Chris McLaren
@chrismclaren.com
I do not care to listen; obloquy injures my self-esteem and I am skeptical of praise.
Post your favourite Star Trek character. Wrong answers only.
November 15, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Post your favourite Star Trek character. Wrong answers only.
Gonna make 'em work for it.
November 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Gonna make 'em work for it.
The mole is pretty distinctive, but it did take me a second to place Anne Francis. Should have been faster given my binging Honey West last year. Or, you know, the fact that I've seen Forbidden Planet like 5 times.
November 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The mole is pretty distinctive, but it did take me a second to place Anne Francis. Should have been faster given my binging Honey West last year. Or, you know, the fact that I've seen Forbidden Planet like 5 times.
And then, appropriately for a MALTESE FALCON riff, we've got Elisha Cook, Jr. who we all know from that movie (1941), and lots of others (he was in THE BIG SLEEP as well).
And, of course, he was Icepick for 7 years on Magnum when I was a kid.
And, of course, he was Icepick for 7 years on Magnum when I was a kid.
November 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
And then, appropriately for a MALTESE FALCON riff, we've got Elisha Cook, Jr. who we all know from that movie (1941), and lots of others (he was in THE BIG SLEEP as well).
And, of course, he was Icepick for 7 years on Magnum when I was a kid.
And, of course, he was Icepick for 7 years on Magnum when I was a kid.
Next episode. Usually when I see someone I recognize on a show that was broadcast when I was 10 it's because they later did something I remember them for.
In this ep—a kind of riff on THE MALTESE FALCON—we've got Robert Lansing who I know from Kung Fu TLC, The Equalizer, and even Automan.
In this ep—a kind of riff on THE MALTESE FALCON—we've got Robert Lansing who I know from Kung Fu TLC, The Equalizer, and even Automan.
November 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Next episode. Usually when I see someone I recognize on a show that was broadcast when I was 10 it's because they later did something I remember them for.
In this ep—a kind of riff on THE MALTESE FALCON—we've got Robert Lansing who I know from Kung Fu TLC, The Equalizer, and even Automan.
In this ep—a kind of riff on THE MALTESE FALCON—we've got Robert Lansing who I know from Kung Fu TLC, The Equalizer, and even Automan.
A moment later we get the closeup, and then lots more scenes in the episode.
Rick and AJ refer to him as "Detective Bad Hair" for the whole episode and I can't tell if they are supposed to know that's a terrible rug or not.
Rick and AJ refer to him as "Detective Bad Hair" for the whole episode and I can't tell if they are supposed to know that's a terrible rug or not.
November 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A moment later we get the closeup, and then lots more scenes in the episode.
Rick and AJ refer to him as "Detective Bad Hair" for the whole episode and I can't tell if they are supposed to know that's a terrible rug or not.
Rick and AJ refer to him as "Detective Bad Hair" for the whole episode and I can't tell if they are supposed to know that's a terrible rug or not.
Back on this BS. Got an episode running in the background, and I hear the distinctive voice of Jonathan Banks. You know, "Mike" from Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul, or from Community, or for real ones from Wiseguy. I look up and see someone with a lot of dark hair from far away.
November 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Back on this BS. Got an episode running in the background, and I hear the distinctive voice of Jonathan Banks. You know, "Mike" from Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul, or from Community, or for real ones from Wiseguy. I look up and see someone with a lot of dark hair from far away.
In 1994 this was an appropriate way to credit Hector, but i love that they actually did it, and he agreed to it. No other "funny" credits, just this one instead of a "with" or "and".
(This probably caused more hassle than I think, given all the recondite rules about how people are credited.)
(This probably caused more hassle than I think, given all the recondite rules about how people are credited.)
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 AM
In 1994 this was an appropriate way to credit Hector, but i love that they actually did it, and he agreed to it. No other "funny" credits, just this one instead of a "with" or "and".
(This probably caused more hassle than I think, given all the recondite rules about how people are credited.)
(This probably caused more hassle than I think, given all the recondite rules about how people are credited.)
Seems like a topical quote, no?
That's PKD in 1978--almost 50 years ago.
That's PKD in 1978--almost 50 years ago.
November 12, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Seems like a topical quote, no?
That's PKD in 1978--almost 50 years ago.
That's PKD in 1978--almost 50 years ago.
repost with an iconic fictional band
November 12, 2025 at 4:21 AM
repost with an iconic fictional band
Holy shit, finally an op-ed that gets it!
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Holy shit, finally an op-ed that gets it!
I was thinking about Dave Cockrum costume designs earlier, so all I'm seeing there is...
November 12, 2025 at 2:56 AM
I was thinking about Dave Cockrum costume designs earlier, so all I'm seeing there is...
Amazing show, only made more amazing by realization that what you're seeing is the forcefield that protects you from the death rays working overtime. Especially when you get the pinks, which mean the layers closet to the ground are being lit up.
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Amazing show, only made more amazing by realization that what you're seeing is the forcefield that protects you from the death rays working overtime. Especially when you get the pinks, which mean the layers closet to the ground are being lit up.
If you're a real hard man, you exhale the smoke over 15 seconds, then _still_ wait a couple of beats before you drop the line about needing guns or going to war or whatever.
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
If you're a real hard man, you exhale the smoke over 15 seconds, then _still_ wait a couple of beats before you drop the line about needing guns or going to war or whatever.
Our hitman-with-a-conscience yells at the Buddha, and then literally does a table flip. Not cool dude, not cool.
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Our hitman-with-a-conscience yells at the Buddha, and then literally does a table flip. Not cool dude, not cool.
Funniest line read in the movie.
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Funniest line read in the movie.
Mr. Wei drops some wisdom.
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Mr. Wei drops some wisdom.
Apparently it's come around to THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS on the rewatch dial. Fuqua is no Woo, but I always liked the young Mira as a sassy criminal.
November 12, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Apparently it's come around to THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS on the rewatch dial. Fuqua is no Woo, but I always liked the young Mira as a sassy criminal.
I wonder what's in the training data that makes all the LLMS (see thread) vulnerable to spiralism?
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I wonder what's in the training data that makes all the LLMS (see thread) vulnerable to spiralism?
One of the things about re-watching shows from when I was a kid is seeing people in bit parts who later were more famous in other roles.
The episode of Simon & Simon I'm watching now has Ricky Jay, Cleavon Little, & Robert Eglund in it.
And that's before Uncle Phil appears as the criminal bouncer.
The episode of Simon & Simon I'm watching now has Ricky Jay, Cleavon Little, & Robert Eglund in it.
And that's before Uncle Phil appears as the criminal bouncer.
November 9, 2025 at 11:36 PM
One of the things about re-watching shows from when I was a kid is seeing people in bit parts who later were more famous in other roles.
The episode of Simon & Simon I'm watching now has Ricky Jay, Cleavon Little, & Robert Eglund in it.
And that's before Uncle Phil appears as the criminal bouncer.
The episode of Simon & Simon I'm watching now has Ricky Jay, Cleavon Little, & Robert Eglund in it.
And that's before Uncle Phil appears as the criminal bouncer.
"Employees must smile if less than 10 feet from a customer."
November 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
"Employees must smile if less than 10 feet from a customer."