Blog

As you probably already know, I am a huge  "Saturday Night Live"  fan and have watched every episode since the very first one in October 1975. I also host a podcast about SNL called "That Show Hasn't Been Funny in Years: An SNL Podcast"  on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network . Well, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. In addition to great hosts, surprise guests, and memorable moments during the regular season, NBC  and P

The new Film Critics pants fit like a glove, so I am wearing them to review another week's worth of new film releases—and this week, there are a lot of new ones. We have a glut of movies this week as studios rush to get the leftover 2024 releases into theaters. Six new films are featured in this week's capsule (short) movie reviews for Friday, January 10, 2025. 1) HARD TRUTHS The singular, brilliant, and prodigiously talented British writer/director Mike Leigh  ("Secrets and

For over a year, "Auditorium Philms"   has been one of the most exciting features in the Auditorium Theater's programming and concert schedule. At each Philms event, a classic movie is projected on a big screen, and the film's music is performed by a live orchestra from the Chicago Philharmonic . Julie and I have attended several Philm events, including the most recent one last Saturday featuring Francis Ford Coppola 's 1992 version of Bram Stoker's Dracula . I had mixed feel

I attended a wedding over the weekend, my first in many years, and it was a delight. The outdoor ceremony was lovely, enhanced by the incredibly perfect late October weather, and the reception was great fun. During the festivities, I kept thinking about movie weddings because that's how my weirdo movie mind works. While everyone else was moved to tears, gushing over the bride, and sharing love, I was humming "Push It To The Limit"   from the ridiculously garish wedding betwee

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, you know, the guy who directed "The Godfather,"   "The Conversation,"   "Apocalypse Now,"  etc., released a movie called "Megalopolis"  this past weekend, and it has divided critics and audiences alike. Most people absolutely hate it, some people (like myself) absolutely love it, but everyone can agree that it is weird—very weird. Coppola is not the only filmmaker to get weird, so in honor of Coppola's weird movie and how much fun it i

The "Legendary Jerry" Collection of movies. My Top 5 Jerry Lewis Movies are included in this outstanding package. Today, we are celebrating Labor Day nationwide by spending time with family and friends at BBQs, having fun outside as the summer ends, and reflecting on American workers' accomplishments.   Growing up, I celebrated Labor Day by doing all of those things, but the most important part of every Labor Day Weekend was, without question, “The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day T