Greg Mitchell has authored more than a dozen books (see most of them here) and directed four recent PBS films, including the current “The Atomic Bowl.” Subscribing to this newsletter is still FREE—so if you want to help fund, maybe purchase one of those books, thanks. Or recommend this Substack to a friend!
“SNL” cold open…
and Weekend Update…
Speaking of Epstein….NY Times:
More than a dozen photos — including one featuring President Trump — were removed without explanation from the large collection of files connected to the investigations of Jeffrey Epstein that the Justice Department released on Friday.
A total of 16 photos were taken down at some point on Saturday from the website that the department created to house files — among them, one of the few that contained Mr. Trump’s image. It was a photo of a credenza in Mr. Epstein’s Manhattan home, with an open drawer containing other photos, including at least one of Mr. Trump:
Christmas Song Picks—Part I
Thanks to all who answered the call yesterday for your favorite holiday songs. We’ll post a few picks today and others in coming days. You can still enter today, in Comments, and maybe Yule see your pick. Ho, ho, hope you like.
Nancy Alenier chose “Go where I Send Thee” by The Carpenter Ants “featuring Bill Kirchen on Telecaster,” she adds:
David Shumway enjoys one of my favorites, The Staple Singers from long ago with “The Last Month of the Year.” To think that all these decades later, Mavis came out with one of best albums of 2025.
Bill Curtis travels “2000 Miles” for The Pretenders and a Merry Chrissiemas.
Robert Metzger joining you for some jolly “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses.
Comicsprof reminds us that, yes, Jimi Hendrix cut the “Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night” AND “Auld Lang Syne.”
James Savino likes Nick Lowe’s “Christmas the Airport'“
Christopher Strawn picks Brook Benton, “This Time of the Year”
From Tunes to Toons
Two from Barry Blitt:
Siegel:
Luc Descheemaeker:
Photo Finish
From my camera, “Peregrine Falcon, High Over the Hudson.”
You caught the falcon in mid lookout, great pose. I had never heard any of the songs which is unusual but I’ll add a couple to my collection. The devil toon is great. I wonder how he’ll deal with him?
Incredible image of the falcon!