In the first umpteen Republican debates of this primary season, the crowds watching had as much of an active role as the participants, driving the energy of the debates and sometimes the day-after discussion. Whether it was booing a gay soldier or cheering the death penalty or going hog-wild over Newt Gingrich’s lambasting of CNN’s John …
The Morning After: Doff Your Fedora for Prime Suspect, Tip Your Wings for Pan Am
Last night, NBC completed its burnoff of fall crime drama Prime Suspect. I didn’t watch, partly because, with the Giants competing, last night was one of the few nights of the year I actually watch a sportsball game with …
Colbert and Cain Do the Charleston: Which One’s the Comedian?
I’ve never been to Charleston, S.C., but I’m pretty sure that, for this afternoon at least, Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston was located at the intersection of Reality and Satire. There it was that Stephen Colbert and Herman Cain, unlikely ballotfellows, held a funny, serious and seriously funny rally to promote Colbert’s bid …
The Morning After: Archer and the Bandit
In one of my favorite Archer episodes ever, Sterling and Lana have an adventure in a Florida Louisiana swamp, which is mainly exciting to Archer for its resonances with the Burt Reynolds classic Gator. “I’ve been waiting my …
Debate Watch: You Come at the King, You Best Not Miss
It’s become a cliché to say that each Republican debate is the most important yet—at least since the last Most Important Debate—but last night’s showdown in South Carolina had a strong claim, coming after Rick Perry’s drop-out, Rick Santorum’s retroactive win in Iowa and Newt Gingrich’s twofer of climbing ahead in the polls while an …
Modern Family Watch: What the Bleep Was the Big Deal?
I hadn’t planned on reviewing last night’s Modern Family, and probably wouldn’t have after watching it, if not for the advance, sight-unseen controversy over something toddler Lily said in the episode. Or rather, didn’t …
Dead Tree Alert: Truth Vigilantes, Attack!
Last week, New York Times public editor (the equivalent of an ombudsman) Arthur Brisbane wrote a blog post asking whether, in covering the campaign, reporters should challenge in the body of their straight-news stories statements by candidates that are dubious, distorted or outright false. Or as he put it—in a headline that generated …
Romney Didn’t Win Iowa After All. Is It Too Late To Change the Story?
Remember that narrow, 8-vote win Mitt Romney scored in the Iowa caucuses? The one that launched him on a 2-for-2 run in the first two GOP contests, building his momentum and underscoring his case as the inevitable nominee? Turns …
The Morning After: Icepickin’ and Grinnin’
FX’s Justified, coming off a second season that was one of the best things on TV in 2011, returned last night with an episode that included new nemeses, an icepick-wielding adversary and some old-fashioned Western shootistry. If …
Glee Watch: Wedding Bell Curve
I got to watching Glee late last night, and before I fired up the Tivo, asked my Twitter feed its verdict on the episode. “The best in a while,” came the answer. Also: “The worst in a while.” This being Glee, not only did the …
Late Show Fires Comedy Booker, Revives the Are-Women-Funny Debate (Sigh)
Deep within a pretty fascinating New York Times profile last week of Eddie Brill, the comedy booker for Late Show with David Letterman, gave his explanation why the show booked only one female standup in 2011: “‘There are a lot …
In Previews: NBC Is Going to Make Damn Sure You Sample Smash
When a major Broadway musical gets ready to launch, its producers will often take it on the road and show it in previews before it officially launches. NBC has taken a similar approach with it’s musical-about-a-musical (that may …
Not Allowed to Vote for Stephen Colbert? Oh Yes You Cain!
As we’ve known for a while, Stephen Colbert‘s satirical run in the South Carolina GOP Presidential primary has one minor hitch: you can’t vote for him. That is, the filing deadline to get on the ballot has passed, and the state does not allow write-ins. The ballot is locked. But last night, Colbert announced on the Report that he’s found …