In 2020, Donald Trump was impeached by the United States House of Representatives and later acquitted by the United States Senate; The United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union; COVID-19 wreaked havoc on world health and economic systems; Massive protests erupted in the US in response to police brutality against minorities, particularly the death… Continue reading The world turned upside down: A look back at 2020
Stuck at Homer(r): Season 9
9.1 The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson After Barney abandons Homer’s car in the World Trade Center plaza, Homer takes the family to the city to retrieve the car before it’s destroyed. Homer running up one tower to use the restroom, finding it out of order, then going to the other tower and… Continue reading Stuck at Homer(r): Season 9
Everything that follows is older than Ed Sheeran: A look back at 1990
In 1990, The first McDonald’s opened in Moscow; Nelson Mandela was released from prison after twenty seven years confinement; Namibia, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia became independent nations; East and West Germany reunified; The Hubble Space Telescope launched; The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of diseases; Iraq invaded Kuwait; Tim Berners-Lee started… Continue reading Everything that follows is older than Ed Sheeran: A look back at 1990
Stuck at Home(r): Season 8
8.1 Treehouse of Horror VII This is one of the best installments of the show’s venerable Halloween tradition. Bart’s twin is a great segment, Lisa’s tiny universe is solid, and the final portion with Kang and Kodos impersonating US presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole is one of the best bits of the entire… Continue reading Stuck at Home(r): Season 8
Hungover like it was 1999: A look back at 2000
In 2000: AOL purchased Time Warner; Sony released the Playstation 2; Elián González was reunited with his father in Cuba; The USS Cole was damaged by Al-Qaeda suicide bombers; The New York Yankees defeated the New York Mets in the World Series; The first resident crew entered the International Space Station; Saturday Night Live aired the… Continue reading Hungover like it was 1999: A look back at 2000
Stuck at Home(r): Season 7
7.1 Who Shot Mr. Burns Part II The conclusion of the The Simpsons two-parter has some classic moments with a guilt stricken Smithers and an enraged Homer. Maggie as the villain feels like letdown, but I loved the Twin Peaks reference, Tito Puente, and Lisa’s detective work. 7.2 Radioactive Man Bart and Milhouse audition for… Continue reading Stuck at Home(r): Season 7
I was told there’d be flying cars: A look back at 2010
In 2010, Conan O’Brien was fired as host of The Tonight Show; The Burj Khalifa became the tallest man-made structure in the world; The XXI Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver; The eruption of Mount Eyjafjallajökull disrupted air traffic throughout Europe; The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform exploded; The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis… Continue reading I was told there’d be flying cars: A look back at 2010
Stuck at Home(r): Season 6
6.1 Bart of Darkness As summer vacation begins, Bart breaks his leg and can’t enjoy the Simpsons’ new pool which becomes a neighborhood attraction causing Lisa’s popularity to swell to an all time high. Meanwhile, Bart thinks he sees Ned killing Maude (a la Rear Window). When Martin installs a bigger pool at his house,… Continue reading Stuck at Home(r): Season 6
Little Mac Richard in a pit of snakes
Nosferatu (1922) Max Schreck inhabited the role of vampire Count Orlock so completely in this beautiful nightmare, he inspired a cottage industry of conspiracy theories casting him as an actual vampire. These theories eventually inspired their own film. Director F.W. Murnau, whose other credits include The Last Laugh (1924) and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), died tragically… Continue reading Little Mac Richard in a pit of snakes
Once upon a time, I wrestled while you slept
The Wrestler (2008) For those of us who remember wrestling in the Hulk Hogan heyday, this is a powerful counterpoint, highlighting the physical and emotional toll of being a wrestling performer. Constant touring, being away from your family, broken bones, and concussions are only a few of the features of the profession. And most wrestlers aren’t… Continue reading Once upon a time, I wrestled while you slept