More years ago than I care to admit, I spent a frigid Christmas Eve packing nearly everything I owned into a used brown Chevette hatchback in preparation for a move to Los Angeles. I had just graduated from the University of Wisconsin on the coldest day my skin has ever...

“May you live in interesting times.” – Anonymous

“On second thought…” – Me

Growing up, I sometimes regretted that I had missed out on the “Swingin’ Sixties,” with all of that decade's societal upheavals and explosions of creative freedom.  Sure, you had a divisive and costly war, and I could...

I caught a little of Michael Steele's speech on CNN today as he addressed the Republican National Committee State Chairmen, setting the party on its new course. When I had the chance to read through the full text, a few thoughts struck me. And before I get accused of...

The Republicans seem to be taking "opposition party" as their sole defining characteristic as they flounder for their place in the new political landscape. Considering how much they bitched when they controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress, it's not surprising that their current situation would leave them...

(Washington) Internationally known philanthropist Santa Claus made a surprise appearance before Congress today to request a massive loan to keep his workshop open, asserting that, without an immediate infusion of cash, "This may be the year without a Christmas."

Mr. Claus, age unknown, offered...

Last week, General Motors announced second-quarter losses of $15.5 billion. For the same period, Exxon Mobil reported the best quarterly profit EVER for a corporation: $11.68 billion.

Since it's clear that the real money is in oil rather than automobiles, isn't the obvious solution for General Motors to merge with...

On a recent visit to my mother's house in Wisconsin, a single day's mail included a dozen entreaties for money. Many were from worthy charities -- cancer research, the heart fund, injured vets, CARE -- but ones to which she had already generously donated this year. Two envelopes were from...

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has made oodles of gaffes in recent days, but here's one more blunder for Iowa's caucasians to ponder before they caucus:

CNN: Presidential candidates relaunch Letterman and Leno showshttp://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/02/hollywoodlabor.latenight.ap/index.html

The return of TV's late-night funnymen after a two-month strike hiatus turned into a bizarre mix...

I spent Christmas week in a world without network television, during which I saw a vision of the Ghost of Entertainment Future which ought to scare the bejesus out of the writers and the producers enough to get them back to the bargaining table.

As my family...

As the Writers Guild strike has ground to its current impasse, I have started to see the negotiators from the AMPTP as the boardroom equivalent of Anton Chigurh, the implacable, single-minded killer brought to indelible life by Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men. The producers might have allowed...

What if you could remember, in detail, nearly every day of your life?

My brother Brad can.

Mention the date May 15, 1972, and Brad will tell you it was the day Governor George Wallace was shot by an attempted assassin. It was also the second night...

The AP's Sandy Cohen offers a much-needed corrective about the economic status of Writers Guild members: Hollywood writers lead far-from-glamorous lives.

I found this quote from actor William H. Macy, who walked the picket lines in solidarity with the writers this week, particularly fascinating:

"The difference between the upper...

And so, the Writers Guild strike is upon us. Scribes carrying picket signs began marching outside studios and network headquarters on both coasts this morning. To those who don't think the strike involves any sacrifice, I'd like to point out that, for many L.A.-based writers, this is...

The Writers Guild's current contract with the TV networks and movie studios expires at midnight on Halloween, a spooky moment of disharmonic convergence which has created an industry-wide anxiety that feels eerily like a sequel to Y2K. All interested parties are holding their collective breath, unsure exactly what will happen...

Last week, we endured much righteous huffing and puffing over the shocking fact that Barack Obama does not wear an American-flag lapel pin, briefly shifting the national debate from "Is Obama black enough?" to "Is Obama red, white and blue enough?" Now, some on the Right are attempting to...

When this classic debuted in the U.K. in 1977, it delivered the goods in just over 30 minutes -- a potent and pithy twelve songs, which expanded to thirteen in the U.S. with the inclusion...

Many years ago, my friend Daniel mailed me an audio cassette. No explanatory note, just a ninety-minute home-recorded tape labeled "Gordon Thomas." Having bonded with Daniel over our mutual fondness for the brilliance of Ben Folds Five and trusting his taste thoroughly, I...

Hollywood is stupid.

I realize this observation doesn't qualify as news, but once in a while this essential truism of showbiz needs to be reiterated, just to wake people up.

Today's exhibit: Seth Rogen in talks to co-write and star in "The Green Hornet."

Now let me state up...

On Fox News recently, conservative analyst Tammy Bruce was bemoaning the "growing incompetency of the Bush administration" on foreign policy issues, including immigration and the war in Iraq. In her frustration, she said of President Bush:

"I'm waiting to find the space aliens that kidnapped the president that I grew...

Within ten hours last week, two sets of sextuplets were born in the United States.

Last Sunday night in Minnesota, Brianna Morrison gave birth to four boys and two girls, four and a half months premature, at weights ranging between 11 ounces and 1 pound, 3 ounces. As of this...