In the early 2020s, the television (TV) industry seemed like it was preparing for a mass exodus of most of its flagship titles. Prestigious and influential masterpieces such as “Better Call Saul,” “Succession,” “Atlanta” and “Attack on Titan” all saw their beloved, years-long story arcs come to highly anticipated ends. Coinciding with a heavy production backlog due to the pandemic and strike-related issues, it seemed that after the last of these shows ended, audiences and creatives alike would struggle to find themselves enjoying the luxuries of so-called “peak TV.” Despite all these hurdles, we have fortunately been graced with a considerable influx of high-quality and irresistible series that seem to be paving the way for the next phase of television.

   Opening night for the Hofstra University Drama Department’s “Guys and Dolls” was sensational. The show, set in the 1950s, effortlessly transports the audience into a world of colorful suits and effervescent dances. This musical humorously contrasts the lives of gamblers and showgirls with the lives of conservative Christian missionaries.

Once upon a time, the length of a film was an afterthought in the public conscience. Massive and sprawling epics, like “Lawrence of Arabia,” approached the four-hour mark and were widely celebrated by the public and industry alike. Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” duology has a run time of six hours and were similarly greeted with acclaim and commercial success. Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy combines to over nine hours and is celebrated as one of the greatest artistic and box office achievements in film history. As recently as 2019, the three-hour “Avengers: Endgame” conquered records and satisfied nearly $3 billion worth of fans worldwide.

Famous American drag queen and television personality RuPaul is launching a battle against book banning with a brand-new online bookstore called Allstora. Allstora is trying to change the book industry by supporting underrepresented authors and promoting books with a focus on marginalized voices.

2023 has become the year of artificial intelligence. The current phenomenon has rapidly transformed modern technology landscapes and sparked debates across various fields. It is expected that this technology will play a significant role in shaping the future of various industries, particularly the entertainment industry, which is constantly evolving and has emerged as one of the frontrunners in attempts at adopting AI technology.