Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christopher Closeup

Home
Catholic
Religious Music & Entertainment

Media

Select a Category Act One American Idol Andy Griffith Show Audrey Assad Baseball Bible Books Catholic Charities Christmas Christopher Awards Christopher Closeup Christopher News Notes Current Events Down syndrome Education Father Jonathan Morris Father Keller Films Forgiveness Fringe Government Hallmark History Holidays Humor Inspiration Leadership Lost Marriage Media Medical Military Movies Music NY Med Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time Parenting Patheos Movie Club Person of Interest Politics Pope Francis Prayer Pro Life Saints Senior Citizens Signed Sealed Delivered Special Needs Sports Three Minutes a Day TV Uncategorized Volunteering Women Youth

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

April 2016

April 06, 2016

As “American Idol” Says Farewell, A Look Back at the God Factor in Contestants’ Lives

(Photo property of Fox) If God were a regular TV watcher, I suspect "American Idol"...

March 2016

March 30, 2016

The 2016 Christopher Award Winners Are…

67TH ANNUAL CHRISTOPHER AWARD WINNERS HIGHLIGHT FAMILY, FAITH, COMMUNITY, AND SOCIAL ISSUES NEW YORK, March...

March 21, 2016

The Four Things I Liked Best About “The Passion: Live”

Last night, Fox aired "The Passion: Live," a re-enactment of the story of Jesus's final...

March 18, 2016

Could a Catholic School Graduate Win the Farewell Season of “American Idol”?

(Photo property of Fox) On last night's "American Idol," viewers got to see videos featuring...

March 18, 2016

“The Passion” Musical to Share Jesus’s Story in a Modern Way

Network television has found success in recent years by airing live musicals such as "The...

March 17, 2016

Real-life Figure Misrepresented in “Spotlight” Movie Reaches Settlement with Studio

The movie "Spotlight," about the Boston Globe's investigation into the sex abuse scandal in the...

March 11, 2016

“Last Man Standing” Offers Perspective on ‘Vengeful God’ versus ‘Loving Jesus’

(Photo courtesy ABC/Disney) A lot of ink (and pixels) get spilled when TV shows mock...

March 04, 2016

Go Rest High on That Mountain

One of the things the TV landscape will be losing when "American Idol" ends its...

February 2016

February 26, 2016

Kelly Clarkson Makes “American Idol” a Family Affair, Calls on Men to Be Devoted Dads

A seven-months-pregnant Kelly Clarkson served as a guest judge on "American Idol" last night and...

February 17, 2016

Heads, Hearts & Emergency Yoo-Hoos: A Look at “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From the Heart”

Valentine's Day may be over in the real world, but it won't reach the Denver,...

February 16, 2016

Actress Erin Krakow Talks Role Models, Family Friendly TV, and Counting Her Blessings

UPDATE APRIL 20, 2016: "When Calls the Heart" wins the 2016 Christopher Spirit Award. Read...

February 11, 2016

“When Calls the Heart” Season Three Suggests The Best Is Yet to Come

One of the reasons that the Hallmark Channel series "When Calls the Heart" has resonated...

February 01, 2016

UPDATE: Pope Francis to Appear in Family-Themed Feature Film “Beyond the Sun”

UPDATE 2: Now the Vatican is saying Pope Francis won't be acting in the movie...

January 2016

January 19, 2016

Patricia Heaton and Stephen Colbert Compete to See Who’s the Better Catholic

Emmy Award-winning actress Patricia Heaton and comedian/talk show host Stephen Colbert are two of the...

January 08, 2016

“May the Force Be With You” Had a Christian Influence

With the success of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," a 2014 interview with producer Gary...

January 07, 2016

When “Blessed Assurance” Came to Washington

Ninety-one-year-old actress Cicely Tyson was one of the honorees at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors...

December 2015

December 22, 2015

Family, Not Just Nostalgia, is Behind Popularity of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

As expected, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has done blockbuster business opening weekend, earning over...

December 18, 2015

“Star Wars” Fans Rejoice! “The Force Awakens” Offers Adventure, Humor, and Emotional Depth

At the end of season one of JJ Abrams’ hit TV series “Alias,” a mysterious...

December 15, 2015

VIDEO: Father Jonathan Morris on Imitating the Heroism of Jesus

While Father Jonathan Morris is frequently on television, he made the news not long ago...

December 10, 2015

Seven Classic TV Christmas Episodes to Boost Your Holiday Spirit

Every December, I rewatch classic TV Christmas episodes either on DVD or via reruns on...

December 01, 2015

Father Jonathan Morris on How You Can Support the Work of The Christophers

Since it's Giving Tuesday, the day in which people are encouraged to make donations to...

November 2015

November 24, 2015

What “Scandal’s” Olivia Pope Could Learn from Joan of Arcadia

Despite its popularity, I've never been tempted to watch an episode of "Scandal" because the...

November 20, 2015

Peggy Noonan on Pop Culture, Polarization, & Why Young Journalists Should Emulate Tim Russert

This is part 2 of my interview with Peggy Noonan. To read part 1, click...

November 17, 2015

Stephen Colbert Invites Bill Maher Back to the Catholic Church

(Photo via CBS) From last night:

November 05, 2015

Chris Christie: I’m Pro-Life for the 16-Year-Old Girl Addicted to Heroin, Too

While campaigning at a tavern in New Hampshire recently, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took...

October 2015

October 30, 2015

Phil Rosenthal’s PBS Food Show to Feature Ministry Started by Priest to Help At-Risk Youth

While checking my Twitter feed this morning, I saw that "Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil...

October 23, 2015

‘A House Divided Against Itself Makes the Devil Smile His Great Grinchy Grin’

Singer-songwriter and frequent "Christopher Closeup" guest Sarah Hart got a bit perturbed at the incessant...

October 15, 2015

Writer/Director Randall Wallace on Living a Braveheart Life, Faithful Suffering, & Loving God

"I felt that God was right in my face." That was one girl's reaction after...

October 14, 2015

Instead of Breeding an Anti-TV Culture, Christians Should See It as a Mission Field

The website Aleteia ran an anti-television article by David Mills today titled "Turn it Off,...

October 13, 2015

An Ideal Book for the Overly Busy, Those with Spiritual ADD, and Everyone Else, Too

Three minutes a day. That’s the minimum amount of time that The Christophers’ founder, Maryknoll...