Note: The first episode shown during the Fourth Quarter 2024 was a rerun of #997 on September 23, 2024.
Episode #1000: Enjoy
First Broadcast: 9/30/24
Repeated: 11/11/24
Do you like art? Do you like New York? Do you like... halftone? Then this episode is for you! And, the rest of you, too! Celebrate our 1000th episode as we lay back and gaze at the sights and sounds of a town we know well, even with our eyes unfocused. As the title says: "Enjoy"!
Episode #1001: The Clown Don't Work For Free
First Broadcast: 10/7/24
We start with an event that should bring a tear to the eye of all New Yorkers--or at least all Manhattanites--of a certain age; a sure sign that the city has deteriorated in a very unwelcome way that makes one wonder if things are going backward instead of forward. Of course, I'm talking about the closing of the Stanton Street branch of the local Mexican restaurant chainlet San Loco, after 22 years of operation at that location. (What, you thought I was talking about Mayor Eric Adams being indicted for bribery and corruption? Pshaw! This is more important!) From there, I digress about the late Jon Vie bakery, which closed its doors 20 years ago (and yet I still pine for their cupcakes!); along with the continuing shrinkage of Indian restaurants on East 6th Street; the surge in upscale Indian restaurants across the city; my lack of knowledge about upscale Mexican restaurants; the appeal of Carnitas Ramirez tacos; the death of cheap middle-of-the-road restaurants in NYC in general; and how food inflation is too damn high, among many other things. Tune in, and see if you can keep up!
Episode #1002: Existing IP
First Broadcast: 10/21/24
Repeated: 1/13/25
Are you one of the 90% of American adults who owns a smartphone? Is the availability of endless storage space making people worse photographers? Was photography better when people only had 36 shots in a roll of film? How do you learn when "the decisive moment" is to snap a picture? Burst shooters: Yea or Nay? Should we be concerned about how all of the top ten movies at the domestic box office this year (so far) are either sequels or otherwise based on some already existing franchise? Should the Oscars become more like the Pulitzers, and just not give out awards in some years rather than let an undeserving nominee win? This show may not have any answers, but it can sure come up with questions!
Episode #1003: Cosplaying Work
First Broadcast: 10/28/24
That's exactly what Donald Trump was doing when he operated the deep fryer at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania for 15 minutes, claiming that it was "15 minutes more than Kamala" Harris, even though she worked at a McDonald's for an entire summer in between her freshman and sophomore years in college. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since Trump and his fans seem to value the appearance of work more than work itself. Maybe that's why he's committed so much fraud? He never thought anyone would check? Is that also why he feels so much sympathy for Eric Adams? Birds of a feather? How are people still undecided at this point? And how, as a nation, are we going to deprogram Trump's cult when he's finally gone? Food for thought!
Episode #1004: It's Always a Tuesday
First Broadcast: 11/4/24
After the disgusting displays of racism and hatred at Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on October 27--which drew comparisons to a Nazi rally at the Garden in 1939, despite Trump's protestations to the contrary--how could you not vote for Kamala Harris for President at this point? Sure, early voting in New York City will be over by the time you see this, but if you're reading these words before 9:00 PM on November 5, 2024, and you're registered to vote, then there's still time for you to cast your vote for President (and other things), and preferably for Kamala Harris! No one paid us at Free New York to say that, and we don't work for Harris's campaign either. It's just awfully clear to us that Trump is a man who prefers dictatorship, to democracy, thinks violence is the best way to solve all his problems, and won't hesitate to violate any law he can if doing so will benefit himself personally. As the New York Times put it, "Donald Trump says he will prosecute his enemies, order mass deportations, use soldiers against citizens, abandon allies, [and] play politics with disasters[:] Believe him." Don't you think he'll make the situation in the Middle East worse than it already is? Do you really want your daughters to have fewer rights than your grandmothers? Don't you want this insanity to be over already? Then get out and VOTE and report any voter interference you see BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!
Episode #1005: Well, Here We Are
Episode #1006: More Good News
Episode #1007: We Need This Table Back
First Broadcast: 11/18/24
We here at
First Broadcast: 12/2/24
I know the world is an awful place in many ways right now, but here are three good things that may give you some glimmers of hope for the future in New York City at least: Number One - If the City Council passes the "City of Yes" bill and the Mayor signs it, then parking requirements will be removed for new housing construction in most of Manhattan and sizable chunks of Brooklyn and Queens, which should create incentives for many more apartments to be built in all three of those boroughs, which ought to help ease the demand for housing by some amount. Number Two - Compost collection is now mandatory in Manhattan (and all the other boroughs), and diverting compostable materials away from landfills should go a long way towards reducing waste and garbage overall in the city. Last, but not least, at Number Three - Congestion pricing is back on schedule for Manhattan as of January 5, 2025, and if it works as planned it should reduce traffic, increase revenue for the MTA, and create cleaner air in Manhattan all at the same time! Who wouldn't want that! P.S.: Watch out for the Christmas creep!
First Broadcast: 12/16/24
As Charlie Brown once said, "We've got another holiday to worry about." He was talking about Thanksgiving at the time, but today we're talking about Christmas. Do you have a favorite Christmas special? Is "A Charlie Brown Christmas" the best Christmas special? Do you like "Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol" or do you hate it like Mario Cantone? How about a favorite Christmas movie? Is Miracle on 34th Street the most American Christmas movie ever made? Do all Hallmark Christmas movies have the same plot? Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? What about Psycho? Is it insane to spend New Year's Eve standing around in Times Square for 9 hours (or more)? Aren't there better places in Times Square to watch the ball drop than outside in the street? Will next year be any better than this one? I suspect I'll be asking that question over and over again for the next four years, but it's got to get better at some point!
Jump back to the top!
Return to Past Episodes Index.
RETURN TO FREE NEW YORK!