The Most Important Comedy Writer of the Last 50 Years Finally Gets Her Due by Elyssa Goodman I am among the quickest to co-sign any declaration celebration the broad cultural impact of David Letterman. But I’m also keenly aware that … Continue reading Outside Reading — My Empty Dish Mocks Me edition
The Christmas Eve Confessions of Chuck Todd by Jay Rosen Earlier this week, Rolling Stone gave a platform to Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, interviewing him about an upcoming special edition of his venerable program. Todd and his producers … Continue reading Outside Reading — America’s Press Conference of the Air edition
Since great television comedy always begins with the script, this series of posts considers the individual episodes that have claimed the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series over the years. Frasier was dominant presence at … Continue reading Golden Words — Frasier, “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz”
Sometimes comedy illuminates hard truths with a pointed urgency that other means can’t quite achieve. Sometimes comedy is just funny. This series of posts is mostly about the former instances, but the latter is valuable, too. Sometimes I think the … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Monty Python, “Upper Class Twit of the Year”
Since great television comedy always begins with the script, this series of posts considers the individual episodes that have claimed the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series over the years. Thanksgiving is a time of … Continue reading Golden Words — Master of None, “Thanksgiving”
Filthy Rich by Michelle Dean HBO’s Succession was amusing and sharp-elbowed in its first season. For the recently concluded second season, the series engaged a creative turbo boost that rocketed it to delirious new heights. Writing for The New York … Continue reading Outside Reading — Thank You for the Chicken edition
Sometimes comedy illuminates hard truths with a pointed urgency that other means can’t quite achieve. Sometimes comedy is just funny. This series of posts is mostly about the former instances, but the latter is valuable, too. After tapping out a … Continue reading Laughing Matters — The Ben Stiller Show, “Cape Munster”
Why I Haven’t Gone Back to SCOTUS Since Kavanaugh by Dahlia Lithwick For a long time, Dahlia Lithwick was my favorite writer on the Supreme Court beat. Reporting on the goings on at the last depot for the nation’s rickety … Continue reading Outside Reading — Hard Court edition
Since great television comedy always begins with the script, this series of posts considers the individual episodes that have claimed the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series over the years. Cheers starts with an underage drinking … Continue reading Golden Words — Cheers, “Give Me a Ring Sometime”
Sometimes comedy illuminates hard truths with a pointed urgency that other means can’t quite achieve. Sometimes comedy is just funny. This series of posts is mostly about the former instances, but the latter is valuable, too. If there was any … Continue reading Laughing Matters — League of Extraordinary Freelancers
Coffee for Two 