*KB is quoting. And never mind the extraneous “but,” similar to Biggie Smalls’ “But you don’t hear me though.” To paraphrase Sir Mix-a-Lot, “I like big ‘buts’ and I cannot lie.” Also, some random observations: - Sometimes, to see how much conviction I have in my viewpoint, I’ll ask myself…

Contains Spoilers… Obviously Let’s begin with quotes from a writer, a rapper, and a cannibal. “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” — E.L. Doctorow “You know life ain’t tied…

This Mid-Season Recap Contains Spoilers — Usually, I don’t watch a TV show until it’s recommended by five people whose opinions I respect. Especially dramas. While good comedies pay off the whole time, dramas are dependent on the ending and it’s hard to stick the landing. …

Smacktalk — This post is an exercise in free speech. And if you don’t like it, per the How-Can-She-Slap video: “Why don’t you go and f*ck off then?” Early Monday morning, I realized why I consider 2008’s Best Picture, No Country For Old Men, the greatest film of the millennium. The movie opens and closes with Tommy Lee Jones monologues, the former of which concludes thus: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦…

Why SUCCESSION Is the Definitive Piece of Our Times — No Real Spoilers Involved: I give away remarkably little. If you haven’t watched this incredible HBO show, this’ll hopefully convince you to do so. And if you have, then it’ll validate your many hours of investment. Succession is an HBO series that centers on the Roy family, the dysfunctional owners…

What Dave Chappelle’s Last Netflix Special Says About Us — Standup comedy is either a mirror or a window. When you’re at a comedy club, you get the sense that the comedian onstage is either “one of us” or “one of them.” If they’re one of us, they’re reflecting our behavior back to us. If they’re one of them, they’re…

On Novak Djokovic “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” - The Dark Knight (2008) Though golf may be the more fitting analog, there are so many parallels between standup comedy and tennis, not least of which is the sheer individualism. Sure, you can have a team behind you, but when it’s game time or show time, it’s just you up…

C’mon, Get It On — “When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.” — Henny Youngman One of my first nights after moving to LA at the age of 30, some friends and I went out on the Hermosa Beach Pier. The last bar on the left (which sounds like a…

Ozark is Breaking Bad if the whole family were in on it. — I’m finally caught up on Ozark! Who wants to discuss it? Yes, this is long, but writing it provided a much-needed respite from real life. (So, let’s watch a dark show about murder instead?) …