychiatric disorders in children. Are lawsuits really the way forward in managing our anxieties about screens? We also catch up on what we’re watching during our grown up screen time.Things we mention in this episode:Kids Hooked on Video Games Prompt a Flurry of Lawsuits by Rachel Graf in Bloomberg Businessweek Instead of watching TV or movies with our kids this week, we’ve been:Listening to Phineas and Ferb songs in the carRe-evaluating our streaming subscriptionsWhat we’re watching during grown-up screen time:BridgertonGirls5EvaContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We review the recently released movie IF. This might be the first kids movie of the summer season, but we question whether this Ryan Reynolds vehicle is really a kids movie at all. Is it just a sneaky way for us to confront our anxieties about parenthood while distracting our kids with goofy images of anthropomorphized marshmallows?Previous episodes we mention:Animal Crackers Spirited Duck Tales Goldie Hawn bemoaning her role as the mother in First Wives Club  IF made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:Who Framed Roger Rabbit?Fight ClubWe cast the gritty HBO reboot of the movie with:Ryan Gosling as CalContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

There have been think pieces galore this past month about the approaching end of the beloved preschool series Bluey. We talk about the intense parental love for the series and how to move forward after the end of something we love. We also catch up on what we’re watching with our kids and in our grown-up screen time.Things we mention in this episode:Everything ends. Even Bluey by Bryan Walsh in Vox Raising Raffi by Keith Gessen  What we’ve been watching with our kids:Phineas and FerbFalloutKnucklesWhat we’re watching during grown-up screen time:Three Body ProblemRipleySheng Wang: Sweet and JuicyHannah Gadsby’s Gender AgendaThe SympathizerContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

We review the reboot of Dora on Paramount Plus. Did this classic bilingual heroine really need a new look?Things we mentioned in this episode:McSweeney’s article “A Court-ordered Letter from Dora the Explorer’s Mother” How AI Is Already Transforming Moviemaking Previous episodes we mention: Dora and the Lost City of Gold Ms Rachel’s Songs for Littles Puffin Rock Snoopy Show Fraggle Rock Back to the Rock Creature Cases Dora made us think of these shows for grown ups:One Day at a TimeLupinWe cast the gritty HBO reboot of the show with:Isabela Merced or America Ferrera as DoraRita Moreno as the Tiny DancerContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

In this Screen Time in the News episode, we discuss a recent event in Massachusetts wherein a sixth grade student at Whitin Intermediate School took a state-required standardized test on a school issued Chromebook and suffered first degree burns and blisters.We also catch up on our family watch lists and what we’re watching once the kids go to bed.Things we mentioned in this episode:Today’s Screen Time in the News article: Uxbridge pulls laptops from service after student burned during MCAS test by Shaun Ganley from WCBV5 (Boston’s News Leader) from April 9, 2024 What we’ve been watching with our kids:Billy Joel concertPhineas and FerbWhat we’re watching during grown-up screen time:Loot on Apple TV+Three Body Problem on NetflixGirls5Eva on NetflixContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

It’s Earth Week, so we’re reviewing the nature documentary series Queens on Disney Plus. Find out whether the combination of beautiful photography and female-centric stories is a winning one and which of your hosts just can’t handle the harsh realities of life in the wild.Previous episodes we mention: Cinderella The article telling the true story behind the lemming suicide myth, compliments of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Minneapolis’s first all-female fire department from the 1980s  Queens made us think of these shows for grown ups:The Amazing RaceGame of ThronesContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

Things we mentioned in this episode:Today’s Screen Time in the News article: Sharing childhood faves with my kids has its ups and downs – but I know it takes them places Netflix or Disney won’t by Myke Bartlett from The Guardian on March 18, 2024Past episodes we mention:PollyannaFor more on our journeys into watching old movies with our kids, check out these newsletter posts:Tron Beetlejuice Free Willy The Neverending StoryThe Karate Kid And just to prove what flip-floppers we are on this issue, here’s a post about replacing childhood faves with more modern picks.Fresh Air interview with Molly Ringwald What our kids are watching this week:Pokemon HorizonsWhat we’re watching in grown-up screen time:3 Body ProblemManhuntPalm RoyaleCheersIf you’re intrigued by some of the potentially inappropriate shows we talked about someday sharing with our kids:Alf is currently streaming on Tubi and Peacock (as of April 10, 2024)Dinosaurs is currently streaming on Disney Plus (as of April 10, 2024)Contact us and subscribe to

Things we mentioned in this episode:Previous episodes we mention:Kung Fu Panda 42 music videos for you:The truly terrible music video for Vanilla Ice’s rap in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 The much better music video to the Phineas and Ferb song “There’s a Platypus Controlling Me” The Loud House Movie made us think of these movies and shows for grown ups:Irish WishLeap YearHappy Shiny PeopleJust the Ten of UsBig LoveWe cast the gritty HBO reboot of the movie with:Tatiana Maslany as all ten Loud sistersKal Penn as DadChloe Sevigny as MomContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

Things we mentioned in this episode:Parents have a problem with screen time, too, teens say by Heather KellyLink to the Pew Research Center report Zigazoo, the bizarre social media app for kidsWhat we’ve been watching with our kids:Young SheldonThe EternalsWhat we’re watching (though not always enjoying) during grown-up screen time:Constellations on Apple TV+Masters of the Air on Apple TV+Contact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com

Things we mentioned in this episode:Old episodes we mention:Raya and the Last Dragon The Super Mario Bros. Movie Animal Crackers The Watch podcast from The RingerWe compared this movie to the grown-up book What Color is Your Parchute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success.We cast the gritty HBO reboot of the movie with:Jeff Hiller or Noah Schnapp as PoLaci Mosley as ZhenJohn Cho as LiKaren Gillan as Mr. PingContact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at myscreentimetoo@gmail.com