J. J. Abrams and Bryan Burk

When we began work on Star Trek Into Darkness, we realized it would be released in May 2013, a moment when our nation would have the opportunity and responsibility to make sure we help these post-9/11 veterans transition back to jobs, higher education, or ongoing careers of service.

Binky Philips

Music aficionado

Unlike the rumors I'd heard at the time that he was secretly ruining knock-off pieces of junk, Pete Townshend really was trashing copious amounts of really expensive guitars.

Carl Takei

Staff Attorney at the National Prison Project, ACLU

Our overincarceration epidemic has a massive and disproportionate impact on people of color. While communities of color suffer, the for-profit prison companies benefit.

Maureen Ryan

TV critic, The Huffington Post

When a show can make Wall-climbing, a middle-aged man learning to read, a bear fight, a painful confession and a farcical wedding all hang together, visually and tonally, it's doing something right.

Angela Onwuachi-Willig

Charles and Marion Kierscht Professor, University of Iowa College of Law

As the hit series Scandal continues to show us, despite the increasing rate of interracial marriage within the United States, interracial relationships are still frequently represented as dirty little secrets -- relationships to be hidden rather than shown with pride.

Morgan Glennon

Journalist and freelance writer

Yvonne Strahovski went from fighting crime to committing it. On Chuck Strahovski played tough-as-nails agent Sarah Walker, who was tasked with protecting Zachary Levi's Chuck but ended up falling for him.

Austin Nelson

Photographer in NYC

If you're a Wilco fan, you know how passionate they are about their music and this festival has certainly been no exception. Held on the beautiful campus of MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA, Solid Sound is what every music festival should be.

Michael Giltz

Freelance writer

What better way for the Irish Repertory Theatre to celebrate its 25th anniversary season than this pitch-perfect revival of Conor McPherson's brilliant play The Weir?

The Everlasting Phil Ramone and Danielle Evin

Producer extraordinaire (Ramone) and acclaimed singer-songwriter (Evin)

This week's playlist includes music by Alice Coltrane, Kevin Coyne, Mattie May Thomas, Wilco, Lupe Fiasco, Iron and Wine, and more.

Dan Persons

Film journalist

Practically omnipresent and infinitely versatile, Malcolm McDowell has played, among others, a rebellious private school student, a futuristic sociopath, a degenerate emperor, Michael Myer's nemesis, and the killer of Captain Kirk.

Brian Formo

Los Angeles-based writer

Lance Bangs spent his youth making music videos for bands such as Sonic Youth, R.E.M., Belle & Sebastian and The Shins, and, among other camera jobs, lensing episodes of Jackass.

Richard Valeriani

Former NBC News correspondent

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those men and women who have died in our nation's service. It was originally known as Decoration Day and was perhaps our most solemn holiday.

Barbara Schroeder

Emmy award-winning journalist

Thanks to a source close to the case, my co-author had found the only known official photo from the death scene. Here, published for the first time, a look at how Lupe Velez really died.

Mike Ragogna

Music Biz Vet

Ilana Rapp

Writer, NYCastings, "V" fanatic

What do you get when you mix passion with love, dedication and commitment? Freddie Smith!

Glenn Paul Manion

Band Member/Founder, Squeaky Clean

Even if fame eludes you, recognize that it need not be a death sentence for your career. You may find that you create better music without it.

Ariston Anderson

Culture & Travel Writer

There's a trend in actor-turned-director helmed films at Cannes this year, an impeccable direction of the people on screen. One of the clearest examples of this is James Franco's new feature film, As I Lay Dying.

Marshall Fine

Author and film critic, hollywoodandfine.com

I heartily endorse the original Hangover. Now we've got Part III. And yes, I recognize that the Roman numeral is meant as a joke -- but I have to point out that it's about as funny as many of the gags in this uneven and busy film.

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

Senior Religion Editor, The Huffington Post

I sat down to talk with Anne Heche about her new comedy, Save Me -- what looks to be a very funny, brave and timely series that puts God on primetime in a way that we have never seen him/her before.

Brenda Chapman

Brave Writer and Co-Director

The message Disney sends to the public in changing Merida is that she is not good enough the way she is. In doing that, they are making the same statement to all the young girls out there.