An IMDB user calls "American Animal" "totally hoobastank." This is meant as a compliment. I hope they put that on the DVD cover.

An IMDB user calls "American Animal" "totally hoobastank." This is meant as a compliment. I hope they put that on the DVD cover.

I'm a huge fan of "The American Friend," though I always find the way it ends to be a bit of a letdown. Hopper certainly has a different take on Ripley.

I'm a huge fan of "The American Friend," though I always find the way it ends to be a bit of a letdown. Hopper certainly has a different take on Ripley.

It's done as a one-man show. Joe Mantello adapted it into script form. It mostly follows the original, though there are some changes.

It's done as a one-man show. Joe Mantello adapted it into script form. It mostly follows the original, though there are some changes.

Am I making too big a leap, or did Sue Simmons acknowledge the lesbian rumors? (Judy Gold, who is out, made some remark like "So, in order to be independent, we have to be asexual?" and the long-rumored-to-be-closeted Simmons says "You should know, Judy!" and rolls her eyes.)

Am I making too big a leap, or did Sue Simmons acknowledge the lesbian rumors? (Judy Gold, who is out, made some remark like "So, in order to be independent, we have to be asexual?" and the long-rumored-to-be-closeted Simmons says "You should know, Judy!" and rolls her eyes.)

So THAT'S why she looked familiar!

So THAT'S why she looked familiar!

I like the "Scott" albums a lot, but they did not prepare me for "Tilt." I'm afraid I made it through that one only once, and I don't care to revisit it. I'll give "Nite Flights" a shot, though—I see it's streaming on Spotify.

I like the "Scott" albums a lot, but they did not prepare me for "Tilt." I'm afraid I made it through that one only once, and I don't care to revisit it. I'll give "Nite Flights" a shot, though—I see it's streaming on Spotify.

I worked with Ellen for years—yes, she really is as sweet and kind as she appears here. I'm getting a kick out of her 15 minutes of fame.

I worked with Ellen for years—yes, she really is as sweet and kind as she appears here. I'm getting a kick out of her 15 minutes of fame.

They'd better run this with subtitles.

They'd better run this with subtitles.

Thanks for checking.

Thanks for checking.

The version of this streaming on Netflix is an hour and 17 minutes, not 52. So if NBC is cutting this to 42-ish for an hour time slot, it'll be cut nearly in half. (Edit: Hmmm. IMDb lists it at 53 minutes. I can't check the real length of the Netflix version here at work.)

The version of this streaming on Netflix is an hour and 17 minutes, not 52. So if NBC is cutting this to 42-ish for an hour time slot, it'll be cut nearly in half. (Edit: Hmmm. IMDb lists it at 53 minutes. I can't check the real length of the Netflix version here at work.)