Broken Peach rocks out to Metallica and Talking Heads for Halloween

Happy Halloween! I continue my Halloween tradition on this blog of sharing songs by Broken Peach with this year's Broken Peach - Enter Sandman (Halloween Special).

"Enter Sandman" is a song by the American heavy metal band @metallica. It is the opening track and lead single from their self-titled fifth album, released in 1991. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. Vocalist and guitarist Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which deal with the concept of a child's nightmares. The single reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and achieved a nine-times platinum certification for more than 9,000,000 copies shipped in the United States, spurring sales of over 30 million copies for Metallica and propelling Metallica to worldwide popularity.

"Psycho Killer" is a song by American rock band Talking Heads, released on their debut studio album @TalkingHeads: 77 (1977). The band's "signature debut hit" features lyrics that seem to represent the thoughts of a serial killer. Originally written and performed as a ballad, "Psycho Killer" became what AllMusic calls a "deceptively funky new wave/no wave song" with "an insistent rhythm, and one of the most memorable, driving basslines in rock & roll". The song was written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth.

Metallica makes for a good Halloween band. Maybe next year Broken Peach will sing "Master of Puppets," which featured in Stranger Things 4. Also, no Duran Duran, but I'm sharing "Psycho Killer" for a third year just the same.

Speaking of repeats, I'm sharing Broken Peach - Call Me (Live at Twenty Century Rock), the live version of last year's Halloween special.

"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie, and the theme to the 1980 film American Gigolo. Produced and composed by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, with lyrics by Blondie singer Debbie Harry, the song appeared in the film and was released in the United States in early 1980 as a single. "Call Me" was Nº1 for six consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, where it became the band's biggest single and second Nº1.

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1979 album, Dynasty. It was released as the A-side of their first single from the album, with "Hard Times" as the B-side. I Was Made for Lovin' You" was Kiss's first songwriting collaboration with Desmond Child, who also wrote songs for the albums Animalize, Asylum, Crazy Nights, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits, and Hot in the Shade. "I Was Made for Lovin' You" was the band's second Gold single, selling over 1 million copies. The single was certified Gold in the U.S. on August 16, 1979, and in Canada on August 1, 1979. The song was one of the band's few singles to chart in the UK in the 1970s, peaking at No. 50.

"Joker & the Thief" is a song by Australian rock band Wolfmother. The song serves as the sixth track and sixth single from the band's eponymous debut studio album. It was released in Australia on 28 October 2006 and in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2006. "Joker & the Thief" has been featured in several films, video games and TV shows including The Blacklist, The Hangover, Shoot 'Em Up, NHL 14, Rock Revolution, Jackass Number Two, Impractical Jokers: The Movie, The Out-Laws, Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol Encore 2, Here Comes the Boom, MLB 07: The Show, Need for Speed: Carbon, Shrek the Third, Lego DC Super-Villains, Preacher, The Man from Toronto, Ted Lasso, and The Artful Dodger. It is also available as downloadable content for the music video game series Rock Band.

My readers are not seeing things. There are six members of the band in the current video, but seven in this video from Halloween of last year. Erika Lewis left at the beginning of this year to pursue a solo career. She's missed, but the band carries on.

The members of Broken Peach channeled their inner Freddy Krueger in this year's video, so I conclude with Nightmare | Freddy Kruger Inspired Shot by Secret of the Booze.

Freddy Krueger will haunt your dreams and now it will also haunt your stomachs!
--------
Ingredients
Strawberry Syrup
Vodka
Midori
Bacardi 151
-------
Directions
Pour vodka and strawberry syrup into 1/2 of the shot layer on top midori. Then layer with 151 and ignite!

Drink responsibly and stay tuned as spooky season continues on this blog with Day of the Dead tomorrow. Trick or treat!

Big 'Ten' marching bands play 'Wicked' for National Wicked Day

I'm doing something new and different for today's spooky season celebration, observing National Wicked Day, the anniversary of Wicked's debut on Broadway. Of course, I'm doing it my way, which is to celebrate the day through the lens of marching music, capped by a drink.

I begin with "Wicked" - Sept., 13, 2025 - Michigan vs CMU - Michigan Marching Band, Musical Theatre, Percussion.

The Michigan Marching Band is excited to collaborate with the SMTD Dept. of Musical Theatre and Percussion Studio for a “Wicked” performance! This thrillifying halftime show will feature iconic tunes from the beloved Broadway musical and films, and showcase the artistry of the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Grab your dancing shoes and meet us at the Ozdust Ballroom as we celebrate one of the most popular musicals of all time!

Music Selections:
No One Mourns the Wicked
Popular
Dancing Through Life
Defying Gravity

Musical arrangements by Jason DeBord, Richard Frey, Matt Jordan, and Chuck Ricotta
Choreography by Sean McKnight; asst. by Raja Benz
Flag choreography by Joan Noble-Pruett
Drill by Corey Jahlas

This Michigan Marching Band would like to thank the Cozad Family for their generous support of this halftime performance.

The singers and keyboards added new dimensions to this performance, making it a special occasion. The singers steal the show, but I wish the band would keep the keyboards.

At least three other Big "Ten" bands played music from Wicked so far this season, including the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band: 10.25.25 Halftime vs. Penn State | Defying Gravity: The Music of Wicked.

Together, we’re unlimited, Hawkeye Nation! For our October 18, 2025 game vs. Penn State, we brought the music of Wicked to life under the lights in Kinnick Stadium, because everyone deserves the chance to fly!

Featuring the Iowa Dance Team, Herky the Hawk, and the Nittany Lion. This show was designed by Dr. Eric Bush, with music arrangements by Drew Bonner.

The Hawkeye Marching Band made some interesting choices, including having the drum major dress up as the Wizard, inviting the opposing team's mascot to be part of the show to play Glinda, and casting Herky as Elphaba.

The other band from the conference playing Wicked was the Marching Illini: Music from Wicked | IMBC 2025 Evening Performance 10.25.2025.

That's a good pure marching band show with a preview image appropriate for spooky season. I have mixed feelings about the ending. I know it's tradition, but it's something of a museum piece. The Illini are named after the Illiniwek and the fight song reflects that. At least the university has replaced the Native American logo on the field with an outline of the state of Illinois.

The fourth and final band hails from a university that just joined the conference, USC Trojan Marching Band + USC School of Dramatic Arts Wicked halftime 10/11/25.

A Wicked wonderful halftime, combining the talents of the USC Trojan Marching Band and the USC School of Dramatic Arts. 10/11/25. Magnificent!

Well, the U$C Band can certainly put on a show and they used more technology than the Michigan band, although having the featured actors on the Jumbotron kept shifting focus.

I close with WICKED INSPIRED SHOTS by The Shot Queen.


Drink responsibly and stay tuned for one more Halloween post plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

'Catacombs' and other spooky songs by the Harp Twins for Halloween

I'm continuing my celebration of spooky season with music from Camille and Kennerly, the Harp Twins. I begin with CATACOMBS (Gothic Celtic) - Harp Twins original.

CATACOMBS is from our new dark fantasy ORIGINAL album, Twin Destinies! The companion dark fantasy novel was written by New York Times Bestselling author, Debbie Viguié!
...
Book & album teaser:
When their great-grandmother Kaia, a world-famous harpist, dies, two sisters find themselves the heirs to twin harps, an ancient book of music, and a legacy that stretches back centuries.

The Harp Twins have still more songs from Twin Destinies I haven't shared yet, but I'm moving on to music from their latest collaboration with Debbie Viguié, Changeling - spooky Celtic - Harp Twins original.

CHANGELING is part of our new original epic dark fantasy album and novel collaboration with New York Times Bestselling Author, Debbie Viguié!
...
Celtic Charms book & album teaser
After arriving in Ireland to play their harps for a wedding at a mystical castle, twin Seers find themselves caught in a web of ancient feuds, family secrets, creatures of myth, and a seemingly doomed romance that only they can save.

A harpist played at my middle sister's first wedding reception. That was a story in and of itself, but not one I'll tell today. It took place on Valentines Day and I should save it for then.

I close with the Harp Twins' latest, Welcome to Your Wake - Harp Twins (Official Music Video).

"Welcome to Your Wake" is part of our new original epic Celtic fantasy album and novel collaboration with New York Times Bestselling Author, Debbie Viguié!

A wedding and a wake? How Irish! Speaking of Irish, the rest of the songs seem like they would fit better with St. Patrick's Day, so I'll be a good environmentalist and save them for then.

Since crypts share a connection to catacombs, I'm closing with The Crypt Keeper: A "Tales From The Crypt" Inspired Cocktail | 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN by Secret of the Booze.

Even though Tales from the Crypt got held up by HBO from releasing a rebooted series by M. Night we thought with the Halloween season we give you a drink from one of our favorite story tellers. Each day we are creating a new drink for 31 days of Halloween inspired by iconic characters that go bump in the night.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
3 oz. Brandy
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
½ oz. honey whiskey
Dash of Angostoria bitters

INSTRUCTIONS
Set a piece of paper on fire and place the glass over it so that it fills with smoke.
Add brandy, juices, and whisksy to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
Strain into smoke filled glass.
Top with a few drops of bitters.

Drink responsibly and stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

The History Guy remembers 'History and the Headless Horseman.'

Last year, I shared The History Guy remembers 'Fact, Fiction, and Frankenstein's Monster' for a late Frankenstein Friday. I'm returning to The History Guy for History and the Headless Horseman.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, has been called “America’s First Ghost story." It is, perhaps, the story that most represents the Halloween season. But it also works in a lot of history, history that deserves to be remembered.

My takeaway was that, while there was plenty of life influencing art, including several things I learned, the story is so powerful that it influenced life, as North Tarrytown renamed itself as Sleepy Hollow and lots of local lore inspired by the story as much or more as the other way around.

Speaking of life imitating art, Secret of the Booze has the perfect recipe for today's post, The Headless Horseman: A "Sleepy Hollow" Inspired Cocktail • 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN.

Headless Horseman is the perfect drink for this Halloween season. Mixing Pumpkin flavor and some sweet sweet chocolate. Each day we are creating a new drink for 31 days of Halloween inspired by iconic characters that go bump in the night.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
2 oz. pumpkin beer
2 oz. creme de cacao
2 oz. coffee liqueur
1 oz. vodka
moonshine

INSTRUCTIONS
Add creme de cacao, kahlua, and vodka to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
Strain over ice into a tall glass.
Pour pumpkin beer into a shot glass.
Layar Bacardi 151 on top of the shot glass.
Place the shot on top of the glass.
Light it on fire.

Drink responsibly and stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

CNBC and Company Man examine Spirit Halloween, spooky tales of the Retail Apocalypse for Black Cat Day

For today's spooky season post, I'm returning to CityNerd's 'How Spirit Halloween Transforms Strip Malls Into Vibrant Wonderlands,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse, where I wrote "both Company Man and CNBC have recent videos about Spirit Halloween, but I'm going to be a good environmentalist and conserve my resources." Time to use those resources before they go stale. I begin with CNBC explaining How Spirit Halloween Became A Billion-Dollar Business.

Spirit Halloween occupies more than 1,500 storefronts and hires around 50,000 seasonal workers for just a few months of business. Spencer Spirit Holdings, which includes Spirit Halloween and long-time mall retailer Spencer's, brings in $1.87b of annual revenue, according to Moody’s Ratings. The company often targets struggling real estate to execute its niche retail operation. Watch the video to find out how Spirit Halloween became the ultimate pop-up store.

That had to be the most fun CNBC video I remember watching. In particular, I was looking for the Saturday Night Live Spirit Halloween skit and CNBC clipped exactly the part I wanted. Nothing like both CNBC and NBC having the same corporate ownership to make that convenient. As I last wrote in Closer looks at the Trump-Musk feud from Colbert, Kosta, Kimmel, and Meyers, "It's not just news value that's driving it."

CNBC's history essentially began in 1999, when Spencer's bought Spirit Halloween. Company Man Mike went back to the actual founding during the 1980s in Spirit Halloween - Why They're Successful.

Spirit Halloween is the popular Halloween store that pops up in empty buildings each year. This video outlines the main reasons behind its success.

It's a Company Man video, so there's a list. Here it is:


Company Man Mike uploaded this video just over a year ago, so he was too early to include Party City closing in the United States when he described Spirit Halloween's failing competitors, so it has one fewer competitor. Other than that, this is a comprehensive compilation of reasons for the chain's success.

Since today is National Black Cat Day and tomorrow is National Cat Day, I'm closing with Liqr Media describing How to Make a Black Cat Martini with Momo!

Today is #NationalCatDay and we're celebrating with Momo! She's gonna teach us how to make a Black Cat Martini. Me-ow!

We hope you enjoyed this video. Please like and subscribe! Tune in for a new drink recipe each weekday.

Black Cat Martini Recipe
2 ounces Black Vodka
1/2 ounce Raspberry Liqueur

Combine in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into cocktail glass.

Enjoy with your feline friends!

Have a drink recipe you'd like us to make? Want to see a particular character? Let us know in the comments below!

Please drink responsibly, and have a great Halloween-month!

Yes, that's what a real cat would do to the drink.

Stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

Drink to PBS Storied's 'King Kong: A Complete History' on Pumpkin Day

For this week's Sunday entertainment feature during spooky season, I'm returning to an agenda item from 'Godzilla Minus One' wins two Critics Choice Super Awards plus an entertainment retrospective.

Dr. Z is in the middle of a series about Kong and has a review of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire up, which I'm saving until she finishes her series. I'm an environmentalist. I don't just recycle, I conserve my resources!

Dr. Z finished her series more than a year ago, so it's well past time to follow through. Watch King Kong: A Complete History, Part 1 | Monstrum.

In this episode, we explore the legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong, its groundbreaking special effects, and the complex racial and colonial undertones that continue to shape our understanding of this timeless classic.

Be sure and check back with us for our next episode, which will explore Kong in modern times!

Storied uploaded that in April 2024. It took the channel until that June to upload King Kong: A Complete History, Part 2 | Monstrum.

Since his 1933 movie debut, King Kong’s impact on our culture has been persistent. For nearly a century, Kong’s story has changed to reflect, and sometimes comment on, our society’s issues with racism, sexism, and fear of the unknown. Let’s talk about how well this iconic monster’s evolution keeps up with our changing times.

Dr. Z's comment about Peter Jackson's island inhabitants being the most violent in the franchise brings back my impression of them when I watched his King Kong in the theater 20 years ago; they reminded me of his orcs from The Lord of the Rings movies. Less than human, indeed!

I close PBS Storied's part of the post with Monster Expert reviews Godzilla x Kong.

Here's my hot take on the new monster extravaganza: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Another @pbsstoried short from your friends at Monstrum!

Based on that review, it's no surprise that Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice beat Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire for Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Awards.

Now, the relevant drink from Secret of the Booze, King Kong Cocktail.

RECIPE:

1 banana
6 oz. dark rum
2 oz. banana liqueur
Ice

Blend ingredients and garnish with a banana.

That was appropriately silly.

If none of the above is spooky season enough for my readers, I'm sharing ATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY | October 26th - National Day Calendar. That's seasonal enough.

October 26th is National Pumpkin Day! Marlo Anderson tells us all about this national day.

I'm a biologist, and I can confirm that pumpkins are fruits, just like tomatoes. Both pumpkins, along with all other gourds and squashes, including cucumbers and melons, and tomatoes are berries. We just eat them like vegetables. So concludes the science lesson for today.

Stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

Drink to 2025 Carolina Crown for a drum corps Halloween

I promised yesterday that I would return to spooky season with today's entry and I'm doing so with one of my trademark drum corps holiday posts complete with a drink. Watch the official upload of Carolina Crown 2025: ‘The Point of No Return’ DCI World Championship Finals (CrownMedia Multicam).

August 9, 2025 | Relive Carolina Crown 2025: The Point of No Return from DCI World Championship Finals night through a custom multicam edit by Crown Media team member, Jhonathan Rochel!

All content captured by Crown Media: Michelle Morales, Zaven Rutman, Daniel Mason and Jhonathan Rochel

That's the scariest rendition of "Carmina Burana" I've ever heard.

I'm taking inspiration from today being both National Trick or Treat Day and Chucky, the Notorious Killer Doll Day for the drink. First, I'm recycling Secret of the Booze's Trick or Treat Inspired Cocktail from two years ago.

Rim glass with purple sugar
4 oz orange juice
1 oz grenadine
top with pumpkin beer
garnish with orange lollipop

Next, CHUCKY INSPIRED SHOTS by The Shot Queen.


 Drink responsibly and stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

'Food, Inc. 2' worksheet for National Food Day

Happy National Food Day! New movie, new worksheet. Follow over the jump.

Ohio State and Michigan marching bands for National Horror Movie Day

As I promised yesterday, I'm going full spooky season today for National Horror Movie Day with marching band shows inspired by horror movies. I begin with Ohio State Marching Band HALLOWEEN "Halftime Horrors" Show October 29 2016 OSU vs NW by mbandfan2.

The OSUMB Halloween Horrors halftime show with pumpkins and horses and more. Theme from "Halloween", theme from "Psycho", "Dies Irae" from the "Shining", Theme from "The Fly", "OOgie Boogie Man" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and "Symphonie Fantastique".
The Ohio State University Marching Band, TBDBITL, The Best Damn Band In The Land. Ohio State vs. Northwester[n, ]October 29, 2016.

This works for me as a horror movie tribute.

Of course, I can't let OSU have the stage by itself, so I'm sharing my alma mater, "The Upside Down" (HC) - October 18, 2025 - Michigan vs Washington - Michigan Marching Band.

Music Selections:
Stranger Things Theme - Composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, performed by Survive
Running Up That Hill - by Kate Bush
The NeverEnding Story - composed by Giorgio Moroder, performed by Limahl
Crazy Train - composed by Bob Daisley, Ozzy Osbourne, and Randy Rhoads, performed by Ozzy Osbourne
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) - written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry, performed by Journey

Musical Arrangements by Scott Boerma, Richard Frey, Andy Putnam, and Chuck Ricotta
Flag Choreography by Joan Noble-Pruett
Drill by Richard Frey

Grab a flashlight and your Walkman, because we’re taking a trip to the Upside Down ???? Join us as we embark on a musical journey through the small town of Hawkins and investigate the strange things that inhabit it. Creepy creatures, experiments gone wrong, and a rockin’ 80s soundtrack await you in this week’s halftime show: The Upside Down...

The Michigan Marching Band would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Derek (’97) and Erica Groendyk for their generous support of this week’s halftime performance.

My readers might object that Stranger Things is a TV series, not a movie. It is, but it may screen in theaters for New Year's Eve, so it will count as a movie.

I close with Hellfire Club | A Stranger Things Inspired Cocktail by Secret of the Booze.

THE HELLFIRE CLUB is a Stranger Things Inspired Cocktail that will be amazing this halloween for all those Eddie Munsons out there. Be sure to pull out your pick and rock out for our favorite character from Season 4.

Ingredients
Blueberry Concentrate
Empress Gin
Lime Juice
Simple Syrup
Tequila
Hibiscus Flower

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for National Food Day. New movie, new worksheet!

Music film nominees at the 2025 Critics Choice Documentary Awards

I promised more nominees at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards today and I'm following through with another category that gives me an opportunity to brag.

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
Becoming Led Zeppelin (Sony Pictures Classics)
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO Max)
Bono: Stories of Surrender (Apple TV)
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (HBO Max, Magnolia Pictures)
Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music (NBC)
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu)

I made a prediction about this category in 'Pee-wee as Himself' vs. 'Will & Harper' for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special on Tequila Day.

Mentioning that [Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)] shares its producers with Summer of Soul is a smart move that indicates the film's quality. It may not be enough for it to win an Emmy, although it probably helped it get nominated, but it might help it win some of Summer of Soul's other awards, particularly Best Archival Documentary and Best Music Documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and Best Music Film at the GRAMMY Awards. I'm looking forward to covering both awards shows.

Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) won't win Best Archival Documentary because it wasn't nominated, but at least it's been nominated for Best Music Documentary, which is the first step, so I can claim half credit for my prediction — so far.

The other Emmy nominee in this field is Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music, which also earned a nomination for Best Editing at these awards along with two nominations at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, so it definitely deserved its second nomination. It's also my second choice to win Best Music Documentary. Since it didn't earn a program nomination at the Emmy Awards, I hadn't embedded Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music | Official Trailer before. Now I am.

Ladies & Gentleman ... 50 Years of SNL Music, co-directed by Oz Rodriguez and The Roots drummer, Tonight Show bandleader, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Questlove, premieres Monday, January 27 at 8/7c on NBC. Streaming next day on Peacock.

The three-hour special broadcast event includes a look back at some of the show's 900-plus musical guests and promises "untold stories behind the culture-defining, groundbreaking, and news-making musical performances, sketches, and cameos of the past 50 years."

The trailer alone is a masterpiece of editing. It also sells me on the idea of watching the special itself. BTW, my top two choices set up a battle of Questlove vs. Questlove. May that actually result in his winning this award again.

Now for the rest of the nominees, beginning with BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN | Full Length Trailer (2025).

Directed by: Bernard MacMahon
Written by: Bernard MacMahon and Allison McGourty
Cast: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham
...
Becoming Led Zeppelin explores the origins of this iconic group and their meteoric rise in just one year against all the odds.

Powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, Bernard MacMahon’s experiential cinematic odyssey explores Led Zeppelin’s creative, musical, and personal origin story. The film is told in Led Zeppelin’s own words and is the first officially sanctioned film on the group.

I expect to see this nominated at one or more awards shows, beginning with the GRAMMYs next month and again at next year's News & Doc Emmy Awards in May. The Oscars, since this is the sole purely theatrical release in the field? I would be very surprised, but Becoming Led Zeppelin is the highest grossing documentary so far this year. That might count for something...or not, as I point out below.

Next, Billy Joel: And So It Goes | Official Trailer | HBO Max.

There’s always a message in the music.

Billy Joel: And So It Goes premieres July 18 and 25 on HBO Max.

This might get nominated at the GRAMMYs, but I really think this looks like a candidate for next year's Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Billy Joel is more their kind of person.

I continue with Bono: Stories of Surrender — Official Trailer | Apple TV.

The groundbreaking event ‘Bono: Stories of Surrender’ is now streaming on Apple TV and is the first feature-length film available in Apple Immersive on Vision Pro. https://apple.co/_BonoStoriesofSurrender

A bold and lyrical visual exploration of Bono’s one-man show by the same name. Based on his celebrated memoir, “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story,” and the accompanying book/theatre tour, the film hails from RadicalMedia and Plan B Entertainment.

“Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive)” is the first feature-length film available in Apple Immersive Video, a remarkable media format recorded in 8K with Spatial Audio to produce a 180-degree video that places viewers onstage with Bono and in the center of his story.

“Bono: Stories of Surrender” is a vivid reimagining of Bono’s critically-acclaimed one-man stage show, "Stories of Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music and Some Mischief…," as he pulls back the curtain on a remarkable life and the family, friends, and faith that have challenged and sustained him, revealing personal stories about his journey as a son, father, husband, activist and rockstar. Along with never-before-seen, exclusive footage from the Beacon Theatre shows, the film features Bono performing many of the iconic U2 songs that have shaped his life and legacy.

Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning RadicalMedia’s Jon Kamen and Dave Sirulnick (“Summer of Soul,” “Hamilton,” “David Byrne’s American Utopia”) produce alongside Academy Award-winning Plan B Entertainment’s Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner (upcoming “F1,” “Moonlight,” “12 Years a Slave”). Bono executive produces with Jennifer Pitcher (“Kiss The Future”) and Kelly McNamara (“V-U2 an Immersive Concert Film at Sphere Las Vegas”).

What an impressive roster of talent behind the camera, including more alumni of Summer of Soul! This is another film I expect to see nominated at the GRAMMYs and/or the News & Doc Emmy Awards. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards instead? Maybe.

I close the trailers with the other theatrical release, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley - Official Trailer | Directed by Amy Berg.

IT’S NEVER OVER: JEFF BUCKLEY, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (DELIVER US FROM EVIL, JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE, WEST OF MEMPHIS), covers the life of the rising young star with an otherworldly voice and boundary-pushing artistry, who left the '90s music world reeling when he died suddenly, at age 30, after the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Grace.” Told through never-before-seen footage from Buckley’s archives and intimate accounts from his mother Mary Guibert, former partners Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser, Jeff’s former bandmates, including Michael Tighe and Parker Kindred, and luminaries like Ben Harper and Aimee Mann, IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY illuminates one of modern music’s most influential and enigmatic figures.

The documentary branch might nominate this over Becoming Led Zeppelin just to make a point or to keep the rest of the Motion Picture Academy from voting for the more popular music documentary so a nominee they like better can win. I wouldn't put it past them. Not only do electorates matter, so do selection committees. As for the GRAMMYs nominating it, I expect they will.

Now for the other category in which Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music earned a nomination.

BEST EDITING
Michael Harte – Deaf President Now! (Apple TV)
James Lester & Oz Rodríguez, John MacDonald (Music Montage) – Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music (NBC)
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Page Marsella – The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
Michelle Mizner – 2000 Meters to Andriivka (Frontline Features / The Associated Press)
Alexandra Strauss – Orwell: 2+2=5 (Neon)

I will return to this next month when I resume examining the nominees at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Stay tuned as I go full holidays for the rest of the month, beginning with Horror Movie Day tomorrow. Spooky season!

Previous posts about the 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards

• Spectacular nature films nominated at the 2025 Critics Choice Documentary Awards

Howtown asks 'Did we just unfreeze a pandemic?' Spooky science for spooky season

I promised "something short, evergreen, and educational" today, so I'm sharing Howtown asking Did we just unfreeze a pandemic?

Deep in Siberia’s permafrost, scientists have revived “zombie viruses” that have been frozen for tens of thousands of years — and headlines warn they could spark the next pandemic. In this episode of Howtown, we investigate the real science behind these ancient microbes: what’s actually being found in the Arctic, how giant viruses like Pithovirus sibericum survive for millennia, and whether thawing permafrost could ever release a pathogen capable of infecting humans. From mammoth carcasses to anthrax outbreaks to the relatively recent discovery of enormous amoeba-infecting viruses, this video breaks down the five steps any ancient microbe would need to start a pandemic — and why the truth is more fascinating than frightening.

This is the flip side of Vox explains how thawing permafrost is already releasing dangerous diseases. Vox's video said it was possible. Adam Cole and Joss Fong came to the conclusion that, in this case, the answer is no. The giant viruses revived from the permafrost infect amoebas, not animals, so they are not able to infect humans. Also, the viruses that can infect humans and then spread from human to human are not able to survive being frozen. Yes, anthrax and Clostridium can survive as spores for centuries (the Clostridium toxins that killed the rhinos in The Last Rhinos: A New Hope came from buried cattle corpses), but they don't spread from person to person, so no pandemic.

Climate change unleashing a pandemic from the permafrost makes for a great science fiction, horror, and thriller premise, but our next pandemic is more likely to come from living, active ecosystems. After all, Contagion predicted much of what actually happened with COVID-19 and that had nothing to do with thawing permafrost or climate change.

That's a wrap for today's spooky science for spooky season. Stay tuned for more nominees at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

Spectacular nature films nominated at the 2025 Critics Choice Documentary Awards

As I promised yesterday, I'm beginning my examination of the nominees at the Tenth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Science and nature first!

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Americas (NBC)
Checkpoint Zoo (Abramorama)
The Last Rhinos: A New Hope (National Geographic)
Ocean with David Attenborough (National Geographic)
Octopus! (Prime Video)
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey (Netflix)

I begin by bragging: "I think I will see [Octopus!] and maybe The Americas at another awards show, whether it's the EMA Awards, the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, or even next year's News & Doc Emmy Awards." First, both of them earned nominations at the 2025 Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards and The Americas won its category and now both of them earned nominations here. Two for two so far! Joining them are EMA Award nominee The Last Rhinos: A New Hope, Checkpoint Zoo, Ocean with David Attenborough, and Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey.

I couldn't find a trailer for The Last Rhinos: A New Hope, but I did find 66-Day Fetus Of Northern White Rhino Marks A Moment Of Hope For A Species On The Brink from IFLScience, the next best thing.

There are just two northern white rhinos left in the world: Najin and Fatu, a mother and daughter pair. They can’t continue the species alone, but a world-first attempt was made to bring a new northern white rhino calf into the world using frozen samples, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and a surrogate southern white rhino.

That surrogate was called Curra, and the successful world-first attempt at this kind of cross-species IVF was achieved by BioRescue, an initiative developing advanced reproduction technologies for saving critically endangered mammals. Jan Stejskal was one of the people who had just landed in Kenya to check on the status of her pregnancy when they received a worrying call: Curra was sick, and it was happening fast.

They’d never get to check if she was pregnant, as she died within an hour of falling ill. The team would later learn that this was the devastating outcome of a chain of unfortunate events. First, there was the shift in El Niño, which caused very heavy rains. Then, those rains washed away the top layer of soil in Kenya, resurrecting mummies that had been stored in the ground for centuries. Inside those carcasses was Clostridia bacteria that can live for 500 years, and that bacteria releases an extremely powerful toxin that can kill a rhino in just 60 minutes.

It was a devastating loss for the BioRescue team and even more so for the guardians who had cared for Curra and the other rhinos on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. There came, however, just one small glimmer of hope.
During an autopsy, the team found a 66-day fetus. It was a male northern white rhino, the last seen since the death of Sudan in 2018. There was nothing that could be done to save Curra or the developing fetus inside her, but it was proof that this kind of IVF was possible – something that had never been proven before.

This story of loss and hope is explored in the new National Geographic film, The Last Rhinos: A New Hope, which premieres Aug. 24 at 8/7c and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

No wonder this earned an EMA Award nomination. I hope it gets nominated at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards next year.

Now for the real trailers, beginning with Checkpoint Zoo | Official Trailer from Leonardo DiCaprio.

Checkpoint Zoo documents a daring rescue led by a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers, who risked their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in a zoo behind enemy lines during the initial days of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

Drawing from first-hand footage, Award-winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman's Checkpoint Zoo showcases a story of human compassion, bravery, and sacrifice during Ukraine's darkest hours -- shining a light on the best of humanity when it is all too easy to focus on the worst.

That's inspiring!

Next, Ocean with David Attenborough | Official Trailer | National Geographic.

The world’s leading natural historian draws on a lifetime of knowledge to reveal how Earth’s vast, interconnected waterways can be restored.

This has a second nomination for Best Cinematography and the trailer shows it.

I close the trailers with Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey | Official Trailer | Netflix.

A man finds new purpose when he helps rescue a baby pangolin, one of the most trafficked animals in the world, in a sting operation in South Africa. He leaves the city and embarks on a heartfelt mission to rehabilitate and prepare the vulnerable animal for a life of freedom in the wild. From the Academy Award-winning director of My Octopus Teacher comes Pangolin: Kulu's Journey, a poignant exploration of the connection between humans and the creatures we share our world with.

Netflix makes great trailers and this is no exception.

Based on the trailers and the second nomination for cinematography, I think Ocean with David Attenborough is the favorite, followed by The Americas, and Emmy winner Octopus! Both of the latter have second nominations for narration. No matter which film wins, all of them are ones I can recommend to my students. Welcome to blogging as professional development.

Follow over the jump for the second nominations for The Americas, Octopus!, and Ocean with David Attenborough.

Celebrating 'Patrice: The Movie' winning an Emmy for a late Sweetest Day

A belated (happy) National Sweetest Day! What, you think I'd forget? Not me, especially since I'm a big believer in better late than never!*  I could say that recognizing Love on the Spectrum's Emmy Awards yesterday would have done the job (and if I had realized it before I posted and included it in the title and body, it would have), but I have another Emmy winner about the power of love to acknowledge, Patrice: The Movie.

I turn to Gold Derby to handicap their odds. They have The Remarkable Life of Ibelin in first, with all editors picking it to win the Emmy, half of the experts, and 68% of the users. I Am: Celine Dion is in second with the other half of experts and 30% of the users, while only 2% of the users are choosing Patrice: The Movie, which was also nominated for Outstanding Promotional Announcement Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards.

Gold Derby's opinions consolidated even more by the time of the ceremony, with all the editors, 77.8% of experts, and 83.1% of users picking The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, 22.2% of experts and 16.2% of users sticking with I Am: Celine Dion and only 0.7% of users believing in Patrice: The Movie. The Emmy voters vindicated this tiny minority. Watch Patrice: The Movie win Merit In Documentary Filmmaking: 2025 Creative Arts.

The team from Patrice: The Movie accepts the Emmy for Merit In Documentary Filmmaking at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

The audience responded with their most vocal applause for Patrice: The Movie when it was mentioned as a nominee, which was a giveaway. I shouldn't be surprised, since I wrote the following about the trailer in June.

This is right up there with Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story for being moving, and it's about an issue that affects my family, so I care a bit more. Is it enough to beat Blink? I don't know, but this trailer has 3,153,880 views! People are watching and they care! Speaking of which, if the U.S. is "pro-family," should we support disabled Americans in marriage through maintaining their benefits the way we support able-bodied married Americans through the tax code? I say yes.

As Patrice herself pointed out in her acceptance speech, the Big Brutal Bill has made the situation even worse. She provided yet another reason to keep the pressure on Congress about the shutdown to maintain healthcare subsidies. Good luck to all of us, especially Patrice and our fellow disabled Americans, and congratulations on winning the Emmy!


I close with NATIONAL SWEETEST DAY | Third Saturday in October from National Day Calendar.

National Sweetest Day is observed on the third Saturday in October by people of all ages. For over 100 years, National Sweetest Day encourages everyone to be generous even in the smallest ways.

That's a wrap for this week's Sunday entertainment feature. Stay tuned for a break from the Emmy Awards tomorrow as I begin examining the nominees at the Tenth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

*Celebrating Coming Out Day late resulted in a chain reaction of late observances of holidays. I hope I don't do that again!

Previous posts about the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards

• No PSAs among nominees for Outstanding Commercial plus winners for Outstanding Promotional Announcement at the Emmy Awards
• 'I Am: Celine Dion,' 'Patrice: The Movie,' and 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,' Emmy nominees for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
• 'Asia' and 'The Americas' lead nature documentaries at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Pee-wee as Himself' vs. 'Will & Harper' for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special on Tequila Day
• '100 Foot Wave' leads Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series in nominations, but could lose to 'SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night'
• 'The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation' plus the Emmy nominees for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
• Emmy nominee 'Desi Lydic Foxsplains the Epstein Files' plus the rest of the short form nominees at the Emmy Awards
• John Oliver examines 'Gang Databases' plus 'Last Week Tonight's six Emmy nominations
• Colbert, Lydic, and Meyers take closer looks at the EPA and Epstein and Kimmel goes down the rabbit hole on 'windmills'
• 'Jeopardy!' favored to win Game Show categories at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Welcome to Wrexham' vs. 'Love on the Spectrum' for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program at the Emmy Awards
• 'Shark Tank' vs. 'Queer Eye' for Outstanding Structured Reality Program at the Emmy Awards
• 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, but 'The Traitors' will likely win again
• 'Arcane' leads Gold Derby odds to win Outstanding Animated Program at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Rebel Ridge' leads Gold Derby odds to win Outstanding Television Movie at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• Nate Bargatze vs. Conan O'Brien for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) at the Emmys
• 'Saturday Night Live' earned seven Emmy nominations for its 50th season
• 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' leads nominees for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the Emmys
• 'Arcane,' 'Love, Death + Robots,' and 'Octopus!' already Emmy Award winners
• Gold Derby's predictions for guest actors and actresses at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• Gold Derby's predictions for title design and music at the Emmy Awards
• Gold Derby's predictions for casting at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'The Penguin' has already won 8 Emmys, but could lose to 'Adolescence'
• 'The Studio' wins 9 Emmy Awards and could win up to 6 more
• 'Severance' already won six Emmy Awards and could win up to five more
• 'Jeopardy!' and Jimmy Kimmel win Game Show categories at the Emmy Awards
• 'Adolescence' sweeps its categories at the Emmy Awards with one win for 'The Penguin'
• 'Arcane' and 'Love, Death & Robots' both earn four Emmy Awards
• 'The Studio' wins four more Emmy Awards for a total of thirteen
• Colbert and Meyers take closer looks at ABC suspending Kimmel
• 'The Daily Show' reacts to ABC suspending Jimmy Kimmel
• John Oliver examines Jimmy Kimmel & the FCC after winning two Emmy Awards
• 'The Pitt' edges 'Severance' for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards
• Three shows with Conan O'Brien win Emmys
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting receives Governors Award at Creative Arts Emmys
• 'SNL' mocks Hegseth addressing generals and government shutdown upon its return
• 'Brian Cox Goes to College - Uber One for Students' wins Emmy for Outstanding Commercial
• Emmy Awards for 'The Traitors' and 'Queer Eye' for a late Coming Out Day
• 'Love on the Spectrum' and 'Welcome to Wrexham' both Emmy winners for a late National Sports Day

'Love on the Spectrum' and 'Welcome to Wrexham' both Emmy winners for a late National Sports Day

A belated Happy National Sports Day, which I'm celebrating with the Emmy Awards for Welcome to Wrexham and Love on the Spectrum!

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.

• America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
• Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV)
• The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)
• Welcome to Wrexham (FX)

2022 winner Love on the Spectrum leads with five nominations, followed by defending winner Welcome to Wrexham with three, 2021 winner RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked with two, and newcomers America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives with just this one. That's pretty much the order that Gold Derby predicts for the nominees. Half of the experts, 85.7% of the editors, and 77.4% of the users have chosen Love on the Spectrum to walk off the stage with the statuette. The other half of the experts, including Joyce Eng, 14.3% of the editors, and 12.8% of the users expect two-time winner Welcome to Wrexham will repeat. RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked has the support of 6.8% of users, while long shots The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders currently have the votes of 2.2% and 0.8% of users, respectively.

Support behind Love on the Spectrum consolidated by the Creative Arts ceremony, when 77.8% of experts, 83.3% of editors, and 85.6% of users had jumped on the bandwagon. Welcome to Wrexham still had significant support with 22.2% of experts, 16.7% of editors, and 11.0% backing it. The rest of the nominees lost their voters, with only 2.0% of users still picking RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, 1.0% choosing The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and 0.3% hanging on to America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The prognosticators picked correctly, as Love on the Spectrum won.

The Television Academy hasn't uploaded the acceptance speech for this award, so I'm embedding Karina Holden ('Love on the Spectrum' executive producer): Series is a learning experience for her from Gold Derby.

Karina Holden ('Love on the Spectrum' executive producer) tells how the series is a learning experience for her. In 2022, the show won big at the Creative Arts Emmys by winning all three of its nominations, including Unstructured Reality Program. Gold Derby contributor Charles Bright hosts this interview as part of our "Meet the Experts" Emmy nominees panel for reality/nonfiction.

This is the video I should have embedded in 'The Traitors' won two Emmy Awards for National Coming Out Day to celebrate the show's Emmys for Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program and Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program. Better late than never. Speaking of casting...

Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program

• The Amazing Race – Jesse Tannenbaum, Alex Stiner, Kayla Kellerbauer, and Pollyanna Jacobs (CBS)
• Love on the Spectrum – Cian O'Clery, Sean Bowman, and Emma Choate (Netflix)
• Queer Eye – Danielle Gervais, Jessica Jorgenson, Natalie Pino, and Brian Puentes (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race – Goloka Bolte, Adam Cook, and Michelle Redwine (MTV)
• Survivor – Jesse Tannenbaum, Caitlin Moore, Penni Lane Clifton, and Daniel Gradias (CBS)

Love on the Spectrum is the defending winner, so it's my pick to repeat.

Watch Love on the Spectrum win Casting For A Reality Program: 2025 Creative Arts.

The team from Love On The Spectrum accepts the Emmy for Casting For A Reality Program at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

I appreciated having Marlee Matlin and Nyle DiMarco, himself an Emmy nominee for Deaf President Now!, present. They exemplify another dimenson of diversity. So do the cast of Love on the Spectrum, who accepted the award along with the casting directors. Congratulations!

Since today is a late celebration of National Sports Day, it's time to acknowledge the Emmy Awards won by Welcome to Wrexham.

Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program

• Deadliest Catch – Rob Butler, Isaiah Camp, Josh Stockero, Alexander Rubinow, Hugh Elliott, Nico Natale, Brock Carter, Christopher James Forrest, and Chris Courtner (Discovery Channel)
• Life Below Zero: "The Last Snow" – Matt Edwards, Matt Mercer, Jennifer Nelson, Michael Swingler, and Tanner Roth (National Geographic)
• Love on the Spectrum: "Episode 7" – Leanne Cole, Rachel Grierson-Johns, Gretchen Peterson, and John Rosser (Netflix)
• RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked: "Drag Baby Mamas" – Miguel Siqueiros, Jimmy Bazan, and Johanna Gavard (MTV)
• Welcome to Wrexham: "Down to the Wire" – Sam Fricke, Jenny Krochmal, Mohamed el Manasterly, Michael Oliver, Tim Roche, Matt Wafaie, Steve Welch, and Tim Wilsbach (FX

This is the other category where the top three nominees for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program are competing with each other. Since Welcome to Wrexham is the two-time defending winner, I'm predicting it will three-peat. My second choice is 2022's winner, Love on the Spectrum. My third choice is 2021's winner, Life Below Zero. Sorry, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, I think Deadliest Catch has a better chance.

Watch Welcome to Wrexham win Picture Editing For An Unstructured Reality Program: 2025 Creative Arts.

The team from Welcome To Wrexham accepts the Emmy for Picture Editing For An Unstructured Reality Program at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

That was inspiring. Congratulations!

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program

• The Amazing Race – Jim Ursulak, Allie Boettger, Paul Bruno, John Buchanan, Dean Gaveau, Ryan P. Kelly, Marcus Lominy, Richard Chardy Lopez, Mickey McMullen, Sean Milburn, Paul Orozco, Simon Paine, John Pitron, Jeff Zipp, Troy Smith, and Ryan Gerle (CBS)
• American Idol: "Grand Finale" – Patrick Smith, Randy Faustino, Michael Parker, Manny Barrajas, Christian Schrader, Jesse Dunham, Barry Weir Jr., and Adrian Ordonez (ABC)
• Deadliest Catch: "My Brother's Keeper" – Jared Robbins (Discovery Channel)
• The Voice: "Live Finale, Part 2" – Michael Abbott, Randy Faustino, Tim Hatayama, Christian Schrader, Carlos Torres, Andrew Fletcher, Shaun Sebastian, Kenyata Westbrook, Colin Bonney, Servio Escobedo, John Koster, Robert P. Matthews Jr., Marlon Moore, and Ryan Young (NBC)
• Welcome to Wrexham: "Down to the Wire" – Mark Jensen (FX)

I may be featuring the Twitter/X promotional image for Deadliest Catch, but Welcome to Wrexham is the two-time defending winner here, too. The only nominees that might prevent it from three-peating this category are American Idol and The Voice, and only if the voters settle on which is the better singing competition show.

Watch win Sound Mixing For A Reality Program: 2025 Creative Arts

Mark Jensen, CAS accepts the Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Reality Program at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Congratulations!

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature to see if I continue my Creative Arts Emmy Awards coverage, shift to the Daytime Emmys, or do something else entirely.

Previous posts about the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards

• No PSAs among nominees for Outstanding Commercial plus winners for Outstanding Promotional Announcement at the Emmy Awards
• 'I Am: Celine Dion,' 'Patrice: The Movie,' and 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,' Emmy nominees for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
• 'Asia' and 'The Americas' lead nature documentaries at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Pee-wee as Himself' vs. 'Will & Harper' for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special on Tequila Day
• '100 Foot Wave' leads Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series in nominations, but could lose to 'SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night'
• 'The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation' plus the Emmy nominees for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
• Emmy nominee 'Desi Lydic Foxsplains the Epstein Files' plus the rest of the short form nominees at the Emmy Awards
• John Oliver examines 'Gang Databases' plus 'Last Week Tonight's six Emmy nominations
• Colbert, Lydic, and Meyers take closer looks at the EPA and Epstein and Kimmel goes down the rabbit hole on 'windmills'
• 'Jeopardy!' favored to win Game Show categories at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Welcome to Wrexham' vs. 'Love on the Spectrum' for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program at the Emmy Awards
• 'Shark Tank' vs. 'Queer Eye' for Outstanding Structured Reality Program at the Emmy Awards
• 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, but 'The Traitors' will likely win again
• 'Arcane' leads Gold Derby odds to win Outstanding Animated Program at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Rebel Ridge' leads Gold Derby odds to win Outstanding Television Movie at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• Nate Bargatze vs. Conan O'Brien for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) at the Emmys
• 'Saturday Night Live' earned seven Emmy nominations for its 50th season
• 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' leads nominees for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the Emmys
• 'Arcane,' 'Love, Death + Robots,' and 'Octopus!' already Emmy Award winners
• Gold Derby's predictions for guest actors and actresses at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• Gold Derby's predictions for title design and music at the Emmy Awards
• Gold Derby's predictions for casting at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'The Penguin' has already won 8 Emmys, but could lose to 'Adolescence'
• 'The Studio' wins 9 Emmy Awards and could win up to 6 more
• 'Severance' already won six Emmy Awards and could win up to five more
• 'Jeopardy!' and Jimmy Kimmel win Game Show categories at the Emmy Awards
• 'Adolescence' sweeps its categories at the Emmy Awards with one win for 'The Penguin'
• 'Arcane' and 'Love, Death & Robots' both earn four Emmy Awards
• 'The Studio' wins four more Emmy Awards for a total of thirteen
• Colbert and Meyers take closer looks at ABC suspending Kimmel
• 'The Daily Show' reacts to ABC suspending Jimmy Kimmel
• John Oliver examines Jimmy Kimmel & the FCC after winning two Emmy Awards
• 'The Pitt' edges 'Severance' for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards
• Three shows with Conan O'Brien win Emmys
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting receives Governors Award at Creative Arts Emmys
• 'SNL' mocks Hegseth addressing generals and government shutdown upon its return
• 'Brian Cox Goes to College - Uber One for Students' wins Emmy for Outstanding Commercial
• Emmy Awards for 'The Traitors' and 'Queer Eye' for a late Coming Out Day

Howtown explains 'What Quetzalcoatlus was really like' for a late National Fossil Day

I told my readers to "stay tuned" for "a late celebration of National Fossil Day on Friday" at the end of Bright Sun Films 'Bankrupt - Hudson's Bay Company,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse for Department Store Day, so watch Howtown explain What Quetzalcoatlus was really like.

Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest known flying animals, survives in science as sixteen wing bones pulled from Cretaceous Big Bend by grad student Doug Lawson in 1971. Paleontologists reverse-engineer the rest of its body by referencing its Azhdarchid cousins like Zhejiangopterus, and Q. lawsoni, making inferences from extant archosaurs like birds and alligators, examining trackways, and modeling their wings in flight software. Still, there's a lot that they don't know about how these giant pterosaurs lived. Thin bone walls, rare 3-D preservation, and million-to-one erosion odds explain why cousins Hatzegopteryx, Arambourgiania, Cryodrakon, and Thanatosdrakon remain fragmentary in the fossil record. The sparse clues they left behind have inspired a wide range of depictions in documentaries over the years, the pinnacle of which was Prehistoric Planet from the BBC's Natural History team.

I'm a paleontologist, as I summarized in 'Human Footprint' on PBS Terra describes 'The Mysterious Mass Extinction Hidden in LA', and I found this video to be a good summary of both how paleontologists work and how organisms become fossils. Joss Fong did her research, and it shows.

Howtown put together a short showing the "wide range of depictions in documentaries over the years," Giant pterosaurs through the years, rated by David Hone.

Not only do the organisms evolve, so do their depictions as scientists learn more about them.

Speaking of how paleontologists recreate extinct organisms, I'm sharing How do they know about dinosaur lips?

"Theropod dinosaur facial reconstruction and the importance of soft tissues in paleobiology." Cullen et al., Science 2023

Science!

That's a wrap for today, but I'm not done with holidays. Stay tuned for a late celebration of National Sports Day with the Emmy Awards for Welcome to Wrexham and Love on the Spectrum tomorrow.