Reading articles in The New Yorker is a serious time commitment, so I’m usually running a couple of issues behind.

I mean, okay… I could skip Project Runway and Shear Genius and get all caught up, but that isn’t going to happen. So let’s say that for me, it’s easy to get behind.

However, I do get around to every issue, and when I do, I’m always glad. Case in point: In the July 28 issue, there’s a fantastic personal history written by Charles Van Doren, who in the 1950s rose to fame for his unprecedented winning streak on the game show Twenty One, then fell into disgrace after it was revealed the game was fixed. I saw the movie Quiz Show, so I knew all this had happened, but it’s fascinating to hear about it directly from the man himself.

(After the jump, I’ll explain why the story got me thinking about Today, poetry, and Kathie Lee Gifford.)

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Not sure what AdTastic means? Go here.

As with Lost, I have followed Heroes through dark times, believing there is light ahead. Lost rewarded my patience. Did you guys watch Season Four? I was hooked like a fish. Even Andrew, who was so off the train after Season Three that he actually transfered to the bus, was excited by the season finale. (Oh, Harold Perrineau! They’ve booted you off the show! Again!) 

So now, after a disastrous Season Two, I am hoping-hoping-hoping that Season Three of Heroes will own it. NBC.com is filled with teasers, promos, webisodes, t-shirts, and customized trailer hitches, but this is my favorite glimpse of what’s to come:

 

First, I’m excited to find out what “Heroes: Villains” means, because it seems like the concept will give this season an organizing principle, much like Season One had. As we know, Season Two was just so aimless that it struggled to get interesting. (Except when Kristen Bell was destroying things with her electro-fingers. That was awesome.)

I’m also stoked to see what could happen if Hiro turned evil. His endless goodness was getting on my nerves. Masi Oka is a good actor, people! Give the man something to work with.

And is it possible that with a season dedicated to dual natures, Niki/Jessica will finally feel integrated into the show? 

And what is Level 5? Spooky! And which new Heroes will we meet? That’s my favorite part. 

Oh… I also have a question for you guys: Are you watching the webisodes on NBC.com? The ones about the magic mailman or whatever? I don’t tend to pay attention to these things, because I just cannot allow myself to get that involved with a single series. But if they’re good… well, I’ll watch them. Any reviews? 

Not sure what Crank That Hit! means? Go here. 

This week’s Crank That Hit! was inspired by a reader request. A big hello to Amy, who is helping build political infrastructures in Baghdad. Which means deadlines all the time.

Oh… and thanks for the request! If anybody else would like to see a special Crank That Hit! theme, just send me an e-mail! 

But back to today’s topic: Deadlines. We all have ‘em, and sometimes we miss ‘em. But if you’ve got a project that’s breathing down your neck, and you do not want to drop the ball… Then you’d better Crank. That. Hit. Okay?

(keep it on deadline… after the jump)

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Welcome to this week’s second Trailer Scaler… because I couldn’t wait until next week to talk about the trailer for Oliver Stone’s George W. Bush movie, W. (Here’s this week’s other TS.) 

Patrick Goldstein at the L.A. Times has already said some very sharp things about this preview, so instead of using my traditional TS structure, I’ll mostly be responding to him.

See the trailer after the jump…

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Hey everyone! That picture up there is of Jonathan Groff, an actor who’s featured in the story I wrote in yesterday’s New York Times Sunday Arts & Leisure section.

The story ponders the current predilection in New York musical theater for heroes who are vulnerable, confused, and sincere. I’ve got to say… I loved thinking about and writing this one!

Not sure what Trailer Scaler means? Go here.

The Movie: Flash of Genius (opening October 17)

The Buzz: Um… Is there any? Honestly, I hadn’t even heard of this movie until I stumbled across the trailer online. But here’s the skinny: Greg Kinnear plays Bob Kearns, the real-life college professor who sued Ford and Chrysler for stealing his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper. The film follows his Romantic (capital “r”) decision to single-handedly defend himself against corporate greed.

On paper, this sounds like snooze-a-teria. Can the trailer convince us there’s life in Flash of Genius?

Find out… after the jump!

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Thanks to Brian for sending this along: The Mr. T Snickers ad has been pulled off the air. 

This seems like a hollow gesture to me. Considering the hooplah over the first anti-gay Snickers commercial, the appearance of a second implies the companies involved (both Mars and the ad agency) didn’t learn anything about generosity toward other people. Instead, they learned they could get publicity by being hateful, so they did it again. 

As I said at the start of all this… consider me a Nestle Crunch fan.

Despite all that, I’d like to thank the many people who left (and will leave) comments about this ad on The Critical Condition. There were some excellent arguments made on both sides of the issue, and I enjoyed being part of the conversation. That’s exactly what this site is for. 

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If you’re just joining the party, here’s my first post on the subject, and my slightly revised opinion. And here’s the update about other media types agreeing with me. 

This summer, after reading nonfiction books about what would happen if everyone disappeared and why people love Celine Dion, I decided it was time for a classic novel I had never read before.

Instead of going to Borders, I decided to get my book at the library. I figured that newer, sexier novels might be checked out, but that I could always get my hands on a masterpiece.

Turns out, I was half right. Last week at the Brooklyn library, I was able to check out Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, but apparently, it’s not some stuffy old “classic.” It’s a hot and sexy summer read.

I mean, just look at the cover of the 2006 Bloomsbury edition! There’s obviously a sassy story inside!

(Sexy Jane Austen photos… after the jump)

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Seriously, you guys. Carl Wilson writes about music like nobody’s business.

His amazing book, Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste, dissects not only the global ardor for Celine Dion, but also his own belief that he’s shouldn’t like her.

In the final chapters, he delivers an enlightening analysis of how “taste” is created, and he teases out the nobility in cultural objects that many people scorn.

He does similar work on his blog Zoilus. All in all, Wilson is exactly the type of critic I want to be: Elegant, friendly, and surprising. I can’t recommend him enough.

And his book is only $9.31 at Amazon. What are you waiting for?

This article about Katy Perry and her song “I Kissed a Girl” appeared yesterday on msnbc.com. 

As you may remember, this is pretty much what I said. (Whatever ever happened to the “Katy Perry” who was posting comments around here?)