In September 1977, Bing Crosby was recording his television special “Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas.” Slated for a guest appearance in the show was a rather unusual choice – Ziggy Stardust himself, Mr. David Bowie. Bowie was scheduled to sing
by Matt Patterson24 Dec 2011, 6:09 AM PST0
Well, apparently I’m a terrorist. At least according to the definition of a wide number of Congressmen, reporters, television personalities, and even – so it’s reported – the Vice President of the United States himself. What did I do to
by Matt Patterson3 Aug 2011, 7:43 AM PST0
The summer is young, and already two MARVEL comics properties – “Thor” and “X-Men” – have barnstormed into theaters to excellent reviews and boffo business (“Thor” slightly underperformed domestic expectations, but still has made nearly half a billion in worldwide
by Matt Patterson20 Jun 2011, 6:33 AM PST0
Wisconsin is the birthplace of American public-sector unionism. In the 1930s the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) first organized in Madison. How ironic then that Wisconsin may also be the burial ground for public-sector unionism. Governor
by Matt Patterson3 May 2011, 10:03 AM PST0
“Music was my salvation really, and always has been.” – Joey Ramone Years ago, a young woman sat across from me on a near-empty train. She looked like she had been crying. Pulling her sweatshirt sleeves down over her hands,
by Matt Patterson28 Mar 2011, 4:47 AM PST0
Praise be, they’re back. MTV has recently announced the triumphant return of Beavis and Butt-head. Original series creator Mike Judge is on board to produce new episodes which will air on the one-time music network later this year. As John
by Matt Patterson24 Feb 2011, 3:24 PM PST0
Robert Plant was once derided as the least-talented member of Led Zeppelin. His voice was notoriously uneven live and his prissy stage manner earned him the derogatory nickname “Percy” among his band mates. It is widely known that Plant was
by Matt Patterson12 Feb 2011, 10:48 AM PST0
If you haven’t seen ABC’s breakout hit Wipeout, then, well, I just feel sorry for you. You may instead have been watching critically acclaimed, scripted dramas like Big Love, or award winning educational programming on Discovery or National Geographic. Hell,
by Matt Patterson29 Jan 2011, 3:02 PM PST0
I started out trying to write a typical, end-of-year, best of list. I really did. I agonized for days over the best movies I had seen in 2010. But every time I had something I was sure of on my
by Matt Patterson1 Jan 2011, 6:55 AM PST0
Fans of a certain costumed web-slinger have been dismayed by a string of recent developments which have threatened to bury the crime-fighter’s sterling reputation under a mountain of kitsch and banality. First, there was the departure of director Sam Raimi
by Matt Patterson23 Dec 2010, 4:51 AM PST0
AMC’s Zombie series “The Walking Dead,” which concluded its first season last night, received (mostly) kudos from (mostly) liberal critics. And some of this praise is deserved: The acting is first rate, and the show looks gorgeous – the directing,
by Matt Patterson6 Dec 2010, 4:35 AM PST0
I sometimes wonder if Americans really have any idea of the scope of the danger facing this country. I also wonder if they don’t deserve the disaster that is coming. Americans loudly focus their anger on the President, who is
by Matt Patterson15 Mar 2010, 2:57 PM PST0
David Brooks is a thoughtful writer and, by all appearances, a nice fellow. But on his February 9 appearance on Charlie Rose, Brooks painfully revealed the limits of his understanding and the poverty of his vision. These failings are not
by Matt Patterson11 Feb 2010, 7:01 AM PST0
Just before Christmas rumors began to leak out of Hollywood that Sam Raini’s Spider-Man 4 had run into trouble. Nonsense, came word from Sony; the production is only on “holiday break,” all is well in Spidey-Land, and your favorite web-slinger
by Matt Patterson9 Jan 2010, 11:03 AM PST0
I have in the past been a skeptic of Sarah Palin. Not of her political talent, which is considerable, but of her grasp of – and even interest in – substantive policy issues. When she abruptly resigned the governorship of
by Matt Patterson27 Dec 2009, 8:11 AM PST0
Dear Hollywood, I’m sorry, but things just aren’t working out. That’s hard to hear, I know, and believe me, it’s hard to say. After all, we’ve had some great times together. But let’s face it – those great times are
by Matt Patterson20 Dec 2009, 7:01 AM PST0
Part 3 – 1976, The Big Bang (Author’s note: Apologies to all the readers of “The Vault” who wrote in wondering when the next chapter was coming. I promise I have not abandoned this series, and have been grateful for
by Matt Patterson5 Dec 2009, 5:47 PM PST0
On October 13th, Bob Dylan released an album of Christmas standards entitled Christmas in the Heart. The reaction from critics, and much of the public, has been: Is this some kind of joke? “Hearing Bob hack out the words ‘With
by Matt Patterson23 Nov 2009, 10:20 AM PST0
Earlier this year, I rented and re-watched the entire series run of Cheers. Towards the end of the series, the hayseed junior bartender Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) decides to run for city council. He is encouraged in this endeavor by
by Matt Patterson14 Nov 2009, 6:10 PM PST0
What is horror? The word comes down to us from the Old Roman, horrere, which means literally “to stand on end” (as in hair) or “to shiver,” whether from fear or cold – Ovid refers to the “chill-bearing breath” of
by Matt Patterson31 Oct 2009, 6:18 AM PST0
What happens to an artist whose creative peak has long past? That is the question which looms like a sustained E chord over the new documentary It Might Get Loud, a strange and wonderful cinematic ode to the electric guitar
by Matt Patterson26 Oct 2009, 6:55 AM PST0
OK, first things first: U2 put on a great show in FedEx Field in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, September 29, 2009. This was a relief, because the previous Saturday they had turned in a dismal, oddly disjointed performance on “Saturday
by Matt Patterson16 Oct 2009, 4:37 PM PST0
Part 2 – In The Beginning 1965. Cafe Bizarre. Greenwich Village, New York City. An unknown band takes the stage and begins to play. The electric viola weeps an unearthly, hypnotic lament, as the singer chants: “Not a ghost-bloodied country,
by Matt Patterson29 Aug 2009, 6:03 PM PST0
Ah, August. Hot. Muggy. Sluggish. School approaches; summer vacations are over or nearly so. The new television season is weeks away. And even in a good movie year – which 2009 has decidedly not been – all the best blockbusters
by Matt Patterson10 Aug 2009, 6:57 AM PST0
Part 1 – Introduction The bats have left the bell tower, the victims have been bled… – Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” Goth is dead. Well, OK, maybe not. But if it is not dead, exactly, Goth certainly isn’t what it
by Matt Patterson5 Aug 2009, 6:03 PM PST0