With unprecedented access to the MuchMusic archives, 299 Queen Street West tells the story of a scrappy television upstart from the perspective of the VJ’s. — So as most of you know on Saturday, August 1, 1981, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, MTV was launched with the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll” played over footage of the first Space Shuttle launch. And we’re off! Now everybody knows just how hot Duran Duran is.

How do you acknowledge humanity when the lights of fame are blinding? — As faithful My Pal Sammy readers know in June I was in New York City covering the Tribeca Film Festival. At Tribeca I met half of Milli Vanilli: Fab Morvan. Chatting with the guy who was in Milli Vanilli is a strange experience. Like: do you bring it up? They…

George Costanza // Carl Lentz // Matthew Broderick — Remember this signature Seinfeld moment? Timmy: “You double-dipped the chip!” George Costanza: “So?” Timmy: “That’s like putting your whole mouth in the dip! Look, when you take a chip, just take one dip and END IT!” Seinfeld is clearly right; though sadly double-dipping doesn’t just apply to chips at…

U2 // Bob Dylan // David Bowie // Peter Gabriel // White Man Jackie Chan — I had a striking pop culture experience two weeks ago. It dawned on me I was all over the place in terms of how I was consuming music. Like a toddler eating spaghetti I was messy and sloppy. I still get valuable cultural points for consuming new music at my…

Citizen Dick // Sinead O’Connor // R.E.M. // U2 — Yo… This is related to Sinead O’Connor…and yet it’s not. Shortly after learning about her surprise demise, I coincidentally came across a 91 (maybe 92) interview with Peter Buck, the R.E.M. guitarist. In the interview, Buck and his interviewer were paralleling U2 and R.E.M. because obviously they are contemporaries. At least…

Did You #SetTheVCR for these TV Hits? — A terrific TV recap of June 2023. Here some June TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. Maybe you missed em or didn’t hear about em. Some Sammy Suggestions for June 2023… June Highlights The Crowded Room: Limited Series (Anytime / Apple TV+) Well since Fincher is not giving us another Mindhunter season anytime…

An Ode To LeBron James Haters: Thank You For Your Service — I am a LeBron James Day One Hater. I despise LeBron James so it’s a present tense response. As such, over the length of his career―if you want to call it that―I’ve heard every single stat and every single rebuttal up to and including the insufferable one: he’s never been…

Well: April is National Poetry Month. I’m surprised Poetry doesn’t have a bigger affect on our lives. Especially considering the technologically driven way we live. You’d think Poetry would be bigger than it is. I mean it’s quick, it’s fun and when done well it’s packed with artistic goodness. Like…

Joseph McCarthy // J. Edgar Hoover // Abraham Lincoln // God // Rick Rubin — Tis a break from the My Summer Lair podcasts insights and #SetTheVCR recommendations to offer book recommendations. A new season means new books. A new season means new perspectives. I’m currently reading Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being. (The passage from above is a quote/snapshot.) It’s a…