JFK-related stories
Posted Nov 9th 2009 12:01AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Mad Men
(S03E13) It's a cold Friday, December 13, 1963. The President's been killed and the world as Don Draper knows it has pretty much fallen apart. For most of the season, the ground has been shifting under Don's feet and he's be holding on, trying to right himself and his life. He's tried with Betty. He's tried for Sally and Bobby and Gene -- at least as much as Don is able to try.
With Conrad Hilton he's never been on a level playing field, and from the moment he was forced to sign the contract, Sterling Cooper has not been his domain as it had been. With this episode, this season finale, all was changed and, perhaps, all has been righted. More after the jump.
Continue reading Review: Mad Men - Shut the Door, Have a Seat (season finale)
Posted Nov 2nd 2009 12:52AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Mad Men
(S03E12) "The whole country's drinking." - Pete,
to Trudy
When Joel talked to
Mad Men creator and writer Matthew Weiner last month, he wouldn't say when or how the show would deal with the assassination of John F. Kennedy. We all knew it was coming, since
last week's episode was set on Halloween, but I actually thought it would happen in the season finale. But they addressed it tonight.
They say November 22, 1963 is the day America changed, and I would say that the lives of the people in and around Sterling Cooper changed too, in various ways and for various reasons.
Continue reading Review: Mad Men - The Grown-Ups
Posted Aug 31st 2009 1:18AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Mad Men
(S03E03) It might be a Saturday, but there was work to be done at Sterling Cooper. At the Draper house, Gene was discovering that Sally could be both an ally and an adversary, and is certainly an interesting child. Was Betty like Sally as a child, you have to wonder? Meanwhile, Roger and Jane hosted a garden party on derby day which was a reason for some of the staff to rub elbows.
But not all. Peggy, Smitty and Paul were stuck working on Bacardi at the office, but that wasn't a reason not to party. Peggy's new secretary, Olive, seems to want to be a surrogate mother to Peggy. She worries over her, much to Peggy's surprise. More on that later.
Jane was a source of irritation for Joan when she appeared at the office, and if looks could kill, Joan had her slayed. You could just tell it was one of those, "It could have been me moments" for Joan.
Continue reading Mad Men: My Old Kentucky Home
Posted Aug 27th 2009 11:36AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, 24, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Unlike his three older brothers who all died suddenly – and tragically – the late Massachusetts
senator Edward M. Kennedy knew that his final days were upon him. In the time he had left, Teddy, as he was known by friends and family, took the time to enjoy his life. That included still getting out on his boat to sail despite being wheelchair bound, as well as viewing all the
James Bond movies, as well as 24 action hero Jack Bauer.
What's really fascinating about the latter two facts is that Kennedy was clearly entertained by both Bond and Bauer, men of action who didn't – and don't follow the rules. Bond, for instance, is in the service of her majesty's secret service, but he's a spy with a license to kill.
Continue reading Ted Kennedy enjoyed Bond and Bauer
Posted Aug 19th 2009 7:02PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Documentary, Reality-Free
Rather than dramatize the kinds of conspiracy theories that led to his film
JFK being one of the most controversial releases of its time,
Oliver Stone's latest project is a documentary series. The ten-part
Secret History of America will cover the last 60 years of America, and is said to cover the dramatically "under-reported" events of that era that shaped this country.
It also promises to include "newly discovered facts" from the Kennedy administration, the Vietnam War and how America achieved its current global role post-Cold War. In other words, it'll be full of controversial ideas that will upset a lot of people. Sounds like Oliver Stone alright. I'm sure Michael Moore will be paying attention to see how successful this is.
Continue reading Oliver Stone bringing the Secret History of America to Showtime
Posted Sep 6th 2008 11:01AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E13) The summer's officially over on
Swingtown, marked by Tom's Labor Day clambake at the shore, which turned out to also be a key party.
Now that the first season of the show has come to an end, it's clear that while they explored hot topics like open marriage, wife-swapping and group sex, the essence of the show was not titillation or a guide page by page through
The Joys of Sex. Swingtown was about the characters, three families and the changing times in 1976.
Questions, questions. Will Tom and Trina keep the baby? The Deckers are the open marriage couple and they've enjoyed the freedom to swing. But how amazing is it that they are the marriage that's in synch! They actually talk things out and share what they're thinking. You can't say that about the Thompsons and Millers.
Continue reading Swingtown: Take it to the Limit (season finale)
Posted Jun 7th 2007 2:03PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals
When I heard that HBO was close to finalizing a deal for a miniseries based on the John F. Kennedy assassination, I thought, 'oh great, another conspiratorial tale about JFK.'
As it turns out, the miniseries will be based on Vincent Bugliosi's hefty book, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which concludes that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
The miniseries, which will be produced by Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Gary Goetzman, will follow Oswald throughout his life and to his infamous end at the hand of Jack Ruby after he himself kills Kennedy.
Continue reading JFK miniseries throws out conspiracy theories
Posted Jun 6th 2006 3:12PM by Annie Wu
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Cable, Late Night, OpEd, The Daily Show, Comedy Central
Jon Stewart finally returned with a new episode after a two-week hiatus. He and the audience sounded extremely excited to be back. He noted that he was completely revitalized after having all the blood in his body transfused, just like Keith Richards. He also brought up the news that Canada recently broke up
a terrorist plot. "Congratulations on becoming a terrorist target!" Jon said to Canada. "Lot of us didn't think you had it in ya."
Continue reading The Daily Show: June 5, 2006
TV Squad Ten: Cartoon women who should have Playboy centerfolds
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
Fact or Fiction: Big Bang, Brothers & Sisters and CSI
