Category Archives: Popular Culture

Popular Culture, Social Commentary

Simpsons Fail

10 Comments

A lot have been complaining about The Simpsons going downhill over the past several years. I agree that there have been some egregious moments in the series, but overall, I still have found each episode mostly enjoyable. But not tonight. It may be possible to spoof Mad Men, but they certainly didn’t succeed. It’s the first time I can recall watching The Simpsons and not laughing. And that’s saying something. Whoever the writers were, they clearly don’t understand what they were satirizing at all. They may be too young.

[Monday morning update]

OK, I exaggerated. This was funny: “Why can’t I be funny with just my words? Bill Maher doesn’t put dangerous things near his crotch, except when he’s off work.” – Krusty Clown

History, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Popular Culture

Hooverville Blues

7 Comments

John Podhoretz isn’t impressed with Clint Eastwood’s latest movie:

If you make the mistake of going to see J. Edgar, you will emerge much older by the time the movie finishes, even though only two hours will have passed. Forget all that questionable talk about how those newly tested subatomic particles move so quickly that they violate the rules of time and can order a drink before they walk into the bar. It is Clint Eastwood, Hollywood’s only functioning octogenarian director, and not a subatomic particle, who has figured out a way to breach Einstein’s relativity theory. In the theaters in which his movies play, time literally slows down to the speed of an ant. I was so ancient by the time J. Edgar was done that I went home and watched five reruns of Law and Order.

There’s more, including a John Voight reference.