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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

We've reached October! I made time to watch more films in September, so I'm feeling good about my #FavoriteFirstWatches as we hit the homestretch of the year. They were... - The Searchers (1956) -Wet Hot American Summer (2001) - Coyote vs. ACME (2026) - Resident Evil (2026) What were yours? 🎥

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Augustttt: a good month that featured more rewatches than new watches! But I had fun enough with these four. My #FavoriteFirstWatches: - Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) - The End of Oak Street (2026) - How to Make A Killing (2026) - Escape From New York (1981) What did y'all watch? 🍿

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Happy August! I didn't really watch many movies in June (hello, World Cup), so I'm combining that with my July #FavoriteFirstWatches. Lots of great new films out there! My favorite four were: - The Odyssey (2026) - The Invite (2026) - The Player (1992) - Toy Story 5 (2026) What did y'all watch?

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Some footage from this morning's annual Chapel Hill Transit Roadeo competition, where bus operators try out their skills on a course with a bunch of tricky features. The top three operators finish with prizes and get to go to the North Carolina Roadeo.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

May, May, May. A pick-me-up of a month where I caught some delightful new releases and checked out some older films. The right kind of blend! My #FavoriteFirstWatches were: - I Love Boosters (2026) - Witness (1985) - The Sheep Detectives (2026) - Shiva Baby (2020) What films did you see? 🎬

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

New month, so time for another batch of #FavoriteFirstWatches!! April was spent watching a fair bit of TV, but I caught some good films too. Here were the top 4 first watches: - The Drama (2026) - No Other Choice (2025) - Hoppers (2026) - First Blood (1982) What did y'all watch? 🍿

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

There are few things better in this world than A) taking part in a collective effort to help others and B) getting to rib your rivals or gloat about your sports team It's the time of year to do both. Happy as always to contribute to the Charitibundi Bowl and help New American Pathways in Atlanta!

A $20.22 donation in honor of UNC football winning the last ACC Coastal divisional title in 2022.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

March was basically Ryan Gosling In Space Month for me this year... 🚀 Here were my #FavoriteFirstWatches from the past month: - First Man (2018) - It Was Just An Accident (2025) - The Alabama Solution (2025) - Project Hail Mary (2026) What did y'all watch?

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

February was spent largely watching college hoops and Olympics. But I also watched four films I was REALLY impressed with that are my #FavoriteFirstWatches of the month. They were: - Nickel Boys (2024) - Train Dreams (2025) - A Bigger Splash (2015) - Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) What about you?

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Kicked off 2026 with a banger of a month -- not a ton of films watched, but almost every one (Anaconda was the exception) was great! Here are my #FavoriteFirstWatches for Jan. 2026: - Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Hamnet (2025) - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) - KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

It's a new year, but I've got to close the loop on 2025 with my #FavoriteFirstWatches! I packed in a bunch of films in December, here were my four favorites I saw for the first time: - Marty Supreme (2025) - Wake Up Dead Man (2025) - Lone Star (1996) - The Secret Agent (2025) What did y'all watch?

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

There were lots of new films to enjoy in 2025, and here in my annual Top 10 ranking! Find my reviews of each of those (and many others) on Letterboxd: boxd.it/QZggg

Brighton's Top 10 of 2025: One Battle After Another, Sinners, Marty Supreme, Wake Up Dead Man, 28 Years Later, The Phoenician Scheme, Predator: Killer of Killers, Black Bag, The Bad Guys 2, and Bugonia.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Ahhh, the last #FavoriteFirstWatches of the calendar year to post (although not the last films in the 2025 series!!) For November, mine were... - City of God (2002) - Charade (1963) - Eddington (2025) - Sorry, Baby (2025) What were yours, #FilmSky?? 🎥

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Tar Heel fans....let's hear your thoughts. 🥲 Leave a voicemail about UNC football's performance vs. Duke and you'll be featured on Monday's "Carolina Football Hour."

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Wellllllll let's go ahead and fire up the phone lines.... UNC fans, let's hear those thoughts and reactions to this performance 😬 Call us at 919-240-6000

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Is...is that a WINNING STREAK??? For the 2025 Tar Heel football program??? Let's hear your thoughts on the game + how Carolina played! Again: we welcome the good, the bad and the ugly, and you'll be featured on Monday's show!

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

I've got to be honest: the final push for my wedding in October kind of nuked my film-watching chances. But it was also nuked by watching TASK...twice. Easily one of the best things I've seen all year, would strongly recommend as my lone #FavoriteFirstWatch of the last month.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

The only local news coming from me this week: I'm on island time with my bride 🥰

Sarah + the daytime view from Isla Mujeres

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Fans and listeners who leave a voicemail for Monday's "What In Tar-Nation?!" segment on the Carolina Football Hour will be entered to win a four-pack of tickets via our friends at Coca-Cola! Share thoughts about the Cal game / the team's recent play by calling 919-240-6000 this weekend! 🤠

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Let's get the phone lines warmed up!

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

It's just the second quarter, but go ahead and leave us a voicemail for Monday's "Carolina Football Hour"...let it all out!!! Might help you feel better!

What In Tar-Nation?! Call 919-240-6000 and leave a voicemail

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

September 2025: a slower time for catching films on my end, but headlined by a GREAT one out in theaters (One Battle). Here are my #FavoriteFirstWatches for the last month: - One Battle After Another (2025) - The King of Comedy (1982) - Caught Stealing (2025) - Aftersun (2022) Onto October!

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Well, Tar Heels fans...let's go ahead and hear your thoughts about how the team has looked at halftime 😬 Call the number, it'll make you feel a little better ⬇️

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Simply one of the best to ever grace the screen. Easily one of the most versatile leading men out there during his heyday and a filmmaker willing to take chances to share important messages. RIP Robert Redford :(

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

BIG win for Carolina to notch their first in Chapel Hill this season and move to 2-1. How nice to see some splash plays on offense and defense 💥 If you've got any instant reactions of your own, share them with us! You might hear em on Monday! Leave a voicemail or text ⬇️

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

omg a UNC football ✨ win ✨ Y'all got thoughts? Let's hear em, and we'll discuss on Monday's show! (Don't worry, we're talking the TCU game as well)

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Uhhhhh, anyone got any thoughts about this performance by UNC? We'd sure like to hear about it! Best ones could be played on the radio! Sure seems like we'll have plenty to talk about on the next Carolina Football Hour 😅

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

September is here, so time for the #FavoriteFirstWatches of August! I unintentionally had a Japanese theme in my top 4...plus a new animated film I really enjoyed! - Perfect Blue (1997) - Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) - Shin Godzilla (2016) - The Bad Guys 2 (2025) What did y'all watch??

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

An absolutely stunning morning here in the Triangle. Sixty degrees right now on the border of Orange and Durham counties, loads of blue sky. Starting to really feel like fall. And Carolina plays football tonight!!!! 🐏🏈 The signs of a perfect day!

A Carolina blue sky with a few whisps of white clouds, with two trees' green leaves and pink blooms in the foreground.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

A new month means it's time for #FavoriteFirstWatches, and July 2025 was easily the Month of the Blockbuster for me. I saw a lot of films in the theater, less stuff watched at home. But there was plenty to like! - 28 Years Later (2025) - Superman (2025) - Point Blank (1967) - Companion (2025)

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

It's been a real rough week for some folks in Orange County. We've gotta stop and appreciate the little things like this after (another) downpour in Chapel Hill.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

#FavoriteFirstWatches hits the halfway point of 2025! I caught plenty of good, new films this past month both in theaters + at home. The top four were: - The Philadelphia Story (1940) - The Phoenician Scheme (2025) - 28 Days Later (2002) - F1 (2025) What were y'all's favorites from June?

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

From Tuesday evening: this was the scene outside the Siena Hotel just a couple minutes before the Mexico men's national team's departure for its friendly in Kenan Stadium.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Ashamed to say May was a down month in watching newer films. I caught some new blockbusters, but not a ton of options for #FavoriteFirstWatches. The top four were... - M:I The Final Reckoning (2025) - Dazed and Confused (1993) - Thunderbolts* (2025) - Con Air (1997) *Lots* more to come in June.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

My local news update for the week:

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

I watched more TV than films in April, which is unusual, but the movies I did catch were very worthwhile! Out of those, my #FavoriteFirstWatches were: - Sinners (2025) - Drop (2025) - The Bad Guys (2022) - His Girl Friday (1940) What did y'all watch this month, #FilmSky? 🎥

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Another look at the crowd. Speakers criticized the Trump admin and Elon Musk's actions along several topics: threats to women's rights, reproductive health, Social Security, scientific research, education, children nutrition. A mix of residents and elected officials spoke.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Big turnout in Chapel Hill as part of the national "Hands Off" day of action, with the crowd spilling out of the Peace & Justice Plaza on E. Franklin to across the street. Worth nothing: the UNC Science Expo is also happening nearby. So there's a TON of folks + traffic around.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

In a month full of hoops and White Lotus, there was also time to squeeze in some new films! Some stuff in theaters wasn't great, but I enjoyed these! Here are my #FavoriteFirstWatches of March 2025: - Black Bag (2025) - Memories of Murder (2003) - F for Fake (1973) - Mickey 17 (2025) #FilmSky

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

NEW: The Chapel Hill Zaxbys franchise at 127 E. Franklin Street (formerly Capriotti's and before that, Waffle House) has set its grand opening for next week. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 10 AM on Wed., April 2. Just a few spots over on the block from Raising Cane's.

A white Zaxbys sign lit up at night above the storefront on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

It's a shorter month, but there were still plenty of opportunities to catch some new films (to me!) Here are my #FavoriteFirstWatches from Feb. 2025: - Memento (2000) - A Different Man (2024) - Flow (2024) - Paddington in Peru (2024) What did y'all catch for the first time? #Filmsky

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

From yesterday when it was really pumping down:

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Snowy scenes near Southpoint in Durham #Snowsky

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Farewell, Kenan Stadium turf. I doubt you'll be missed very much.

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Brighton McConnell @brmcc.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

I started off 2025 with a month FULL of movies. Here were the top four I watched for the first time, in no particular order: - Blue Velvet (1986) - Nosferatu (2024) - Sing Song (2024) - Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) What did y'all watch?

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