Category Archives: Entertainment

Re-beam Me Up an Episode Concept, Scotty

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Michael Cohen

Interesting: the 3rd non-pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series (which was the 4th episode aired because the show’s 2nd pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” was the 3rd episode broadcast) was “The Naked Time,” about a mysterious … Continue reading →

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R.I.P. Harlan Ellison

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Michael Cohen

I learned from several tweets on Twitter today that Harlan Ellison has died. I didn’t know the man, though I had read a number of his works, but I do have one tale to tell of him. It was many … Continue reading →

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“The Intern”

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Michael Cohen

On the one hand, this movie is truly a script-by-the-numbers modern fairy tale, which could easily be subtitled, “The Unbearable Whiteness of Being.” On the other hand, DeNiro and Hathaway are so engaging, and they speak the lines they are … Continue reading →

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Lex Eisenberg

Posted on January 31, 2014 by MEC

I’ve been seeing a lot of astonishment and outrage at the reported casting of Jesse Eisenberg in the yet-to-be-titled sequel to Superman; even my friend Josh has evinced some disdain at the choice. Yet, to me, Eisenberg seems a natural … Continue reading →

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Syncing Vinny with TBS

Posted on October 12, 2013 by MEC

Vin Scully is doing the play-by-play announcing for the National League Championship Series on the radio. The series is being telecast by TBS, which has its own announcers. They aren’t national treasures like Vin Scully is. A billion years ago, … Continue reading →

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What I learned in the TWC-CBS war

Posted on August 5, 2013 by MEC

Time Warner Cable and CBS are having a spat over pricing, and, as a result, no CBS channels are currently available on Time Warner Cable in my community. CBS, to retaliate, has decided to block access to CBS Web sites … Continue reading →

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Where I get my hair cut

Posted on September 15, 2011 by MEC

I get my hair cut at Forme Salon, which is in the same block in Santa Monica as Arnold Schwartzenegger’s restaurant and which uses the same underground parking. Here’s what you see when you get off the elevator. Your browser … Continue reading →

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Sorry, Lisa, “Larry Crowne” is Better Than That

Posted on July 4, 2011 by MEC

Lisa Schwarzbaum trashes “Larry Crowne” with a grade of C+ while giving “Transformers 3” a B. Oh, my. Romantic comedy has this in common with romance: when you’re not in the mood, it can disappoint. Maybe Schwarzbaum was just having … Continue reading →

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Saturday Night Double-Feature

Posted on June 26, 2011 by MEC

Last night, I skipped Santa Monica’s yearly not-the-Fourth-of-July fireworks show, and, instead, watched two very bad movies on cable. Or parts of them. One was “Going the Distance” with Justin (“I’m a Mac, and no matter what I do for … Continue reading →

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“Green Lantern”: It doesn’t (completely) suck

Posted on June 21, 2011 by MEC

OK, it wasn’t the best film I’ve ever seen, nor even the best film I’ve seen this week, but “Green Lantern” is far from the turkey that I’ve seen described in the press. It’s a good deal better than “Thor,” … Continue reading →

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