Category Archives: Television

Off Campus, episode 5: You actually can choose your family

Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 film Magnolia, one of the most eccentric mainstream American movies ever made, culminates in a sequence where thousands of frogs rain down on the empty streets of Los Angeles. Up until this moment, each character – … Continue reading →

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Off Campus, episode 4: Moonlight in a chamber

If random people find these recaps they might get frustrated with how I do things. They clearly missed the 10,000-word Supernatural re-caps. I like to write about things that inspire OTHER things, like aesthetics, film acting, dramaturgy. I was inspired … Continue reading →

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Off Campus, episode 3: Two truths. Hence, ergo, therefore.

Episode 3’s title is attention-getting and I am here for it. Episode 4 could be called “The Orgasm, Part 2.” The two episodes are laid out like a thesis paper: episode 3 presents the thesis, episode 4 breaks it down … Continue reading →

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Off Campus, episode 2: Commence the one-sided yearning

“You gotta admit. It’s kind of genius.” Garrett says this to Hannah at the end of the first scene in episode 2, after he lays out his ideas for the fake-dating plan. The plan is not really genius, Garrett, but … Continue reading →

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Off Campus, episode 1: Unexpectedly Unexpected

On the surface, at least in episode 1 of Off Campus, an 8-episode Amazon Prime series , based on Elle Kennedy’s 2015 book The Deal, you can predict everything that will happen. College hockey player needs to ace an exam, … Continue reading →

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“If you’re creating anything at all, it’s really dangerous to care about what people think.” — Kristen Wiig

Today is the birthday of one of the greatest actors working today. I can’t seem to stop mentioning Kristen Wiig in my writing. I mention her even if she isn’t the main subject. She’s my favorite. I am in awe … Continue reading →

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“I’m a tough little rebel.” — Linda Manz

Days of Heaven (1978) It’s her birthday today. Manz died on August 14, 2020. She was HUGE to me growing up, and I have written about it on occasion. She didn’t work all that much, but her performances meant so … Continue reading →

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On This Day, 1957: Jerry Lee Lewis Kicks the Stool Back

Jerry Lee Lewis made his TV debut on the Steve Allen Show. The performance is terrifying. Who else is this terrifying? I suggested the Sex Pistols on Facebook. They did, indeed, terrify. But they were almost 20 years later. Jerry … Continue reading →

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“He’s one of those actors who knows that his face IS the story.” – Sam Shepard on Harry Dean Stanton

It’s Harry Dean Stanton’s birthday today. I’m pretty sure my introduction to Harry Dean Stanton – whose birthday it is today – was as Molly Ringwald’s sad dad in Pretty in Pink (he made a huge impression on me). It … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Bruce McGill

Bruce McGill is one of those actors who would have fit in perfectly with the old studio system: a first-rate support player, a guy who can do anything: drama, comedy, farce, who can fit into any context. He’s in the … Continue reading →

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