Used to be, conservatives revered the Average American, that Norman Rockwell oil painting of diner food, humble faith, honest toil, and Capraesque virtue. James Wolcott americanaveragecapraesque Change image and share on social
And what could be a hotter ticket than the improbable triumph of 'The Book of Mormon,' the musical-comedy moon shot of the season? Its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, of Comedy Central's 'South Park,' are the most unlikely Rodgers and Hammerstein team ever to bowl a thundering strike. James Wolcott bookbowlcentral share on social
'Hairspray' was a movie turned Broadway musical turned Hollywood remake, and that is the 'Lion King' circle of life as we know it in Times Square, the creative loop that swings for the stars and sometimes crashes into the upper deck. James Wolcott broadwaycirclecrash share on social
It's the contemporary woman that movies don't know what to do with, other than bathe her in a bridal glow in romantic comedies where both the romance and the comedy are artificial sweeteners. James Wolcott artificialbathebridal Change image and share on social
Telling writers to shut up is a sure way to keep them talking. James Wolcott shuttalktell Change image and share on social
One reason I'm such a wayward prognosticator of rightwing trends is that I'm incapable of blacking out enough neural sectors to see the world through reptilian-brained eyes, a prerequisite for any true channeling of the mean resentments and implanted fears that drive hardcore conservatives. James Wolcott blackbrainchannele share on social
I try to avoid Politico to spare myself psoriasis of the brain but so many journalists cite it that I'm forced to be aware of it no matter how big a moat I build. James Wolcott avoidawarebig Change image and share on social
My high-school papers, my college-application essays, read like Norman Mailer packed in a crunchy-peanut-butter sandwich. James Wolcott applicationbuttercollege Change image and share on social
Everyone is entitled to his own nostalgia. James Wolcott entitlenostalgia Change image and share on social
A new political-entertainment class has moved into the noisy void once occupied by the sage pontiffs of yore, a class just as polarized as our partisan divide: one side holding up a fun-house mirror to folly, the other side reveling in its own warped reflection. James Wolcott classdivideentertainment share on social