Michael Stipe Is Writing His Next Act. Slowly. by Jon Mooallem

This article about the former lead singer of R.E.M. is a simply a masterful piece of profile writing. With unerring instincts for which details convey the most telling information, Jon Mooallem genuinely seems to provide a deep understanding of who Michael Stipe is at his core. The central story here is Stipe’s prolonged, agonized attempts to complete a solo album. Mooallem shrewdly, skillfully uses that as entryway into a multitude of other insights about his subject and his long history as a creator, performer, and public figure. This article is published The New York Times Magazine.

What’s the Matter with Misfits? Society. by Vaughn Joy

Writing for her own Substack, Review Roulette, Vaughn Joy goes deep on the 1964 television special about the arctic mammal with a luminescent snout who is central to troubleshooting some poor flight conditions during the holidays. Specifically, she argues that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a central text for teaching the value of nonconformity for generations of youngsters that desperately needed that reassuring message. The article is convincing and entertaining in equal measure. Among other things, it’s about time someone called out Donner for his shit.

Zombie TV Has Come for Cable by John Koblin

Reporting for The New York Times, John Koblin details the bleak state of cable television programming as countless networks that once invested in original material have been willfully reduced to being repositories for the blandest recycled content. I don’t have any particular affection for the corporate entities left to rot by their greedy overlords, but it’s still strange to see the opportunities of these various channels be so viciously rejected. MTV once had the ability to shift all of U.S. culture based on what it was paying attention to, and now its overseers are content to leave Catfish on repeat for an entire day.

THE NATIONAL LYRICS OR THINGS MY DAD SAYS WHILE REFUSING TO CHECK GOOGLE MAPS? by Nick Guadagnino

As someone who is very devoted to the National, I can attest that Nick Guadagnino has absolutely nailed the assignment he gave himself here. This is published by — who else? — McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.