The State of Scary TV
‘The Returned’ and ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ join ‘The Walking Dead’ in offering high-quality horror.
February 26, 2013
Freak Show and Tell: Asking the Universe If It’s Cool to Drink This Bottle of Urine
Every week, television documentaries present us with so many unusual people, with so many strange and/or disturbing problems, you might find it hard to keep up with all of them. That’s where I come in! Here’s an unflinching look back at TV’s Week in Freak Shows. Doomsday Preppers (NatGeo) Who Is This Now? David […]
Read moreGrading the Top 10 in … JAZZ!
1. The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, “Slave to Love” (The Jazz Age) Do you love the songs of Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music? Do you ever wish you could hear them played in the style of 1920s jazz? For example, why not strip “Slave to Love” of its minimalist high-tech production and transform it from one […]
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Worst Cooks in America, Episode 2: Vegetarians Don’t Eat Chicken
After my recap of the premiere went up last week, people left comments. That’s how these things work. But it was not just “civilian” people leaving comments; there were also comments from this season’s contestants. If I was on a cable reality show, I’d definitely mix it up on Grantland. Aadip thanked me for the […]
Read moreArrested Development’s Only Getting One New Season, But Don’t Let That Ruin Your Day
“Think of it as a nonrepeatable amazing.”
Read moreFebruary 25, 2013
Afternoon Links: How to Move on Now That Jennifer Lawrence Has Stolen All Our Hearts
You can’t have her, Jack. Jennifer Lawrence is the world’s girlfriend now. She is the rarest, most charming butterfly and can never be pinned onto a piece of decorative corkboard and imprisoned in a frame. Cradle her essence in your hands and then set her free, laughing and dancing against the backdrop of beautiful nimbus […]
Read moreB.S. Report: Chris Connelly on the Oscars
Chris Connelly calls in to the podcast to discuss his experience at the Oscars, Seth MacFarlane’s hosting, and whether films should have to wait five years before being eligible for the awards. Listen to the podcast here: ESPN.com Podcenter. Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.
Read moreWhat’s Kanye West Ranting About Today? Hint: The Grammys, ‘Suit & Tie,’ Some Other Stuff
“Remind me again why the Grammys can suck my dick?” Kanye asked on Friday night in London, during what is now his mandatory mid-show freakout/meltdown/one-man theatrical production. It was just one little moment of an eight-minute spiel — there was also a lot of stuff about how corporate America is ruining Kanye, trying to get […]
Read moreHollywood Prospectus Podcast: The Oscars, Food TV, and a Dying Peacock
Chris and I took last week off, due to work and travel concerns — there is no truth to the rumor that a media cabal led by Frank Darabont and Bob Greenblatt had us canceled. It turns out we needed the downtime to fully prepare ourselves for the gross orgy of smarm, song, and dance […]
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The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 11: ‘I Ain’t a Judas’
The nature of television is less casual than it used to be, with media requiring more and more of a commitment from viewers, as well as offering more opportunities to indulge in meta-programming and shield themselves with spoiler-protection masks, reinforcing the bonds between audience and serial. It’s immensely gratifying, but it can also be daunting for […]
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Oscars After-Party: Shocks! Surprises! Conspiracies! Amazing Hair!
Oscar Meteorology There’s always an element of fatalism with making Oscar predictions. You actually hope you’re wrong. You want to be right because people conflate educated awards-guessing with expertise. But when you have to sit and watch more than 190 minutes of the Academy Awards, you really don’t want a predicted outcome. You want to […]
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Girls Maturity Level Threat Watch: Episode 7
Jessa It’s no wonder Jessa was so horrible to her ex-husband Thomas-John’s parents. She hates her own dad! She also loves him, but it’s painful, as they’re uncomfortably similar and he is, decidedly, quite a prick (albeit a very charismatic one). Jessa embellishes the story of her divorce to make herself sound like the victim, […]
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