Monday Medley

What we read while Billy Crystal sang…

• Bill Wyman explains the Oscas’ sequel problem, which is close to the point John S tried to make back in 2009.

• Baseball’s almost back! To get you excited, Sam Fuld relived last season’s riveting final day, SABR created a Google Doc of old-timey baseball articles, and NPI-favorite (at least on Twitter) Brandon McCarthy landed the cover of ESPN: The Magazine. In other baseball news, how did The Simpsons put together the famous “Homer At The Bat” episode 20 years ago?

• The NYPD has been spying on Muslim students throughout the Northeast, as part of a spying program the AP has been exposing for months. Which makes one wonder: Why don’t Americans riot anymore?

• On the origins of Ron Paul.

• Some TV critics have been bemoaning this season of 30 Rock for turning Liz Lemon dumb. Emily Nussbaum, though, has come bravely to her defense.

• In honor of David Foster Wallace’s birthday last week, here’s everything he ever wrote for Harper’s. The Point wrote about DFW’s relationship with Jonathan Franzen (referencing Franzen’s oft-discussed piece for The New Yorker last year). Also, did DFW hate AC/DC?

Monday Medley

What we read while Seth Greenberg wondered what he did…

• Felicia “Snoop” Pearson, who played a character of the same name on The Wire, was arrested on drug charges. David Simon issued a response criticizing America’s absurd “War on Drugs.”

• We continue our new Monday Medley tradition of linking to profiles of great college basketball analysts!

• Shortly after The New York Times Magazine profiled him, Baylor’s Perry Jones was suspended by the NCAA. The move was questioned by many.

• Nate Silver wants you to pick against Notre Dame.

• Parks & Recreation was part of PaleyFest 2011, put on by the excellent Paley Center.

• Who wouldn’t watch CNBC if Gus Johnson were reporting on the Dow?

• Rand Paul is no faint-hearted libertarian.

• Will future generations understand The Simpsons? And should we care?

• More DFW stuff: After an excerpt from The Pale King appeared in The New Yorker, The Howling Fantods compared the excerpt to an earlier reading given by Wallace. Meanwhile, some are wondering if people are trying cash in on the author’s death.

• Is the film industry fundamentally broken?

• A recent episode of 30 Rock dealt with the issue of women in comedy, which has led some to wonder what Liz Lemon means to feminism. Meanwhile, Molly Lambert breaks down how to be a woman in a boys’ club. (I’ll bet you never expected a whole women’s issues bullet point in an Monday Medley!)

• An interview with an NPI favorite comedian, in which the nature of comedy is debated. Also, he balances out that whole feminism point with his on-stage misogyny.

• For the creative scorekeeper in you…

• Have you been wondering why Tim hasn’t been recapping this season of Survivor? Well, hopefully this can tide you over….