Unfortunately, some of the publications for which I have worked are still updating their online archives. There is no listing of articles from my first stint at the Boston Phoenix (1981-1987), and only a small selection of my San Francisco Examiner work is available online. I'll add links as they become available.
'Late Show' star makes it fun (3/28/95) I think I was the only TV critic in the country who thought David Letterman did a good job hosting the Oscars. What, you didn't think "Oprah, Uma, Uma, Oprah" was funny?
Michael Jackson, up close and odd (6/15/95) Remember when Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley went on TV to talk about their totally not fake marriage and to get all indignant about how Michael was being persecuted just because he likes to have sleepovers with little boys? Ah, good times ... good times ...
Access to the New York Times archive requires membership to Times Select or payment. But if you happen to be reading this in a library, you can probably access these articles for free.
All of these NYT articles appeared in the Sunday Arts & Leisure section. Abstracts below.
'I Love Lucy': Coolly Confident, Timelessly Funny (10/14/01) This essay was written as part of a package of stories marking 50 years since the premiere of "I Love Lucy." Mine was part of a point/counterpoint set-up, in which I argued the case for Lucy Ricardo as a subversive feminist force in American culture.
What Mr. Rogers Could Have Taught Michael Jackson (3/9/03) An appreciation of Fred Rogers which ran a week after his death. It just seemed right to bring Jacko into the picture; viewers were still haunted by the disturbing ABC special "Living with Michael Jackson" which had aired a few weeks earlier.
Getting Buffy's Last Rites Right (4/20/03) My farewell to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The assignment was to write about what I would like to see happen in the series' finale. I know I was way off in some of my theories, but I'm happy with this piece nonetheless. It's always hard to sum up your feelings about a show you love, but I think I managed it here. Oh, look, what's this?
Cream of Whedon (10/25/02) "Buffy" season six, plus a review of "Firefly." I was initially unimpressed by "Firefly"; the "Serenity" movie changed my mind.
Remembering the Phantom (4/18/08) Farewell to Danny Federici (1950-2008), organist, accordion player and one of the original members of the E Street Band.