For my eleventh birthday, all I wanted was a Carl Reiner movie. A little more than a year after the release of The Jerk, Reiner’s sixth film as a director and his first of four straight starring Steve Martin, the … Continue reading Carl Reiner, 1922-2020
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. The official announcement of … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Meet The CONAN Staff: Conor Oberst – Production Assistant
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. When the first show to bear … Continue reading Golden Words — The Mary Tyler Moore Show, “Support Your Local Mother”
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. As good and proper … Continue reading Laughing Matters — John Mulaney, “There’s a Horse Loose in the Hospital”
For some, the following statement is sacrilege: I’m grateful Freaks and Geeks only lasted one season. The brainchild of Paul Feig and arguably the true starting point of Judd Apatow’s ascendency to brand dominance as a producer of comedies, Freaks … Continue reading That Championship Season — Freaks and Geeks, Season One
America Punished Elizabeth Warren for Her Competence by Megan Garber Given the harsh realities of the political landscape, Elizabeth Warren’s withdrawal from the presidential race was the right choice and the right time. But it still stings, and Megan Garber, … Continue reading Outside Reading — You’re Better Than All These Fuckers 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. Ahead of its debut season, 30 … Continue reading Golden Words — 30 Rock, “Cooter”
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. Now that Better Call Saul has an officially announced endpoint, it’s the appropriate time to start campaigning … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — Ethics Training with Kim Wexler
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
Coffee for Two 