Vive Le Clézio!

French novelist Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio was named this year’s winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday. Le Clézio, whom the Swedish Academy fancifully described as an “author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilisation,” has written more than 20 novels since the early age of 23.

Posted on Oct 9, 2008 READ MORE  | 93 READS

Eastwood Confused, Dismayed by Today’s ‘Perverted Politics’

Seasoned film star and “Changeling” director Clint Eastwood says American politics aren’t what they used to be; in fact, the grizzled sort-of-libertarian thinks they’re even a little “perverted”—but not like that.

Posted on Oct 7, 2008 READ MORE  | 74 READS

Palin to Exact Comic Revenge on ‘SNL’?

The McCain-Palin campaign team might soon borrow a page from the celebrity crisis management handbook (see Chap. 11: Poke Fun at Yourself on a Late-Night Comedy Show), if the rumor that Sarah Palin is considering an appearance alongside her “Saturday Night Live” doppelgänger Tina Fey comes true before the Nov. 4 election.

Posted on Oct 6, 2008 READ MORE  | 88 READS

John Holmes on ‘The Lost Spy’

Former Time correspondent Andrew Meier presents a riveting exhumation of the previously unknown story of Cy Oggins, an early American-Jewish communist who spied for the Soviets and was killed by them in 1947.

Posted on Oct 3, 2008 READ MORE  | 544 READS

Georgia ? Stalin

With Georgia on the U.S. mainstream media’s map after its recent war with Russia, a new interest in Georgian history and politics seems to have come to life, especially concerning the cult of personality that Stalin still leads in his native land.

Posted on Oct 1, 2008 READ MORE  | 219 READS

Katie Couric Is Ready for Her Close-Up

It’s been a rough couple of years for the anchor of the last-place network newscast, but Katie Couric managed to silence many of her critics this week with an interview series that not only got a lot of attention, but scored points for her tough but fair style.

Posted on Oct 1, 2008 READ MORE  | 117 READS

Colbert Gets Graphic in ‘Spider-Man’ Cameo

It may sound like an impossible feat to appear in a popular superhero series without even having to physically show up for the job, but that’s just what Comedy Central pseudo-pundit Stephen Colbert has pulled off by lending his name and likeness to Marvel Comic’s “Amazing Spider-Man” #573.

Posted on Sep 30, 2008 READ MORE  | 83 READS

Actor and Philanthropist Paul Newman Dies at 83

Paul Newman, the iconic blue-eyed film star of big-screen classics like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Sting” and “Cool Hand Luke,” died on Friday at his Connecticut home after a long battle with cancer. Newman, who also made a name for himself as a philanthropist with his Newman’s Own food product line and Hole in the Wall Gang camps, was 83.

Posted on Sep 27, 2008 READ MORE  | 215 READS

Spielberg Negotiates Rare Peace Agreement Between Feuding Directors

It’s good to know that there are still people, in this time of great strife, who believe in the power of diplomatic negotiation over brute force ... even if the people in this particular case happen to be two Hollywood directors apparently possessed of egos the size of Sarah Palin’s home state.

Posted on Sep 22, 2008 READ MORE  | 70 READS

Does the Cold War Have Lessons for Today?

Carolyn Eisenberg takes a close look at Melvyn Leffler’s “For the Soul of Mankind” to ask whether our current troubles are rooted in a history that continues to haunt us.

Posted on Sep 19, 2008 READ MORE  | 1219 READS

Pitt Pitches In $100K to Battle Gay Marriage Ban

The Nov. 4 election is more than six weeks away, but Brad Pitt has revealed what his vote will be on at least one ballot initiative by donating $100,000 to fight California’s Proposition 8, which aims to overturn the state Supreme Court decision that made same-sex marriage legal last May.

Posted on Sep 18, 2008 READ MORE  | 94 READS

McCain Bites Celeb Hands That Feed Him

John McCain took the opportunity Tuesday to criticize Barack Obama for consorting with celebrities at a Democratic fund drive in Hollywood that night, but McCain had apparently forgotten about his own celeb-attended fundraiser in Beverly Hills last month. McCain supporter Wilford Brimley has yet to comment on this grievous oversight.

Posted on Sep 17, 2008 READ MORE  | 145 READS

Kid Rock, GOP Supporter, Decries Celebrity Endorsements of Politicians

Bombastic rap-rocker Kid Rock recently hit out at fellow celebrities for using their star power to endorse political candidates. However, it seems Mr. Rock himself has a storied history of supporting politicians’ campaigns and was once slated to perform at George W. Bush’s 2005 inaugural festivities. Updated

Posted on Sep 15, 2008 READ MORE  | 1825 READS

Satirist Finds the Pope Is Off-Limits

Jokes about religion often play with the boundaries of tolerance and taste, but they don’t always carry the consequences that Sabina Guzzanti now faces. The Italian actress could go to jail for upsetting the powers that be with a satirical zinger about the pope and two gay devils.

Jokes about religion often play with the boundaries of tolerance and taste, but they don’t always carry the consequences that Sabina Guzzanti now faces. The Italian actress could go to jail for upsetting the powers that be with a satirical zinger about the pope and two gay devils.

Posted on Sep 11, 2008 READ MORE  | 93 READS

Jane Ciabattari on Emily Dickinson’s Friendship With Abolitionist

A new book by Brenda Wineapple sheds light on the little-known relationship of the reclusive genius poet with one of America’s most fervent radicals.

Posted on Sep 11, 2008 READ MORE  | 388 READS