Television

In an offhand remark, the embattled comedian implied a correlation between Down syndrome and emotional apathy—and, in the process, he reinforced an old and hateful stereotype.

• By David M. Perry

Humor is no laughing matter when it comes to persuading others.

• By Andy Dehnart

A new study finds African Americans on reality television are more likely to be both the victim and perpetrator of verbal aggression.

• By Tom Jacobs

PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Ben Rowen
• Member Exclusive

It's in times of tragedy and shame that I miss Fred Rogers the most.

• By Hanif Abdurraqib

PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Angela Serratore
• Member Exclusive

Can science fiction help American viewers to empathize with occupied peoples?

• By David M. Perry

A collection of some of our most important and timely stories, from a feature inside the California Native Plant Society's efforts to save endangered plant species and turn California into a zero-extinction state to an interview with a historian about the fate of ABC's hit Roseanne.

• By Pacific Standard Staff
• Member Exclusive

Over the past few decades, Christian television has gone from spreading the gospel and moved directly into covering news and politics, reaching millions of Americans daily.

• By Jason C. Bivins

Her top-rated show was suddenly canceled after her racist tweet. A historian evaluates the deeper meaning of the decision.

• By Tom Jacobs

PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Ben Rowen
• Member Exclusive

For many Americans, watching The Apprentice produced a faux feeling of closeness and trust with Donald Trump.

• By Tom Jacobs

PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Ian Hurley
• Member Exclusive

PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Elena Gooray
• Member Exclusive

New research finds the famous tagline on political ads makes issue-oriented attacks seem more legitimate.

• By Tom Jacobs

Donald Trump used Saturday Night Live's harsh parodies to his own advantage.

• By Tom Jacobs

The prolific showrunner talks about how bringing diversity to television writers' rooms also makes the shows better.

• By Rachael Rifkin

Pacific Standard checks out the studies.

• By Francie Diep

Can any show with an extraordinary hero advance egalitarian politics?

• By Noah Berlatsky

Albert Kim will write the script, about a family-run electronics corporation.

• By Katie Kilkenny

But white men are still directing the majority of television shows.

• By Katie Kilkenny

A new report argues that black television helmers hire more black writers—and give characters of color much-needed, nuanced narratives.

• By Katie Kilkenny

In the past month, women from ABC, Nickelodeon, and Amazon have also lodged complaints about inappropriate conduct at the office.

• By Katie Kilkenny

Disney and FX could soon expand viewers' world views—if they portray their queer characters with nuance.

• By Katie Kilkenny