The Useless Critic 2.0

Are you going to watch the new American Idol ? Being frank with you I never do. I'll watch the outtakes on the news shows or what have you (Scooter Girl! remember her!!!!) but I think this time might be different because we have new judges including JENNIFER LOPEZ and STEVEN TYLER. I don't know how it will function without the antics of that crazy pilled-out bitch Paula Abdul but we will find out. This summer is shaping up to be a good one for the Chautauqua Institution thus far. I haven't mentioned it before but homegrown talent Natalie Merchant (jealousyyyyyy) and banjo-plucking comedian extraordinaire Steve Martin (THAT one) will be doing shows for reasonable prices (like 39 dollars? I don't think that's too bad!) there. here are the deetz: - Steve Martin: July 1 2011 AN EVENING OF BLUEGRASS AND BANJO touring with the Steep Canyon Rangers have you ever read one of his books? he's a damn fine writer. SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALL THE LUCK. he also hit on Tina Fey when...

Yesterday word came in that the beloved host of A Prairie Home Companion , Garrison Keillor, suffered a minor stroke. Coming from someone who has known a few people that have suffered, pretty devastating strokes, I would like to extend my best wishes to him. Strokes are scary, scary things. It has been said about Keillor's state, however, that he is "moving around, speaking sensibly, working at a laptop, and it's expected he'll be released on Friday." which is AMAZING, so I hope everything else goes okay. A Prairie Home Companion, as an occasional listener of NPR, I can admit I don't hear as much as I should. I used to listen to it a lot when I was a kid, because it would be on when my dad would take us fishing. so I don't have the best associations with it. However, I really admire his humor. His books are delightful. He spoke at Chautauqua over the summer. get better, Garrison! - THE USELESS CRITIC AT LARGE