My problem with him wasn't as much the dry sensibility as the fact that he frequently flubbed words and questions. Kind of like Charlie Rose there seemed to be an approaching-senility factor to it. But he frequently pulled it off in spite of himself.   

Yes, it would be really great to get more of these. So much great stuff to come, and those last 2 seasons I think especially as the show continued to evolve.

Tom Snyder's late night show was a weird mix. On the one hand, you had pure interviews, no comedy, sometimes with great guests, getting to actually talk at length. On the other hand, you had Tom Snyder himself.

I know what you mean. The first time I saw this episode I felt the same way. The same way I feel when I see Roseanne anywhere, in anything - Ughk. Maybe it's not that she's a more dated aspect of the 90s, but just that she's a "90s" thing that (some of us, at least) find to be terrible. Whereas other 90s pop culture…

That sounds like the greatest thing ever. No joke.

Yes! seemingly every cover featured terrorists specifically with Uzis. Also, the boys running from an explosion.

Andy Kindler's Pigpen had me in tears I was laughing so hard.

A quite masterful write-up by Mr. Ryan of this all-time great episode. I like the philosophical angle. Someone should write The Tao of Artie. 

Interesting. Does that mean crystal meth or cocaine would help speed up one's recovery?

"Greatest sitcom moments of the 90s"

Indiana Jones and the Onion Tied To His Belt, As Was the Style at the Time

Horehounds

Two solariums?

Yep. It's the one Tarantino movie that just continues to grow on me over the years, to the point where I could watch it on a repeating loop.

That's where Tarantino's brilliance at picking music comes in. It pulls you right in.  That song tells you everything you need to know about Pam's character without her having to say a thing.

I highly recommend picking up his collection of short pieces, What I'd Say to the Martians, too. One of my most re-read humor books of all time, the comedy is densely packed for only 170 little pages.  The essays are great, and he also reprints some of his favorite Deep Thoughts.  Plus the script for a cut SNL sketch,…

Exactly. The jokes are the point.  The Swartzwelder books are hilarious and great for picking up and reading as much or as little as you want - a few sentences, a chapter, whatever. (Dare I say it - and I mean this in the best possible way - good toilet reading.)

One time I was walking through the field behind our house, when this man
jumped out and grabbed me. He was wearing a striped uniform and his
ankles were chained together. He told me to get him some food, and some
tools to get the chains off his legs. And if I didn't, he would kill my
whole family.

It's easy to sit there and say you'd like to have more money. And I
guess that's what I like about it. It's easy. Just sitting there,
rocking back and forth, wanting that money.

Now I picture Pauly Shore being full of all these helplful tips for surviving airplane travel, for whoever he happens to be sitting by.   Cool anecdote, bro! (Seriously. And great review, too.)