Category Archives: Pop Culture

Hava Nagilah a cappella

So how was your first night of Chanukah? Mine was latkes and music at the R household. I burned my finger in the oil (sigh) but not badly enough to do more than sting after an hour or so of … Continue reading

Posted in Holidays, Jews, Music | Comments Off on Hava Nagilah a cappella

Eight Video Nights of Chanukah: First night

This year we’re going to have something new for Hannukkah: A video each night. You can thank regular reader chsw, who sent me a link to the video I’ll be using on the sixth night. Tonight’s video: How Do You … Continue reading

Posted in Holidays, Music, Religion | 5 Comments

Open Heroes thread

Okay. If you saw it, you have a theory as to what will happen next. I am so bummed that there is a surviving twin. But I don’t believe anyone else is really, most sincerely dead, either. Heroes fell. They’re … Continue reading

Posted in Television | 1 Comment

Adult entertainment

The original episodes of Sesame Street have been issued on DVD. But our children better not watch them. It wouldn’t be right. Just don’t bring the children. According to an earnest warning on Volumes 1 and 2, “Sesame Street: Old … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Meanderings, Media, Pop Culture, Television | 3 Comments

Muslim street smarts

James Kirchik in the LA Times writes Don’t bow to the ‘Muslim Street’ America’s firebombing of Dresden during World War II surely “angered” many Germans, and our bombing of Belgrade during the Kosovo war perturbed Serbians. Did the fact that … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Television, World | 1 Comment

The return of the episode summary: Heroes version

Actually, it’s a mini-episode summary. With no real spoilers. [SOMETIME NEXT YEAR] MAMA PETRELLI: Peter, you have to remember! You have to! PETER: Okay. [remembers everything] Mom? Holy cow! Your special ability is guilt! AUDIENCE: Oh, like that’s a superpower? … Continue reading

Posted in Television | 7 Comments

Equating the victim with her killer

Media Backspin writes of the documentary To die in Jerusalem, which somehow balances the death of Rachel Levy with the death of the girl who killed her. (My guess is that the movie ignores the hero, Haim Smadar, who died … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Pop Culture, Television, Terrorism | Comments Off on Equating the victim with her killer

The new Kirk

Just breaking … Christopher Pine has been cast to play the young Captain Kirk in the next Star Trek movie. The bridge of the starship Enterprise is filling up. Chris Pine, who had been in talks to join the cast … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Movies, Television | 7 Comments

Best and worst Halloween costumes EVER

I blame the seventies. Most of these shows were on in the seventies. Go. Click the link. Cringe. Laugh. Now go here to see the best ones.

Posted in Humor, Pop Culture | Comments Off on Best and worst Halloween costumes EVER

Heroes: The first rule of Sylar

Okay. Here’s the thing that should be the first rule of Sylar, now and always: If you find yourself alone with an evil mutant who can eat your brain, don’t stop to think, talk, or mention how good you can … Continue reading

Posted in Television | 8 Comments

Pushing Daisies: A great new show

The hype about Pushing Daisies is true. The pilot was excellent. It reminded me of Tim Burton’s humor, back when he was creating Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. Plus, it’s from the folks who brought us Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me, … Continue reading

Posted in Television | Comments Off on Pushing Daisies: A great new show

Must-see TV, bionically

Here’s my Heroes tip of this season: Watch The Bionic Woman. It is superb. The series is brought to us by the same folks that brought us the update/remake of Battlestar Galactica, which is also pretty damned good. The producers … Continue reading

Posted in Television | Comments Off on Must-see TV, bionically

Critiquing some of the new TV season

Well, I’ve watched a few of the new shows this week, and have some opinions. Grey’s Anatomy: So glad it’s back. Just as funny and fun and sad and surprising as ever. Really like bringing in Meredith’s half-sister. Really hate … Continue reading

Posted in Television | 9 Comments

The new season of Heroes starts…

in about four minutes. Did you remember? I forgot to keep up on the online comics, but I did what my friend Lynn suggested and just watched the finale again. And I was so right about Nathan and Peter. (Had … Continue reading

Posted in Television | 5 Comments

Star Trek statistics: The Red-Shirt Phenomenon

File this under: Never underestimate the power of a Trekkie to write yet another treatise on an aspect of Star Trek (TOS) that you never really thought about. This guy has analyzed the statistics on the Red-Shirt Phenomenon in Star … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Pop Culture | 1 Comment