New version 33.0.41 just beach balls and hangs until I force quit, unlike MC 31, which opens and connects to my media server on another Mac on the local network. I don't see any notifications or request to permit anything, and app does not appear in local network security list. Both 27 and 31 do request network access. Wish I could just purchase MC 31, even if it has some bugs. I have also found no way to downgrade to Mac Senoma. Apple just won't allow it. Close to just trashing this M1 Macbook and getting a Windows laptop, but guess that would require me to purchase another license as well as another computer. Sorry Bob, but I appreciate your effort. Evidently it works for others.
What other apps do you have installed and running on the Mac? Any apps related to antivirus, antimalware, firewall, VPN/proxy or anything network related? Because it really sounds like something else is running on the system and is messing with MC33 in some way.
Maybe try starting over from scratch. You can use an app like
AppCleaner to drag and drop the Media Center 33 app into it and it'll clean everything installed for MC33 on the system. Then redownload 33.0.41 from the release topic, open the .dmg file to mount it and when the mount window opens with the Media Center 33 app make absolutely sure you drag and drop the Media Center 33 app into macOS' Applications folder. Then right click on the mounted Media Center 33 drive on the desktop and select to eject/unmount it. Then open the Applications folder and start Media Center 33 from there. If issues still occur check the permissions for Media Center 33.
Now I have two working versions installed: the debug.zip ( MC33-037 and the last one sent by Bob MC33-041)
You should probably remove the debug version, there's no reason to keep multiple builds of MC33 around, especially a debug version since 33.0.41 should work now.