Song of the Day: I Dreamed I Saw Jack Nance Last Night by Dumb Numbers


Eraserhead (1977, dir by David Lynch)

Today would have been the 82nd birthday of Jack Nance, the talented but troubled actor who was a favorite of David Lynch’s and who died under mysterious circumstances in 1996.  Born in Massachusetts but raised in Texas, Nance first won acclaim as a star of the stage show, Tom Paine.  The director of Tom Paine later received a fellowship to the American Film Institute where he met a young director named David Lynch and recommended that Lynch cast Nance as the lead character in his film, Eraserhead.  Lynch and Nance were kindred spirits, two all-American eccentrics with their own unique view of the world.  Lynch went to use Nance in almost every film that he made up until Nance’s death.  Nance would also appear in small roles in films from other directors, usually cast as quirky and obsessive characters.  Outside of his role in Eraserhead, Nance is probably best known for playing Pete Martell on Twin Peaks.  Pete’s discovery of Laura Palmer’s body launched the entire saga.

Twin Peaks 1.1 — The Pilot (dir by David Lynch)

 In honor of Jack’s talent and legacy, here is today’s song of the day!

Music Video of the Day: Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses (1981)


This is apparently not the official video for The Waitress’s Christmas Wrapping.  Instead, it’s a video that someone else put together using other clips of the band.  I haven’t been able to find an official version so there might not be one.  Or, at the very least, if there is one, it does not appear to be on YouTube.  (If I’m wrong, let me know.)

Anyway, I like the song and tis the season.  Interestingly enough, it’s often missed that the song is more about the chaos of the season than the joy of it.

Enjoy!

Lisa Marie’s Week In Television: 12/14/25 — 12/20/25


Flight of the Conchords (HBOMax)

Murray books Bret and Jermaine for a concert at “Central Park,” but he insists that they tour first to prepare for it.  Bret continually causes havoc that Murray blames on Jermaine.  In the end, it turns out that the concert is at a central park not The Central Park.  Jeff and I watched that classic episode on Wednesday.  It made me cry a little.

Frasier (Prime)

Jeff and I watched three episodes of the original 90s version of Frasier on Tuesday.  The first episode featured Frasier getting into a war of words with a columnist who wrote a column about why hated Frasier’s radio show.  It almost led to an actual physical fight before the police intervened on the behest of Martin Crane.  (John Mahoney was a treasure!)

The second episode was “The Candidate,” in which Frasier endorses Phil Patterson for Congress, just to discover that Phil Patterson is convinced that he was abducted by aliens and taken into outer space.  The scene where a stunned Frasier attempted to record a commercial for Patteson (“the sane choice”) made me laugh so much that I almost fell off the couch.

Finally, we ended with a Christmas episode!  Frasier wants to get his young son a Christmas gift that will make him think.  Martin argues that Frasier should get him a gift that he’ll have fun with.  Frasier and Niles have to go to a mall.  The closing scene, with Martin revealing that he had purchased the gift that Frasier’s son actually wanted, made me cry.

What a great cast this show had!  Watching these three episodes, I was reminded why the revival didn’t work.  As good as a job as Kelsey Grammer did in the revival, no one wants to think of Frasier moving back to Boston and no longer having anything to do with his family in Seattle.

The Office (Peacock)

On Tuesday, Jeff and I watched several classic episodes of The Office.  We started with season 2’s Christmas Party.  Then, we watched Season 4’s Did I Stutter, followed by Season 6’s Scott’s Tots, and we followed it all up with Season 3’s The Convict and A Benihana Christmas.  I know I’ve been pretty critical of the direction that The Office eventually ended up going.  But the first three seasons were about as good as any sitcom that has ever aired and seasons 4-6, while uneven overall, still produced some classic episodes.  I will always enjoy the Christmas episodes, no matter how much that annoying actress from A Benihana Christmas whines about it.

Saved By The Bell: The Next Class (Prime)

Saved By The Bell: The Next Class continues to be my preferred background noise for when I’m struggling to get some sleep.

Seinfeld (Netflix)

On Tuesday, Jeff and I watched two Christmas episodes of this classic 90s sitcom.  We started with the episode where Elain was dating a communist and Kramer got fired from his department store Santa job because he was spreading propaganda.  Meanwhile, Jerry’s high school rival resurfaced and demanded a rematch on a race that Jerry won after getting a head start.  I loved this episode!  Everything from Jerry and George pretending to randomly run into each other at the coffee shop to the race at the end to the little kid yelling, “Hey, this guy’s a commie!”

We followed that episode with the Festivus episode.  I love the scene where Jerry Stiller (as George’s father) casually talks about seeing someone else grab the doll that he was planning to buy for his dolls.  “As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be a better way!”  Also, I totally would have wanted to be Submarine Captain too.  Free sub?  Give me my ticket!

The Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Fights One Battle After Another


The Philadelphia Film Critics Circle have named One Battle After Another as the best film of 2025.  I guess it makes sense.  When you live in Philadelphia, life is one battle after another.

Best Film
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-Up: SINNERS

Best Director
Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-Up: Ryan Coogler – SINNERS

Best Actress
Winner: Jessie Buckley – HAMNET
Runner-Up: Rose Byrne – IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

​Best Actor
Winner: Michael B. Jordan – SINNERS
Runner-Up: Ethan Hawke – BLUE MOON

Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Teyana Taylor – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
​Runner-Up: Wunmi Mosaku – SINNERS

​Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Benicio del Toro – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-Up: Delroy Lindo – SINNERS

Best Screenplay
Winner: SINNERS
Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Score/Soundtrack
Winner: SINNERS
Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Directorial Debut
Winner: Charlie Polinger – THE PLAGUE
Runner-Up: Eva Victor – SORRY, BABY

Best Breakthrough Performance
Winner: Chase Infiniti – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-Up: Miles Caton – SINNERS

Best Cinematography
Winner: SINNERS
Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Documentary
Winner: GRAND THEFT HAMLET
Runner-Up: ORWELL: 2+2=5

​Best Foreign Film
Winner: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-Up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Animated Film
Winner: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Runner-Up: ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Ensemble
Winner: SINNERS
Runner-Up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

The Steve Friedman Award
For a person or film that drives major public discourse on a topic or issue
SINNERS

The Elaine May Award
For a deserving person or film that brings awareness to a story from a woman’s perspective
IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

The Cheesesteak Award (Sponsored by Philips Steaks)
Winner: SUPERMAN
Runner-up: PREDATOR: BADLANDS

The Boston Online Film Critics Association Honors One Battle After Another


The Boston Online Film Critics Association has announced its picks for the best of 2025.  And here they are:

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2025
1. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
2. SINNERS
3. MARTY SUPREME
4. NO OTHER CHOICE
5. IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
6. SENTIMENTAL VALUE
7. WEAPONS
8. HAMNET
9. THE SECRET AGENT
10. TRAIN DREAMS

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Actress
Rose Byrne – IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

Best Actor
Wagner Moura – THE SECRET AGENT

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan – WEAPONS

Best Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Ensemble
SINNERS

Best Score
Ludwig Göransson – SINNERS

Best Cinematography
Adolpho Veloso – TRAIN DREAMS

Best Editing
Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie – MARTY SUPREME

Best Documentary
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Best International Feature
NO OTHER CHOICE

Best Animated Film
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS

Holidays on the Lens: Random Acts of Christmas (dir by Marita Grabiak)


In 2019’s Random Acts of Christmas, journalist and single mom Sidney Larkin (Erin Cahill) is assigned to discover who has been committing random acts of Christmas kindness throughout the city.  At first, Sidney doesn’t want to investigate the identity of “Secret Santa,” but then she meets another journalist named Cole (Kevin McGarry), who is also looking into the story.  It’s a love that springs from rivalry except …. have you ever noticed that you never see Cole and Secret Santa in the same place at the same time?

Oh, come on.  We would all love to live in a city with a Secret Santa!

Scenes That I Love: The Cemetery Scene From It’s A Wonderful Life


I love It’s A Wonderful Life and I’m looking forward to watching it many times over the upcoming week. To me, it’s the rare example of a perfect film.

Below is one of the more somber but important scenes from It’s A Wonderful Life. George (James Stewart) and Clarence (Henry Travers) go to what would have been Bailey Park if George had been born. Instead, it’s now a cemetery and buried there is George’s brother, who would have died if George hadn’t been born. And, as Clarence explains, every man that George’s brother saved would have died as well. “Each man’s life touches so many other lives,” as Clarence puts it.

Here is a scene from a wonderful movie called It’s A Wonderful Life.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special George Roy Hill Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

4 Shots From 4 George Roy Hill Films

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969, dir by George Roy Hill, DP: Conrad Hall)

Slaughterhouse Five (1972, dir by George Roy Hill, DP: Miroslav Ondříček)

The Sting (1973, dir by George Roy Hill, DP: Robert Surtees)

Slap Shot (1977, dir by George Roy Hill, DP: Victor Kemper)

Live Tweet Alert: Join #ScarySocial for Christmas Evil!


As some of our regular readers undoubtedly know, I am involved in a few weekly live tweets on twitter.  I host #FridayNightFlix every Friday, I co-host #ScarySocial on Saturday, and I am one of the five hosts of #MondayActionMovie!  Every week, we get together.  We watch a movie.  We tweet our way through it.

Tonight, at 9 pm et, Deanna Dawn and I will be hosting #ScarySocial!  The movie?  1980’s Christmas Evil!  

If you want to join us this Saturday, just hop onto twitter, start the movie at 9 pm et, and use the #ScarySocial hashtag!  It’s a friendly group and welcoming of newcomers so don’t be shy.

The film is available on Prime!