June 2011
62 posts
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“There used to be a movie called “No Surrender.” It’s only famous for...”
– I interviewed Colin Quinn for a story in the Daily News. He was incredibly sweet and for most of the interview we didn’t talk about his show, “Long Story Short.” We just bullshitted (bullshat?) with each other. He told me I was funny, which is either because I am funny or because...
“Mitch Williams, that fucking guy never gave me credit. Come on, dude; you’re...”
– Charlie Sheen, aka Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn, in Sports Illustrated’s oral history of Major League. (via willdo)
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“SO LADIES AND GENTLEMAN… ALWAYS LAST, BUT NEVER LEAST. LET’S HEAR IT...”
– BruceSpringsteen.net has Bruce’s eulogy for the Big Man up on their site.
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One man's 'Story': Comedian Colin Quinn delivers... →
From the Daily News, June 28, 2011.
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Philadelphians ditch cars for bikes, SEPTA and... →
From the Daily News, June 27, 2011.
This story is about living car-less in Philadelphia. It took me a really fucking long time to write.
Sidebars: The Pros and Cons of Car ownership
Cyclists dodging traffic? There’s an app for that
Essentials for the Carless Life
Woman's leg broken, others hurt in Spring Garden... →
Life is really shitty sometimes, y’know?
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Patricia Merbreier, 'Mrs. Noah,' dies at 86 →
From the Daily News, June 25, 2011.
A short obit for Mrs. Noah, wife of Captain Noah, from the Philly-based TV show “Captain Noah and His Magical Ark.” If you were a kid in the Delaware Valley between 1967 and 1994, you watched Captain and Mrs. Noah.
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Tattle: Mass eviction for the 'Jersey Shore' cast? →
From the Daily News, June 25, 2011.
Bold Names: Jersey Shore, Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna, Missy Elliot
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“The best way to build a brand is to take a three-foot length of malleable iron...”
– Gene Weingarten talks about why branding in journalism is a scary thought
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'Buck's' special touch: Documentary follows... →
From the Daily News, June 24, 2011
B+!
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“Apple-infused horse semen shots might not be an obvious chaser to spring rolls,...”
– With that lede, why yes, I will continue reading this story about semen shots.
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Here's how the vicious interview cycle goes
Track 1 — The Bad
Do interview with subject.
Internal monologue post-interview: Oh my god that was horrible. Why did I even get hired? I can barely speak English. Half my questions didn’t even make sense. I’m going to get fired right now.
Transcribe tape.
Internal monologue: All of my worst fears have been realized! Is my voice really that high? Did I need to giggle after...
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“3. @LevarBurton
Similar to Oprah’s, but even better in my opinion. A...”
– I don’t particularly care for the rest of this Humblebrag Hall of Fame (seriously, Oprah? Fish, meet the barrel you will eventually be shot in) but the Levar Burton section is priceless.
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Something called Alcoholism Group started... →
I can’t decide if I should feel bad about this or awesome about this. I should contemplate it while drinking a bottle of wine.
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An addendum to the "Sports Night" post of earlier...
Fuck “Sports Night.”
Yes, it might have been just scant hours before that I compared to the Aaron Sorkin comedy of yore to “His Girl Friday,” one of my fave movies of yore.
But, goddamnit, than I get to an episode like “The Quality of Mercy at 29K.”
I’m such a sucker for those cultural moments that remind you that, you know what? Life is kind of...
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My theory on "Sports Night"
So I hated on “Sports Night” when I started doing the initial Netflix re-watch but after an insomnia-induced marathon this weekend, I’ve warmed to the show.
After several discussions with one of my TV buddies, fellow reporter Dan Geringer, I’ve come up with this:
I like “Sports Night” because it’s a bastardized version of “His Girl Friday,”...
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WatchSo I have this theory about really, truly good television shows in that you need to wait a couple episodes before they start to click. Clicking is an admittedly intangible concept, but bear with me here. The first couple you see are all about exposition: You have to learn how to love these characters before you truly love them. In that way, shows become about a group of real fleshed-out people,...
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WatchA Clarence-narrated “Simpsons” episode, “The Grift of the Magi.”
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Tattle: McElhenney puts on 50 for 'Sunny in... →
From the Daily News, June 18, 2011.
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Watch Yes.
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Philadelphia library exhibit offers inside line on... →
From the Daily News, June 17, 2011.
This features my favorite lede: Contrary to what the new Jim Carrey movie might have you believe, the original children’s book “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” does not feature any soccer balls to the groin.
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“• Little-known fact: Ian McShane was actually Milch’s third choice to play...”
– Holy crap, I didn’t know that.
Alan Sepinwall has been doing recaps of all-time-favorite “Deadwood.” Characteristically, they are excellent.
The episode he’s recapping,”Reconnoitering the Rim,” includes one of my favorite lines of the series:
Al: Excuse my...
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“What if you could play him in a low-budget indie movie where Steve is now a...”
– This interview with Jaleel White is pretty goddamned fantastic.
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“If you want to signal to people that you’re a big jerk, walking around with a...”
– One of the funniest thing about “Page One” was how action-packed they make journalism seem. It is not.
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Dear Big Man
In a statement on BruceSpringsteen.net, Clarence’s family asked fans to send e-mails to notestoclarence@clarenceclemons.com while he recovers from a stroke. Here’s my letter. You should write him one too.
Dear Clarence,
Can I call you Clarence? Of course, I can.
I interviewed you about a year ago for your book. I don’t usually get starstruck —I’ve talked to...
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“Later that night, Bean stepped out for cigarettes and the man attacked him,...”
– Sean Bean was apparently stabbed twice this weekend. Once was in London.
Also, badass much?
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Bedtime hits big time: Frustrated dad's new book... →
From the Daily News, June 14, 2011.
The Inquirer has the same story today but I have more comments. Suck on that one.
UPDATE: Holy crap, Mansbach couldn’t have told me that Werner MOTHERFUCKING Herzog is gonna read the audiobook for Go the Fuck to Sleep. What a scooooooop.
UPDATED UPDATE: And now Samuel L. Jackson!
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“We get it: you love the possibility and potential of the unknown. Our...”
– Jace Lacob from the Daily Beast liked Super 8 more than I did but he articulates one of my major problems with it very well, which is that JJ Abrams sets up these epic secrets that he can’t possibly fulfill.
I also had problems with the whole pastiche thing, but that’s a grumbly old man...
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Tattle: Utleys have a little Phillie on the way →
From the Daily News, June 11, 2011
Bold Names: Jen and Chase Utley, Tracy Morgan, Lenny Dykstra, Jack White and Karen Elson
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“Why me?” I can hear you screaming. Well, if you’re not too ashamed to leave the...”
– On women and their problem areas. Thank you, Rob Delaney, I always thought Eve was on the chubby side.
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http://yfrog.com/kgmkvj#.TfJU1ypXy9M;tumblr →
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Visiting London →
From the Daily News, June 9, 2011.
A sidebar to go with the CHOP story. I fell in love with this little girl, 16-month-old London Dally. She had an incredible personality, and her parents clearly dedicated their lives to making sure she stayed alive. I could have spent all day with her.
