I first discovered and read this New York Magazine/vulture.com article in the wee hours of this morning. I was having trouble sleeping, so I decided to preview my Monday morning website reading rotation to pass the time. When I woke up again for real this time, my experience with this provocative part confessional, part diatribe, and part declaration felt like it had been a part of an imagined dream. Had Alec Baldwin actually retired from being a celebrity (at least in everything that comes with the artistic work)? Was this New Yorker’s New Yorker actually moving to LA out of a forced compulsion? Were his less than favorable depictions of both respected figures (Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow) and current Hollywood trainwrecks (Shia LaBouef!) based on actual truths? Culpability for the maelstrom between Alec Baldwin and the many players and layers of media coverage that have dishonored him over these past several years may be up for debate. What is abundantly clear is that Alec Baldwin has felt wronged and is just not going to take it anymore. This is a must read.
Category Archives: Blog Posts
Piers Morgan Live is no more
First it was Simon Cowell. Now it is Piers Morgan’s turn to be a Brit facing United States audience rejection. The former journalist turned America’s Got Talent adjudicator turned Larry King primetime replacement and the face of the mainstream media anti-gun cultural movement (and an admirable soldier he has been) will no longer be sharing his opinions on a nightly basis. CNN and Piers Morgan have decided to end Piers Morgan Live (the final show date is to be determined). For a platform and show that started with a fair amount of promise and intrigue three years ago (his first interview with Oprah set an initial ceiling that he has struggled to consistently maintain), Piers is no longer a viable ratings choice for CNN (Megyn Kelly’s Fox News conservative variety show has proved to be a tough act to go against). Some will miss his pithy banter. Some will not. I will miss his consummate and fervent advocacy for better gun control laws. There has been no louder (albeit not always effective with the people who must be reached) voice. On the plus side, Taran Killam’s (oops, a total miss) Piers Morgan impression will thankfully be retired.
Billy on the Street’s best tweets of the week – February 15-21
When inspired (mind you his track record of inspiration is nearly as consistent as a Pink aerial show), I will collect the best Billy Eichner tweets of the past week for your reading pleasure. Let the comedic BRILLIANCE commence…
…almost there…
…and drop the mic.
Funny or Die’s Billy on the Street returns March 12!
New “Game of Thrones” trailer quotation excitement power rankings
Let’s be honest, everything here excites. Here is my ranking of the best quotations from this riveting second trailer for season 4 of Game of Thrones, on a scale from “I am so excited” to “I am SOOOOOO excited.” 48 days!
6) “I will not be the page in somebody else’s history book.” – Stannis Baratheon
5) “The day will come when you when your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you will know the debt is paid.” – Cersei Lannister
4) “Joffrey. Cersei. Tywin Lannister. The Red Woman. I can’t sleep until I say the names…only the ones I’m going to kill.” – Arya Stark
3) “The Lannisters aren’t the only ones who pay their debts.” – Oberyn Martell
2) “If you want justice, you’ve come to the wrong place.” Tyrion Lannister
1) “I will do what queens do. I will rule.” – Danaerys Targaryen
TV Moment of the Week: Jason Jones of “The Daily Show” explores homophobia in Russia
There are fewer and fewer places left in the United States where The Daily Show satirical tactics can still be put over on an unsuspecting interviewee. Thankfully, this is not the case in Russia. Jason Jones takes full advantage in one of his all-time best field reports about the rampant governmental and social homophobia in Russia.
Billy on the Street’s Best Tweets of the Week – February 8-14
When inspired (mind you his track record of inspiration is nearly as consistent as Meryl Streep’s performances), I will collect the best Billy Eichner tweets of the past week for your reading pleasure. Let the comedic BRILLIANCE commence…
Fair.
This is everything.
The new season of Billy on the Street begins March 12!
Last night’s buzzer beaters were wonderful
Tyler Ennis keeps Syracuse undefeated and keeps increasing his draft stock (I saw him in person last month. He was very impressive)…
LeBron reminds the world and poor Warriors fans (tonight’s victims) why he is the best player of his generation and one of the greatest of all-time…
The British are coming! The British are coming!
HBO announced that the new satirical news comedy series featuring the best fill-in host in the history of television will be called Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and will be debuting on Sunday, April 27 at 11:00 PM. If you have not spent time with this long-time Daily Show Correspondent, you have been missing out and should tune in. If you have been one of his ardent fans and followers, April 27 cannot come soon enough.
Hey HBO! Way to kill it in 2014.
Culture Challenged 