EPISODE #655: CATS X
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
Theme From Felix the Cat
Ty Segall — “Fuzzy Cat”
Renee Maskin — “Cat’s Out of the Bag”
Royal Arctic Institute — “From Catnap to Coma”
Jimmie Davis — “Tomcat and Pussy Blues”
The Prof.Fuzz 63 — “Ohio as Seen on TV”
Oceana — “Pussycat on a Leash”
Beyoncé — “Kitty Kat”
Secret Monkey Weekend — “Merida”
Avril Lavigne — “Hello Kitty”
Motörhead — “Cat Scratch Fever”
Johnny Winter — “Stray Cat Blues”
Laura Nyro — “Tom Cat Goodby”
E — “Eight Lives Left”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Aquarium Playlist, 8/19/25
Movie Review: The Naked Gun
4 stars out of 5
The six episodes of Police Squad! that aired when I was 12-going-on-13 couldn’t have been a better bar mitzvah gift. Sure, I had loved the same filmmakers’ Airplane! when I was 11, but now I was a sophisticated tween (though the word hadn’t been coined yet). So, I understood more of the jokes. It was that perfect blend of smart and stupid that appeals to me still.
Understandably, I was a little concerned when I learned of a Naked Gun reboot (following the three “from the files of Police Squad” movies between 1988 and 1994). The OG Zucker brothers aren’t involved, and the name Seth MacFarlane in the producer slot didn’t do much for my confidence. Stupid comedy is easy to do, but smart is a lot harder.
I was a bit more hopeful about director/co-writer Akiva Schaffer from The Lonely Island. And, I have to say, he does a very nice job here. The jokes are rapid-fire, and when one falls flat it’s fine as another joke is just around the corner. I laughed a lot. I was impressed that they didn’t rely on scatological or sex jokes (ok, there is a little of both). And the sinister plot our hero uncovers was actually much easier to follow than the evil plans in any number of superhero movies.
Liam Neeson does solid work as Frank Drebin Jr., playing it straight. Excellent actor Paul Walter Hauser doesn’t get much to do as the straight-man sidekick. But Danny Huston is terrific as the corporate villain, and Pamela Anderson shows some comic flair as Drebin’s love interest.
The writers seemed to lose steam as the movie reaches its conclusion. And if the sum total isn’t as brilliant as the old-school Police Squad/Naked Gun, the filmmakers do honor and capture that spirit. Surely they could’ve done a lot worse. And stop calling me Shirley.
Aquarium Playlist, 8/5/25
EPISODE #653: ISLANDS
The Surfaris w/ The Honeys — “I Want To Take a Trip to the Islands” [ALTERNATE THEME]
The Millennium — “The Island”
UV-TV — “Pale Blue Island”
The Blue Jays — “Lover’s Island”
The Buggles — “Island”
The Garment District — “The Island of Stability”
Rare Books — “Island”
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers — “Islands in the Stream”
The Mantles — “Island”
The dB’s — “I’m on an Island”
They Might Be Giants — “Fibber Island”
Blondie — “Island of Lost Souls”
Chloe Slater — “Nothing Shines on This Island”
The Pastels — “Leaving This Island”
Trembling Blue Stars — “This Once Was an Island”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Movie Review: Eddington
3.5 stars out of 5
Dear Ari Aster: I promise I’ll attend your next movie while remembering that it is written and directed by you, the same guy who made Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid, all of which I liked. Hey, it’s partially your fault for putting your credit at the end, and for making yet another very different and slightly less messed-up movie.
To its credit, this is the first pandemic/Black Lives Matter/Antifa/local politics/Big Tech/anti-pedophile satire that I know of. We meet Joaquin Phoenix, county sheriff who doesn’t like wearing a mask. This puts him at odds with small-town Eddington mayor Pedro Pascal and his lockdown measures, though they didn’t really like each other before that anyway. Joaquin has an uninterested wife, Emma Stone, and a conspiracy-theory-craving mother-in-law. Emma’s interest is only sparked by Austin “Elvis” Butler, walking conspiracy theory. Joaquin decides to run for mayor against Pedro, while local youth take to the empty streets of Eddington, New Mexico, in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Despite the seeming madcap quality of the description above, Aster allows the sleepy nature of his setting to heavily infiltrate his pacing. For a long, slow time, it feels like nothing much of significance happens. And then, a whole lot happens, as Eddington earns Aster’s signature “fucked up” touch. But the tone shift happens too late, in my humble opinion.
Joaquin Phoenix is again a pleasure to watch, as a man struggling to regain control of his life. Pedro Pascal is solid as a politician who is smiling on the outside, but making back-alley deals. Emma Stone doesn’t get very much to do beyond acting annoyed and tired, that is a shame.
There is some very sharp satire here, and many laughs, which all might’ve stood out more if the 2 hour, 28 minute running time was trimmed in the Editing(ton) room.
Aquarium Playlist, 7/29/25
EPISODE #652: STARS II
Haim — “Lucky Stars” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Allo Darlin’ — “Stars”
Spit-take — “Stars Don’t”
Matthew Sweet — “Stars Explode”
The Cranberries — “Stars”
Maggie Bjorklund — “Playground Stars”
Peter Case — “Underneath the Stars”
Chris Isaak — “Western Stars”
Bruce Springsteen — “Western Stars”
Rufus Wainwright — “Release the Stars”
Carole King — “Under the Stars”
Earl Lewis & the Channels — “Stars in the Sky”
The Boys With the Perpetual Nervousness — “The Stars Go Round”
Chuck Mangione — “Feels So Good” r.i.p.
Ozzy Osbourne — “See You on the” r.i.p.
Tommy McLain — “Sweet Dreams” r.i.p.
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
What I’ve Been Watching: Edition XXVIII
While we wait and wait and wait for the full release of the Epstein list, here’s a list of the shows I’ve checked out in the past several months.
LOVED
Say Nothing (Hulu) I learned an awful lot about Ireland’s “The Troubles” and the history of the IRA from this very well-rendered limited series, much of it seen via sisters Dolours and Marian Price. The disappearance of Jean McConville and subsequent investigation serves as a harrowing and damning framing device.
Leonardo da VInci (PBS) I love non-fiction, sue me! The great Ken Burns came through yet again with this two-part documentary. I learned so much about the life of da Vinci. Fascinating! Bonus points for including Benicio del Toro and Isabella Rossellini’s sister Ingrid, a historian, as talking heads, even if I missed having Peter Coyote as narrator.
Pee-wee as Himself (HBO) Hey, what do you know, another two-part documentary. Paul Reubens knowing he was dying while director Matt Wolf didn’t know adds a whole other layer to this profile. Paul’s interruptions of the filmmaking process are amusing but we can see how they frustrate Wolf. Still, we manage to get a detailed look at Reuben’s creative growth, his wild ambition, his careful guarding of his private life, and it all falling apart.
The Rehearsal (HBO) Airline safety didn’t seem like the obvious second-season topic for this high-concept comedy reality show. Yet, I am willing to follow Nathan Fielder wherever he wants to explore. Along the way, he also takes clever, awkward, very funny looks at dating skills, TV singing competitions, Sully Sullenberger, and more. And it all built up to an excellent finale.
Adolescence (Netflix) This one is fiction but felt real, and is a unique piece of television. We begin with a 13-year-old suburban British boy being arrested for murder. I won’t say more as the 4 episodes are best to just be experienced. It is very harsh viewing but extremely well-done and riveting. Stephen Graham, who I first saw as Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire (and soon will see as Springsteen’s dad), gives a harrowing, heart-wrenching performance as the dad in this series he also co-wrote.
LIKED A LOT
English Teacher (Hulu) It’s no AP Bio but I’m happy to have another smart school-based sitcom. Show creator Brian Jordan Alvarez stars as the titular high school teacher who is gay; normally I wouldn’t mention that fact but the show pretty much revolves around it. It’s all done with a light touch and a lot of warmth, with a very strong cast of fellow teachers and school staff.
Hotel Room (YouTube) Craving David Lynch content, I sought out these three episodes which orginally aired on HBO on January 8, 1993. (I was busy that night?) The concept: Each episode is a stand-alone story set in the same hotel room, in different eras. Lynch directed the first and third episodes, the first stars his old pal Harry Dean Stanton, and music throughout is by Angelo Badalamenti. The series hits its dark, Lynchian stride in episode 3, “Blackout,” starring Crispin Glover and Alicia Witt as a young couple visiting New York City to see a medical specialist. It’s a shame they didn’t get to make more episodes, but a decent consolation is the similar-ish HBO series Room 104 from the Duplass brothers, which ran 2017–20.
LIKED
Zero Day (Netflix) With Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Angela Bassett, etc., the hope must’ve been for a prestige high-tech thriller (in which former President De Niro, who may be suffering from cognitive issues, is pulled back in to handle a widespread cyber attack). Yet only the last two of the six episodes were genuinely exciting.
Disclaimer (Apple+) This is the sexiest thing I’ve seen on TV since Normal People; and it’s cool to see a de-aged “young” Kevin Kline (don’t worry, he’s not in the sex scenes). Cate Blanchett does strong work as a successful journalist whose personal and professional lives becomes upturned by a revelation from the past. Sounds pretty good and it is, but, you know, could have been better.
Bloodline (Netflix) Finally got around to this decade-old series with an outstanding cast: Kyle Chandler, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Chloe Sevigny, an absolutely sinister Ben Mendelson, etc. Strong sense of place in the Florida Keys and some compelling family intrigue, but this was so unrelentingly dark that it started to seem silly, and I did not move on to season two.
DIDN’T LIKE
The Penguin (HBO) Colin Farrell does a decent impression of James Gandolfini. Unfortunately, this felt like The Sopranos Lite.
ONE AND DONE
Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple+) The return of my man Jon Hamm! I thought I’d keep watching but I didn’t. I did watch the entire 1 hour, 44 minutes of The Thief Who Came To Dinner, a fairly decent 1973 Ryan O’Neal/Jacqueline Bissett flick with a similar plot.
DELETED AFTER 34 MINUTES
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce (ESPN) The former Eagles center with the more famous bro’s stab at being a late-night host seemed good-natured enough, and my boy Jon “Delocated” Glaser was behind the scenes, but this was just not for me.
YES, I STILL WATCH THE SIMPSONS
Even though it’s no South Park.
THANKS AND GOODBYE
The Night Court reboot had a bumpy start, became a guilty pleasure, and had some genuinely funny episodes in its three-year run. I’m sorry they had to end on a cliffhanger. Unstable was everything you’d want in a smart workplace comedy; shame on Netflix for cancelling it after two seasons.
LOOKING FORWARD TO
Because this list is a month late, I’ve already started two shows I’ve really been looking forward to: The Pitt and The Studio. But what I’m incredibly excited about is the return of one of my all-time favorite shows, King of the Hill.
SHOWS I USED TO WATCH AND IN MANY CASES STILL DO
Links to Edition I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, and XXVIII.
Movie Review: Jurassic World—Rebirth
4 stars out of 5
Hot take: Jurassic World is more entertaining than Superman. There, I said it. I chalk it up to filmmakers who really know what they’re doing. Director Gareth Edwards earned his sci-fi stripes with 2014’s Godzilla and Rogue One. And writer David Koepp not only did the screenplay for the original Jurassic Park and the Lost World sequel, but also Mission: Impossible, 2002’s Spider-Man, and the last couple of Indiana Jones flicks. Plus it doesn’t hurt to have Amblin Entertainment in your corner with big daddy Spielberg in the executive producer’s chair.
My reaction was not a foregone conclusion. Yes, I have seen every Jurassic Park movie, but will readily admit that the quality varies from installment to installment. This time, instead of continuing the Chris Pratt saga, we kick it back to parts II and III and the InGen biotech company, who were apparently mixing dinosaur species with some, uh, mixed results.
Fast-forward to the present day and climate change has made the modern world inhospitable to dinos, plus the public’s fickle interests have moved on. But a slick, evil-seeming corporate guy (Rupert Friend) wants mercenary Scarlett Johannson to quietly travel to the forbidden region where dinos still thrive, retrieve some DNA, and bring it back to Big Pharma where it will cure heart disease but more importantly, generate beaucoup bucks. Rupert dangles a big payday in front of an interestingly sturdy-framed Johannson, and since they’re both Wes Anderson alum she says yes. They bring along nerdy dinosaur expert Dr. Loomis (nod to the Halloween franchise?) and charter a boat from Scarlett’s old pal Mahershala Ali.
Then there are a few other crew members who aren’t really introduced oh and here’s a innocent family in a sailboat and I’m wondering why are there so many characters?? And then it hits me, ohhhh they’re not all going to survive. Fair enough.
Once the story is set, the movie begins to get better and better. I was impressed with the clear plotting; modern sci-fi tends to over-plot. Our protagonists are collecting DNA from three species: one swims, one flies, and one is really big. So we know we’ll get three big action sequences. The sailing family and the research crew come together and then are separated, so we get two strands of adventures. (The family has the requisite little girl, and you might roll your eyes when she meets a cute little herbivore dino who enjoys her licorice — shades of E.T. and Reese’s Pieces.)
Beyond the early nod to climate science, I was pleased with some mature messaging woven into the script. Johannson and Ali (who deliver strong performances throughout) discuss finally doing something worthwhile with one’s life — an issue that crosses, or should cross, the minds of many of us folks of a certain age. And in our post-pandemic but current-research-defunding world, a discussed idea of open-sourcing a medical breakthrough sounds downright revolutionary.
And of course there’s lots of cool dino stuff, including one sequence that made me gasp. I actually would’ve preferred to see this in IMAX than Superdude.
This really felt like a old-fashioned summer blockbuster. And yeah, maybe I am old-fashioned, a dinosaur, even.
Aquarium Playlist, 7/22/25
EPISODE #651: DREAMS VI
Daryl Hall — “Dreamtime” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Bruce Springsteen — “Follow That Dream”
Renee Maskin — “Of Your Dreams”
Terry McCarthy — “Subway Dreaming”
Suzanne Vega — “Book of Dreams”
The Cosmic Rays w/ Sun Ra — “Dreaming”
Tender Trap — “Dreaming of Dreaming”
Niall Connolly — “99-Cent Dream”
Peter Perrett — “I Want Your Dreams”
Beat Happening — “Dreamy”
Will Lawrence — “For Dreamers”
The Jam — “Dreams of Children”
Haim — “Up From a Dream”
Connie Francis — “Don’t Ever Leave Me” r.i.p.
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Movie Review: Superman
3.5 stars out of 5
If you’re looking for a really well-made, well-performed film, this is not so super. But if you are a 12-year-old boy, or in charge of some 12-year-olds on a humid or rainy day, you could do a lot worse than seeing Superman.
I will say, this is a better movie than 2013’s Man of Steel, and a much better movie than Batman v Superman v Tony Orlando: Dawn of Justice. Those were too dark and too dreary, words that had become synonymous with DC Comics movies. So DC poached James Gunn, a 58-year-old with too much product in his hair, away from Marvel where he’d written and directed the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Those were light and fun and made a lot of money! One big reason for their success: They appealed to kids.
Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Comic books are for kids, so it’s hard to complain if a comic book movie is for kids too. Sure, it’s possible to make a superhero flick that appeals to everyone, but Gunn seems unable to hit that target, or even aim for it.
I’ve actually seen actor David Corenswet in a few different movies before his turn as Clark Kent/Superman, but he has a forgetability factor that works fine here. Rachel Brosnahan a.k.a. Mrs. Maisel is similarly adequate as Lois Lane. I did enjoy seeing Gideon Gemstone (actor Skyler Gisondo) as Jimmy Olson. As one would hope, Michael Ian Black and Beck Bennett inject solid comedy into their small roles. Good ol’ Wendell “Bunk” Pierce is wasted as Perry White, as is an unrecognizable, unintelligible Bradley Cooper as Jor-El.
Nathan Fillion and Edi Gathegi turn in strong supporting performances, and comic relief, as Green Lantern and Mr. Terrific. They are teamed with Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), who doesn’t get any good lines. The best acting job, unsurprisingly, comes from Nicholas Hoult as Jeff Bezos whoops I mean Lex Luthor. He oozes entitlement and evil.
You get the flying, the fighting, the public turning against Spider-Man I mean Superman, some decent laughs, and a positive, easily digestible message for the kids (we control our own destinies). Plus air conditioning. I sprung for IMAX which ultimately didn’t seem necessary. And I’m trying not to think about all the lighthearted, progressively worse DC movies on the way.
Aquarium Playlist, 7/15/25
EPISODE #650: DIRTY
Prince — “Dirty Mind” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Squeeze — “It’s So Dirty”
Mississippi John Hurt — “Nobody’s Dirty Business”
Neko Case — “Dirty Knife”
The Just Joans — “Stuart’s Got a Dirty Book”
Velvet Monkeys — “Bad/Dirty Blood”
Rolling Stones — “Dirty Work”
The Replacements — “Shooting Dirty Pool”
Don Henley — “Dirty Laundry”
Jennifer O’Connor — “Dirty City Blues”
David Bowie — “Dirty Boys”
The Knack — “Baby Talks Dirty”
Traveling Wilburys — “Dirty World”
Ribeye Brothers — “Last Place Champs” r.i.p. Tim Cronin
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Jack Silbert, curator