On today’s installment of the Extra Hot Great podcast, I recount how an episode of Roseanne sparked one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me.

Along with the rest of the team, I also discuss Joyful Noise, Mark Wahlberg, and several other high-octane topics.

Do go listen… and enjoy my shame!

Over at Monkey See, I just explained why I’m all in on the Rock of Ages trailer. I truly believe this is going to be an amazing movie. The wigs alone will be worth the price of popcorn.

After you’ve read my write-up, I’d love to know what you think? Are you in or out?

This weekend, the New York Times Magazine will publish its Hollywood Issue, and the content went online early this morning. I’m pleased to say that I’m part of a fun “year in movies” feature about the cinematic moments and trends that will likely be overlooked by the rest of the punditry.

My section is dubbed “Tomorrow’s Iconic Villain Today,” and it celebrates Cate Blanchett’s nasty turn as Marissa Wiegler in Hanna, a brilliant movie that’s still in my top three for entire year.

The rest of the package is fantastic, and I’m tickled to be included.

My NPR week continues with this analysis of 7 Minutes in Heaven, the ridiculously funny web series hosted by SNL writer Mike O’Brien. If you haven’t watched these delicious clips, then you really must put down your dinner or your child or whatever and enjoy them right now.

Hello everyone! Forgive my recent silence: I needed a break to recover from the mind-bending awesomeness of the pop song tournament.

Today, I’m back with a piece on NPR’s Monkey See blog about a recent story on social media “finding” a missing student in Malaysia. Except the kid wasn’t exactly lost. News outlets just manipulated facts until it seemed like he was.

And that troubles me. Here’s a bit of what I wrote:

Both pieces report on a perceived crisis as though it were an actual crisis, treating parental fears like facts. That allows for an uplifting ode to social media, but wouldn’t the stories have been just as interesting without those breathless exaggerations?

Once you read the rest, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you think this story is what it seems to be? Or are you also unsettled by the way it’s being covered?

As part of the Dog Days of Summer Movies project over at Tomato Nation, I have just written a review of 1997‘s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which is one of the most wonderfully terrible movies I have ever seen.

Here’s a snippet of what I wrote:

As for activities, that leaves a session in the tanning bed, which Karla suggests to Julie as a way to clear her head. (She’s nervous, you see, because several island staffers have been gruesomely murdered.) It works, until FisherKiller locks her in the bed and cranks up the heat. She could cook in there, y’all! Especially since when her friends find her, none of them has the presence of mind to turn the damn roaster off before trying to get her out of it.

To read the rest—including my analysis of why this movie’s title is a syntactic nightmare—just go here.

10 years ago this week, ‘NSYNC released its final album, Celebrity, and Justin Timberlake began his slow-but-steady transformation from a mere member of groups into a Major Media Master.

But how did he do it? I’m exploring that question over at The Film Experience. I’d love to hear your reactions to the piece!

What are your thoughts on J.T.? Do you think he’s the next great film star, or do you want him to reunite with J.C. Chasez for a thrilling comeback tour?

If the cast of That 70s Show had a high school reunion, who would have bragging rights and who would have to spend the night consoling himself at the bar?

That’s the question I’m asking in this piece over at MSNBC.com, and apparently, it’s going viral over there. (My editor says it’s the third most-viewed story of the day, and it’s closing in on J-Lo’s breakup news. You truly never know.)

Click on over to discover who wins the Good Citizenship award… and who wins the consolation gift certificate.

Over at MSNBC.com, I’m discussing whether Mila Kunis has what it takes to be an A-List actress. I got quotes from lots of cool people about her rise to fame. Good times!

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week’s episode of True Blood.

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This year, I am thrilled to announce that Sucker Punch is being hosted by NPR’s Monkey See blog. You can find the first installment right here.

Once you read, please leave a comment. Monkey See has never hosted a feature like Sucker Punch before, and it will help the series stay alive if the editors see that people are really engaging in a thoughtful discussion about True Blood.

And since thoughtful discussions are what you guys do best, I would love you forever if you started a conversation at Monkey See. You  have to register to leave a comment, but it’s totally painless. I’ve been registered for over a year, and I haven’t gotten any email from NPR or anything.

So… I’ll look forward to chatting with you over at Monkey See!

And of course, I’ll continue posting original content here on The Critical Condition.