Of course it's always hard to know, with any broadcast figure, what's "real" and what's an act, but from having followed Dennis Miller's career through SNL, HBO, CNBC, Late Night, his syndicated radio show and even his books, I'd really have to believe that he has pangs of guilt about what's he's done for money in the…

Ditto. Because you don't make much money in journalism (at least print), you generally don't want to use such a large portion of your income on flashy clothes that you don't need.

The Print v. TV rivalry was funny. Once a TV reporter called me and asked for a phone number on a story I'd written weeks earlier. He was pretty straightforward about how he was doing the same story. Because I'd already done the story, and that I knew he was lower-tier among the TV reporters, I gave him the number.

Stranger Things. Only one episode in. Will definitely continue, though. Sounded cheesy, but it does seem to have a fairly strong emotional core, e.g.: Winona Ryder's single mother, the forced closeness of the other's boy's nuclear family… and of course there's the nostalgia, which, although it can be a low form of…

The thing I always harp on is that the idea of a President Trump isn't any less fucked-up now than it was 18 months ago.

It will be interesting to see where this goes. SNL sometimes becomes reinvigorated during elections seasons. E.g., I would actually credit Tina Fey's impression with yanking Sarah Palin back from America's-New-Sweetheart status she enjoyed for a couple weeks in 2008.

The very first TFTD episode I saw was "Inside the Closet."

I prefer Josh Fenderman & Honesty in Motion.

"The Revenant" is an incredible movie. I remember when best director went to AGI instead of George Miller for "Mad Max" I was outraged, but after seeing "The Revenant" I had to concede that it was a photo finish.

I must say this is something I hear only in respect to horror movies. I've never heard someone say, "Oh, you saw [latest comedy]? How funny is it? 'Cause if it's too funny I don't want to see it."

Disparaging the reboot is a rebootable offense!

Interesting. I too grew up camping and still spend time in the woods, and insofar as I found TBWP scary, it was probably because I was so familiar with the woods.

Recalling the time of the original's release, were there significant numbers of people who thought it was "real"? Also, did some of those people descend on the town (Maryland?) looking for evidence of the events?

The Winchester story-at least a certain interpretation of it-does tease the imagination, but I've since heard that in reality she was simply trying to expand the mansion, and would frequently run out of money, change her mind, etc.

I was surprised to read that Oliver Stone isn't the right director for the Snowden story. Upon seeing the first trailer, I thought that, if nothing else, Oliver Stone had found his ideal biopic subject.

I heard something recently where the guys who are now in jail are arguing that they should still be allowed access to firearms… yes, you read that correctly. Their reasoning is that they haven't yet been convicted, so therefore their second amendment rights still apply.

"Honey, you know how you're always complaining that I never take you anywhere, well…"

It sounded like it was the insects that got people. It's like, if you've never experienced it (which most of us haven't), it sounds like the level of insects in the jungle is just beyond comprehension.

Video games and hip hop are such low-hanging fruit for that type of thing. A study of economics requires actual research.

Lo and behold what should be on cable but Flash Gordon. The Mrs. asked if the movie was an intentional joke, a la "Rocky Horror Picture Show." I said that no, it was played straight, but it's best thought of as a rock 'n' roll answer to "Star Wars."