Category Archives: Uncategorized

05.16.21
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Passing Grade

As the spring semester concludes, The Chair is eyeball deep in reading his student’s final screenplays and TV pilots.  So in his temporary absence this week he suggests the coolest and gayest thing on the internet – Elton John and Olly Alexander (lead singer of the group, Years and Years) doing their remake of the classic Pet Shop Boys hit “It’s A Sin.”  


Alexander starred this year in Russell Davies’ insightful HBO Max five episode limited series, “It’s A Sin,” set at the height of the AIDS epidemic. That story chronicled four friends in what the Chair still considers the worst decade of the twentieth century – the 1980s. (Check out the Chair’s take here).


But this performance takes that eighties tune to a whole new post modern level and raises it to an ironic anthem of defiance.  Even better, all proceeds from this version will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.


It’s campy, ferocious and most importantly faaaaaabulous.

You’re welcome. A+ from the Chair.

Till next week…

04.11.21
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Thanks Science!

The Chair is taking this week off — mostly to grade scripts, have 10,000 Zoom meetings, and meditate on his overwhelming joy watching friends, family, and former students get vaccinnated.

So let’s all take a moment to say THANK YOU SCIENCE — thank you for the millions of hugs being shared, the laughs over dinner and drinks to be had (but eat outside because I said so), and the countless reunions with loved ones. Facebook (and social media) has become, even for a brief moment, a space of joy, where pictures with bandaids and thumbs up fill me up with hope and excitement. So again, THANKS SCIENCE…

and of course THANKS to Ms. Dolly Parton:

And THANKS to all of the doctors who have worked day and night for over a year (and they can write parody songs too? What can’t they do???):

Don’t forget to check out the Chair’s new podcast — POD FROM A CHAIR — featuring hot takes on Oscar nominations! New episodes to come so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or however you listen to pods! (We’re there, we promise!)