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, … Continue reading Outside Reading — We Are Hope Despite the Times 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. Although I have mostly … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Albert Brooks and Danny
The Crucible of History Surrenders To the Furnace by Erin Thompson Writing for The New York Times, Erin Thompson details efforts to destroy the various Confederate statues and other tributes to white supremacy that have been justly removed from public … Continue reading Outside Reading — Melt It All Down 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. Plain and simple, Taylor … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Taylor Tomlinson, “Straight Dudes”
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. The British government was concerned about an uptick in the number of children dying in drowning accidents. … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’: A Hit That Initially Unnerved Disney by Carlos Aguilar I was managing a movie theater when A Nightmare Before Christmas was initially released, in the fall of 1993. Among my brethren, anticipation was high, but actual … Continue reading Outside Reading — Instead of Screams, I Swear I Can Hear Music in the Air 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. Although he’s probably best … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Charlie Brooker’s How to Report the News
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. The wise wagerer would have bet … Continue reading Golden Words — Frasier, “The Good Son”
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. Lorne Michaels has long … Continue reading Laughing Matters — The Ben Stiller Show, “U2: The Early Years”
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. The members of the Television Academy … Continue reading Golden Words — Taxi, “Tony’s Sister and Jim”
Coffee for Two 