#then i heard the news about Jerry Lee

[tearyeye-private-i]

So I have a new page @nuni-ohe , it's where I'm gonna post my Leauge of Extraordinary Gentlemen reinterpretation. Idk exactly what I'll post. It's mainly for inspiration, aesthetic, liking and sharing other interpretations.

It's funny how with my research, I wasn't afraid to put everything out there. Even stuff I shouldn't have. Yet with this, I'm hesitating. It comes down to insecurity, my ideas won't be good or they will and my ideas will get stolen, like my posts on here. 😅😭

Either way, I'll be posting on there. So if anyone's interested in literary classics being reimagined, that's what I gonna post there.

[wannaeatramyeon]

Omg can u js imagine lookism characters fighting you and they end up getting their ass beat by u? Basically js encountering someone that has 10x their own strength and their reactions would be so funny😭😭😭

Have I imagined being the peak of every fandom I have participated in? Yes. Yes I have.

Meeting Lookism Peak... YOU

You are onepunchman-ing through the Lookismverse.

J High Trio

You definitely weren't siding with Logan Lee and Vin Jin (wtf) but this Daniel Park, Vasco and Zack were causing a lot of trouble and you just wanted everyone to stfu so you can get decent grades.

It got even worse when Logan and Vin flanked you and held your hand. What is this throupling? GET OFF ME.

Vasco muttered about you being a bad guy and threw the first punch. Sigh - stupid birds of a stupid feather stupidly flocking together and before long Zack and Daniel joined in.

The strongest guys in J High? Now lying in a heap in a corner. You? Not even a scratch.

You approached them with tears in your eyes: "please, I'm just trying to learn"

Johan

You've acquired 3 new pups: Eden, Miro and Johan

This motherfucker tried to steal your shoes. Who tf does that. You were just minding your own business and walking home so of course you beat his ass.

And since that day, Johan likes to follow you around in the hopes of copying some of your moves. Shame you're able to KO him so quickly he can't copy anything. He learnt his lesson after the 27th time and doesn't try to steal your shoes anymore. He still follows you in case someone else fights you and he gets to copy.

Big Deal

You're the son of Gapryong Kim? Who's that? I'm just minding my own business and got accused of stealing from this street. No I didn't! I didn't even go into that store. THIS IS MY SHIRT.

This random guy is trying to take your clothes from you..what you gonna do? There's perverts everywhere. You tried to play nice and dodge his attacks but enough is enough. You're sick of people trying to steal your clothes and just knock him unconscious with one hit.

Uhhh where is this actual place and why has he got so much back up? This is Big Deal? What are you guys saying you're a Big Deal or... Oh you're actually called Big Deal?! Lol, losers.

Great. Now you're getting attacked by this ponytail guy. Sinu? and his invisible attacks? What invisible attacks. You can see them all clearly. Stop that. It's annoying. Please just SIT. DOWN.

The person with the biggest beef would be the big bald guy though (seriously who brings their dad to a fight?!) Jerry would go absolutely feral when you knocked out Jake. He's no match but every time he saw you after you can just feel the hate radiating.

Eugene & Workers

Sorry to say but this man is boring af. He seen you beating up his 'Gun and Goo' (this will never not be funny) and tried to recruit you.

You're in school. You're not interested in fighting for no 'Workers'. Besides a 9-5 sounds unbelievably boring right now. Why would you want to work and have responsibility when you can mess around all day. Youth IS wasted on the young, this dumbass.

He'll leave you alone as long as you stay out of his way.

Gun & Goo:

These 2 would just Never. Leave. You. Alone.

They've got eyes and ears everywhere so probably heard about one of your past fights.

First they would try to fight you cos of course they would. But the fact that you're so insanely strong and stronger than them turns them from

To

The fact you are so strong? That you could no diff them? They're just literally like wtf. They have never encountered anyone like you. They didn't even know your strength and fighting skills were possible. You will never know peace again.

Gun is more diplomatic and tries to approach you whenever he can to be his successor and just wanting to know who and what you are. But ultimately he will be itching for a fight each time. You're tired of this guy ripping his clothes off and squaring up to you.

And Goo is a fucking menace. After turning down Goo once to be his secret friend, he's just waiting around every corner with a steel pipe.

Are flies constantly buzzing around not annoying? Looks like you're stuck having to beat these guys up now and then to get them to fuck off and give you some peace but they still always return.

Samuel:

Oh boy. This man and his inferiority complex. He heard Goo mention you just the once ONCE and he got all worried about his Secret Friend status.

He uses his resources to find out about you but you seemed to live a relatively normal and quiet life.

Sammy is still threatened though and goes after you with his brass knuckles. Ok first you had people stealing your shoes and clothes, now you have a third homicidal maniac coming after you. Maybe you should just move.

You feel bad when he starts to have a breakdown after you beat him up. Then that bastard tries to bite your ankles so 🤷🏻‍♀️

DG: I can tell you the secrets to your powers

You: I don't care man, fuck off

DG: jk idk anything lol

[mysteriouslee]

lee!alex switch!sam switch!clover ler!gladis

Today was a slow day, the girls had no assignments, no classes, no dates and for what it seemed, no missions. Thank Christ for that.

Sam lay on her bed, curled up with a good book, listening to Ricky Mathis. Suddenly she heard a shriek from Clover. Then she got up to see the commotion. When she opened her door she witnessed a giggling Alex running as fas as she can away from a determined Clover.

"What's going on!" She yelled, grabbing on to Clover before she ran down the stairs.

"It's Alex! I was trying out this new outfit I got yesterday, then when it was over my head, she snuck up on me and tickled me! I fell over and almost tore the tag off" explained the blonde.

The red head sighed and shook her head. For the past week Alex had been pulling pranks on them and sneaking up on them to tickle them then run away.

"I say it's high time we get ourselves a nice cold dish of revenge" the green clad spy said with a smirk.

Two hours later....

The girls went out for a little while the returned to their dorm. In between Sam and Clover was Alex eating the froyo they bought her.

"I'll pay you guys back as soon as possible, I swear" said the ravenette.

Sam and Clover smiled sweetly and very suspiciously.

"Don't you worry your cute little head about Alex, it's on the house" responded the red clad spy.

"You guys are acting weird"Alex accused, stepping back warily.

"Alex c'mon, we just wanted to treat you,since you want to pay us back, would you mind giving us a hug" Sam asked nicely, however her exspression seemed suspicious.

Alex stared at them with suspicion as they closed in to hug her.

"This has nothing to do with messing with you guys all week, right guys? The orange clad spy questioned.

"What ever do you mean" Clover said awkwardly.

That settles it.

Alex attempted to get away, however Clover over dived foward, toppling over all three of them.

"Oh no you don't!"exclaimed Clover.

Sam found her way on top of Alex beside Clover. "Guhuhys" Alex began giggling nervously.

"Oh Alex, we havent done anything to you yet" Sam pointed out

"Ihih knohow, I cant hehelp ihihit" the ravenette covered her face in embarrassment. Sam and Clover looked over at their friend fondly, giggling to each other. "Just let us know when we go too far Al" Sam said, ruffling Alex's hair. Alex felt delicate nails tracing up her back and the restrained giggles were quick to follow. Next, she felt Sam's palms against her sides. Sam pinched and squeezed Alex's sides up and down and Alex buried her face in the carpet. Sam moved down to Alex's hips and the shriek was immediate. "SAHAHAMMYYYY" screamed Alex.

Clover leaned down to give Alex raspberries on her neck. Alex's whole body convulsed and she tried to buck Clover and Sam off with all her might. "It can't be that bad Alex" Clover remarked

"It is for Alex, she's the most ticklish person I've ever come across" Sam teased

" *snort* PLEAHAHAHASE" Alex cried out "Please what ?" asked Clover Alex shook her head, she wasn't falling for that this time......like the other bajillion and counting times.

A few minutes passed and Samantha and Clover had a managed to reduce Alex to a mess. Alex indicated that she couldn't handle anymore and just as they let up, a trap door opened beneath them. The trio plummeted into Jerry's office, groaning as they nearly missed the couch. "Greetings ladies" Jerry welcomed. "Jer, can I have like a couple minutes to recuperate, Sam and Clover almost just killed me" Alex sighed

"You deserved it you goblin" Clover retorted, reaching over to poke Alex. Jerry snickered at their shenanigans and Gladis's eye seemed to focus in on Clover. Suddenly a few mechanical arms reached over and began tickling Clover, on and under her knees and on her shins, which just so happened to be her worst spots. " *snort* AHAHAHAGLAHADIHIIS" shrieked the blonde. "I'll avenge you Alex" Gladis stated robotically. Sam noticed Gladis turning their gaze over to her, and before she could register anything, mechanical hands were now attacking her stomach. Sam threw here head back and dissolved into cackles. " *hic* *snort* NAHAHAHAH" Sam let out hysterically.

Jerry sighed, I guess the mission can wait a few minutes.

[wanderingmind867]

Howard the Duck's Black and White comic ended on a cliffhanger. Howard and Bev went their seperate ways in New Orleans, so they'd have time to think about their relationship. I'm assuming Bev goes back to Cleveland, while Howard goes to Chicago and has one adventure as a Private Detective. And then the book ends like that. And that's awful. I had heard Bill Mantlo wanted the comic to eventually feature Howard going to LA, becoming a big TV star, then losing everything and ending up held captive in a Zoo. And then the book would end with Howard and Bev's wedding.

And since Howard and Bev still aren't married, and nobody has touched Paul Same and Winda Wester and Bev's Uncle Lee and Claude Starkowski and all these other characters since Bill Mantlo in the 80s, i think it's now on me to create some ideas for a continuation of the 80s Howard the Duck Black and White comic. I can't write very well, but I can you a concept and storyline for a scripter to follow. And that's more than anyone else has done. We can call this "The Untold Stories of Howard the Duck" or something. How Howard manages to get back with Bev in time for their appearances together in the 90s.

So, let's pick up where we left Howard: In Chicago, unemployed and homeless. His job as a Private Eye, so now he's out job hunting again. Before he can get a new job though, I think it's worth it to revisit soofi. Although the supreme soofi was defeated again in issue #4 of Howard's Black and White magazine, I remember Steve Gerber's run saying soofi wanted to build a base in Peoria. So I want to revisit that.

And ideally, i would like to take this new head of soofi's midwestern branch (if not new supreme leader outright) and make them a parody of one of america's foulest figures in the 1980s. If I can't score a direct hit on Ronald Reagan, them perhaps we can target Jerry Falwell or something. And who knows, maybe we can take a potshot at Reagan's conservatism later. It's something I know Howard comics of the 80s probably would have covered (if Howard comics had run into the reagan presidency).

But anyways, my story would begin with soofi trying to take over Illinois. Howard manages to stop them, but it also leads to him needing to run away from Illinois. And since i want to slowly start working towards Bill Mantlo's apparent plans for Howard in LA, I'll start by having Howard hitch a ride on a train or something. He went from New Orleans to Chicago, and now he's going from Chicago to Parts Unknown once more.

[blueyisszy]

“Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find your self.” —Yohji Yamamoto

It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.” Thank goodness.

Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don’t come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes.

We learn by copying. We’re talking about practice here, not plagiarism—plagiarism is trying to pass someone else’s work off as your own.

Copying is about reverse-engineering. It’s like a mechanic taking apart a car to see how it works.

We learn to write by copying down the alphabet. Musicians learn to play by practicing scales. Painters learn to paint by reproducing masterpieces.

Remember: Even The Beatles started as a cover band. Paul McCartney has said, “I emulated Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis. We all did.” McCartney and his partner John Lennon became one of the greatest songwriting teams in history, but as McCartney recalls, they only started writing their own songs “as a way to avoid other bands being able to play our set.”

As Salvador Dalí said, “Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.”

First, you have to figure out who to copy. Second, you have to figure out what to copy.

Who to copy is easy. You copy your heroes—the people you love, the people you’re inspired by, the people you want to be. The songwriter Nick Lowe says, “You start out by rewriting your hero’s catalog.”

And you don’t just steal from one of your heroes, you steal from all of them. The writer Wilson Mizner said if you copy from one author, it’s plagiarism, but if you copy from many, it’s research. I once heard the cartoonist Gary Panter say, “If you have one person you’re influenced by, everyone will say you’re the next whoever. But if you rip off a hundred people, everyone will say you’re so original!”

What to copy is a little bit trickier. Don’t just steal the style, steal the thinking behind the style. You don’t want to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes. The reason to copy your heroes and their style is so that you might somehow get a glimpse into their minds.

That’s what you really want—to internalize their way of looking at the world. If you just mimic the surface of somebody’s work without understanding where they are coming from, your work will never be anything more than a knockoff.

At some point, you’ll have to move from imitating your heroes to emulating them.

Imitation is about copying. Emulation is when imitation goes one step further, breaking through into your own thing.

“There isn’t a move that’s a new move.” The basketball star Kobe Bryant has admitted that all of his moves on the court were stolen from watching tapes of his heroes.

But initially, when Bryant stole a lot of those moves, he realized he couldn’t completely pull them off because he didn’t have the same body type as the guys he was thieving from. He had to adapt the moves to make them his own.

Conan O’Brien has talked about how comedians try to emulate their heroes, fall short, and end up doing their own thing.

Johnny Carson tried to be Jack Benny but ended up Johnny Carson. David Letterman tried to copy Johnny Carson but ended up David Letterman. And Conan O’Brien tried to be David Letterman but ended up Conan O’Brien.

In O’Brien’s words, “It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.” Thank goodness.

-Steal like an Artist.

[greensparty]

Movie Review: Revival69: The Concert That Rocked The World / MaXXXine

This week I got to review two new ones: a documentary and a narrative.

Revival69: The Concert That Rocked The World

On September 13, 1969, Canada hosted their big music festival about a month after Woodstock in the U.S. Toronto, Ontario had the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, at University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium. I didn't know too much about the concert festival itself beyond John Lennon's performance. John and wife Yoko Ono put together the Plastic Ono Band for this festival including guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Klaus Voorman, and drummer Alan White. That performance was released as a live album in late 1969, Live Peace in Toronto 1969. Beyond D.A. Pennebaker's 1971 documentary Sweet Toronto, the music festival never got the proper historical documentary treatment until now. Revival69: The Concert That Rocked The World began its festival run in 2022 and has been doing indie film screenings in recent weeks as well as a digital release.

movie poster

Using the original 16mm footage that Pennebaker filmed of the concert as well as archival footage, newly shot interviews and animation, director Ron Chapman does a deep-dive into this concert headlined by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Chicago, Alice Cooper, The Doors, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard as well as the Plastic Ono Band. This got some attention as it was the first big concert Lennon did outside of The Beatles. There's interviews with festival promotors John Brower and Ken Walker as well as Voorman, Cooper, and Robby Krieger of The Doors to name a few.

Ono and Lennon at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Show

I had the same feeling watching this as I had when I saw Summer of Soul, Questlove's doc about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Concert. While that was a very different story (had more to say about the era itself and the story of unearthing the doc footage became a part of the story as well), this is also a doc about a 1969 music festival that was in the shadow of Woodstock, but had some of the biggest names of that era and I was blown away by the archival footage of both. The centerpiece of this festival is that Lennon became a part of it and performed. I had heard their performance on the live album, but seeing it as well as the interviews about it coming together is a gift for Beatle fans like me!

For info on Revival69

3.5 out of 5 stars

MaXXXine

Ti West is one of the most exciting horror directors of this century. His third movie The House of the Devil was a powerful homage to 80s horror films on an ultra low budget. His follow up The Innkeepers was a worthy follow-up in the same slow burn vein. The found footage VICE journalists investigating a cult film The Sacrament was uneven at best. But he quietly came back with the one-two punch in 2022: the 1979-set X and the 1918-set Pearl (both among my Best Movies of 2022 list). West also found his muse in actress Mia Goth. She did double duty in X as adult film star Maxine Minx and the elderly land owner Pearl. But then we got the prequel of the early days of Pearl in 1918 and what lead her to be the way she was in the first film with Pearl. It's been two years, but the third in the trilogy MaXXXine opens this week from A24 with West, Goth and bigger cast than one would expect from this series.

movie poster

It's now 1985 and Maxine Minx is in Hollywood a few years after surviving the massacre in Texas from the first movie X. This isn't glitzy Hollywood, this is sleazy seedy Hollywood in the mid-80s. Maxine is still pursuing fame not just as an adult film star, but in mainstream movies now. But while doing sleazy jobs in between auditions, the city is fearing the Night Stalker, a serial killer walking the city at night in L.A. There are some cops looking to Maxine for answers played by Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale. There's a studio horror movie Maxine is working on with a director played by Elizabeth Debicki. There's an agent played by Giancarlo Esposito. There's a porn star friend played by Halsey. There's a shady private eye played by Kevin Bacon.

Mia Goth and Ti West on the red carpet

I wanted to like this after really liking the previous two especially Pearl and being a fan of Ti West. But boy was this a letdown and a half! It is a film that thinks it's hip and cool and it's not. The previous two films were low-budget and West was pulling out some serious scares. Here it feels like he had a much bigger budget and bigger cast and "hey look how 80s this is!!!" production design and costumes. It had so much potential which is what's so frustrating about this: the idea of setting the Maxine in the Reagan 80s at a time when heavy metal music was bubbling up from the underground, video nasty VHS videos and low budget horror were on the rise, and devil worship was more than just something on Geraldo - and all of these things were converging in 1980s Hollywood. There could've been an awesome horror movie and instead it was trying too hard to be mainstream and glossy. And another thing - through this whole movie it's bowing at the alter of Brian De Palma's highly underrated 1984 erotic thriller Body Double and then in the last third (semi-spoilers ahead) West goes all-in and films the climax at a house in the Hollywood Hills that if it's not the house from Body Double it's a pretty darn close replica. Dude - I'd rather just watch Body Double at that point!?! There's elements of House of the Devil....but it lacks the undercurrent of fear and tension that film had. The two things that do deserve credit are Giancarlo Esposito who stole the entire film (look closely and there's an element of Gus Fring from Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul in his character) and Mia Goth who blew me away with Pearl and here she rose above the weakest film in the trilogy. But both Goth and West can do much better and I hope they do with their next film(s).

For info on MaXXXine

2 out of 5 stars

[marvel1012]

Sins of the Father - Pt.2 "Donna"

Synopsis: AU 3rd season episode of The Bear. Carm makes a startling discovery, and must navigate the fallout.

Warnings: cursing, drinking, smoking, Donna

Word count: 2,600-ish

Author's note: Please read Part 1 first! Likes, reblogs, and constructive feedback welcome!

Part 3

--------------------

Early the next morning, Carm took the train across town and then walked the few blocks over to their old neighborhood. Standing on the sidewalk outside their mom’s house, staring at the stoop, it was hard not to see that December night from almost six years ago– his mom’s car still half-buried in the front room, getting slowly pulled out by a wrecker, Donna hysterical on the lawn, Mikey trying to calm her down, Lee and Jimmy screaming at each other, the neighbors filtering out from their houses to watch. He blinked hard and the scene was gone– the house looked good as new, like none of it had ever happened. 

He steeled himself with a deep breath, thought about lighting up one more time before going in, just to slow his brain down for a minute, then thought better of it. He needed to get this over with, so he could get back to The Bear and make sure the week’s inventory got done on time. 

Let it rip.

He marched up the front steps and tried the door. Not surprisingly, it was unlocked. Typical. He opened it slowly, sticking his head inside and looking around. “Mom?” 

“Carmen? Is that you?” Donna’s voice sounded like it was coming from the back of the house, a bedroom, probably. 

Stepping inside, Carm shrugged off his coat and hung it on one of the hooks next to the door. He didn’t bother removing his shoes, though– he didn’t think he’d be staying that long. Knowing Donna, this conversation was gonna go over like a ton of lead bricks. As he walked down the photo frame lined hallway, he couldn’t help but glance at a few of the old family group shots. How could he have ever looked at himself next to Mikey and Natalie and believed they came from the same family? Nat may not have been the spitting image of her father, but she sure as hell looked more like him than Carmen ever had. As the photos got older and his siblings got younger, the resemblance to Jerry got even more noticeable. 

He stopped briefly in front of a group picture from when he was still a baby, probably not even walking yet. It must have been Easter or something, because the entire family was dressed up in all their early 90’s glory. Michael was probably around thirteen, Nat was just a toddler in a frilly white dress, Donna was holding her hand and probably coaching her to look into the camera and smile. Carm was being held by Jerry, and staring wide-eyed at something slightly to the right of whoever was taking the photo. His brilliant, bright blue eyes and curly, sandy hair stood out like a sore thumb when you saw them all together. He heard Sam’s sneering voice in his head, “Who did that crazy bitch think she was foolin?” 

“Carmy?” 

When he made it to the bedroom, the first thing he noticed was all the mess. There were open paint cans, drop cloths, brushes, rollers, half-filled trays of paint, and Donna, perched on a step ladder with a metal pole draped across her lap. She had obviously just stopped sanding, because she was covered in a fine layer of dust. As always, she was sipping a glass of her favorite red wine. 

At 9:30 on a Tuesday morning. Christ. 

“Uh, hey Mom. You ah, repainting the bedroom?” 

Donna grinned. “Sure am. I read in one of those house magazines that nobody does the textured look for paint anymore, it’s all gotta be a single color now. First you gotta sand it, then you gotta paint over it. Next week I’m taking down the wallpaper in the bedrooms upstairs! Repainting those too!” She giggled and took another swig. This was most definitely not her first glass of the day. 

“Oh, okay. Ya know, most people hire a bunch of guys for big paint jobs. We could find someone to handle the wallpaper, too. The Bear’s finally doin’ alright and–” 

“No,” Donna snapped, cutting him off. 

Shit, I haven’t even been here five minutes and she’s already mad at me. 

“But, it’s really no trouble. I can even pay for it, that’s what I was tryin’ to say.” 

“I don’t want a bunch of strangers coming into my house, breakin’ things, makin’ a mess, getting paint and God knows what else on my furniture,” she finished off the wine and nearly dropped the glass while sitting it down, apparently oblivious to the mess she had already created. “I know what this is, you think I can’t do it on my own. You think I’m too old, and and frail, and and, old.” 

“No, no, that’s not it Mom, I just wanted to help, is all. I was just trying to be nice, and help you.” 

“Well I don’t need it. I don’t need you doing things for me. I’m capable of doing things for myself. And I can pay for things, too. I don’t need your money.” She was clearly ratcheting up, and then, in half a second, her mood turned on a dime, and where once there was righteous anger, embarrassment had taken its place. Carmen could see the shift when it happened, having spent years trying to gauge and wrangle Donna’s moods. 

“Aww, Carmy, I’m sorry for getting mad,” she pouted, “You were trying to do something sweet for me, and I shouldn’t have snapped. I’m really glad that your restaurant is doing good, I really am.” 

“Thanks Mom,” an awkward pause while he thought of something else to say, to move the conversation away from whatever it was about the painting that had set her off, “Hey, ah, Nat told me she and Pete brought the baby over to visit last weekend, how’d that go?” 

Donna beamed, “It was great, just great. She’s a cute little thing, but looks a little bit too much like Pete, which is going to be unfortunate for a little girl,” she picked up her empty wine glass and gestured toward the hallway, “I need a refill, let’s talk in the kitchen.” 

Carmen followed along behind as she retrieved the open wine bottle from the fridge. Before filling her own glass, she held up the bottle, offering. “Oh, no, I can’t right now. Gotta get back to work in just a little while. Thanks, though.” Donna shrugged with a “suit yourself” smirk and dumped the rest of the bottle into her glass, filling it almost to the rim. She was chatting  excitedly between sips about her “very first grandchild”, how good Nat seemed to be doing as a first time mom, how she couldn’t wait to babysit (if Carm had been drinking, he might have spit his wine out at that idea). 

Since they appeared to have moved back to solid ground, he figured it was now or never. He waited for Donna to take a breath, then cut in. “Hey, so, what I came over to talk to you about. Last night, this guy came by The Bear after we closed. He said his name was Sam Morris.” 

Her head snapped back as if she’d been struck. “What did you just say?” 

“Well, uh, there was this guy, named Sam Morris. He came by the restaurant last night to talk to me. Actually had the nerve to ask me for a job, talked to me like I should know who he is. Should I know who he is, Mom?” 

“I- I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Donna quickly crossed the kitchen to toss the empty bottle into the trash can. “I’ve never heard that name in my life.” She went to the sink and began to furiously scrub her hands under the running tap, as if she had just conveniently noticed that they were covered in dust. “Why would you even ask me about some strange man looking for a job?” 

“Mom, you know why. Sam Morris said that he’s my dad. He said he was my real father, and that I should ask you about him.” 

“Jesus Christ, Carmen, are you gonna to listen to every lunatic walkin’ the streets of fucking Chicago?” Her voice may have been steady, but Carm noticed that her hands were shaking as she grabbed a nearby dish towel and dried them off. 

“Mom,” he softened his tone, trying to appeal to reason, “Richie already told me what he knew about what happened. So we can be honest about this.” 

Donna made a big show of rolling her eyes. “Uh huh, okay, Richard Jerimovich, that paragon of honesty and virtue. That’s who we’re getting our ‘facts’ from these days? Right.” She grabbed a pack of cigarettes off the counter and lit one. 

Why couldn’t anything ever be easy with this family? 

“Richie would never lie to me about something like that, and you know it. Now I’m going to ask again, politely, will you please tell me what happened with Sam Morris?” 

“Oh, I don’t want to talk about that, Carmy. Let’s just go back to having a nice morning together, okay? Let’s forget about Sam Morris. He’s nothing, he’s nobody.” 

Carmen could feel a hot flush spreading from his neck up to his cheeks as his temper started to flare. “No, Mom. I have a right to know where I came from. I’m an adult, and I want you to tell me the truth. Tell me what happened.” 

Donna’s eyes narrowed over her cigarette as she took a long drag and exhaled slowly. Finally, she started to nod, “Okay, alright. Sure, you wanna know? I’ll tell you.” 

“Good, yes. Thank you.”

“You don’t remember anything about your fath— Jerry, because you were so young. But he was a real piece of work. Your Uncle Jimmy got him mixed up in something, and Lee was in on it too. He was gone all the time. All the time. He should have been here, helping me raise his children, but whatever he had going was obviously more important than me and Mikey and Natalie. He’d come home drunk, 4:00, 5:00 in the morning. I was here, all the time, doing everything by myself as usual, and he’d just stumble in after doing God knows what all night with those crimi-”

“Are you just gonna shit on Dad for the rest of the day, or are you getting to the point?” 

She took a deep sip of wine, then pointed at him with the two fingers clamped around her cigarette. “You shut your trap. I’m gettin’ there.” 

Carm shrugged. Coulda fooled me. 

“One night, your father was out with Jimmy and Lee, of course. Mikey and Richie were spending the night with their friend down the street, and I was so lonely here by myself with Sugar. Sam stopped by to return some tools he had borrowed from your dad at work that day. We had a drink together. Then another drink. And another drink. Honestly, probably another drink–” 

“Mom, I get it. You were drinking together.” 

“Well, after a lot of drinks, one thing led to another and,” she threw up her hands, “I made a mistake, Carmy. I made a mistake. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

Carmen felt stung by that. “Thanks for reminding me about what a huge fucking mistake I am, Mom.” 

“You know that’s not what I meant. You’re not a mistake, being with Sam was a mistake. But I was lonely, and your fath– Jerry– was never around. He was always scheming, always starting this and that but never following through, always boozing, probably had something going on the side himself all those years–” 

“Jesus Christ, are you really gonna to sit there and blame Dad for all of this? You were there, too. You made your own choices. Dad didn’t make you fuck that guy.” Carm was breathing hard now, practically seething with rage. He thought hearing the truth would set him free, but if anything it was just pissing him the fuck off. 

Donna shook her head, ignoring his outburst. Her expression had turned wistful, like she was reliving the past more than she was talking to her son in the present. “It was just one time, just that one night. I was so lonely, Carmen. And Sam seemed nice, he listened to me. Actually listened.” 

Suddenly, Carm was struck by the impression that none of this was real. Something about the way Donna was explaining the situation didn’t add up. Richie made it sound like there was more to this than some drunken one night stand. The betrayal he described was deeper than that. Some, or possibly all of this, was an act. 

“I don’t believe you,” he mumbled. 

That brought Donna back from whatever booze soaked fantasy she’d drifted into. Between gritted teeth, she hissed, “What did you just say?” 

Carmen met her gaze, “I said, I don’t believe you. You’re lying.” 

She sucked in her breath, jaw clenched, winding up. “Carmen Anthony Berzatto, how dare you accuse your mother of being a liar. How dare you.” That old familiar growl made the hair on his arms stand on end. She only used his full name when she was getting ready to unleash hell. He took a step back, no longer so sure in his own anger. 

“Mom,” to his surprise, he felt tears stinging the corners of his eyes. He tried to blink them away, “I just want the truth.” 

“No!” Without warning, she hurled the half-full wine glass across the kitchen, where it shattered against the opposite wall. Carm felt a few drops of wine splash on his cheek– she hadn’t missed him by much. “You came here to crucify me! You came here to shame me! Well I’m not going to stand for it! If you only knew what kind of man your father really is, what he’s done, you’d be on your knees thanking me for saving us from him, not interrogating me in my own home!” 

Carmen backed toward the door that lead out to the front hallway, hands up in a defensive posture, “Mom, I didn’t mean–” 

“Get out! Get out of my house!” She grabbed the closest object to hand, which happened to be a heavy crystal ashtray, and drew back as if she was about to launch it at him. 

He bolted out of the kitchen and down the hall, grabbing his jacket and throwing open the front door in one smooth motion. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to run from Donna.

Once Carm made it to the sidewalk, he stopped for a second to catch his breath. She wasn’t chasing him this time, which was a small miracle. He was doubled over, hands on his knees, breath misting out in the bright morning sun. He glanced around at the neighboring houses. As always, everything seemed peaceful and calm on their little street. Nobody had a clue what went on inside his house– inside his family. 

He happened to look down at his white t-shirt and realized the whole left side was stippled with drops of red wine. Probably how his shirt would look if he was standing next to someone when they got shot, except the stains were just a little too purple to actually be blood. Wonder if Mom’s blood looks like this now? Is it mostly wine? A strange giggle escaped his chest. Was he losing it? He straightened and took a deep breath, steadying himself. 

At this point he only had access to two people who could tell him what happened between his mom, Sam Morris, and Jerry Berzatto. At least one of them had just lied and then thrown a wine glass at his head, so that door was closed. That left just the one remaining participant. 

Sam. 

(To be concluded…)

[dchan87]

Don’t screw this up, Jerry

The White Sox are negotiating with developer Related Midwest about the possibility of building a new ballpark on the South Loop parcel known as “The 78.” Sources familiar with the talks, all speaking on the condition they not be named, told the Chicago Sun-Times the negotiations for a baseball-only stadium are “serious.”   The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the government agency that owns and financed Guaranteed Rate Field, has not been involved in the discussions, according to the authority’s CEO Frank Bilecki. At some point, the stadium authority would need to get involved in determining the future of Guaranteed Rate Field and possibly in building a new ballpark if it is publicly funded. The potential site at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street is owned by Related Midwest. Company President Curt Bailey wouldn’t comment. Nor would Sox spokesperson Scott Reifert or Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson and Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a joint, written statement in response to questions: “We met to discuss the historic partnership between the team and Chicago and the team’s ideas for remaining competitive in Chicago in perpetuity.” They didn’t mention the possibility of moving the Sox from Guaranteed Rate Field to the South Loop tract, which the developer named for its potential to become Chicago’s 78th neighborhood.

Guaranteed Rate Field sits in the middle of 70 acres of stadium parking. (Getty)

One-of-a-kind site in prime location

At 62 acres stretching south to 16th Street, The 78 is one of Chicago’s largest undeveloped parcels — and the most strategically located. But it has eluded development for decades.

Once owned by convicted political power player Tony Rezko, it was one of several sites in the running for a Chicago casino now planned for River West.

Rezko’s partner in the South Loop land deal was Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire living in London who was once convicted of accepting illegal commissions in an oil deal in France. Auchi was fined and sentenced to probation.

As of 2019, Auchi still owned the site after taking on Related Midwest as a new partner. It’s unclear whether Auchi still owns a piece of the site.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to use at least part of the property for a University of Illinois tech research center known as Discovery Partners Institute. That’s the only concrete project on the drawing board for The 78. Discovery Partners has been expected to use about 4 acres at the southern part of the site. Bill Jackson, executive director, said he has heard the White Sox could be interested and would make a great neighbor.

A rendering shows the view from the Chicago River of the new Discovery Partners Institute building planned at The 78. It is unclear how the possibility of a new ballpark being built on the same site would affect the institute. Provided

“A new Sox park could bring the infrastructure we need” for the institute, Jackson said. “I think it would be great.”

Jackson added that the institute has a firm commitment to staying at The 78. “Our game plan doesn’t work without being there,” he said.

A spokesperson for the institute said it expects to break ground on its project this year. She said bids for the construction are expected to go before the state’s capital development board in a few weeks.

Could Sox share new site?

But a Chicago developer familiar with the property, who requested anonymity, said the institute has been “trying to get out of that deal for a couple of years.”

The site isn’t big enough to accommodate both Discovery Partners and a baseball stadium with its parking lots, the developer said: “They’ll have to move elsewhere.”

An aerial shot looking north at the Loop shows the undeveloped 62-acre site at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street that has become known as The 78. Provided

Sources said mass transit access — the nearby Roosevelt station serves the CTA’s Red, Green and Orange lines — could reduce the need for stadium parking. With the Chicago River just west of the site, sources also noted the possibility of water taxi service for game-day crowds.

Ganis called The 78 the “best undeveloped site” in Chicago and said he’s not surprised the Sox might be considering it.

“If the White Sox are to stay in the city proper, that is an excellent location,” Ganis said. “It’s a clear site that has mass transit and highway access around it. It is one of the very few locations in the urban core of Chicago that could have a well-situated stadium on it.”

Railroad tracks bisecting the land make it “even more” attractive as a stadium site, Ganis said.

“When you have an active railroad line or railroad stations going through a location, there are only so many things you can do with that property,” he said. “Housing is challenging. Commercial development is challenging. A sports facility that is operated only at certain times, and, when it’s operating, noise is expected anyway, is well-located there.

Railroad tracks run through The 78, a large undeveloped parcel just south of downtown Chicago, but the tracks shouldn’t be a deterrent to a new White Sox stadium, should the team choose to move there, one local consultant said. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times_

Ganis likened the Sox quest for a new home to the stadium development in suburban Atlanta known as The Battery. Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, is a stadium-anchored mixed-used development that includes hotels, restaurants, shopping and other entertainment and business uses within walking distance of the stadium.

“It’s been very successful. There are lots of teams in baseball that are looking at emulating what the Atlanta Braves have done,” Ganis said.

1988 deal stopped Sox move to Florida

Guaranteed Rate Field opened in 1991 across the street from the team’s old home, the now-demolished Comiskey Park. Financing for the new stadium came together in an eleventh-hour deal that prevented the Sox from moving to St. Petersburg, Florida.

Then-Gov. Jim Thompson stopped the clock to lobby lawmakers, who approved the deal after the session’s midnight deadline in 1988.

The initial lease was highly favorable to the Sox. For the first decade, the team paid no rent if annual attendance fell below 1.2 million. Under its current lease, the team pays $1.5 million in annual rent. The Sox control revenue from ticket sales, concessions, parking and merchandise operations.

The lease has been amended in recent years to allow the Sox to open a team store and a restaurant on state-owned land across the street from the ballpark.

The White Sox have a fan store and bar built into one of the ballpark’s access ramps on the other side of 35th Street, but there is little other development in the immediate vicinity. (WBEZ)

At the same time the Sox are pondering a move, the Bears are continuing their search for a new Chicago home after spending $197.2 million to purchase the site of the Arlington International Racecourse, then running into a property tax roadblock from suburban school districts.

The 78 could be a possible site for a Bears stadium, but sources said the team isn’t interested. And if the team were to build in Chicago, sources said Bears President Kevin Warren is focused on a site such as Soldier Field’s south parking lot.

A White Sox move to the South Loop also could affect the Chicago Fire. Sources said the soccer team, which plays at Soldier Field, could move to Guaranteed Rate Field if the baseball team moves out.

“We have not engaged with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority about playing at Guaranteed Rate Field,” Fire spokesman Jhamie Chin said, adding that the team has focused on starting construction of its performance center for training and team offices on the Near West Side.

The soccer team’s lease at Soldier Field has two more years to run, and the club has extensions that could cover another five years.

Reinsdorf has called the 2023 White Sox season, his 43rd in baseball, “absolutely the worst season I’ve ever been through.”

At the time, Reinsdorf was asked if the experience was so bad that he considered unloading the team.

“I’m going to couch this so nobody writes that I thought of selling,” he said with a chuckle.

The view south from Roosevelt Road at The 78, a parcel of undeveloped land stretching from Roosevelt south to 16th Street, between Clark Street and the Chicago River. It is being viewed as a potential site for a new White Sox stadium. Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

50's Jukebox Favorites 1988 Pop / Doo Wop / Pop-Rock

Went back to the 50s today with this short release from the single-biggest name in the history of the ever-crowded budget compilation game, K-tel, who gathered a bunch of hits together here that mostly came from the latter part of the decade. Through the years, K-tel has caught plenty of flak from folks for being a cheap and lazy enterprise that just repeatedly packaged the biggest hits of a certain day onto one release, but I'm here to tell you that, as someone who's sifted through quite a fair amount of oldies comps, a lot of the selections on this particular CD don't really seem to be fixtures of budget oldies comps in general. So, unexpectedly, without even having to evaluate the music itself, this CD already gets some points for its own uniqueness.

And the song that really seems to seal it all is Jimmy Clanton's "Just a Dream," the New Orleans teen idol's breakout hit, which also happened to be the biggest of his career, as it went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart back in 1958. I don't think that I've ever heard this song on another oldies comp before, and despite its composition being pretty typical for a late 50s pop tune, Clanton's own powerfully striking voice is the thing that makes it ultimately stand out, and is probably what enabled it to sell a whopping million copies in the first place.

But in addition to this comp dealing mostly with the late 50s, K-tel also seems to have primarily occupied themselves with a softer side of pop here too; there's no R&B, no soul, and certainly no rough-and-tumble rock & roll from the likes of Chuck Berry or Jerry Lee Lewis or Bo Diddley or Bill Haley & His Comets. And for a comp that claims to consist of "50s Jukebox Hits," you'd think that they'd try to present a broader range of what actually blasted out of jukeboxes throughout that decade, rather than narrowing its focus to mostly straight-up pop and slow and midtempo doo wop, which are types of 50s music that don't really seem to have stood the test of time all too well 😴.

That said, though, within this more anodyne realm, this album still has a couple more beauties on it. One is The Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You," which, despite never having reached the top ten of the Hot 100, seems to be included on loads of oldies comps nonetheless, and really shines when lead singer Jimmy Beaumont suddenly escalates with his own magnificent falsetto. A really essential doo wop tune there.

And the other song is The Teddy Bears' "To Know Him Is to Love Him," which was legendary producer Phil Spector's first ever hit, notching itself a #1 spot in 1958. It's a song with a regular 50s-type of progression, but the production was exceptionally dynamic for its time, and it would eventually lead to Spector's own famous and patented 'Wall of Sound' technique. On this one, frontwoman Annette Kleinbard expands her voice beautifully on the bridge, satisfyingly raising the song's overall intensity, before returning to a mode of soft and unassuming sweetness to close out. "To Know Him" is another tune that you're sure to find on a bunch of other oldies comps too, but it sure is a remarkable one.

So, a nice, somewhat forgotten gem here that I've never come across on any oldies comp before, despite it having gone platinum, and then two other late 50s staples. I wish this K-tel comp could've been more eclectic, but for about a half-hour's worth of tunes, this isn't a bad look at some of what the latter half of the 50s had to offer.

Highlights:

The Skyliners - "Since I Don't Have You" Jimmy Clanton - "Just a Dream" The Teddy Bears - "To Know Him Is to Love Him"

[jelliclekay]

now that its been a couple weeks to think, what are some standouts from the current tour cast?

Oooo what a good question!

Let me say this: Everyone in this cast is fantastic. All the new performers are incredible and all the returning cast members are really putting in their all. I don't have a complaint about any of them. Also I got to talk and meet almost all of them after the shows and they were so sweet.

Some standouts though:

Erica Lee as Bombalurina... I know I've raved about her MANY times but I am still not over her. I did not come back from all the shows expecting Erica to end up as my favorite Bombalurina, but here we are. She did Cats on Oasis so she has experience with the show already and it SHOWS in her performance. She moves so fluidly on stage and her VOICE. UGH HER VOICE. It's so unique, I literally blue-screened when I heard her perform Macavity for the first time. Erica Bombalurina is absolutely my new face and voice claim for Bombalurina, I cannot imagine any other voice for her anymore. Also the way she performs Macavity aligns so well with my own personal headcanons for Bomba's relationship with Macavity and Demeter. I'm really hoping Erica stays in the Junkyard for awhile because I can't imagine seeing any other Bombalurina (though I did see Ellie Bombalurina one show and she also did fantastic!)

Hank Santos as Tugger. Obviously I knew I was going to like him, but WOW, he is so Tugger? He plays Tugger more on the sexy, suave side, which I usually prefer my Tugger portrayals compared to the silly, vain Tuggers. Hank also has so many interactions with the audience? Like, he was constantly winking and making "call me" signs at the audience (a few times at me, which almost killed me outright). At one of the shows too he even took a woman's phone during the curtain calls and took a selfie with it (And he also apparently did the same thing at a show in Canada so I guess that's just a thing he's doing now which like. Total Tugger behavior). Also his voice is just so Good ugh. Absolutely in my top 3 Tuggers up there with John Partridge and Dominik Hees.

Kade Wright as Munkustrap. Okay I LOVE Kade!Munk. Kade is a fantastic actor, and that really comes out in his performance. I've never been more invested in the Mac fights until watching Kade, because he REALLY plays up Munk getting his ass beat and he really makes you feel like Munk is genuinely being hurt during the fight. I already much prefer the Broadway Revival Mac fight compared to the og fight because it actually feels like a fight, and Kade Munk and the entire cast really make the Mac fight feel so intense. Also Kade is just really sweet and I enjoy his voice a lot.

Ugh and so many others. Yuka Victoria is adorable and her moments with Samuel Plato are the cutest things in the world. Taryn Rumpleteazer is really good and she makes an awesome partner with Brian Jerrie (who is fucking INCREDIBLE as Jerrie and I'm so glad he is the principal Jerrie now). Brendan Tumble is super cute and also wow that boy can FLIP.

I just love this cast so much and even if you don't think you're a fan of the Broadway Revival, if you have the chance to see this cast for yourself. They are all so phenomenal.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Prehysteria! (1993)

Do you ever feel like going back and revisiting that one obscure movie you saw as a kid that no one else has ever heard of but you know for sure exists? I distinctly remember seeing Prehysteria! as a child. Well, at least one of the three movies. All I remembered were those awesome miniature dinosaurs. I couldn’t recall ANYTHING about the plot… and there’s a reason for that.

Slimy museum curator Rico Sarno (Stephen Lee) returns from an expedition in South America with five mysterious eggs. When he accidentally swaps coolers with Frank Taylor (Brett Cullen), the widowed raisin farmer and his kids - Monica (Samantha Mills) and Jerry (Austin O’Brien) - discover that their dog is now the proud mother of 5 miniature - but fully-grown - dinosaurs!

The film is basically a mix of Gremlins and Jurassic Park but without any edge and only the blandest of human characters to keep the plot moving. I’m sorry, 6-year-old Adam, but this movie is bad. It isn’t devoid of merit, but it's sub-par entertainment, even for kids.

The best - and really, only redeeming - element of Prehysteria! is the dinosaurs. Even then, a lot more could’ve been done with them. Jerry and Monica’s new pets - Tyrannosaurus Elvis, Brachiosaurus Paula, Stegosaurus Jagger, Chasmosaurus Hammer and Geosternbergia Madonna - are pretty neat in a few ways. Of course, there had to be a t-rex and I wouldn't consider a stegosaurus an obscure species of dinosaur, but the rest are fairly unique, which will please amateur archeologists plenty. The creatures are brought to life with terrific puppetry and stop-motion effects. Considering the film’s low-budget (which shows whenever the use of a green-screen is required), the pint-sized thunder-lizards look great. If only the beasts were given any personality. At the end of the day, it hardly feels like you get to know them at all. It's a shame because the humans who adopt them? They’re complete throwaways who hardly convey the genuine sense of wonder you’d expect from meeting actual dinosaurs, miniature or not.

The unique animals are thrown in a plot that’s so generic it’s hard to care. Rico Sarno is a one-dimensional greedy… museum curator? Huh? The only ones stupider than him are the two goons he hires to help him steal the dinos: Ritchie (Stuart Fratkin) and Louis (Tony Longo). They’re so dumb even a kid could tell the peril in this film is non-existent. The kids are a bit better, I guess, but they’re just typical “younger brother who doesn’t like his older sister” type. The dad is another kind of enigma. He sells fossils to the museum - an opportunity to make doe eyes at Vicki (Colleen Morris), who works at the museum’s desk - but has no interest in dinosaurs whatsoever. It just feels weird. How does he even know what he’s digging up if he has no interest in archeology? I guess we can talk about her too. It’s no spoiler that she ends up on the Taylors’ side against meanie Mr. Sarno when she learns he wants to exploit the dinosaurs for money. As soon as you learn Frank is widowed, you know that means they’ll end up romantically involved. There are no surprises at all and the conclusion is so hurried some of it doesn’t make sense.

You might wonder if I’m upset at a “treasured memory” getting debunked. I’m not. I had a good time with the movie back then and I had a bit of fun with this rewatch… if only because it made me appreciate how much my taste has evolved. I think the funniest thing about Prehysteria! is that while all of the dinosaurs are named after famous musicians, only Elvis contributes to the soundtrack. Even then, it might’ve been an imitator. This movie does not have the budget for Madonna, not by a long shot. All it had was the money to make the dinosaurs look good. That's not enough. (September 25, 2022)

[ledenews]

Cartwright Coming Home for Special Show with Charlie McCoy

Legend will join another legend. Again. But this time in Wheeling. At the Capitol Theatre. This Thursday evening. That’s when Glen Dale’s own Lionel Cartwright and country music Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy will partner for “An Intimate Evening of Stories and Songs” in downtown Wheeling beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online. It will be the second time Cartwright and McCoy join each other in song since the holiday season. “Charlie and I did a show at the Country Hall of Fame and Kyle (Knox) found out about it and thought it would be a cool thing if we brough it to the Capitol Theatre,” Cartwright explained. “I’ve worked with Charlie quite a bit through the years and I can tell you he has some of the craziest stories I’ve ever heard. They truly are insane. “The show is a two-man show and we’ll cover his stuff, and we’ll cover my stuff,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and I think the crowd is going to enjoy the music and love the banter between the two of us.” He mostly plays a harmonica, but Charlie McCoy has mastered many more instruments during his career. Cartwright’s musical hits include 3-BMI Million-Air Award songs, including the Billboard #1 “Leap of Faith”, “I Watched It All On My Radio”, “Give Me His Last Chance”, along with other Top 10 hits. He was a member of the famous country music class of 1989 and was nominated for 1990 ACM New Male Vocalist alongside Garth Brooks and Clint Black. Cartwright’s work as a composer has been credited in over one hundred television and film projects – including for streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV, Discovery, and more. McCoy? As a session musician and primarily a harmonica master, he's played with a few artists most might have heard of before. Folks like George Jones, Roy Orbinson, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Johnny Paycheck, Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Waylon Jennings, Josh Turner, Gordon Lightfoot, Bobby Bare, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tom T. Hall, for example. And the list goes on. “Me and Charlie became friends because he’s liked my stuff and I like his stuff, so that’s how the Hall of Fame show came about,” Cartwright revealed. “And it really was well received because we just naturally talked with each other during the show. Now, I’m sure it’ll be different in Wheeling because we’re not trying to copy the content necessarily. Just the format, really. “The crowd in Wheeling is going to love it because they’ll be able to sing along, and they’ll be able to learn some things about a lot of folks in the country music business.” Cartwright is far more accomplished in the music industry than most Valley residents realize. Those Country Roads While most shows are stage shows, the last time Cartwright performed at the Capitol Theatre, he AND the audience were all on stage. The performance was in May 2018 and Cartwright played his hit songs and many other originals, and he shared with the crowd the tales behind each tune. He expects a similar format this Thursday evening. “I’ve never really thought about how much I like that format – playing and talking about it – but I do like to perform that way because it’s more personal,” Cartwright said. “And the folks will just love hearing about the life that Charlie has lived in this industry. His career has been truly remarkable because he’s worked with so many of the national cats through the years. “He’s been a session guy who's worked with every country artist possible. Seriously. I’d have a hard time finding someone in country he’s not worked with during his career,” he said. “I’m talking about people like Roy Orison and Johnny Cash and everyone since them. Shoot, when Bob Dylan has come here (to Nashville) to record, there’s Charlie McCoy, and his stories could go on for days.” McCoy once was the music director for the TV hit show "Hee Haw," and he's recorded with all of the greats in the music industry. Cartwright reminisces about those just-a-kid Jamboree days when he was a musician for star after star when country music took over downtown Wheeling each Saturday evening. Wheeling’s Jamboree USA was ranked second only to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry when it came to the most popular country music venues. “I don’t come home often because I don’t have family here anymore, but the best part about returning for me is touching base with where I came from. I drive down to Glen Dale just to see the house where I grew up, and there’s really something about going back to your roots. It always puts things into perspective for me,” Cartwright said. “And I love going back to the Capitol Theatre. It’s a very special place for me. “Every Saturday night, from my senior year in high school and all the way through college, I was playing music at the Capitol Theatre,” he said. “It was absolutely formative for me. It’s what I ended up doing for the rest of my life, and it’s because of those Saturday nights. That stage is magicial, and that room, that theatre, is very special.” And this show with Charlie McCoy will add another chapter. “I do think back on those Jamboree nights, and I remember those warm nights during Jamboree in the Hills, and I realize now just how special those nights were. It’s all just so dear to my heart,” Cartwright said. “It’s never been lost to me, the privilege that it was and is now. “And now I get to perform with Charlie McCoy and I can’t wait.” Read the full article

[luvuwite]

(SAME ANON) IK, I ENJOYED THE NEW EPS SO DANG MUCHHH

LIKE AS SOON AS I HEARD SIMON’S FIRST LINE IN EP 7 “best nap of my life 😌” I WAS SOO HAPPY BRO HES SO CUTEE (i love simon a very normal amount) AND I LOVED SEEING HIM TALK MORE ABOUT HIM AND BETTY IT WAS INTERESTING AND CUTE AND HES LITERALLY SUCH A GOOD PERSON FOR COMFORTING FIONA AND ALSO TELLING MARCELINE’S DAD HE’S A BAD FATHER BRO HES SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER IM SO SCARED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THO

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I LOVED SEEING MORE OF GARY AND MARSHAL LEE THEYRE SO ADORABLE

SPOILERS FOR FIONA AND CAKE EP JERRY

DUDE I ONLY REALIZED AFTER THAT THEY LEFT BABY FINN IN THE VAMPIRE UNIVERSE 😭😭😭😭😭😭 AND OH MY GOD THE FUCKING GARY AND MARHSL LEE DUDE I HAD TO BE QUIET AND I WAS FREAKING OUT. THE ENDING OF THAT SECOND EP WAS SO EXTRMSEDS

[whatisonthemoon]

What the KCIA and the Moonies did to the Editor of the Korea Journal, Song Sun Keun

▲ Pictured: Song Sun-Keun pictured in the December 10, 1976 issue of the San Francisco Examiner

Mr. SONG: I would like to begin with a KCIA attempt to disrupt the speech engagement of Mr. Kim Dae Jung in San Francisco in May 1973 that was foiled; a KCIA-Moon Sun Myung connection through the Korean-American Political Association as early as 1970; and an assassination plot against me.

On May 18, 1973, Mr. Kim Dae Jung, sponsored by a group of Korean-American political science scholars, was to speak at the International Student Center in San Francisco. I understand you are going to question me about this, so I won't go into detail.

Mr. FRASER: Were you going to skip part of your statement?

Mr. SONG: Do you want me to read it?

Mr. FRASER: You might go through your whole statement. It might save some questions.

Mr. Young Shik Bae, a KCIA agent who also acted as vice consul at the Korean consulate general in Los Angeles, showed up with an entourage of more than 10 hoodlums from Los Angeles. Joining Vice Consul Bae were Mr. Dong Jim Kim, consul of the Korean consulate general in San Francisco and a certain Mr. Min Hi Rhee, a well-known karate instructor in the San Francisco area, and several of his karate students. Their tactic to disrupt Mr. Kim's speech was at once all too obvious to the entire audience.

As Mr. Kim began his speech, these hoodlums started to interrupt and harass the speaker. There was a commotion, shouting, and making ugly gestures and all. And they brought with them several bottles of tomato ketchup, dozens of raw eggs, and a movie camera.

The timely arrival of the San Francisco police, which resulted in removing Mr. Min Hi Rhee, saved the meeting from pandemonium. I was an eyewitness to the scene and duly reported the incident in my Korean language biweekly called the Korea Journal. Here I would like to submit the article with photos and its English translation.

Mr. FRASER: Thank you. We will make that a part of your testimony.

Mr. SONG: What surprised me was the fact that Vice Consul Bae Young Shik led this outrage openly. Furthermore, although I didn't realize at the time but later came to learn, Mr. Yang Doo Won, alias Sang Ho Lee, Minister at the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., who was also KCIA station chief in the United States, came to San Francisco and stayed at the Hilton Hotel, where Mr. Kim Dae Jung was staying and was the prime mover who directed that fiasco behind the scenes.

Second, I have heard that in 1970, Mr. Sang Ik Choi, a representative of Moon Sung Myung's Unification Church in the San Francisco area, received $25,000 from the Unification Church and set out to organize a Korean-American political group. Thus, the Korean-American Political Association (KAPA) was chartered in the State of California as a nonprofit corporation, and Choi set himself up as its president. Mr. Doo Whan Kim, while consul at the Korean consulate general in San Francisco, became the de facto vice president of KAPA.

The express purpose of this organization was to exert its influence on American politics, local as well as national. To date, KAPA is known to have contributed $5,000 to Gov. Jerry Brown during his 1974 gubernatorial campaign and $1,000 to Mayor Mosconi of San Francisco during his mayoral campaign in 1976. 

However, I would like to point out to you that this nonprofit U.S. corporation had an official of a foreign government as a key officer, and in addition was receiving financial support from Moon's Unification Church as early as 1970. When Mr. Sang Ik Choi was promoted to the position of fundraising manager of the Unification Church of New York, Consul Doo Whan Kim succeeded him as KAPA's president after resigning his post at the Korean consulate general.

I gained my knowledge of KAPA while serving as a consultant to the San Francisco chapter of KAPA. I have supplied the subcommittee staff with copies of several KAPA documents, concerning the relationship between KAPA and the KCIA.

Third, in May of 1973, I began publishing a local Korean language biweekly, the Korea Journal, and also was its editor-reporter. As the paper started to criticize various overt activities of the KCIA in the United States and the Park Chung Hee regime, a businessman who is a former KCIA agent approached me and indicated that he would help the Korea Journal to expand if its coverage were confined to local matters—in his words, if it became a "pleasant community bulletin board." I declined the offer.

Then I received a substantial offer to purchase the Korea Journal. This offer came to me indirectly through close acquaintances of my family. I told them the paper was not for sale. At the time, I was having considerable financial difficulty. I was approached for the third time again through some close friends with an offer to engage in profitable trade with Korea. It was all too obvious to me that such offers were made to divert my attention and activities away from my critical stand on Korean politics. I refused.

On separate occasions, two old friends of my father, Mr. Il Kwon Chung, the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, and Mr. Han Lim Lee, the Minister of Construction, sought out my father and tried to persuade him to change his views on the Park regime. My father is a Methodist minister, whose views on the Park regime could not be changed by these visitors.

After all these "friendly" attempts and offers were turned down, I began to receive telephone calls threatening my life. I reported these telephone calls to the local police and wrote about them in the Korea Journal. I would like to submit a 1974 San Francisco Examiner article for your reference.

The threatening calls backfired because I became more vocal than ever. Then Mr. Man Sung Limb, a KCIA agent at the Korean consulate general in San Francisco, came up with a plot to assassinate me. In order to save time, I would like to submit for your files copies of articles which appeared in the San Francisco Examiner, Los Angeles Times, Berkeley Barb, and the San Mateo Times that covered this plot. I am also submitting a tape recording and its transcript in translation of a personal interview with one of the witnesses who was present at the time Consul Limb discussed this plot.

Needless to say, such KCIA harassment and threats would be illegal acts in this country even if I were not a U.S. citizen, and these acts should be duly condemned.

Related articles below

Up against the Human Wall in Seoul - The Washington Post - February 1985

Delay of Chun’s Visit Proposed : Kim’s U.S. Backers Cite Melee at Seoul Airport - The LA Times - February 1985

United States Congressional investigation of UC

The Unification Church and KCIA: Some Notes on Bud Han, Steve Kim, and Bo Hi Pak

Robert Parry’s investigations into Sun Myung Moon

On Young Oon Kim’s Relationship to Butterwick

Young Oon Kim and Bo Hi Pak were both employed by the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG)

Who was “Papasan Choi” (Or Sang Ik Choi, or Bong-choon Choi)?

More details on Papasan (Sang Ik Choi)

Paul Perry, or Paulo-Juarez Pereira, a CIA-Connected Moonie

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Davide Cedolin

Davide Cedolin is a Ligurian based artist, mostly focused nowadays on guitar-oriented music, writing and painting. His latest cassette on the Island House label collects seven serene and unruffled meditations, mostly in finger picked acoustic guitar, but augmented sometimes with threads of bowed bass, lap steel and harmonica. In her review, Jennifer Kelly wrote that these compositions “open out into a kind of wide-horizoned dreaminess, an infinity pool of sound that stretches as far as you can see. Here Cedolin lists some guitar music that inspires him. 

I wrote something about albums that somehow “clicked me” because of their great guitar works. Hope you’ll enjoy!

Sonic Youth — A Thousand Leaves (Geffen, 1998)

Maybe I could pick other albums from Sonic Youth, but this is the first one I discovered in real time when I was sixteen, bought on vinyl in a great record store named Distorsioni in Varazze (the town I’ve grown up in) that is closed now. I love this album from them for the natural blend of poppy refrains and very noisy rock elements, the mood, the track list. In my opinion it’s the most textured and rich record from SY, very open and experimental in its own way. And the first of the four times I’ve seen Sonic Youth live, it was in the period of A Thousand Leaves, so I feel very sensitive with this record. One track? “Sunday.” In general, it’s thanks to Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore that I heard for the first time about alternative tunings.

Pelt — Ayahuasca (VHF, 2001)

I took some time to “digest” the depth and the density of this one. It’s the record that introduced to me (in a very funny way, ha ha) to old time music and somehow to a different way to intend acoustic music and so guitar. I’ve also been captured by the contemplative and psychedelic aura of the whole album that later switched me on drone music as well. There’s not that much about Pelt live on YouTube from those years, but I’ve found an intense video that is really immersive. With Jack Rose, who already implemented the sound of the band with a more prominent acoustic guitar work, the transition from an electric-noise-drone skin to a new acoustic-mantra-folk structured one was completed. I’m still impressed about how borders in music are so vague and relative if there’s a real consciousness of what you are doing. And Pelt’s transition is the perfect case of the natural and organic evolution of a sound.

Grateful Dead — Workingman’s Dead (Warner, 1970)

In Europe the Dead didn’t have the same wide cultural echo as in North America. Everyone here knows The Doors, Bob Dylan or Neil Young but not as many people as in the States know the Grateful Dead. I heard of Workingman’s Dead at the end of the nineties but it took until my mid-twenties before I got interested in old records. I fell in love with the warm sound of this album, which actually has one of the most brilliant track lists ever to me. Each song is an amazing hit. There’s great guitar work all over the record from both Weir and Garcia, and it’s easy to understand why the sound of this album (and with the extension on the next, American Beauty,) has been intended to be the Americana sound by several music critics and producers. The way all the traditional country, blues and folk elements melt together is so natural and the way the guitars talk to each other is masterful. Also, I’m a huge fan of Jerry on pedal steel and in this record, there are a few of the best moments in his entire career playing that.

John Fahey — Blind Joe Death (Takoma, 1959)

I had a very nice chat with Jeff Tobias a few days ago inspired by a meme about American Primitive Guitar that at some point was ironically counterposing John Fahey lovers and haters. I totally see there’s this polarization about him, and I kind of get it. I did read How Bluegrass Destroyed My Life, watched interviews, and in my perception, his persona was seemingly contradictory and questionable on several aspects. But the guitar work itself, unquestionably, places him in a very relevant position if we think on what he triggered and how damn good he was. This album is the one I love the most and the one with which I've discovered him. I wouldn't consider Fahey as a direct and conscious influence for me but his taste for melodies and his tricks buzz in my head since the first time I heard them. Particularly “St. Louis Blues.”

Jack Rose — Kensington Blues (VHF, 2005)

Frankly, I didn’t listened to this album immediately. It took a couple of years before I knew of it thanks to a great musician from Genova and close fellow Paolo Tortora. It was some winter evening at his place, and I remember we listened to the entire record in silence, sipping rum. It warmed my intimate part, kind of healed me. And it wasn’t the rum, it was the way Jack Rose was able to convert remote feelings into some wild stream of consciousness, that to me still is, without forgoing the obvious technical skills, the best part of his playing. The way he was heartly connecting with the instrument and how he was truly one with the instrument. In this video of “Cross the North Fork,” you can see what I’m talking about.

Ryley Walker — Primerose Green (Tompkins Square, 2015)

Ryley is a terrific guitar player with a terrific voice. He’s simply perfect; when he plays and sings he has a unique voice. I love the sensitivity of his playing, his anarcho-prog-impro wilderness and his accuracy for harmonies and arrangements. This album is perhaps less eclectic compared to the recent ones but it has some of my prefered tracks from him, including this one.

Elizabeth Cotten — Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar (Folkways Records, 1958)

Same friend, another great suggestion. Paolo introduced me to Libba by sending this video link for “Freight Train,” probably around 2009. I was touched by her uniqueness. She basically built her own grammar to express her own language with such a graceful manner. This album is the first I bought by her on Discogs a few years ago, and its pure magic all over the length. I could spin this record on loop for days without either changing the side, whichever it is.

Hobart Smith — In Sacred Trust: The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes (Smithsonian Folkways, 2005)

I was exploring YouTube videos of Elizabeth Cotten and I came across “Railroad Bill” with Hobart Smith on guitar. There’s an ocean of incredibly talented musicians out there, and the more I go further with this list, the more pop up in my mind. But just a very few can transport somewhere else in just a couple of seconds. His personal and fluid style of fingerpicking immediately caught me. Hobart was a master at banjo, guitar, fiddle and piano. In Sacred Trust: The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes is an album of never-before-released work, taped by Fleming Brown back in the day. It’s a wonderful collection of hidden gems. My son who is eighteen months old already loves this CD.

Steve Gunn — Time Off (Paradise Of Bachelors, 2013)

Steve Gunn in 2013 was a name I’d already heard of, but it’s with this album that I got more deeper into his stuff. I’m a big fan of this period. Acoustic guitars were leading both the emotional and the structured parts of the tracks. His repetitive and hypnotic patterns mesmerized me. I love the “loop feeling” you can perceive sometimes, and I even love it more when you realize that it wasn’t a loop but a block with so many details that change around the main riff which keeps circularly going. There’s a lot of stuff from Gunn on YouTube, and this take of “Trailways Ramble,” from Live at Atlantic Sound Studios, (there are also more videos from this session) kills it. Played with a beautiful twelve string Guild in trio with Justin Tripp on bass and John Truscinski on drums, if you scan your body while listening, you can feel the rise of the theme through the flesh, in a similar way of feeling subtle sensations by the body scan during meditation practices.

Daniel Bachman — The Morning Star” (Three Lobed Recordings, 2018)

I met Daniel for the first time in 2013, so I should even name Jesus I’m A Sinner, the one I knew at first. But The Morning Star is the album that showed me other aspects of his art. This is the first recording from him where guitars slightly shift aside to give more space to the various ambient sounds and other instruments. I love how the guitar is relatively “simpler” even in the patterns somehow. It’s pensive, moody, capable to take your hand and guide you through the album; there’s an interesting sound research that matches also with the “invented” tunings. It’s brilliant how just the tuning of the instrument can influence the whole composition process. And, besides the artist that I admire and love so much, there’s even the man that is completely adorable. It’s nice to know that artists you like are sometimes great living beings as well. This set is completely acoustic. Each time I watch it, I feel as astonished by the wall of sound as the first listen.

Bola Sete — Ocean (Takoma, 1975)

This is the only nylon strings player I’ve mentioned in this list. Bola Sete was a Brazilian guitarist, mostly involved in traditional Bossa nova and samba in the early days. At some point in the 1970s, he met and eventually became friend with John Fahey and moved to the USA. In 1975 Takoma released Ocean, later repressed as Ocean Memories, which is an extraordinary journey through Brazilian folk music and the American Primitive Guitar. This album condenses his virtuoso style and his wild stream of playing at its best, opening worlds of suggestions with its wavy and sensitive flow that colors the album as a canvas.

Yasmin Williams — Urban Driftwood (Spinster, 2021)

This record has been rooting in my listening since it came out. I knew the previous album from Yasmin Williams but with this I got really into her work. There’s a beautiful virtuoso approach that melts into a world of tenderness; a sensitive style of playing that is both technical and emotional, alternating various methods and instruments such as acoustic guitar, harp guitar and kalimba. She’s graceful, making intricate compositions by apparent effortless gestures and moves. This piece is also inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Really looking forward to what will come next. I love this absolutely gorgeous video of “Juvenescence” from the New York Guitar Festival sessions.

Ledward Kaapana and Friends — Waltz Of The Wind (Dancing Cat Records, 1998)

This guy simply blew my mind. I’ve been recently introduced to Ledward Kaapana and Hawaiian slack key guitar by Daniel. He’s been doing his thing since the 1970s at least; he has a very nurtured YouTube channel from where you can also find classes! His style is unique, and he has a terrific feel for the rhythmic parts. He’s got this joyful mood that brightens the melody patterns and generally rubs off on the atmosphere. The song “Radio Hula” is probably his most popular hit and there’s this version of it on his channel that is so cool.

Daniel Bachman — Almanac Behind (Three Lobed Recordings, 2022)

Here I am with the last release from Daniel Bachman, who I already named. This album/film is something that elevates Daniel’s work on another peak. In my opinion, this is the most authentic and touching contemporary political and artistic statement of the last years. There’s an explicit vision of what the climate catastrophe is and how we already crossed the safety guard. This concept resonates in the folds of the sound, sculpting it with new elements such the digital post process (cut-and-pasted slide guitar, pitch drops, glitches), AM and FM radio and a horizontal view of the mix, which knocks you to the couch with ease. There’s something in this album that goes even far beyond music and arts. It’s a hub.

[cyarskj1899]

Vulture’s 20 Most-Read Stories of 2022

Top: Hanya Yanagihara; a nepo-babies nursery; Sara Porkalob, 1776 revolutionary. Bottom: You know this one; the greatest sequels ever; Joss Whedon. Photo: Clockwise from left: Amanda Demme, Joe Darrow for New York Magazine, Evan Zimmerman for Murphy Made, Ryan Pfluger, Greg Kletsel, Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Vulture’s most-read story of the year, Lila Shapiro’s incredible profile of a Joss Whedon still trying to process his fall from success and adoration, was published just a couple of weeks into 2022. Our second- and third-most-read stories, both by Nate Jones as part of a larger survey of the nepo-baby landscape, came out with two weeks remaining in 2022.

Between those remarkable bookends, we published an array of incredible work: more than 7,000 stories alongside our three podcasts, six newsletters, a limited-run video series, and Vulture Festival. Below, you’ll find our 20 most-read stories from the year based on total engaged minutes. What you won’t see on the list is our groundbreaking interview with Jeremy Strong’s pinkie ring, but only because the bauble’s publicist did a crackerjack job of burying the piece.

Exit Interview 

20. The Long Road to Mordor

Photo: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video

The Rings of Power creators explain Sauron’s identity and their plan to explore the edges of Tolkien’s map. Read the story ➼

Endings 

19. Killing Eve Chose Cruelty

Photo: David Emery/BBCA

Let’s talk about the galling ending of Eve and Villanelle. Read the story ➼

Book Review 

18. Ottessa Moshfegh Is Praying for Us

Art: JWCollage

The author has been hailed as a high priestess of filth. Really, she wants to purify her readers. Read the story ➼

Anonymous in Hollywood 

17. I’m a VFX Artist, and I’m Tired of Getting ‘Pixel-F–ked’ by Marvel

Photo-Illustration: Vulture/Disney Plus, Marvel

What’s it like to work as a visual-effects artist for the MCU? “I’ve had co-workers sit next to me, break down, and start crying.” Read the story ➼

Putting the Atoms Together 

16. ‘No Aliens, No Spaceships, No Invasion of Earth’

Photo: Getty Images

An oral history of Contact, the sci-fi movie that defied Hollywood norms and made it big anyway. Read the story ➼

Let's Do It Again 

Illustration: Greg Kletsel

Whether they come after, before, or between their predecessors, these films have their own indelible legacies. Read the story ➼

Performance Review 

14. What Was Brangelina?

Photo: AFP via Getty Images

They were known for their image-making savvy. As their divorce reenters the press cycle, we’re reminded of who’s better at it. Read the story ➼

Close Reads 

13. Hanya’s Boys

Photo: Amanda Demme

The novelist tends to torture her gay male characters — but only so she can swoop in to save them. Read the story ➼

Molasses to Rum 

12. 1776’s Sara Porkalob Has Some Notes

Photo: Evan Zimmerman for Murphy Made

The actress behind the musical’s most explosive number on bringing a “dusty, old thing” to Broadway and the mistakes made along the way. Read the story ➼

Testimonies 

11. Johnny Depp Says His ‘Goal Is the Truth’ During Defamation Trial

Photo: JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Johnny Depp talks drug use, Pirates, and his early days with Amber Heard during day one of his testimony in his defamation trial. Read the story ➼

Remembrance 

10. Jerry Lee Lewis Was an SOB Right to the End

Photo: Thomas S. England/Getty Images

The talented hell-raiser of early rock and roll died at 87. Read the story ➼

Buffering 

9. Netflix’s Bad Habits Have Caught Up With It

Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo by Steve Dietl/Netflix

A hard look at what happened to the company, and what will happen next. Read the story ➼

Oscars 2022 

8. What I Saw Inside the Room When Will Smith Slapped Chris Rock

Photo: Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

“This is the most unhinged evening of our lives.” Read the story ➼

Profile 

7. Nathan Fielder Is Out of His Mind (and Inside Yours)

Photo: Zachary Scott

The comedian’s new show, The Rehearsal, is his grandest experiment yet. Read the story➼

Backstories 

6. Jessica Pressler on What’s Real and Not About Inventing Anna

Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos by Netflix and Getty Images

And the surreal experience of seeing her reporting acted out on Netflix. Read the story ➼

Power 

5. The Curse of Kentwood

Photo: The Kentwood Ledger (Jamie); Photograph by Martin Schoeller (Britney)

One year ago, Britney Spears was freed from a notorious conservatorship. What possessed her father to seize control of her life? Read the story ➼

Performance Study 

4. The Making of Silent Bruce

Illustration: Ryan Melgar

Willis was a fast-talking lead who became a man-of-few-words star. It made his mental decline that much harder to notice. Read the story ➼

The Year of the Nepo Baby 

3. How a Nepo Baby Is Born

Photo-Illustration: Joe Darrow for New York Magazine

Hollywood has always loved the children of famous people. In 2022, the internet reduced them to two little words. Read the story ➼

The Year of the Nepo Baby 

2. An All But Definitive Guide to the Hollywood Nepo-Verse

Photo-Illustration: New York Magazine

Actors, singers, directors who just happen to be the children of actors, singers, directors. Read the story ➼

feature 

1. The Undoing of Joss Whedon

Photo: Ryan Pfluger

The Buffy creator, once an icon of Hollywood feminism, is now an outcast accused of misogyny. How did he get here? Read the story ➼