3 Unfortunate Differences between "The Help" (the movie) and "The Help" (the book) by Mark Blankenship

I know the conversation about the film version of The Help has been going for a while, but since I just finished the book last week and just saw the movie on Saturday, I’d like to ente…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 3:19pm on August 25, 2011☆⚑

"True Blood" Sucker Punch: Season 4, Ep. 9 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to “Sucker Punch,” the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest episodes in this week’s episode of True Blood. SPOILERS AHEAD — True Blood needs to put up or sh…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:08pm on August 24, 2011☆⚑

Should We Celebrate Social Media for Finding Someone Who Isn't Lost? by Mark Blankenship

Hello everyone! Forgive my recent silence: I needed a break to recover from the mind-bending awesomeness of the pop song tournament. Today, I’m back with a piece on NPR’s Monkey …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 3:04pm on August 22, 2011☆⚑

TDF's New Audiences see "Chicago" on Broadway by Mark Blankenship

  Queens Hindu Community Center iexperiences  Broadway for the first time. See what happens when members of the Hindu Community Center in Queens go to see the Broadway revival of …

SOURCE: TDF at 11:23am on August 19, 2011☆⚑

"True Blood" Sucker Punch: Season 4, Ep. 8 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood. SPOILERS AHEAD — You may remember that last week, Marnie allowed her b…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:29pm on August 16, 2011☆⚑

The Power of Open Captioning by Mark Blankenship

  How a deaf CUNY law student uses TDF’s program Caitlin Parton is a law student at the City University of New York who spent her early twenties interning with a U.S. senator. She…

SOURCE: TDF at 10:59am on August 16, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Cyndi's Victory Lap by Mark Blankenship

And so it ends. I cannot thank you enough for making this tournament so great, with special thanks to Nick and Joe. Please enjoy this victory lap by our tournament champion, Cyndi LauperR…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:06am on August 16, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Championship Round by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament. This game is OPEN, and it will close at midnight on Tuesday, August 16. To see the final bracket, just go here…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:21pm on August 14, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Final Four by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the Final Four of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Monday, August 15. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated bracke…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:03am on August 12, 2011☆⚑

My Breakfast with The Overtones, Britain's Doo-Woppiest Pop Stars by Mark Blankenship

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece in the New York Times magazine about The Overtones, a U.K. vocal group that fuses doo-wop sounds with pop-R&B flair. Since writing that piece, I’ve…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 3:08pm on August 11, 2011☆⚑

How to Navigate the Fringe Festival by Mark Blankenship

  Tips for getting the most from FringeNYC The fifteenth annual FringeNYC festival runs from August 12-28, and as always, it's a smorgasbord of theatre, dance, comedy, and performance a…

SOURCE: TDF at 12:38pm on August 10, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Elite Eight (Rock Warrior and Groove Thang) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the ELITE EIGHT of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Rock Warrior & Groove Thang Divisions. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Friday, Aug…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:09am on August 10, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Elite Eight (Joy Bomb & Deep Feelings) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the ELITE EIGHT of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Joy Bomb & Deep Feelings Divisions. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Friday, August…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:03am on August 10, 2011☆⚑

"True Blood" Sucker Punch: Season 4, Ep. 7 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week’s episode of True Blood. — You guys, the very beginning of “Cold Grey Light of Dawn…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 3:08pm on August 9, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 7 & 8 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 7 and 8. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:50am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 5 & 6 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 5 and 6. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:44am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 3 & 4 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 3 and 4. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:21am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Sweet Sixteen: Games 1 & 2 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to the SWEET SIXTEEN of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 1 and 2. These games are OPEN, and they will close at midnight on Wednesday, August 10. (ALL OPEN GAMES) T…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:10am on August 8, 2011☆⚑

In "Attack the Block," Should You Side With Criminals Or Aliens? by Mark Blankenship

The fabulous Monkey See blog at NPR just posted my story on the tantalizing ethical issues in the new alien invasion movie Attack the Block. Here’s a snippet: When we first meet Moses,…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 2:47pm on August 5, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Friday Update by Mark Blankenship

Hey everyone! This is your official update, checking in on upsets, rule changes, and next week’s schedule for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight Rounds. WOOO! — Vote in the Remain…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:30am on August 5, 2011☆⚑

Hidden flavors in "Olive and the Bitter Herbs" by Mark Blankenship

  How Charles Busch puts real feeling in wild comedy You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy Charles Busch’s new comedy Olive and the Bitter Herbs. You just have to bel…

SOURCE: TDF at 1:46pm on August 4, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Groove Thang (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 15 and 16! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Sunday, August 7. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the upd…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:25am on August 4, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Groove Thang by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 13 and 14! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Sunday, August 7. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the update…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 4:59am on August 4, 2011☆⚑

"True Blood" Sucker Punch!: Season 4, Ep. 6 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments in this week’s episode of True Blood. — You guys? I am considering launching a blog called Evil Baby W…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:33pm on August 3, 2011☆⚑

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Rock Warrior (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 11 and 12! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Saturday, August 6. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the update…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 9:15am on August 3, 2011☆⚑