Outside the Beltway

Because no one should live in a world where Han didn’t shoot first.

The Atlantic’s Dave Thier laments that, “The Beatles on iTunes Means Your Kids May Never Hear ‘Her Majesty’

A new survey shows that political ideology leads to different television viewing habits. This shouldn’t be surprising.

His career seemingly over after being trounced in an independent bid for the Senate, Florida Governor Charlie Crist is turning his attention to the pressing matter of three-decade-old conviction of a long dead pop singer.

An imaginary letter from Mick Jagger to “the journalist Bill Wyman” in reference to Keith Richards’ new autobiography has been making the rounds. Oddly, everyone seems to think Jagger actually wrote the piece.

Harvard’s Jack Hamilton extols “Robert Plant’s Second Act” for the Atlantic. In so doing, he gives us an interesting look at the more important First Act.

Did President Obama degrade his office by appearing on “The Daily Show”? Or is that notion a relic of a bygone era?

Amazon is making the complete “I Love Lucy” television series — a whopping 5394 minutes of entertainment on 34 discs — available for one day only at $84.99.

Video of President Obama on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.

Washington City Paper editor Michael Schaffer has put out a satiric memo mocking the policies NPR and others have issued to reporters regarding this weekend’s Jon Stewart – Stephen Colbert rallies

Paul, World Cup ‘psychic’ octopus, dies in Germany.

If you’re like me, you think of William Shakespeare’s plays as being rendered in an archaic but decidedly upper crust British English. It turns out that this is an artifact of modern theater.

Merle Haggard was not gay. But he’s been retroactively gay married — twice! — for want of a comma.

Actor Tom Bosley, best known for his role as Howard Cunningham on TV’s “Happy Days,” had died at 83.

The blogosphere spends more time dissecting the lyrics of a classic Beatles song than John Lennon did in writing them.

Barbara Billingley of “Leave it to Beaver” and “Airplane” fame has died at the ripe old age of 94.

Insane Clown Posse are Christians, yo. And they say Fuck a lot.

Changing economic realities led to a role reversal: television is where you turn for smart entertainment, whereas the movies have become lowbrow.

Stephen J. Cannel, the man behind “The Rockford Files” and “The A-Team,” had died at 69.

It’s worth reminding ourselves, in a country where so many are trying to figure out the best way to keep excess fat off our bodies, how recently abject poverty was widespread here

They might not be able to fix the economy or the healthcare system or agree on an efficient tax policy but Congress has managed to reach accord on one of the most serious problems facing America: loud television commercials.

Business is booming for box sets of 1960s acts remastered into the original mono.

The UFCW of Nevada pays temporary workers minimum wage to demand fair treatment and wages from Wal-Mart.

Jon Stewart has made the transition into the post-Bush era much more effectively than his protege, Stephen Colbert.

The super rich have a lot larger share of total income than they did a generation ago. Are they taking it from the rest of us?

Beloved comedian and character actor Andy Griffith’s popularity in his home state has plummeted since making commercials endorsing ObamaCare and some Democratic candidates.

Has the digitization of entertainment — DVRs, iPods, iPods, digital cameras, Netflix, and so forth — transformed it from fun into work?

What’s the deal with iTunes?

Has MAD MEN jumped the shark? Or is it getting better?

Christopher Walken does a dramatic reading of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” recycles a Steve Allen bit from before I was born. But it’s still hilarious.

Radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger is quitting her radio show following a firestorm over her use of the N-word.

Students entering college today have never worn a wristwatch and think email is slow.

A mere thirty years after the Rubik’s Cube craze died out, a team of math geeks has proven once and for all that the puzzle can be solved in 20 moves or less from any position.

It’s rumored that Rick Gervais, who starred in the British original version of “The Office,” will reprise his role of David Brent and replace Steve Carrell on the American version of the show.