Like 'Twin Peaks,' '24,' 'Mad Men,' and 'The Sopranos' before it, 'Downton Abbey' enriches the iconography and collective lore of pop culture. It replenishes the stream. — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
Popular culture no longer craves archangels and new dawns. Pop culture traffics in vampires and deads of night. — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
After a decade this glum, we deserved a shot of 'Glee,' a show that restored our faith in the power of song, the beauty… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
It's the contemporary woman that movies don't know what to do with, other than bathe her in a bridal glow in romantic comedies where… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
I understand the people-watching, but I've never done it where people have to race to three different shows, from here to there. I mean,… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
What had brought me to New York in the autumn of 1972 was a letter of recommendation written by Norman Mailer, the author of… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
Historically, Hollywood comedy has arrived in skinny envelopes. From fence post Buster Keaton to herky-jerky Jerry Lewis to wiry nerve-bundle Woody Allen to hung-loose… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian would have left little more than lipstick stains in their passing had it not been for the sex videos… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
On August 28, 2010, Fox News messiah Glenn Beck hosted a 'Restoring Honor' revival meeting featuring sexy guest star Sarah Palin, much as Bob… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
I've always stayed on the periphery of things. When I used to go to the punk clubs and things like that, I was never… — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
My high-school papers, my college-application essays, read like Norman Mailer packed in a crunchy-peanut-butter sandwich. — James Wolcott Copy Share Image
