Yours truly probably saw about 85% of The Big Bang Theory during its original run on CBS. Awkward guys who find it challenging to talk to the pretty blonde woman across the hall is familiar territory for many people. Throw in the fact that there would occasionally be a Doctor Who reference (although the guys lived for Star Wars and Star Trek) and now you're cooking. On top of everything else, the actors had a relaxed chemistry, and it was fun to watch their characters evolve. Over time, we've probably now seen the entire series at least 10 times, largely... Read more →

The odds are good that you've seen news coverage of Sarah Wynn-Williams' new memoir, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism. The author was the former director of global public policy at Facebook (now Meta), where she saw the inner workings of the social media titan up close. Wynn-Williams shines a bright light on the failures of the company's top management, which is why Meta has been working so hard to keep her from publicizing this book. It's understandable why the company doesn't want this story available to the public. The title invokes the characters of... Read more →

In case you haven't heard, Saturday Night Live is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The iconic TV program has created multiple generations of comedy stars over the last half-century, while surviving a remarkable number of ups and downs along the way. Fans of all ages will argue that the cast that introduced them to the show was the best (unless they started watching in 1980-1985, with Eddie Murphy perhaps being the only highlight.) The show has a rich history, and the machine keeps rolling. What makes SNL's longtime success even more remarkable is that one man has been in... Read more →

Hi friends, It's time once again to look back at the past 12 months, with 2025 looming right around the corner. This was a challenging year in many ways, which is why we're as appreciative as ever that you choose to spend some time with us every day. This site recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, and you all continue to show up from around the world to check out the latest ramblings. You are the best. Now, the usual disclaimer: We like to think that everything we wrote this year was top-notch, so it's hard to single out just a... Read more →

There was a mix-up somewhere here. This wasn't the book we were expecting to review. A quick glance at the description made it seem pretty clear that we weren't the target audience for this mystery novel. However, it's good to try new things and open yourself to different experiences every now and again, so we plunged into the story. Did it pay off? Let's discuss... The Author's Guide to Murder (out now) sees three women writers, who claim to be best friends, traveling to a retreat being held at an isolated Scotland Highlands castle. Within days of their arrival, the... Read more →

It's been almost 50 years since the late Eddie Van Halen burst onto the music scene. He revolutionized guitar playing, the impact of which is still felt today. Millions of fans bought Van Halen records and were mesmerized by his virtuosity (yours truly included.) You're lucky if you ever get to see greatness live once, and we did on multiple ocasions over decades. It was devastating when Eddie died in 2020 at just 65 years old after battling cancer. Tributes flowed in from all corners of the globe, as his legacy was celebrated. There was one notable name who has... Read more →

Have you ever started reading a book, thinking you generally understood what you were getting into, only to immediately discover it was going to be a different ride? I checked out Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the '80's, by stand-up comedian Gary Gulman from the local library, thinking it would go in one direction. We eventually got to the expected destination, but the twists and turns to get there were a bit of a surprise. As a child of the 1980's, and being somewhat familiar with Gulman's thoughtful and funny takes on life, as well as his battle with depression,... Read more →

Hi friends, Thank you. Thank you for hanging out with us for another year. We once again had visitors over the past 12 months from every country on Earth. (Hello, Vanuatu!) That's amazing, and it's something we never take for granted. The staff has been pouring through the archives, and they've chosen ten posts to highlight 2023. Mind you, we take great pride in everything we produce here, 5-6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. However, we couldn't list all of it, so feel free to scroll through the back pages and catch up on anything you might have... Read more →

Britney Spears burst onto the scene almost 25 years ago with the release of her smash debut album, "...Baby One More Time." (We're guessing many of you just involuntarily started humming the chorus of the title song.) She has since gone on to sell over 100 million records worldwide, while also being subjected to nearly non-stop tabloid coverage for that entire time. Every step, or misstep she's made over the past almost-quarter century has been extensively documented for the world's judgement. The singer has long dealt with an invasive and hypocritical world that has treated her like a product, instead... Read more →

An Irish-American woman living in South Boston in 1974 faces a nightmare when her teenage daughter goes missing. Meanwhile, a young black man dies when he is struck by one of the city's subway trains. Are the two events connected? The only thing the reader knows for sure right from the start is that Mary Pat Fennessy is going to make some powerful people angry when she starts asking questions. That's the gist of Dennis Lehane's new book, Small Mercies, which is out on April 25. The Dorchester, Massachusetts, native is a master at creating gripping mysteries set in Boston.... Read more →