Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

It was down to kool-aid drinkers and next of kin at the trump White House

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

The willow is too close to the house.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

I’m only here for the duck photos.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

What fresh hell is this?

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Han shot first.

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

Nevertheless, she persisted.

I did not have this on my fuck 2020 bingo card.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

How do you get liars to care about the truth?

How does anyone do Gilligan’s Island as trump world and not cast Jared as Gilligan?

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

We still have time to mess this up!

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

I really should read my own blog.

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Late Night Open Thread: Misdirection

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I was sure this would be based on one of the plethora of YA series where novelists mine the fanfic of ‘Harry Potter x Twilight x vintage British PBS television series’, but no — it’s from a real book by a British (stage) magician. Whether or not he was quite the dashing hero of his memoirs, Jasper Maskelnye certainly seems a perfect role for Mr. Cumberbatch’s talents…

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Oscar Time (Open Thread)

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Today Vox posted an overview of the Best Picture nominees, plus trailers for each nominated film. The article also helpfully provides information on how to see each film, i.e., which are in theaters only, which are available on which streaming channel, etc. Here are the eight nominees for 2021 Best Picture:

  • The Father
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Mank
  • Minari
  • Nomadland
  • Promising Young Woman
  • Sound of Metal
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7

The only one I’ve seen so far is “Mank,” which I thought was pretty good. Gary Oldman is amazing as always. I tried to watch “The Trial,” which has also been streaming for a while, but I got distracted early on and wandered off. (It’s entirely possible it’s a fine film that I just wasn’t in the right mood to see that particular day. I’ll give it another shot.)

I’ve been looking forward to seeing “Nomadland” (I have loved Frances McDormand ever since “Raising Arizona”) and Minari (I have adored Steven Yeun since “The Walking Dead”). “Judas and the Black Messiah” is about Fred Hampton, whose assassination is a criminally underreported facet of American history, so I’m glad the movie is getting Oscar notice and look forward to it becoming available via streaming.

I’d watch Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman read a seed catalog, so “The Father” is on my list too. Have you seen any of these movies, and if so, what did you think?

Other topics welcome too — open thread!

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Respite Open Thread: Last Night’s Golden Globes

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Since it’s very difficult to tell, these days: Yes, satire:

I’m kinda hoping, by this time next year — politics willing and the pandemic numbers don’t rise — we’ll have the mental bandwidth to spend a Sunday evening discussing dopey drunken movie award shows again.

Also, frankly, that preview parody makes more sense to me than ‘See, it’s the INTANGIBLES’ stories than this one…

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Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

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With He Who Shall Not Be Named’s malign influence fading, I’m seeing more wholesome content on my Twitter timeline:

Nature is healing!

Speaking of Shatner, at the University of Florida in the late 1980s, there used to be a T.J. Hooker Viewing Society.

Thursday Afternoon Open Thread 2

The hair!

Also speaking of Shatner, I read a story once that alleged that the young actor who played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek TNG approached Shatner (who was doing a flashback cameo or something) for an autograph and was rudely rebuffed. The kid told a castmate — maybe even Jean Luc himself — who said something like, “Oh, did no one tell you Bill is an asshole? Bill’s an asshole! Sorry about that,” and then went to the producer or whomever to make Shatner give the kid an autograph. No idea if it’s true, but I want it to be so!

Open thread.

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Medium Cool with BGinCHI – The Three Bears of TV Shows

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Tonight, it’s Medium Cool, hold the BGinCHI.

Medium Cool with BGinCHI – Cancelled Too Soon

Not to worry, BG will be back to Medium Cool on January 17.  I don’t want to name names, but someone has some book finishing to do.  I am holding down the fort in the meantime.

Tonight, let’s talk about some great shows that were cancelled too soon.  Firefly is at the top of my list. What are your top 5 shows that were cancelled after a season or two?   Tell us about some great shows that never really got the chance to play out like they should have.

Don’t even get me started on the not-so-great shows that have gone on too long!  We can talk about those, too.

Are there any shows that got it just right?

Reminder: next week we’ll be talking about The Wind of Change podcast.  There’s still time to catch up on the 8 episodes if you’re interested.

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Squishable temporary morning open thread

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Y’all. I think this is a real thing that happened:

What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen? Me: “The Man Who Loved Women,” starring Burt Reynolds. I was a fucking CHILD, and I walked out of the theater because it was so bad.

I also hate the sports drama movie “Rudy” and ridicule my husband for liking it. But now I know it’s not even the worst movie called “Rudy.”

Open thread!

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