Book Review Ken Jennings: Because I Said So!

The Jeopardy mega-winner takes on a new type of trivia, dissecting the myths of parental warnings and received wisdom.

December 10, 2012 | 12:02am -

Book Review Penn Jillette: Every Day Is An Atheist Holiday!

The loud half of Penn & Teller has more opinions than he needs to share in his new essay collection.

November 26, 2012 | 12:02am -

MusicalWork Review Mumford & Sons: Babel

The banjo returns for the British folk group’s sophomore album.

September 25, 2012 | 12:04am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “Sozin’s Comet”

Lesser shows are about action for the sake of action, but Avatar’s finale puts the action in service to the character. (Part of Best of TV Club.)

April 18, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Southern Raiders”/“The Ember Island Players”

Katara confronts her inner darkness and then the Gang takes in a play.

April 11, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Boiling Rock, Part 1”/“The Boiling Rock, Part 2”

This two-parter has the thrills and cerebral action of a first-rate prison break film.

April 4, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Western Air Temple”/“The Firebending Masters”

Hijinks abound as Zuko joins the Aang Gang!

March 28, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Day Of Black Sun, Part 1: The Invasion”/“The Day Of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse”

Feeling that one should be ready is not the same thing as being ready.

March 21, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : The Simpsons “Them, Robot”

The satire in this episode is too gentle, but the good-natured gags keep it afloat.

March 19, 2012 | 12:05am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “Nightmares And Daydreams”

While this episode delays the long-promised action, it is necessary to show Aang’s inner life in the lead-up to his destined conflict. 

March 14, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : The River “The Experiment”

Our intrepid explorers run across a forgotten outpost from The Walking Dead.

March 14, 2012 | 12:35am -

TV Club : The Simpsons “How I Wet Your Mother”

Although it never reaches outright hilarity, “How I Wet Your Mother” is one of the more interesting episodes of this season, and the major reason for this is focus. 

March 11, 2012 | 11:45pm -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Runaway”/“The Puppetmaster”

Two episodes hearkening to past events while moving the story forward in small but significant steps.

March 7, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : The Simpsons “Exit Through The Kwik-E-Mart”

The Simpsons take on Exit Through The Gift Shop, but the satire is relatively mild for this subject.

March 4, 2012 | 11:25pm -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Beach”/“The Avatar And The Firelord”

An episode like none other on the show and a necessary piece of the backstory puzzle.

February 29, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Painted Lady”/“Sokka’s Master”

Delving deeper into season three.

February 21, 2012 | 12:05pm -

TV Club : The Simpsons “At Long Last Leave”

Presenting the middle of The Simpsons’ bell curve. 

February 19, 2012 | 11:05pm -

TV Club : Avatar: The Last Airbender “The Awakening”/“The Headband”

The third chapter starts with our heroes at great disadvantage—and their odds of winning diminishing.

February 14, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : The Simpsons “The Daughter Also Rises”

It must be difficult to piece together an episode when the Simpsons Plot Generator software churns out parts as random as Mythbusters, Hemingway, Michael Cera, and Pyramus And Thisbe. 

February 12, 2012 | 10:50pm -

TV Club : FLCL “FLCLimax”

What’s the deal with the giant robot hands and the iron and the TV-faced thing and the crazy girl from outer space? 

February 7, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : FLCL “Brittle Bullet”

All about guns, guns, sex, and guns. And sex. In that order. 

January 31, 2012 | 4:00pm -

TV Club : The Simpsons “Moe Goes From Rags To Riches”

In telling the story of Moe’s bar rag, The Simpsons creates a baffling and disappointing waste of a promising idea. 

January 29, 2012 | 10:50pm -

TV Club : FLCL “Full Swing”

FLCL finally starts explaining itself.

January 24, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Prime Suspect “Ain’t No Sunshine”/“Stuck In The Middle With You”

It wasn’t the greatest show, but it was good enough, and it had a lot of heart. 

January 23, 2012 | 12:55am -

TV Club : FLCL “Marquis De Carabas”

The TV eye turns to Eri Ninamori.

January 17, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : The Simpsons “The D’Oh-cial Network”

When The Simpsons takes on Facebook, the satire is tamer than it should be.

January 16, 2012 | 1:30am -

TV Club : FLCL “Firestarter”

January 10, 2012 | 10:15am -

TV Club : The Simpsons “Politically Inept, With Homer Simpson”

January 8, 2012 | 10:40pm -

TV Club : FLCL “Fooly Cooly”

January 3, 2012 | 10:00am -

TV Club : Prime Suspect “The Great Wall Of Silence”

December 23, 2011 | 12:10am -