Mere Musings

I’m Samit Sarkar, deputy managing editor at Polygon. Let's be friends!

[samit]

Hey folks! I don't really use Tumblr for anything except dashboard browsing these days, but if you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed me tweeting a lot about Jeopardy! in recent weeks. Well, that's only going to continue — it's not just because I've watched and loved the show forever, and because I care deeply about what happens to it ...

... it's also because I'M GOING TO BE ON IT!!!

I'm proud and thrilled to announce that my episode will air next Friday, Sept. 17, 2021! That's during the first week of the new season (season 38) — so yes, I have the dubious distinction of being one of the 11 contestants in Jeopardy! history to have taped with Mike Richards as the "permanent" host. 🙃

By the way, Jeopardy! contestants usually get two photos — one with the host, and a headshot like the one you see here. We each took a photo with Mike, but were only sent the headshot! 🤔 I doubt that's a coincidence ...

Anyway, if you want to see me on TV, Jeopardy! airs in most markets at 7 or 7:30 PM — check jeopardy.com/watch to confirm!

[samit]

PS5 and Xbox Series X standout features may require a new TV

Unlock the power of next-gen gaming with new TV technology — but beware of the pitfalls

Hello, world! Yes, it’s my first post in forever, and it’s for some self-promotion ... sue me.

As we approach the launches of two next-gen consoles, I'm going to do my best to provide coverage that clarifies things for average folks. To that end, here's an in-depth explainer on the idea of buying a fancypants new TV for the PS5 or Xbox Series X, and why it's not as simple as you might want it to be.

[samit]

Why you may never see Game of Thrones as it was meant to be seen

In the streaming era, compression, bandwidth, and TV calibration all warp the viewing experience

Hello! Sometimes I still write things!

My editor and I actually had the idea for this article before “The Long Night,” the Game of Thrones season 8 episode featuring the Battle of Winterfell. But obviously, once it aired and ratcheted up the “too dark” discourse to a fever pitch, I really got to work.

The piece is a deep dive into the various elements of TV production, distribution, and consumption that factor into the image quality that viewers end up with. I explain why prestige TV is visually darker these days; why darker scenes and action sequences cause more problems for video quality; and how new broadcast TV standards and better broadband could improve things in the future.

This one took weeks of research, and just as long to write, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

[samit]

The stunning way First Man uses IMAX to get inside Neil Armstrong’s head

Opening the door to a whole new world

Here's my deep dive on Damien Chazelle's incredibly specific and effective use of IMAX in First Man!

I don't do a lot of film criticism/analysis, so this was a challenging but fun article to write. Check it out if you like nerding out about aspect ratios and film stock!!!!

[samit]

at least my last Tumblr post before the nuclear holocaust will be a funny one

[samit]

Master of None season 2 is the emotional upgrade the series deserved

What does it mean to grow up when you don’t have a companion?

I reviewed the second season of Netflix’s Master of None for Polygon! I really, really love the show, and I think the second season is better than the first precisely because it’s somewhat less funny and more heart-wrenching.

There’s also this, of course: “The stories in Master of None are just as universal as the ones we’re used to seeing — it just so happens that they focus on people of color.”

[samit]

LET'S GO #RANGERS!!! (at Madison Square Garden (1925))

[samit]

on Easter Sunday, I visited the patron saint of my people (immigrants)

[samit]

Found a couple of new friends at the museum! I call the big one "Bitey."

[samit]

something something the room where it happens @hamiltonmusical (at Hamilton: An American Musical)

[samit]

So happy to have the #Yankees back on my TV ... especially for their first win of 2017, a 5-0 victory!

[samit]

BASEBALL IS BACK

[samit]

wow really Express? what happened to "separate but equal" being inherently unequal???

[samit]

Here's how my MLB The Show 17 guy turned out, with my girlfriend's help. Pretty close, I think! (He looks even more like me in games, since I put glasses on him.)

[samit]

Sunday funday with the girlfriend: I sit here and turn my gaze back and forth while she dutifully sculpts my head and facial features in MLB The Show 17's Road to the Show mode

[cloudmall]

WE HAVE TERRIBLE NEWS ABOUT YOUR PILLS.

[samit]

REPLACMENT

[samit]

This is happening