I always thought that sort of thing was people trying to broadcast the fact that we're supposed to laugh. Sort of how on talk shows a guest will sometimes start to clap which prompts the audience to start clapping. Or maybe that's just how she laughs. Either way, it's vaguely adorable.

I started with "Genius" after having been exposed to his first few albums as a child. Most people would recommend a box set (meaning you should drop a bit of money on an artist you aren't terribly familiar with) or whatever album they feel is his strongest, but I'd agree with @Stop me, "Genius" is a pretty great…

I LOVE that line! I use that anytime I'm having to make plans for the evening someplace that we want to hit and get out quick. "We parachute in; we parachute out." Fucking lovely.

Godwhacker is one of my favorites of theirs. People have interpreted the "God" being whacked as a representation of George W. Bush, or the daddy state, or whatever, but I prefer to think it's meant to be taken on its face, i.e. whacking God.

Weren't two characters in Jurassic Park 2 named after Zevon characters, specifically Van Owen and…Roland, maybe? I seem to remember someone pointing that out to me. Pretty cool, but still didn't get me to watch that movie.

I love the biography. I think some of the situations in it are perhaps "tawdry" enough (I didn't know a hell of a lot about Zevon as a person until reading the biography a few years ago, but I remember right in the beginning, his son was sent in to clean his father's place up after he died but before others got in…

This is probably not correct, but emotionally I've always felt Zevon to be much more…heartfelt? Not the correct word, I'm sure, but as Waits thrills me, Zevon seems to connect more emotionally; I agree with the "dress-up" comment above.

Also, I'd love to hear some comments on the subversiveness factor of Zevon's music. His music is what I think most people of the younger persuasion would call "lite" (with some exceptions) but his themes and lyrics are pretty dark at times. "Roland" sounds like a piano ballad one could hear on the speakers alongside…

Maybe similar to how Zevon references the name Jim more than once in his music, Steely Dan has internal references. "Steamer Heaven" I think is one that has come up more than once in their songs, making an interesting sort of Steely Dan Universe. But I do like the affection that is in their songs, as Zevon perhaps…

I went to videocracy once; never went back again. Don't like it. SO I DON'T GO THERE. Clicking links = personal choice. Don't like it, don't click the link, waste your energy elsewhere. See, easy.

For some strange reason, I always liken Zevon in my mind to Steely Dan. Not too similar musically (except perhaps very early Dan, which was more rocking), but for some reason, I think they are perhaps spiritual cousins. Steely Dan writes songs about losers and sleazebags, which seem detached from the two songwriters…

He was always my favorite guest on Letterman. Especially when he sat in for Paul.

Thanks for this
I rediscovered Zevon's music a few years ago (I had heard the first album a great deal as a kid thanks to my father) and as cheesy as it is to say, it got me through some rough times. "Life'll Kill Ya" most especially.

I'd recommend getting his greatest hits disc "Genius." I had listened to early Zevon as a kid thanks to my Dad, but recently rediscovered his music via that greatest hits disc. A very good collection (and perhaps easier than trying to start with a box set).

The ending of "Lonely Among Us" really fucking pissed me off when I rewatched it. Really, really upset me.

WOOHOO! I was almost as excited to see a Doctor Who primer as to have a new Star Trek article. Thanks Zack! Thanks AV Club!

Next week
I didn't see where next week's episodes were referenced, but I'm assuming in order it will be two big fuck stinkers and one halfway-decent episode:

Except the Federation isn't made up only of humans.

"We look for things. Things that make us go. We need help."

True. I guess I mean it in more of the way that the Daleks are so overused. The Cybermen are overused as well, but not nearly to the same degree. I mean, every time in Dr. Who when they talk about having finally defeated them, you know pretty fucking well they'll just be back, even having been completely…