notesfromachair

[notesfromachair]

Macho Men

We might be on the verge of voting in our first female president so it seems only fitting that in its closing days this election has suddenly become about… Masculinity. Oh hey. This is what happens in a country primarily ruled by men.  And, in terms of the top job, ONLY ruled by men. As a gay man I’ve always had an odd relationship with the “M” word.  Macho. Effeminate. Toxic. Weak. Strong.…

[notesfromachair]

Wolfs in Sheep's Clothing

This week I watched attempts by both J.D. Vance and George Clooney to charm their way through inferior material and ultimately both failed miserably.  The Chair comin’ in hot! Which only goes to show that whether it’s faux Republican schtick or tired Democratic schtick some of us viewers can still spot a con a mile away. In his new-ish Apple movie, Wolfs, Mr. Clooney – with support from his…

[notesfromachair]

SNL's Golden Year

Saturday marked the first episode of SNL’s 50TH anniversary season with guest host Jean Smart, a recent Emmy winner for playing another, albeit fictional, comedy stalwart of 50 years, Hacks stand-up, Debra Vance. Was the combination fun?  Yes.  Did it have some rough spots?  A few.  Sure. Never need to see this monkey again But were there any real memorable moments?  Of course! Can you say…

[notesfromachair]

Pod From a Chair: SNL Pod Part 2!

We are back with part 2 of our discussion of all things SNL to celebrate the launch of The SNL Companion: An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live (available for purchase now!). and by place we mean podcast, duh! Join Holly with authors extraordinaire Steven Ginsberg (our beloved chair) and Stephen Tropiano, as we delve even deeper into the iconic…

[notesfromachair]

Pod from a Chair: It's Book Launch Week!

We are over the moon (on top of 30 Rock perhaps!) to announce the upcoming official release of The Chair’s newest endeavor — a book on all things Saturday Night Live. Isn’t she lovely? Join Holly while she interviews our beloved Chair, Steven Ginsberg and his co-author (and husband and all around brilliant guy) Stephen Tropiano, about their incredible new book, The SNL Companion: An Unofficial…

[notesfromachair]

The SNL Companion

The very nature of a blog is that you get to put your opinion out there in print for anyone, or preferably everyone, to read.  There are many reasons for this.  Let me entertain you! But speaking for those of us who do this consistently and with regularity (Note: Because why wouldn’t I?) we also believe we are here to inform, entertain, educate and/or yell and scream at the world when we think…

[notesfromachair]

A (School) Year of Magical Thinking

It’s back to school time and that means for students and college professors alike, especially those who aspire to write, and, like me, teach writing, there is that familiar feeling of excitement, infinite possibility and dread in the air.  Yay? I’ve been teaching writing a long time and have been a writer several decades longer, so I’m used to the dread when you know you’re going to be faced…

[notesfromachair]

Freedom

I’ve been a lifelong in your face, but behind-the-scenes hand-wringing, Democrat.  The kind of neurotic, over-educated, big city, holier-than-thou bleeding heart liberal that gets parodied in a Saturday Night Live sketch, roasted on Fox News or is constantly and very curtly dismissed in opinion pieces on the pages of the Wall Street Journal. … and my feelings on this are clear I don’t remember…

[notesfromachair]

My Favorite Movies... This Week

We were having a small, fun family dinner last week and one of our nieces wanted to know the answer to a very simple question: What’s your #1  film? Well… fasten your seatbelts Being who I am I had to answer a question with a question before I could answer the question. Ummm, well, do you mean the film that I think is the best film ever made or the film that I personally like the best?  It…

[notesfromachair]

Let's Talk About Excellence

You don’t really want to read about an old racist running for POTUS, right?  I mean, it’s tempting.  We get it Elmo His idea that you’re either this or that and if you assert the reality that you are both he calls you a liar, or a lunatic or disrespectful to the this or that of yourself you are not asserting at that moment. For example, in my case there are some rooms where I’m gay (Note: Or,…

[notesfromachair]

Pod from a Chair: All About Taste

And we’re back! Tune in to this super-sized episode of Pod from a Chair where we talk all things summer pop culture, from Kamala’s entrance into the presidential race, to summer blockbusters (Twisters? Really?), and our favorite Emmy nominations (Jamie Lee, make room on your shelf). Oh Donna But what it all comes down to is taste… and we think we got that taken care of. Oh, and did you see…

[notesfromachair]

Twisters of Fate

A dear friend of mine took me to a screening of Twisters last weekend because I really needed a big, sloppy piece of entertainment that wouldn’t tax my mind too much. Well, I got it.  And so much more. It’s raining Glen See, what I had in mind was a movie about a series of larger than life tornados (Note: Think Sharknado but only slightly more real) and the people that chase them.   An…

[notesfromachair]

The Games People Play

Here’s what I posted on various social media sites on Thursday just to keep me sane: Pres. Biden could cure cancer and solve climate change & all anyone would focus on is the fact that he mispronounced the words “tumor” and “temperature.” #BidenHarris2024 AMEN It’s not much but I had to do something in the moment to make me feel like I wasn’t going crazy. Plus, it was kind of funny.  At least…

[notesfromachair]

The Bear of Biden

Joe Biden is not demented or senile or any of the other lovely adjectives many nervous Democrats and Never Trump Republicans have been using to describe him. What Pres Biden is – is 81 years old. I mean… OK… I guess? You get older and your voice gets hoarse, you sometimes jumble words (Note: Especially when you have a stutter) and on really bad days, you lose your train of thought. This…

[notesfromachair]

Is The Graduate ruined for me?

I was watching The Graduate for probably the 25th time last weekend.  It’s always been on my top 10 list of films.  And not only because, like its protagonist, I was also a confused 20-year-old boy-man who graduated college early and had yet to have sex with anyone. Benjamin vibes Did I just admit that publicly?  Well, if that’s the worst thing you can say about me… In any event – Mike…

[notesfromachair]

Aunt Lydia Alito and the New Brat Pack

Wealth, power, fame and success have their many upsides but clearly they DO NOT make you significantly happier.  If they did we would not have so many aggrieved and psychologically damaged members of those perceived upper classes currently having hissy fits and generally acting out in front of the rest of us. Veruca Salt energy out there No, I’m not talking about the orange obvious.  That’s a…

[notesfromachair]

The Chair Recommends: Hacks, Season 3

Maybe you’re feeling like the Chair — tired, listless, uninspired, and maybe just simply pooped. You probably need what comes in this bittle lottle If that’s the case, in lieu of a post this week (see above), we recommend you dive head first into the magnificent third season of Max’s Hacks. Jean Smart returns as Deborah Vance, and it’s really time to start talking about her collecting an…