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GroverJefferson
avclub-35dfb7a1964297d947da0d21ada39438--disqus

I've always counted the Philadelphia Story-inspired video for Superchunk's Driveway to Driveway (directed by Phil Morrison of "Junebug" and Peyton Reed of "Ant-Man") as one of my all-time favorites.

Our local grocery store did a thing when I was a kid where they had fun cartoon mascots wandering the store to greet the youngsters on Saturday mornings.

This commercial and the Gremlins commercial sent me sprinting behind the couch as a tyke.

Before the movie, I developed a paralyzing fear of the book. Those black and white pencil drawings, the creepy grinning monkeys on the cover … shudder.

PHIL COOK IS THE NEW DAWES. ALL HAIL PHIL COOK.

Any fans of The Flop House podcast notice how Mac and Elliott Kalan could be voice twins? I keep hoping that Elliott will figure this out and start farming letters songs out to Mac … it'd be like getting a new correspondence-based Superchunk song twice a month!

Indoor Living is no slouch either - a lot of more expansive, contemplative Mac songwriting blossoming there.

My favorite Portastatic is Bright Ideas, with Be Still Please a close second … those albums during the Superchunk hiatus were where he really pinned Portastatic down to a distinct sound and lyrical voice, which he then managed to fold into latter-day Superchunk quite nicely, especially on I Hate Music.

Clarence Carter - Strokin'

and lest we forget the bygone days of the ABBA box.

If I recall, she had a period where she hated doing her own stage banter for this very reason, and brought Paul F. Tompkins along to do it for her.

Who knows? Detroit TV markets were pretty broad at that point, I'd imagine, before cable could tailor it to service areas and the like. If you were anywhere in metro Detroit, there's a crazy chance you might have seen it run.

Mr. Weir's store is inspired by Paul Feig's dad's store, which I grew up right down the road from (also, mere miles from the real-life Rusty Nail, as depicted in Carded and Discarded). It's pretty much as shown here- combo of outdoors store and army surplus, a must-go stop before scout camping trips.

I still want to know how to hunt down the two solo albums Mark Duplass put out on a major label, before developing tendonitis and having to quit guitar and teach himself keyboard.

I can't think of any other band where all four people are so integral, and so distinctive and wonderful to watch perform. Laura's pogos, Mac's windmills, Jim's power stance, and Jon's maniacal grin/flying drumsticks.

Tom brought his signature brand of straight man incredulousness (incredulity?) that makes him so great in deconstructing the insane turns of his calls with Jon Wurster on The Best Show, and it translated perfectly to actual people making ridiculous claims against each other.

Are there just three Belushi ones? Taking Care of Business, K9, and K911? If there are more, I need to know, because the Belushi voice is one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Like a Chicago cousin of Jon Wurster's impeccable Philly Boy Roy.

Chat shows like SPY and JJGo are a tricky thing to review, I think, because they are based so much in the personalities of the hosts. If you're on board with Dave and Graham's chemistry, or Jordan and Jesse's, it's going to be hard to have a week that's exceptionally ho-hum… even if nothing happens, its pleasant.

Simply more definitive proof that when it comes to a new crew for Late Night, America needs Julie Klausner, with Ted as her Max Weinberg and Spoony as her Andy Richter.

Better than months of the runs though, right?