Mac and Samsung HDTV

I have had my macbook attached to my tv using a VGA cable and speakers. It has worked great.

Now we changed to Direct TV. I get sound, but I only get the screensaver (no icons) and no movie.

What do I need to change? Maybe a setting on the MAC?

It sounds like your Mac is using your TV as a second monitor (i.e. extending the desktop onto the monitor, rather than "mirroring" the built-in display).

Check your settings in System Preferences => Display while the TV is connected. It should give you the option to mirror the display. Or, if you like, simply drag the video player over to the TV and play it from there.

worked perfectly! Thanks.