Since it appears to have gone unremarked on so far in the comments, I'll just chime in with my love of Backstory and how pleased I am to see it get a mention this week. I don't really have anything substantive to add about the podcast, other than it's really well done and manages to do a lot of the kind of "weird…

Since it appears to have gone unremarked on so far in the comments, I'll just chime in with my love of Backstory and how pleased I am to see it get a mention this week. I don't really have anything substantive to add about the podcast, other than it's really well done and manages to do a lot of the kind of "weird…

"It's funny, if you're into it." And that is why so many reviewers are focused on trying to figure out and analyze the audience. What common traits do they have that lead them to being "into" Tosh's material funny? What shared elements of attitude or worldview or cultural assumptions shape their reaction? What makes…

"It's funny, if you're into it." And that is why so many reviewers are focused on trying to figure out and analyze the audience. What common traits do they have that lead them to being "into" Tosh's material funny? What shared elements of attitude or worldview or cultural assumptions shape their reaction? What makes…

Oddly, Hickey was only 69 when he died, though he certainly looked and sounded (and for a long time had been playing) much older.

Oddly, Hickey was only 69 when he died, though he certainly looked and sounded (and for a long time had been playing) much older.

And Verity Lambert was the producer who started Doctor Who (1963). I also was watching old episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents recently, and noticed that that series was produced in 1955 by Joan Harrison (also a Brit).

And Verity Lambert was the producer who started Doctor Who (1963). I also was watching old episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents recently, and noticed that that series was produced in 1955 by Joan Harrison (also a Brit).

I rewatched it recently, and for a moment was convinced that Jared Leto was actually Heath Ledger, and that his Joker performance was a bit of self-plagiarism. Then I see it's Jared Leto, but just listen to the begnning of this scene and tell me there isn't a strong similarity in the vocal stylistics (and a bit in the…

I rewatched it recently, and for a moment was convinced that Jared Leto was actually Heath Ledger, and that his Joker performance was a bit of self-plagiarism. Then I see it's Jared Leto, but just listen to the begnning of this scene and tell me there isn't a strong similarity in the vocal stylistics (and a bit in the…

@avclub-0d4efaa2c9d1041eb9b8b5319eec8531:disqus But isn't that basically just an example of the imitative fallacy? "Because I'm writing about characters who are mawkish and melodramatic, I'll make my movie mawkish and melodramatic?"

@avclub-0d4efaa2c9d1041eb9b8b5319eec8531:disqus But isn't that basically just an example of the imitative fallacy? "Because I'm writing about characters who are mawkish and melodramatic, I'll make my movie mawkish and melodramatic?"

Just a couple of weeks ago, I showed the MST3k "A Date with Your Family" to my freshman comp class as a source to practice some cultural analysis on. The general reaction was "This is stupid, why are we watching this? I don't understand why this supposed to be funny."

Just a couple of weeks ago, I showed the MST3k "A Date with Your Family" to my freshman comp class as a source to practice some cultural analysis on. The general reaction was "This is stupid, why are we watching this? I don't understand why this supposed to be funny."

And according to the headline, Danny Huston played him, along with villains and other sorts of roles. That makes The Proposition all the more impressive!

And according to the headline, Danny Huston played him, along with villains and other sorts of roles. That makes The Proposition all the more impressive!

Though the movie is certainly equivocal, I think in balance "Prometheus" seems to posit an anti-abortion message — yes, despite the central alien parasite c-section scene. There are several lines that sort of address it, but the most on the nose one is near then end when Noomi Rapace says something close to: "They…

Though the movie is certainly equivocal, I think in balance "Prometheus" seems to posit an anti-abortion message — yes, despite the central alien parasite c-section scene. There are several lines that sort of address it, but the most on the nose one is near then end when Noomi Rapace says something close to: "They…

Are you guys unfamiliar with "The Serpent and the Rainbow"? For shame!

Are you guys unfamiliar with "The Serpent and the Rainbow"? For shame!