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Goodbye Billie

Posted on November 5, 2012

It was a night of television death. The big topic of discussion Sunday night was the deaths of two major characters on Walking Dead. In a time when almost nothing on the telly can come our way spoiler-free I was shocked, like many, when T-Dog was eaten by zombies prior to Lori Grimes’ death by C-section. Well done, WD. To borrow a quote I once read about the show Millennium, this Walking Dead takes ass, swishes it around in its mouth and blows it in the face of the viewer. There were some tears. Hell, even the actor who played T-Dog was crying on the wrap-up show Talking Dead. I think those deaths overshadowed another television one that night. That of Billie Kent on Boardwalk…

Fictional Hoosier of the Month

Posted on October 30, 2012

Back by unpopular demand. We started this awhile ago when the site was nwidodgy. It didn’t last. And it’s just not as fun to have a “Fictional Chicagoan of the Month.” A year ago the first FHOTM was April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza). She was followed by Catherine Stark (Allison McAtee). So to celebrate the year anniversary of those, the bit is back. So say hello to the latest Fictional Hoosier of the Month. June Colburn. June lived in Indiana prior to moving to New York City for a Wall Street job that disappeared in the economic downturn. Then she lost her fiance. She currently works in a coffee shop and is a roommate with a bitch in apartment 23. June used to be on…

The Jackson Fail in Gary

Posted on October 27, 2012

I’m not a fan of Michael Jackson. But I am a fan of odd. So when I had the chance to experience Jackson-related odd just outside Chicago a few months ago I took it. There was a lot of hub-di-do about Jackson’s mom, Katherine Jackson, and his three kids, Paris, Prince, and Blanket (!), visiting the late singer’s hometown of Gary, Indiana for a few days during his birthday celebration in August. Oh, even sister La Toya showed up, briefly. There are many in the downtrodden city who believe Jackson’s legacy is going to save the city. No. There have long been rumours of an MJ shrine or museum. No. Some have predicated that Jackson’s boyhood home would “become the next Graceland.” No. But…