Thomas M. Willett

Short Stop: #19. Anton Chekhov – “A Doctor’s Visit” A look at a life through the media that helped define it.

In this entry of Short Stop, Chekhov details "A Doctor's Visit" by trying to understand what ails a business tycoon's daughter. The irony comes when he realizes that the only thing she's sick of is her parent.

Also... a few listens into the Tron: Ares score and... not my favorite. Much like Challengers, I don't get why people prefer the poppier, less intricate stuff Reznor does for films. I do like Tron: Ares a tad more if just for its atmospheric touches.

Somebody released a "Best Rap Albums" list a few weeks back and got me to listen to Biggie's "Life After Death." You don't know cognitive dissonance until you realize whose voice is actively sabotaging his dead collaborator's work with idiosyncratic melodies. With that said, his rhymes were great.

Anyway, for those interested in what I've been listening to...

My comments are that Emily Wells' score for Plainclothes is incredible, and I seem to be a softy for Olivia Barton's candidness.

Good luck. It's taken me 15 years to get to the fifth one this year. I get *some* of its appeal, but a lot of the production values are more painful to watch than the traps. Have to really work myself up for these "later" ones.

Curious to know when Tim Robbins will play Tim Robinson's father in a project.

Finished the Franny of "Franny & Zoey," and I have to wonder... why do I find "Catcher in the Rye" so annoying? This story was wonderful and immersive. He has a grasp on small details that build richer ideas of characters. Maybe it's the simplicity of the premise, but this one really worked for me.

Not sure who needs to hear this, but the Pirates of Penzance reboot that takes place in New Orleans just hit streaming. Been looking forward to what they do to update Gilbert & Sullivan.

Congrats, Dodgers, I guess.

It'll also be fun to potentially see him at a venue where I've already seen productions of three different shows he had been associated with (though not with him).

I heard of his former residency and how well that turned out. I am curious to see what he'd deliver this time around. Given that I saw him on the Honeymind tour, I want to imagine he brings that passion to a more established outing.

Not sure who needs to hear this, but Ben Platt is doing a two-week residency at The Ahmanson in a few months, and I'm sure it'll be a great time.

Short Stop: #19. Anton Chekhov – “A Doctor’s Visit” A look at a life through the media that helped define it.

In this entry of Short Stop, Chekhov details "A Doctor's Visit" by trying to understand what ails a business tycoon's daughter. The irony comes when he realizes that the only thing she's sick of is her parent.

Watching Memoirs of an Invisible Man, and Daryl Hannah's character is named Alice Monroe, but I always jump to Munro. Would love to think this is a fictionalized version of the author, and John Carpenter was just finding a way to write her into a movie.

Loving those Halloween vibes.

Loving those Halloween vibes.

Anyway... goodnight. I'm off to complete my Fritz Lang marathon of Dr. Mabuse films. Have fun without me.

Not that a 36-year-old's opinion matters here, but the new Ashnikko album is an improvement over "Weedkiller." A lot more clever lyrics and vivid imagery. What it lacks in Ethel Cain duets it *sort of* makes up for with ribaldry.

(Oh, and by the way I am reading "Franny and Zoey")

I will also say that having never read "The Outsiders" as a teenager has had a detrimental impact on how I see that story too. I recognize merit but it is corny coming of age stuff to me. Rumble Fish kicks ass though.

For the record, I didn't like "Catcher in the Rye" when I read it in my early 20s. Wasn't to point like Junot Diaz or James Frey where I never wanted to read them again, but that window had closed.

YouTube video by mickeydee23 Family Guy Big Fat Phony. - YouTube

Given that I am reading my first J.D. Salinger book in 13 years, I feel it's only right to share this clip:

youtu.be/ToQVoyWWluQ?...

I want to love Testament more, but The Gambler has way too much chutzpah to compare. It's prescient, sure, especially before the worst happened, but it feels less groundbreaking.

Dr. Mabuse rankings so far: 1. The Gambler, 2. The Testament

I hope 1,000 Eyes is a whopper because the conceit of this is fascinating in a way similar to an inverted Antoine Doinel stand-in for the director's ideology.

It is also wild how much media I am enjoying right now that is about a certain corrupt party even as allegory. I love Pynchon's take for how lived in every scene is and underlines the fear alongside the absurdity and necessity to win against evil.

Finished "Shadow Ticket" today. Pynchon remains just as elusive and cryptic as ever, but his messaging rings true with humor and despair. Entertaining for sure. Curious to see where consensus on this is because I am very high on it, at least from the post-GR that I've read. Can't wait to study this.

Dr. Mabuse coming through with the hits. "Eat more cocaine, you limp-dick!" is a line someone spoke in 1922. Fritz Lang was on another level, man.

Did I sign up and just forget? I had to have... how else did they know where to route the money?

Apparently I was part of some litigation involving Facebook and they gave me some money. Guess Mark is good for something.

Farewell, Marc A look at a life through the media that helped define it.

As I finish saying goodbye to WTF, I am taking one last moment to remember everything it meant for me: