'14th' leads all documentaries with six nominations at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards

I promised "I'll return for the 14th's nominations as the Sunday entertainment feature" twice. I begin by quoting from the Critics Choice Association's (CCA) press release.

14th leads the pack with six nominations, including Best Documentary Feature. The film’s other nominations are Ava DuVernay for Best Director, Spencer Averick for Best Editing, and Jason Moran for Best Music Score, along with Best Political Documentary, and Best Historical Documentary.

I'm kicking off with a category I haven't covered before, Best Historical Documentary.

BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY

14th (Netflix)
Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
Rehearsals for a Revolution (Sony Pictures Classics)
SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of (Netflix)
Soul Patrol (Kino Lorber)
Turning Point: Generation 9/11 (Netflix)

As mentioned in the press release, 14th leads with six nominations, followed by Once Upon a Time in Harlem with five, Rehearsals for a Revolution with four, and SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of, Soul Patrol, and Turning Point: Generation 9/11 tied at one each. I couldn't find a trailer for 14th, but I did retrieve Ava DuVernay Reveals How the 14th Amendment Defines Our Lives | Art of the Doc from IndieWire.

In her follow up to the Oscar Nominated "13th," director Ava DuVernay uncovers the power the 14th amendment has over us all. At the Art of the Doc event in Los Angeles, presented by National Geographic, DuVernay sat down with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to discuss her new film. What started as a document of the administration's attacks on 14th amendment rights evolved into a discovery of a "second constitution" hidden in our laws.

Listening to Ava DuVernay describe how Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump and his maladministration, inspired by Project 2025, have been attacking birthright citizenship and the rest of the 14th Amendment reminds me of what I wrote in Vox, MSNBC, and PBS NewsHour explain 'Exactly how Trump could ban abortion'.

I don't recall Yang or Kay mentioning the 14th Amendment and searching the video's transcript doesn't retrieve any mention of it, either, but Vox explained that an expanded interpretation of it forms the basis for fetal personhood. I have very little respect for that idea, since the same people pushing for fetal personhood on that basis are not supporting enforcing Section 3, the Insurrection Clause, on convicted criminal Donald Trump and favor ending birthright citizenship, guaranteed by Section 1. They want to pick and choose which parts of the 14th Amendment to enforce. Hmph. May my complaint from Stephen Colbert returns after his illness with Liz Cheney stand in their way: "I think the insurrection clause applies, but, like much of the rest of the 14th Amendment, the courts are too timid or ideologically opposed to enforce it."

DuVernay has literally documented the attempt to reverse the "second constitution" of the 14th Amendment. May her film inspire the rest of us to protect it.

Next, Once Upon a Time in Harlem - Official Trailer - In Theaters October 16 by NEON.

A decade after his death, genre-defying filmmaker William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve with what he considered the most important event he captured on film: a 1972 party he engineered with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. For four hours, this extraordinary group – many of whom had not seen each other in fifty years – reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. Shot on 16mm film, newly restored and now directed by Greaves’ son David, this landmark film is at once a self-exploration and an inquiry into the heart of the critical mass of energy called the Harlem Renaissance. William Greaves’ intent was not only to document these artists and intellectuals as they spoke about their lives and work but also to plumb the meaning of the extraordinary creative period in which they lived to help us better understand how culture has been passed on from one generation to another and the role that the artist plays in keeping it alive.

That's impressive. I can see and hear why Gold Derby thinks it is almost certain to be nominated at the Oscars, while 14th is on the bubble waiting for the Documentary Branch to wrestle with its issues about whether to nominate Alex Gibney for Musk after he's already won an Oscar. That 14th doesn't seem to have a trailer on YouTube isn't helping it.

Moving on to the documentary Gold Derby ranks immediately behind 14th in its odds, Rehearsals For A Revolution - Official Trailer.

Set against the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq War, sixteen-year-old Caroline takes a final car ride with her father to the Iranian countryside.

This documentary has turned out to be timely.

Now for the nominees with just one nomination. The first alphabetically is SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of | Official Trailer | Netflix.

Legendary "SCTV" cast members reunite in this documentary for a funny and heartfelt celebration of how a scrappy Canadian sketch show made comedy history.

This documentary, which feels out of place in this field, won't win here, but it looks like exactly what the Creative Arts Emmy Awards would nominate. I'm looking forward to seeing it next July.

Next, Soul Patrol – Official Teaser Trailer.

Soul Patrol uncovers a hidden chapter of American military history by focusing on the Vietnam War's first Black special ops team, an elite unit operating deep behind enemy lines. With unprecedented access to this once-secretive group of African-American veterans, director J.M. Harper reconstructs their journey with an immediacy rarely seen in Vietnam War storytelling, using raw Super 8 footage, photographs, and audio recordings from their personal archives. Opening on the war’s 50th anniversary, the surviving members reunite in a hotel that becomes a surreal liminal space, where memory, brotherhood, and unresolved trauma collide. As the men reflect on their experiences, the film interrogates the contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while facing inequality at home. Winner of the Directing Award for U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, Soul Patrol is not just a war story, but a reckoning – an intimate portrait of survival, memory, and the enduring cost of war on those asked to fight it.

That looks intense.

Speaking of intense, watch Turning Point: Generation 9/11 | Official Trailer | Netflix.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, this documentary explores how a single day shaped the next generation. From children who lost their parents in the attacks to journalists who cut their teeth on the original War on Terror to young Afghans and Marines forced to deal with the fallout of America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan - their gripping stories reveal that the legacy of 9/11 is measured not only by history, but by the lives it continues to shape.

I expect this to be nominated at the next News & Doc Emmy Awards, just like Turning Point: The Vietnam War. It should do well there, even if I doubt it will win here.

Speaking of which, 14th, Once Upon a Time in Harlem, and Rehearsals for a Revolution are all also nominated for Best Documentary Feature, so one of them will win. 14th may be the most urgent, but I think Once Upon a Time in Harlem may be a better film, so I expect it will win this category. If so, and 14th also misses being nominated at the Oscars, I think it will do very well at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Follow over the jump for the rest of the nominations for 14th, Once Upon a Time in Harlem, and Rehearsals for a Revolution.

'Bankrupt - The Bon-Ton,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

I told my readers to "stay tuned for another tale of the Retail Apocalypse..." I'm returning to the story of The Bon-Ton Stores bankruptcy and liquidation, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse for Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day by sharing Bright Sun Films' Bankrupt - The Bon-Ton.

For over 120 years, The Bon-Ton stood as a significant, regional department store brand which grew increasingly larger more influential as time went on. The company at one point was bringing in over $3 billion in revenue across over 270 stores with 22,000 employees. By all accounts, it was a massive American success story. However as time went on, the brand had totally collapsed by 2018, declaring bankruptcy and disappearing from the retail landscape. Join me in this episode of Bankrupt as we find out what happened.

As I've written several times before, "no bankrupt company's story is complete without both Bright Sun Films and Company Man making videos about it." It only took Jake eight years to contribute his take on the tale.

That's a wrap for today's tale of the Retail Apocalypse. Stay tuned for 14th's nominations as the Sunday entertainment feature.

'Musk' leads Best Biographical Documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards

I'm resuming my coverage of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards with the nominees for Best Biographical Documentary.

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY

Avedon (Netflix)
Jean-Michel Basquiat (Netflix)
Lorne (Focus Features)
Marty, Life Is Short (Netflix)
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (HBO Max)
Musk (Bleecker Street)

Musk leads the nominees for Best Biographical Documentary with three nominations, including Best Documentary Feature and Best Political Documentary, followed by Lorne with two, and all the rest with one each. On that basis alone, I think Musk is the favorite.

I'm embedding the trailers for these nominees in descending order of nominations, beginning with Musk | Official Trailer | Bleecker Street.

An incisive look behind the legend of Elon Musk, the wealthiest, and most unchecked, man on the planet.

I have only one thing to say — WOW! It might just earn a third nomination for Alex Gibney at the Oscars, even though that's not the way the Documentary Branch rolls. They have issues.

Next, the other nominee with another nomination, LORNE - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters April 17.

The untold story of the legend behind the legends. LORNE is only in theaters April 17, from Academy Award winner Morgan Neville.

From Morgan Neville, Academy Award-winning filmmaker of 20 Feet from Stardom and Won't You Be My Neighbor?, comes Lorne, an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers including Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock and many more.

This looks like a documentary that would do well at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards; it's their kind of subject.

Now for the nominees with only this one nominated category in alphabetical order, beginning with Avedon | Official Trailer | Netflix.

The life and work of legendary photographer Richard Avedon come into focus through archival footage and new interviews in this intimate documentary.

On the other hand, Avedon would be a lock for an Arts and Culture Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards if the Creative Arts Emmy Awards don't want it because of Avedon's celebrity subjects, not Richard Avedon himself.

I can't seem to find the trailer for the Netflix documentary on Jean-Michel Basquiat, so on to the next nominee.

I didn't embed Marty, Life Is Short | Official Trailer | Netflix in 'Oceans with David Attenborough' tied with 'Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!' for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, so I'm sharing it here.

The definitive documentary on beloved comedian Martin Short, using beautiful, intimate, never-before-seen archive.

Marty, Life Is Short has already earned three Creative Arts Emmy Awards; this is almost its last shot at awards besides the DGA and PGA Awards. The same is true of Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! | Official Trailer | HBO.

Meet the man behind the laughs.

From directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, the two-part documentary #MelBrooks: The 99 Year Old Man! premieres January 22 and January 23 on HBO Max.

That looks like fun. Here's to Spaceballs: The New One being as funny and successful as the original and to Mel Brooks being around to enjoy it!

Follow over the jump for the other categories in which Musk and Lorne earned nominations.

PBS Terra explains why 'This Cold Spot is a BIG Problem... And it's Getting Bigger'

For today's evergreen educational entry not about the election, I'm revisiting the AMOC, which I last examined in Howtown asks 'Why is this one spot not warming?' for World Environment Day on Flashback Friday, by sharing PBS Terra explaining why This Cold Spot is a BIG Problem... And it's Getting Bigger.

The Atlantic Meridional Ocean Circulation, or AMOC for short, is the Atlantic's heat conveyor belt. And experts have been warning us for a while that it may be on the verge of collapse. But brand new research suggests the AMOC's tipping point may be different than we previously thought. So what is this new tipping point? And do we have time to save the AMOC?

The good news is that the tipping point for AMOC collapse isn't a set temperature point; the Earth could theoretically warm a lot more without the AMOC collapsing. The bad news is that the rate of warming determines the tipping point and we're warming fast enough to make it happen. YIKES! Humanity needs to slow down the rate of warming, which won't happen during the "Godzilla" El Niño; that will only speed up warming.

That's a wrap for today's dose of doom. Stay tuned for a return to the Critics Choice Documentary Awards tomorrow.

The 2026 midterm election results, a 'blue-nami' and 'the end of the Trump era as we know it'

I promised election results today and I'm following through beginning with CNN reporting We just witnessed the end of the Trump era.

After the Democrats' best midterm performance in 68 years, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten breaks down how this may spell the end of the Trump era; cross referencing the President's net approval rate with Dem seats gained to frame this election's consequences.

That's a good summary of the reasons for what Harry Enten and others at CNN called a "blue-nami" and what it means. It's also a good distillation of how Harry tried to keep his audience entertained as he explained the polls this year, props and all. As for it being at least the beginnning of "the end of the Trump era as we know it," I sure hope so. On the other hand, I can wait for the 2028 presidential contest to begin. First, the Democratic leadership in Congress will have to hold Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump accountable, which reminds me of what I wrote in Randy Rainbow sings 'WHERE THE HELL IS OUR CONGRESS?'

The Democrats in Congress are probably doing everything they can think of. It's just that they seem so unimaginative and are so uninspiring. Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries may be good leaders of their caucuses, but they leave activists and rank-and-file Democrats cold. We could use leaders that make us feel like they're doing something, even if it would be merely therapeutic. That would be helpful; I think a lot of us need therapy while watching Hoover Harding Cleveland and his administration doing his will with the support of the Republicans in Congress!

Here's to the Democrats in the next Congress wielding power effectively.

Enten mentioned the possibility of Democrats winning the Senate seats in Alaska and Mississippi. MS NOW covered those stories in ELECTION ALERT: MS NOW rates Alaska and Mississippi Senate races TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

MS NOW rates both the Mississippi and Alaska Senate races too close to call. MS NOW Senior Capitol Hill Reporter Ali Vitali is at the Big Board to break down the numbers.

Time to be patient as Alaska and Mississippi count their remaining ballots and Alaska goes through the ranked-choice voting process.

I return to CNN for 'Blue-nami': Enten unpacks Dem election flips, eyes MS & AK results.

CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten unpacks the "blue-nami" wave of Democratic flips in the Senate and House of Representatives from Tuesday's midterm elections. He also delves into gubernatorial races across the country, what we've learned from voter polls, the razor-thin margin in the Mississippi Senate race as well as the continuing returns from the Alaska Senate race and the ranked-choice voting system used there.

That was worth it just to hear Enten call the result a "blue-nami."

Since this is a Michigan-based blog, I'm closing with FOX 2 Detroit's Michigan election map: Which counties flipped, still uncalled the next day.

The major Michigan races have been called, with Michiganders electing a new governor and U.S. Senator. Some counties are still reporting results the next day. We take a look at what’s outstanding, what counties have flipped and results at other major races.

That may not have been slickly produced, but it was informative about all the major statewide contests and the three Congressional districts in Michigan that flipped, so I appreciate it.

That's a wrap for today. I promise not to blog about the election tomorrow, so stay tuned to see what I do write about.

The Marsh Family sings 'Go, Stop Him Now!'

I wrote "I'm not done with the midterms, as I have a Marsh Family song about them for tomorrow. Stay tuned for Tuneful Tuesday!" Without any further ado, I'm sharing "Go, Stop Him Now!" - Marsh Family parody of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Trump & the US Midterms.

On Tuesday 3rd November, US voters will determine whether Trump's political machine is able to plough on for another two years, or whether it hits a roadblock, as they determine the makeup of Congress - including 35 Senators and all the House of Representatives - in the critical midterms. If you have been distraught about the direction of travel that Trump has forced the US into over recent years, it is hard not to hope that the election could bring some respite. Polls suggest that the cost of living crisis, corruption scandals, and foreign policy decisions are among the issues that could see Trump stumbling - amidst his brazen claim that "he is on the ballot" ...

Two years ago to the day, we released our song "Bohemian Trumpsody" by Queen about the presidential election in 2024, so it felt fitting to return to an absolute belter of a song - written by the inimitable Freddie Mercury in 1978 and released as a single in 1979 - which we were reminded of recently in a viewing of the cult British zombie movie "Shaun of the Dead". We patched in our own version of some multitrack harmonies by recruiting Alfie and Tess after the main shots had been filmed.

I embedded "Bohemian Trumpsody" as the second song in Randy Rainbow sings 'MAGADU' plus the Marsh Family sings two songs about Trump and Harris, so I won't do it here. Here's to hoping 2026's effort gives better results than 2024's.

I'm closing with Broken Peach's cover of Dont Stop Me Now (Queen).

From the album "Jazz" - Song Written by Freddie Mercury & performed by Queen!

I couldn't wait for Christmas to embed one of their songs.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for election results tomorrow.

John Oliver examines 'Midterms 2026' on 'Last Week Tonight'

Change of plans — today's post features Midterms 2026: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO).

Ahead of this week’s midterm elections, John Oliver discusses why things aren’t looking great for Republicans, how they’re desperately trying to get ahead, and why Hamilton was a mistake. You heard us, Lin-Manuel. You’ve done more harm than good.

That's a good summary of my midterms experience and a listing of why I'll be relieved when this election is over. That written, I'm not done with the midterms, as I have a Marsh Family song about them for tomorrow. Stay tuned for Tuneful Tuesday!

'Trump' interrupts David S. Pumpkins in 'SNL's Halloween cold open

I'm extending spooky season at least one more day with the highlights of last night's holiday episode of Saturday Night Live as the Sunday entertainment feature for Day of the Dead, beginning with Scary Halloween Cold Open (ft. David S. Pumpkins).

A spooky mausoleum ride attempts to scare its passengers (Jeremy Culhane, Grace Reiter) with characters like David S. Pumpkins (Tom Hanks) before getting interrupted by something even scarier.

David S. Pumpkins returns only to have Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump make it all about him. At least Tom Hanks got to introduce the show.

SNL continued with the midterms and Pervert Hoover's interest in men's behinds in Weekend Update: Trump Obsesses Over Men's Asses & Ramps Up Attacks on Abdul El-Sayed.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like Ted Cruz saying Americans will die if Abdul El-Sayed wins the Senate race.

I'll be so glad when the election is over.

Weekend Update's silly takes on serious (and sometimes not-so-serious) news continued in Scotland Opens Epstein & Prince Andrew Investigation, NYC Bans Horse-Drawn Carriages.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like a woman who went viral for reporting a car crash while dressed as a banana.

Of course the woman reporting a car crash while dressed as a banana was in Florida. Florida Man (and woman, too)!

Follow over the jump for the Weekend Update interviews, Inde Navarrette's monologue, and a seasonal skit.

Broken Peach performs 'Thriller' for Halloween

Happy Halloween! This year's featured song is Broken Peach - Thriller (Halloween Special).

Our new single, out now...

"Thriller" is a song by Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1983, in the UK and on January 23, 1984, in the US, as the seventh and final single from his sixth album of the same name. "Thriller" is a disco song featuring a synthesizer bassline, lyrics, and sound effects evoking horror films. It includes a spoken-word sequence performed by the horror actor Vincent Price. It was produced by Quincy Jones and written by Rod Temperton, who wanted to write a theatrical song to suit Jackson's love of film.

"Du Hast" is a song by German metal band Rammstein. It was released as the second single from their second album Sehnsucht (1997). It has appeared on numerous soundtracks for films, most notably The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture, How High, and the home video CKY2K. It is featured in the music video games Guitar Hero 5 and Rock Band 3. The guitar riff is similar to Ministry's "Just One Fix". The music was written by keyboardist Flake and guitarist Richard Kruspe. The intro section and the verses were a combination of a synth sequence by Flake and a guitar riff by Kruspe, and the chorus was written around a chord sequence by Flake.

"Somebody's Watching Me" is the debut single written, co-produced, and performed by American singer Rockwell, released by Motown in December 1983. Serving as the lead single from Rockwell's debut studio album of the same name (1984), it features uncredited guest vocals by Michael Jackson, additional backing vocals by Jermaine Jackson, and co-production from Curtis Anthony Nolan.

I had been wishing Broken Peach would redo "Thriller" for Halloween since 2017 as I wrote in 2019.

Of course, the ultimate Michael Jackson song for Halloween is "Thriller," which Broken Peach also sings...Two years ago, I left [this] request in a comment on this video: "I have a suggestion for you all. Next Halloween, dress up like zombies and sing 'Thriller' again."

It only took nine years, but it finally happened.

Broken Peach also donned their skull makeup for a series of songs this spring that they called "Old Skull" (Old School). Follow over the jump.

Storied shares 'The Deep Halloween Lore You Probably Don’t Know' about bats

Happy Candy Corn Day, when I usually blog about monsters, courtesy of Monstrum on Storied. I'm resuming the tradition by sharing The Deep Halloween Lore You Probably Don’t Know about bats.

Bats have long been symbols of death and darkness. But why? Their rise as Halloween’s spookiest icon traces back to ancient Celtic traditions, revealing how these harmless creatures turned into something far more evil. Join us under the Congress Street Bridge in Austin as we unravel the spooky myths, vampire lore, and Halloween history that turned these sky puppies into creatures of the night!

Ah, the intersection between folklore and biology! That's what got me into Monstrum seven years ago. I couldn't resist.

I also can't resist the Halloween-themed shorts Dr. Z has been posting, beginning with Why Ghosts Wear White Sheets.

Here's the long and storied history of why we see ghosts this way!

Dr. Z continued the spooky theme when she asked Why do ghosts say BOO?

Boo! Why do ghosts say that?

Moving from ghosts to witches, Dr. Z asked Why do witches wear pointy hats?

The history of this hat is deep and kinda complicated!

I close with Candy Corn Cocktail from Bed Bath & Beyond. Yes, a recipe from beyond the grave!

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