A lot can happen in a year. It sure as hell did to me. Twelve fast and furious months ago, on May 23, 2025, I started my first blog and learned what it feels like to experience—to quote an Oscar-winning movie title—everything everywhere all at once.
The idea behind The Travers Take has always been to share my thoughts on movies, streaming and the crazy business we call show, and then to provoke you to share your thoughts with me. I’ve been called everything from an “essential guide” to “a woke fool.” Fair enough. The give-and-take is everything to me.
Deep appreciation to subscribers who’ve followed me for decades at Rolling Stone, ABC News, GMA, and on my Popcorn pods where I interview stars and creatives who run the gamut. From Scorsese, Spielberg, Spike, QT and dark knight Nolan to Gerwig, Zhao, Peele, PTA and Coogler. From Denzel, Cruise and RDJ to Leo, Timmy and Michael B. From Streep and Blanchett to Stone, Sweeney and Zendaya. They’ve shared their thoughts with me, and I pass them along to you to tear apart and look for gold nuggets. Love doing it.
But if you think a blog is easy, just try it. In the past, I’ve worked for companies that had a staff to edit, design, dig for photos, prep layouts, produce and distribute. Not so with the DIY version. Design guru Joan Bogden, copy/photo wizard Robyn Reeves and advisor-friend Jeff Jarvis save my ass on a daily basis. And you won’t find better than ghost.org to build a website, send newsletters, and manage paid subscriptions. I salute one and all.
But be careful that what you wish for. There are times when the previous lucky-lazy me longs for the days when I simply saw movies and wrote about them. Building a mini empire laughingly called a blog ends all that. The funny thing is, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Seeing the final product each week is a source of constant satisfaction, even for a “woke fool” like me.
Even better is your reaction. And I am thrilled beyond measure at how The Travers Take has spread its wings beyond American borders into faraway places that extend from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. I’m not kidding. These countries include England, France, Germany, Spain and Russia. Also, Argentina, India, Sweden, Colombia, Romania, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the Galapagos, Czechia, Romania, Thailand and Taiwan (Xi Jinping won’t like that, but The Travers Take is an open-door blog).
The upshot is that movies really are a universal language and a means to communicate that transcends borders and personal politics. Hundreds of thousands of unique visitors have already visited The Travers Take, which streams globally. But we need and encourage you newbies out there to join the party and get the word out about how tough I am on movies that should do jail time for inflicting torture on the suspecting. Subscribe and you secure a front-row seat to my weekly rants, a shield against terrible box-office flops, and a guaranteed lack of spam. Consider it your ultimate cinematic survival guide.