"Music," Jimmy Webb says firmly, "can save the world. It already has done so more than once. It will do so again. But, we have to save the music."

This was the not the first title I had in mind for this piece. But when I dug into Clint Eastwood's life and career, it seemed particularly apt -- and not even close to an overstatement.

It seems to me that every Irish band who achieves a certain level of international success eventually goes back to being Irish again, regardless of how many gold records they have on their walls or how much cash is in their pockets.

The story of Gene Hackman, who quietly turned eighty just two months ago, is one of raw will and talent overcoming a host of limitations that would have defeated most people.

Last night's "The Color Blue" was a cracking good episode that, after last week's rushed and rather arbitrary plot developments, returned Mad Men to its strongest ground.

A satisfactory if not scintillating opener for the third season of Mad Men. The show captures the air of uncertainty that grips today's U.S. economy, and hints at major culture clash ahead.