By JIM SABATASO | STAFF [A version of this story appears in the Sept. 3, 2014, edition of the Rutland Reader.] The Simpsons is having a moment. Entering its 25th season, the animated Fox sitcom has faded in and out of relevance, but its lasting cultural impact, like Martin Prince’s precious geode, must be acknowledged. The…
• The seven-day work week is so 20th century. Let’s get rid of it. (slate.com) Today, advances in automation, computation, and telecommunications have routinized the large-scale coordination problems that challenged America’s 20th-century economy. The knowledge economy runs differently, and there is no longer such an overwhelming imperative for large numbers of people and goods to…
• “Are these morons getting dumber or just louder?” The sad state of anti-intellectualism in The United States. (macleans.com) • The best cure for Shit Writing Syndrome? Dan Harmon. A great account by comedy writer Andy Bobrow about how his time on Community helped him become a better writer. (medium.com) • What’s up with that gunk…
By JIM SABATASO | STAFF Since its inception, the sitcom formula has varied little. Take a group of people — family, friends, coworkers — set up a problem, and give them 22 minutes to solve it. Add snark, schmaltz, absurdity to taste. Repeat for as many seasons as possible. That’s not meant to be a…
• Yesterday, the Internet exploded (in a mostly positive way) over this week’s episode of Louie, which is a frank examination of the way overweight women are portrayed in popular culture. The subject is a minefield that CK more or less navigates unscathed — thanks in large part to the excellent performance by Sarah Baker. Here’s…
The Plaid Crew 