• Entertainment

    Seven reflections on “The Force Awakens”

    I think just about all the angles on The Force Awakens have been covered. From penetrating think-pieces explaining our obsession to frowny-face predictions to satisfied first-viewings. So I’m going to leave the proper movie-reviewing to others. There really isn’t much else to say. Rather than analyze the aesthetic qualities of the The Force Awakens, let me simply say that I loved it. Yes, it was an homage to the earlier movies, but that’s okay with me. As a life-long fan, that was the itch that needed scratching, and this movie delivered. So that’s the long and short of my review. With that out of the way, please allow me to…

  • Entertainment

    All the Star Wars Trailers and Clips in One Video

    This is the week. “The Force Awakens” is only days away. I’ve already got my ticket for the 8:10pm sneak preview on Thursday night, and I can’t wait to don my Greedo costume for the occasion (I hope Han doesn’t shoot me first, but I digress). Seriously though, if you’re like me and you’re about to come out of your skin waiting for the release, here’s a mashup of all the trailers and clips that have been released for “The Force Awakens.” It’s a thirteen minute fix, and it’s just what the doctor ordered for the home stretch. Nerd-out concluded.

  • Entertainment

    Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown travel from 1985 to visit Jimmy Kimmel

    October 21, 2015 was unofficially declared “Back to the Future Day” across America this week as movie fans marked the day that Marty McFly landed his fictional time machine in the future. The hashtags #BackToFutureDay and #BackToTheFuture were trending on Twitter as viewers riffed on themes and catchphrases from the iconic movie. My favorite contribution to the meme, however, was Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with Marty McFly and Doctor Emmet Brown. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd reprised their roles for the appearance, and it was really well done. It also included a cameo from Huey Lewis. Watch it above.

  • Entertainment

    New Star Wars Trailer (fair warning: I’m about to go full nerd on you)

    The new Star Wars trailer released during halftime of Monday Night Football tonight. And yes, I watched it and thought it was epic. Keep in mind that the one writing these words got a little verklempt at the release of the last trailer (Read: “Top 10 things I love about the new Star Wars trailer”). So fair warning: I’m about to go full nerd on you. Because it was da bomb.

  • Culture,  Entertainment

    ESPN’s “30 for 30” on President Bush’s “First Pitch”

    Here’s the description from ESPN: On the night of Oct. 30, 2001, President George W. Bush stepped onto the mound at Yankee Stadium to throw out the first pitch at Game 3 of the World Series, just six weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. With New York City and the entire country still trying to heal, the ceremonial first pitch that night meant more than “play ball.” ESPN Films’ new 30 for 30 Short “First Pitch” looks at how important that famous pitch was to the nation, and how baseball became a part of the recovery after 9/11. The 23-minute film, directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Angus Wall…

  • Entertainment

    The New “Star Wars” Teaser

    There has been an awakening… #StarWars #TheForceAwakens A video posted by Star Wars (@starwars) on Aug 27, 2015 at 10:00am PDT Clearly, the best thing that happened to the internet this week is the video that you see above—which appeared exclusively on the Star Wars Instagram account. Now everyone has a reason to be on Instagram that does not involve taking pictures of food.

  • Entertainment,  Personal

    Obligatory Letterman Post: The time I almost got on the show…

    In July of 2009, my wife and I were in New York City for a trip that was both business and pleasure. I had a meeting to attend in the city, and we came a few days early before my work began so that we could see the Big Apple together for our anniversary. We got into town on a Thursday morning, and one of the first things I did was to ask the hotel concierge how to get David Letterman tickets. I’m not much of a late night TV guy anymore, but I cut my teeth as a faithful Letterman viewer back in the 80’s. Letterman was still New…