Author Archives: Tom Garrett

Presidented Without Comment

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Tom Garrett

I was watching the most recent non-rerun edition of Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago when it dawned on me that the venerable late-night sketch comedy show hadn’t told a joke adverse to President Obama for three consecutive episodes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics, Television | Tagged Al Gore, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Commentary, George Bush, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, John McCain, Politics, Ronald Reagan, Saturday Night Live, SNL, Television, Terrible Puns, The Presidency | Leave a comment

Robot History Month is Back!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Tom Garrett

The plight of the noble robot is one that is both under-reported and under-appreciated. The month-long April celebration of Robot History Month attempts to remedy those injustices. Last year’s edition produced several fine pieces of content that honored the sacrifices … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Site Stuff | Tagged Commentary, Diversity, Race, Robot History Month, Robots, Site Stuff | Leave a comment

Approximately XXVIII Thoughts About WrestleMania

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Tom Garrett

WrestleMania XXVIII (“28” for you non-Romans) provided a puzzling hodge-podge of sports entertainment that ran the gamut from sublime to ridiculous to ill-advised. I’m not sure where exactly to place the aggregate, but it felt less-than-spectacular. Relax. This won’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Reviews, Sports, Television | Tagged Beth Phoenix, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Commentary, Daniel Bryan, Eve Torres, John Cena, John Laurinaitis, Maria Menounos, Pro Wrestling, Reviews, Shawn Michaels, Sheamus, Sports, Television, The Big Show, The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, WrestleMania, Wrestlemania 28, WrestleMania XXVIII, WWE | 2 Comments

SitCombat: 3/29/12

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Tom Garrett

30 Rock has won an unprecedented four consecutive weeks of SitCombat. The Office had been red-hot for the middle part of the season, but a recent swoon has seen 30 Rock and Archer benefit from the Office’s decent but unspectacular … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Reviews, Television | Tagged 30 Rock, 5nowdog5, Commentary, Corporate Blimps Weekly, Hazel Wassername, LeJon Brames, Reviews, SitCombat, Summer Horse Grave, Television, The Office | 2 Comments

The Need to be Needed

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Tom Garrett

Bill Maher made a compelling case for a National Day of No Outrage on last week’s Real Time. After glancing at ESPN.com over the weekend and realizing that three of the front page headlines were about apologies for various types … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics, Television, Videos | Tagged Bill Maher, George Zimmerman, National Day of No Outrage, Navel-Gazing, Politics, Racism?, Real Time, Television, Trayvon Martin | 11 Comments

An Untimely Knight Rider Rant

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Tom Garrett

Can we talk about Knight Rider’s premise for a minute? Anyone who reads this website on a consistent basis knows I have a high tolerance for suspension of disbelief. Talking car with advanced weaponry? No problem. I’m all in. Run … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Television | Tagged 1980's, Commentary, David Hasselhoff, KITT, Knight Rider, Michael Knight, Rants, Television, The 80's | 7 Comments

SitCombat: 3/22/12

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Tom Garrett

30 Rock has triumphed three consecutive weeks and isn’t making things any easier on the competition this time around. The venerable NBC show has two all-new episodes tonight. Still, it’s far from a given that 30 Rock will make it four in … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Reviews, Television | Tagged 30 Rock, Archer, Caress of Krieger, Commentary, Mitt Romummy, Mitt Zombie, Normal Al, Reviews, Steel Hammerhands, Television, The Office, Weird Al Yankovic, Whorediot, William Baldwin | 5 Comments

A Simpler Time (to Pay Players to Hurt Other Players)

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Tom Garrett

Three thoughts came to mind when I heard the shocking news about the New Orleans Saints bounty fallout today: 1. All of the penalties seemed to be some degree of excessive. Sean Payton being suspended for a full year is … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Sports, Videos | Tagged 1980's, 1989, Bounty Bowl, Buddy Ryan, Commentary, Gregg Williams, Jimmy Johnson, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Roger Goodell, Sean Payton, Sports, The 80's, Tim Tebow, Videos | Leave a comment

Intellectual Honesty in the Age of Unreason

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Tom Garrett

I hate to interrupt a string of lighthearted cultural observations, sports references, and stories about awkward moments in the annals of entertainment history with something more serious—but here goes. A fascinating journal article came to my attention a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics | Tagged Abortion, Alberto Giubilini, Best in the World, Civility, Commentary, Conservatism, Fox News, Francesca Minerva, Gawker, Hyperbole, Intellectual Honesty, Journal of Medical Ethics, Liberalism, MSNBC, Politics, Reasonableness, Rhetoric, Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, Ultrasound, Virginia, War on Women | 16 Comments

SitCombat: 3/15/12

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Tom Garrett

I’m skipping the first night of the NCAA tournament to write a review of three sitcoms, so I’m going to dispense with the preamble this week. It’s only fair. I’ll just point out that 30 Rock is riding a two-week … Continue reading →