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So we live in a world where one of the biggest newspapers in existence will just suddenly give you a terrific feature on a relatively obscure comedy writer? What a time to be alive.—BK

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What an age we live in, that esteemed publications regularly print detailed oral histories of the stuff we grew up on.—JS

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A lengthy profile of deposed "Community" creator Dan Harmon. Because if this website weren't called PoopReading.com, it would be called LengthyProfilesOfDeposedCommunityCreatorDanHarmon.com.—JM

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Meaty interview with Albert Brooks. The good news: he's working on another book right now. The bad news: he's not working on another film right now.—BK

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There is nothing about this that I don't love.—JM

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And here's the third and final installment. Why did it have to end? WHYYYYYYYYYYY????—BK

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Part two! Woo-hoo! [Ridiculous, uncomfortably long amount of excited giggling]—BK

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I've been rewatching The Wire lately, so I may be predisposed to love anything Simon writes, but I think he's got a pretty fascinating take on the Petraeus story here.—BK

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Everybody, without exception, should read Easterbrook's work every Tuesday. Even if you skip the football parts, you've still got an entertaining and insightful 2,000-word column about pop culture, politics, society and world affairs. The football parts add about 3,500 more words on top of that, and this week many of those words are about the Vikings!—JM

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Interesting stuff. You don't see a lot of these serious, in-depth profiles. (If you're Joe Morgan, I guess you don't even see this one!)—JS

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An oral history of Cheers. Holy crap. A must read.—BK

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My man-crush on Schur continues unabated.—BK

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I rarely buy books in hardcover (partly out of cost, partly because I'm always playing catch-up on older books), but I'll be making an exception today to buy Chabon's new book Telegraph Avenue, as he's my favorite author.—BK

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This time next week, I'm sure we'll have plenty of lies from Obama's convention to add to the list, but the point isn't who lies most – it's how, why, and what, if anything, should be done about it. Fascinating read.—JS

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I've posted this twice before, but it's just so good. I think about the "Swiss Model" all the time. I think there'd be a lot less call to shrink/eradicate our government if it worked this efficiently and intelligently.—JS

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Children who don't grow up living with both of their married parents "are more likely than similar children with married parents to experience childhood poverty, act up in class, become teenage parents and drop out of school." As Norm Macdonald used to say, you can read all about this study in the medical journal "Duh."—JM

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If you're a fan of Keaton, this extra-long interview is a must-read. (If for no other reason than the fact that even President Obama asked him why he doesn't make more movies.)—BK

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Terrific long interview with the man who breathes glorious life into Ron Swanson.—BK

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If you have children or love sports, or both (or, hell, neither), you really really need to read this. Really.—JM

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Fascinating, meaty discussion with three TV showrunners: Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), David Milch (Deadwood, Luck), and Matthew Weiner (Mad Men). (Contains a few spoilers if you've never watched those shows.)—BK

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It seems like we're incapable of talking about "Girls" without making everything into a big to-do, but this thoughtful piece makes about as little a to-do as I've seen so far. Refreshing.—JM

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Not particularly condemning, this is the first really interesting thing I've read about Mitt Romney. He still comes across as a privileged, awkward guy with a pedestrian sense of humor, but this is far more three-dimensional.—TG

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I'll tell you what's a Mission: Impossible – someone trying to post an interview with Brad Bird before Jameson does. (And yet, Mission: Accomplished!)—BK

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Rubio's injury was the death of hope for Timberwolves fans this season, and this piece captures that well.—BK

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"Sky Andrecheck developed a system to quantify the criticality of each postseason game." Of course he did. I love baseball; I just wish I loved it enough to be one of these math geeks.—JS

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Not as political as it sounds, this is easily one of the most compelling (and hopeful) things I've read about climate change.—TG

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Cool story on how embracing advanced statistical analysis saved the career of Oakland A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy.—BK

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If the headline isn't enough to convince you to click on this link, I'm not sure how a pithy blurb is going to help.—BK

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Some of the analysis falls flat, but the background info on the production of this classic episode of The Simpsons is worth reading.—BK

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A truncated synopsis of this Pulitzer Prize-winning piece has been making its way around Facebook the last few days. I'm not sure why. But, now you can read the real thing.—JM

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This is creepy and crazy and fascinating.—TG

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On the heels of last night's season premiere, an exhaustive primer from a writer to use to recap the show for TelevisionWithoutPity.com—JM

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You should read Drew Magary's "Funbag" column in Deadspin every week. I probably won't link to it every week, but you should read it every week.—JM

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It's difficult to endorse something French, but it's even more difficult to argue with this article.—TG

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The details behind the infamous Rutgers University webcam incident, reported with remarkable depth and nuance.—BK

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Ignore the terrible headline and enjoy the discussion, which was always one of my favorite features back when I actually had a subscription to Newsweek.—BK

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Zounds! I'm a little embarrassed I haven't read any of these before, but I'm even more excited that I have all of them still in front of me. I may hold off reading them another six months or so, just to bask in the anticipation! (Also, how is Baron von Funny not on this list?)—JS

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Would it be worth it to be Michael Jordan? To end up as a bitter old dick due to the same competitive fire that made you great? (That's a rhetorical question: of course it would be!)—JM

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Rosen is an enlightening journalism critic, always worth reading. The "View from Nowhere" in reporting suffers the same problems as "teaching the controversy" in science class: it upholds the mistaken notion that every idea has an equally valid counter-argument. —JS

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Soon, Zack will not be the only Lego Maniac in the family. Interesting lessons about toy marketing and the study of how children play.—JS

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Christopher Hitchens died yesterday. He didn't make it to 2012, but his writing will (this piece is included in the January issue of Vanity Fair).—JM

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One woman's obsessive quest to understand and control her obsessive mothering. The frequency of these essays implies that parents are serious about acknowledging the issue, but not making much progress correcting it (or we'd start to see fewer articles).—JS

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Derek Boogaaard was born – and bred – to be a hockey enforcer. A fighter. A "goon."—JM

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He died earlier this year, at age 28, after the kind of short life you'll be astounded to learn some are encouraged to live.—JM

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If you're interested in sports at all, any sports, you should probably take the time to read this.—JM

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This is a couple of years old, but it's interesting and astounding, and I have no doubt the same stories are happening today.—JS

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The headline and photos are a bit melodramatic, but this is a very thoughtful piece that makes me root for not-crazy Republicans.—TG

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I'm not the biggest Godfather fan ever (it insists upon itself), but this thing from a couple of years ago about the making of the movie is a great read.—JM

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If you live to be 100 you'll basically witness, like, almost 2% of recorded human civilization. So, why wouldn't you want to?—JM

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Just in case the absence of my football picks column has left you jonesing for (hopefully) amusing sports commentary from somebody who sort of freely admits he doesn't really know what he's talking about.—JM

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Gets it nearly exactly right – all the frustration, disappointment, and perplexity that came with the worst show I ever watched every single minute of.—BK

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Talking Party Down and Parks and Recreation. What else do you need?—BK

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"Stepping into a Trader Joe's after visiting a supermarket is akin to crossing the state line from New York into Vermont." Yep; pretty much.—JM

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The Cubs haven't won the World Series in 103 years. Much more remarkably, they haven't played in one since 1945 (only one other team that existed at the time has played in as few as two since then). This is their story.—JM

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I don't want to say I'm becoming obsessed with Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe... wait, yes I do!—JM

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"We were being given the chance to take one more shot at summer camp, only we were wiser, better drinkers, and more sexually experienced."—TG

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Terrific oral history of the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy theater, with contributions from dozens of funny people you've come to know and love.—BK

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It all comes down to a clever eight-step algorithm that drives most of the character and story decisions.—BK

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As the Post Office heads toward bankruptcy, I'm reminded of this clever rant – and, most importantly the "Swiss model", which might save the day if special interests had not ossified our political process against any kind of sweeping change.—JS

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Some solid ideas here, but the first one, The Greatest Game Ever, is an absolute no-brainer.—BK

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Most people have photo IDs. Maybe states that want to require photo ID for voting could provide, free of charge, special voter IDs to the tiny percentage of citizens who want, but who don't already have, a driver's license, passport, or some other form of photo ID. See? Problem solved, controversy over.—JM

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A look at the shifting climate of homophobia in professional sports, and how that may be setting the stage for a "gay Jackie Robinson" in the near future.—BK

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I'm gonna let that headline stand by itself while I go lay on my couch and fan myself like a delicate Southern Belle.—BK

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Whether or not you feel that equal treatment of gay servicemen is a good thing, these insights give fascinating insights into the far-reaching effects of the policy.—JS

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Asking the question: do statistics ruin sports stories by draining the humanity out of them? Posnanski's answer is nuanced – as it should be – and his piece ends with a statistic that reveals ten great stories filled with humanity.—BK

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I don't know if Bill Simmons specifically crafts his stuff to be the world's most ideal poop reading, or if it just seems that way.—JM

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Remember those billionaire libertarians who wanted to build their own tiny nations on floating platforms out in international waters? PayPal founder Peter Thiel is one of them, and he makes the idea sounds more "intriguing" than "wacky."—JM

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If you're a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, Rosenthal's book You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom is a must-read.—BK

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I haven't seen or read The Help yet, and this is full of spoilers, and I'm not sure I agree with all of the opinions expressed, but it's such a thoughtful piece of writing that I still think it's worth recommending.—TG

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A surprisingly successful experiment, but more than that, a nice reminder of how far we've come with computer technology.—BK

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I realize I link to these Dear Sugar Columns all the time, but they keep being awesome, so it's my responsibility as a curator of awesomeness.—TG

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I feel like I knew that the Mona Lisa had been stolen, but I didn't realize that a century ago it was missing – and essentially given up for dead – for two whole years.—JM

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Wow. It sure looks like the Blue Jays have been stealing signs in their home stadium.—BK

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Nice meaty profile of Louis C.K., with lots of commentary from his fellow comedians.—BK

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Ohhh, "The Fight." How could I forget about "The Fight," which, in its second half, laid down nearly wall-to-wall laughs.—BK

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Oh wait, maybe "Eagleton" was the best episode!—BK

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In search of grand meaning in the game of baseball, Posnanski instead finds his answers in the little things.—BK

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How the show drew inspiration from The Wire, a shout-out to Fire Joe Morgan, and love for "The Harvest Festival" episode (maybe that was the best one!).—BK

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The A.V. Club continues its awesome behind-the-scenes TV series with my favorite show, my favorite showrunner, and in this segment, quite possibly my favorite episode from last season ("Flu Season").—BK

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HOLY CRAP. This is me, except I'm two years older than the author, and I played the game as much with my friend Chris in my 20s & 30s as I did by myself in my teens. I've since moved on to a computer-based game, but finding Statis Pro Baseball was one of the best things that ever happened to me.—BK

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More and more data is being accumulated about the serious nature of head injuries in sports, particularly in football.—BK

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There are plenty of 2012 voters who want to vote for "Anybody But Obama" – if Bachmann gets the nomination, she'll test their resolve.—JS

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A comprehensive oral history of Friday Night Lights.—JM

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Manufactured stardom is gross, but this is a pretty interesting comparison between pop stars and politicians.—TG

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Beer led to agriculture, which led to civilization, which led to pretty much everything. All hail beer!—JM

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I don't agree with everything written here, but it's an honest and interesting discussion with good points on both sides, and you can't go wrong with that.—BK

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Rare is the poll or focus group that feels like it represents me, but when I heard that Facebook's user satisfaction was on par with the IRS, I had to smile. I hope Google+ catches on; it'll be great to have another option.—JS

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I don't know what got me thinking about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" recently, and for the first time in a while, but do you ever really need a reason?—JM

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Long story short: the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction.—JM

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Loaded with spoilers, but fun for fans of Harry Potter, The Matrix, Twilight, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Wars.—TG

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The dirtbag owner of the Dodgers, not the author of Angela's Ashes (he can stay). This article covers in stunning detail how McCourt and his wife Jamie essentially did a chop shop job on the Dodgers while MLB just stood by and watched.—BK

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Duke Nukem Forever is finally out, and it's getting reviews so bad that its PR firm has threatened to blacklist some publications. I was never going to play it anyway, but I'm reminded of this fascinating story of the 15-year struggle to produce a fitting sequel to one of the most popular games of all time.—JS

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The NBA and NFL might both disappear for a while due to labor unrest, so sports fans are going to have to turn somewhere.—JM

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I've been rewatching The Dick Van Dyke Show on Netflix streaming with my 9yo daughter, hoping to pass the joys of that classic sitcom onto another generation, and she's been loving it. It remains one of the best TV shows ever made.—BK

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Wow, the buzz on these Dan Harmon articles is really starting to build. Definitely going on my "to read" pile!—JS

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And, because there is no such thing as Saturday PoopReading.com, here's part 4 (as if you couldn't have found it yourself).—JS

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I'm not aware of anything quite like this ever having been done before.—JM

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This will probably be the best piece about a 1988 North Dakota junior college basketball game that you will read all week.—JM

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I can only assume that my fellow linkers – at least two of whom are huge Community fans – will carry on with the upcoming segments of this piece.—BK

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I read The Time Machine Did It and wasn't that impressed, but now that I know there are more books, I'm tempted to check out another one simply because it's John Freakin' Swartzwelder.—BK

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Nice wide-ranging interview, and as you might expect, he has nothing but great things to say about Jon Stewart.—BK

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"'I printed out those 6,000-word columns and took them to the bathroom just like everybody else,' says A. J. Daulerio, the 37-year-old editor in chief of Deadspin, Gawker’s sports blog. '[Simmons] changed the way I looked at everyone else’s writing.'"—JM

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Great profile of Galifianakis, but the best part is the growing non-sequiturism of the "related" links that Time adds in their printable version of the article (which is the only way to read the whole thing on one page), which leads to Michael Bolton being associated with "a guy that looks like a rapist on a onesie."—BK

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The creator of Bob's Burgers, currently the best show in Fox's Sunday night animation lineup.—BK

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Holy shit, brain science is fascinating. I honestly don't know why you'd study anything else.—JS

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Some great insight into the inner workings of 30 Rock. And some additional insight into how much he hates brunch.—BK

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Rainn Wilson described this on Twitter as an "interesting, pointless article." Sign me up!—TG

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I want to see Everything Must Go, but what I'd really like to see – much like Ferrell himself – is Paramount giving a green light to Anchorman 2.—BK

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Turning to the lighter side, Raftery explains how AFV survives in the YouTube age and always will. We at PoopReading.com sure hope so! (And, Joe, I'll need to see that "torrents of vomit" clip.)—JS

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Anti-fun laws sure are awesome, aren't they? I'm sure this is the most important thing the Justice Department could be focusing on.—JS

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The nerds have found a way in.—JM

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Kids and sports and parenting. As always, Joe does an excellent job of making it personal and universal at the same time.—BK

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There's growing research linking sugar not just to things like diabetes and obesity, but also to heart disease and cancer. I hope this one gets debunked, because I suspect I'd have better luck giving up breathing than giving up sugar.—BK

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Compelling in-depth interview with The Wire creator David Simon, in part exploring the idea that fiction can relate the truth better than journalism can.—JS

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Another helping of Norm? Yes, please.—BK

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Old school, SNL-era profile of Tina Fey. (With a special guest appearance by Michael Schur!)—BK

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You have to overlook a very silly and obnoxious writing style, but it's worth it for this amazing profile of Fred Rogers.—JS

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If that's not a Will Ferrell movie waiting to be made, I don't know what is.—JS

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I would never, ever suggest that the best course of action would be for somebody to just hire a drifter to kill this guy and then disappear quietly into the night. I would never suggest that.—JM

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Perhaps my favorite author of all time is reading in Minneapolis on Tuesday. I will try not to shove kids out of my way in my rush to meet her. (Just kidding. I won't try.)—TG

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Yes, if there was enough material out there, I would make every one of my links Schur-related. Thanks for asking.—BK

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I hope all my experience judging parents will be applicable to actual parenting, because I'm going to have it made when my first kid comes around!—JS

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Eagleheart is so much fun. If you're so busy that you don't have room in your life for 15 minutes of TV fun once a week, then what the hell are you doing hanging around here?—BK

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But seriously, it really is a lot of fun. You should check it out. (You should also check out this old PoopReading piece about Elliott and some fellow underappreciated comedic performers.)—BK

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Feels a bit too good to be true, but when fantasizing about the future of a major athletic talent, don't we always hope they might also turn out to be worth rooting for as a person?—BK

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Fascinating read. This guy pays Dan Savage the backhandedest of compliments: "He sure does have solid ethics for a guy who considers icky buttsex okay." Spend 3/4 of your article trying to make me hate Dan Savage if you want; I'll only love him more.—JS

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I had the good fortune of watching Brian Stack perform at The Second City in Chicago and hanging out with him in person, and I can say two things: he's one of the funniest live performers I've ever seen, and one of the nicest people I've ever met.—BK

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A lengthy interview with one half of the "Cheap Seats" twins. Personally I think the legacy of the show will always be that they used some of my jokes in an episode one time... but I suppose that doesn't really apply to most "Cheap Seats" fans.—JM

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I'll be honest: it was late, I needed a link, and after finding this, all I could hear in my head was Kent Brockman saying "That oughta hold those SOBs."—BK

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For me the multi-media stuff doesn't matter much... but then again, I'm now older than the median age for a "Conan" viewer. And finding that out might have been the second-oldest I've ever felt. [The oldest I've ever felt was when I discovered that I was older than the age gap between Carl Weathers and Andy Rooney. That'll scare you into eating right, I tell you what]—JM

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Yes, this hits many of the tired why-don't-they-make-better- movies tropes, but it still makes for a nice rumination on the situation for we who love good movies.—JS

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Why would anyone ever believe that JC Penney was the best source for anything?—TG

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I count myself a food lover, but I've always cringed at the idea of being labeled a "foodie." This illustrates why.—TG

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Very long read, but so SO worth it if you were a fan of the show. (Plus, I feel like this link takes us full circle from a link I posted back in Jan. '09 teasing the show's debut.)—BK

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I've never doubted any of the scathing takedowns of Scientology – not even South Park's – but when it's The New Yorker you kind of have to take notice.—JS

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No, it's not a guide to bickering on cable news shows. This is a fascinating write-up on cryptography (the art of encoded messaging), which will leave your head spinning for days. Enjoy the weekend!—JS

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I don't agree with everything in here (I'll brook no criticism of Jon Hamm, for instance), but it's nice to see that somebody else out there isn't quite so bowled over by "Mad Men" either.—JM

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There's not much text to this, but if you don't want to read a list of 700 hobo names, I don't even know you anymore.—TG

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"If he told me that he was going on tour with Korn or something like that, and they were gonna be traveling around Amsterdam, that, to me, would have been like, 'oh, OK. That's probably where he’ll die.' But that's the reality of addiction. It happens on a Tuesday."—JM

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Newsweek's 14th annual Oscar Roundtable features Annette Bening, Colin Firth, James Franco, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, and Michelle Williams talking about on-screen kisses, on-set injuries, babies, and how actors are treated like babies.—BK

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You've probably never heard of Voros McCracken, but you should have; his statistical discovery has transformed the game of baseball over the last ten years, though sadly, it has done little to transform his own life.—BK

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I'm not going to lie to you. I didn't read all of this. I'm linking strictly because it includes this sentiment: "Looks like William Shatner if William Shatner ate a racist butter sculpture of William Shatner."—TG

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My only question for Mr. Schur is a repurposing of a line from his own character, Ron Swanson: "What's a non-gay way to ask him to go camping with me?" (As you might expect, this link is chock full of spoilers.)—BK

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Looks like Clint is no longer satisfied with just appearing in his brother's movies; now he's getting in on Ron's interviews too. (Contains some mild spoilers for The Dilemma.)—BK

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My man Bert Blyleven finally makes it in. It reflected pretty poorly on the Hall of Fame that he wasn't in before ("fifth most strikeouts ever" should have been the beginning and the end of the argument), but justice has been done.—JM

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This is sort of a cross between Revelations and The Legend of Zelda.—TG

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All the best – and worst – that the sports world had to offer.—JM

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When Michael Schur talks, I listen. (Though fans of Parks and Recreation should know that this conversation is mostly about baseball.)—BK

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One of my favorite things about the end of the year is the explosion of Best Of lists. Even if you don't agree with the selections in them, it's just a great time for list lovers. (Not to be confused with Liszt lovers or landlubbers.)—BK

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Considerably less pretentious than last year's Top 50 of the '00s, but, you know, still a little pretentious.—BK

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I'm a little out of my depth on this one, but the lady who's interviewed for this piece – Deirdre McCloskey – really sounds like she has it all figured out.—JM

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You have to wade through a fair amount of the author's myth of himself, as with most first-person writing (mine included). But it takes some interesting turns: I went from eye-rolling to nodding vigorously quite a few times.—JS

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You should read any and all Gregg Easterbrook pieces that you can get your hands on, whether it's something like this or one of his weekly "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" football columns on ESPN.com.—JM

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I'm thankful for the idea I just got, to recycle some old favorites in the link department. It's Thanksgiving, so just think of them as leftovers. Everyone loves Thanksgiving leftovers, right?—JM

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I read, and will probably continue to read, this 1981 profile of Andre the Giant once a year or so.—JM

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NORM!—JM

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"What you eat for dinner has become the definitive marker of social status." It's also becoming yet another growing rift in American society.—BK

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I'll think up a blurb for this link about procrastination in a little bit – there are some interesting YouTube videos I want to watch right now.—JS

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Yeah... I forgot to look for links, and it was my day to do links. I was up really late. But here: TMQ is like half football and half random miscellaneous fascinating stuff, so even if you're not a sports fan there's plenty here to like.—JM

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An excerpt from Carter's latest book about the behind-the-scenes drama in late night network television comedy, The War for Late Night.—BK

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One of the best concepts ever. The blog post is really short but the comments section will keep you busy for hours. I guarantee it. (not a guarantee)—JM

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This is the most helpful archive of food reviews in the history of helpful archives of food reviews.—TG

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Rubicon just completed its excellent first season on AMC, and executive producer Bromell talks about how he came on board to run the show after the creator left, and the brilliance of Michael Cristofer. (Contains spoilers, especially if you've never watched the show.)—BK

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Simmons "broke" the story of the Randy Moss trade by accidentally tweeting when he was trying to send a direct message to somebody. I'm not sure how, but maybe Brett Favre could use something like that as an excuse...—JM

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This doesn't happen often, but here's some literal poop reading: a look at how bowel movements are a hidden (and sometimes not-so-hidden) part of sports.—BK

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If you've been hoping Running Wilde might have the potential to be another Arrested Development, the first paragraph (and pretty much the entire rest of the interview) will crush those dreams into dust. Sigh.—BK

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As a compliment to (or perhaps in reaction to) The Social Network, here's a lengthy profile of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.—BK

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We may never have broken through racial segregation with a twit-in.—TG

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Burns's long-awaited (at least by me) addendum to his Baseball documentary, The Tenth Inning, airs on PBS this week. They're not saying "boo!", they're saying "Boo-urns!"—BK

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Interesting look at how a down economy and changing culture are challenging long-held ideas about masculinity. (If nothing else, it's at least time for our country to embrace the idea of paternity leave.)—BK

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Thanks to a perfect storm of political and societal factors, many countries are apparently only a generation or two removed from Children of Men territory.—JM

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In honor of the Twins winning the A.L. Central last night (the majority of us here are fans), here's a great profile of Jim Thome, who has been a genuine pleasure to watch this year. (And be sure to click on the awesome cover photo!)—BK

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Posnanski, god bless him, takes all the MLB managers and ranks them by how good they were as players. I'm incredibly jealous of this idea.—BK

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For the duration of the awful BP oil spill, the fake official BP Twitter feed was a pretty hilarious diversion. Its anonymous author steps forward.—JS

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"Internal NFLPA studies have shown that only 33 to 40 percent of hardcore NFL fans have the impending labor drama on their radar screens." I would submit that if the impending labor drama is not on your radar screen, then you are clearly not a hardcore NFL fan.—JM

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An old but enjoyable profile of Merl Reagle, superstar crossword constructor, high point of the documentary Wordplay, and guest voice as himself on The Simpsons (although, at this point, we've all done that last one.)—JS

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She's no Bill Bryson, but her books are nearly as hard to put down. They keep you entertained as they delve into unknown aspects of topics in general science.—JS

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The story of how this little ditty became one of the most recognizable songs in the world.—JM

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Well, mainly they seem to be delaying major life milestones (marriage, kids, career) longer than previous generations. Which has led some psychologists to push for the creation of a new life stage known as "emerging adulthood" to better serve the unique needs of people in their 20s.—BK

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It's a lot less mysterious than the title would lead you to believe. Just know this: once you try the Trader Joe's roasted garlic hummus, all other hummus will be ruined forever.—JM

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Newsweek's Emmy Roundtable brings us Bryan Cranston, Chris Colfer, Christina Hendricks, Matthew Fox, Eric Stonestreet, and Connie Britton talking about their early careers and the line between character and actor.—BK

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The most exciting part about this is the "part 1," meaning there's already part 2 (and maybe more to come!) in this series about auditioning. (If you haven't seen Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party, you're missing out on grade-A raconteursmanship.)—JS

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Long before the music industry sued teens and grannies for downloading a few songs, it's required a license fee to play music at your place of business. (This is why royalty-free Muzak exists.) Most business owners aren't thrilled to be educated about this.—JS

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I've always enjoyed Jim Caple so I'm linking to this piece, even though he doesn't deserve it after claiming that Turturro – not Malkovich – played Teddy KGB in Rounders.—JM

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Given that description, he wasn't the first person to pop into my mind, but, surprise! It's Garry Shandling's profile.—JS

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You'll have to wade through a few patches of writing only FJM could love, but this behind-the-scenes history of the Madden video game series is pretty interesting (even if, like me, you don't play video games or watch NFL football).—JS

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A look at how some people are finding that less stuff = more happiness.—BK

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The co-writer and director of Anchorman, Step Brothers, and the new The Other Guys talks at length about comedy and what makes his movies work. (Mild spoilers for all of those films.)—BK

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Kind of a downer, but the important premise is that for all our medical innovation, American healthcare gets everything wrong with end-of-life care. (Most critically, admitting when the end is.)—JS

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Gladwell pounds the paragraphs. (From the archives but interesting.)—JS

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Linney talks about excitement over the Tonys, her upcoming Showtime show The Big C, and the privilege of aging.—BK

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Dude. I mean, I like baseball a lot too, but... dude.—JM

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This is one of the best Sports Illustrated stories I've ever read. And, do I really need to sell it any more than that? Read it even if you're not a sports fan.—JM

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The short history of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, as remembered by one of its writers.—JS

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Another thorough examination of how the internet is blurring the line between what's public and private, and how that's hindering the ability to escape and outgrow one's past.—BK

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Ah, splendid. As New York does away with its infamous "rubber rooms" (though, oddly, retains the process that populated them), here's word that LA is having just as much trouble dismissing awful teachers for cause.—JS

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If any baseball player is deserving of a long profile like this, it's Rivera, who is generally considered the greatest relief pitcher in the history of the game.—BK

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This may be a 20-year-old commencement speech, but I love hearing from Bill Watterson pretty much any chance I get.—JS

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Whether or not you care at all about Michael Jackson – and I don't, particularly – this is an interesting look at the making of a pop culture classic.—JM

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A year and a half ago, I linked to an account of Michael Larson's sneaky victory over the Press Your Luck game board, and added: "The guy who beat The Price Is Right this week apparently took the honest route." Turns out I should retract that last bit.—JS

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We've run a lot of links about parenting here in recent months, but I think this one might be the best. (Hat tip, Tenessa G.)—BK

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Here's another C.K. interview in honor of his excellent new FX show, which is something everyone should check out.—BK

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Fascinating in-depth story about the death of marine trainer Dawn Brancheau at Sea World in February, incorporating the history of orca capture and captivity, sea parks, and the particular animal that took her down.—JS

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How Murray became one of the most sought-after actors working in movies today while simultaneously being one of the most elusive to track down.—BK

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Far more tongue-in-cheek than the title might lead you to believe, it's a fun look at the trials and tribulations (and trials) of fathering young boys.—BK

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More than you thought you'd ever learn about two SNL scripts that will never get produced: Hans and Franz: The Girly-Man Dilemma and a Superfans movie.—BK

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"They know you know they know you know."—JM

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Lengthy, lengthy profile of Julian Assange, founder of whistleblower site WikiLeaks.org – and a behind-the-scenes account of the recent release of its "Collateral Murder" video.—JS

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Now that it appears I am weeks away from purchasing my first iPhone, this sort of thing is a big fear lingering in the back of my mind.—BK

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Last Comic Standing returns tonight – with the reality-competition tropes eliminated and Kindler at the judges' table, it might be worth watching again.—JS

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Elizabeth Warren is quickly becoming my top write-in candidate for November – for every office.—JS

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You don't have to be particularly (or even remotely) religiously interested to find stuff like this, well, interesting.—JM

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An excerpt from Bryson's forthcoming book, At Home. When Bryson puts out a book in which he digs deeper into things, you should go ahead and buy that book.—JS

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Worms, hacking, and global botnets – no this isn't another profile of Crispin Glover.—JS

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I read this a few years ago, and I don't know what prompted me to link to it now. But read it; it's fascinating. And there's nobody better at this than Gene Weingarten.—JM

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The Welsh rugby star came out recently, and the response was almost exclusively positive. I believe it would be so in the United States as well, at least among fans and the media. American sports has no one to blame, then, but the athletes themselves.—JM

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Freezing out the press might seem like a weird strategy for the Obama administration, but, I mean, what are any of the jilted reporters going to do? Not vote for him? Seems unlikely.—JM

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All right, admittedly I haven't had time to read this entire piece yet, but with a title like that, how can it not be intriguing?—JS

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A look at insane film director Terrence Malick and the two obsessive producers whose decade-long quest brought The Thin Red Line to the screen. (If you ask me, they needn't have bothered, but obviously people feel otherwise.)—JS

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Long Bill Simmons article about sports (the NFL draft, specifically). Pretty much the reason this website exists.—JM

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Articles about Adam Scott? That's a linkin'. Articles about Party Down, Parks and Recreation, or Step Brothers? That's a linkin'. Articles that feature Adam Scott talking about his work in Party Down, Parks and Recreation, and Step Brothers? Ohh, you better believe that's a linkin'.—BK

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Can an athlete really be "hot," or "in the zone?" Science doesn't seem to think so. Oh, science. Must you ruin all of our fun?—JM

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Not the typical kind of link we do, this one is a website itself, not a specific piece. But it'll blow your mind!—JM

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Brilliant concept, hits every nail on the head – including overstaying its own welcome with a wrongheaded, ass-backwards final entry. Very meta, boys; I love it.—JS

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Speaking of advanced baseball statistics, Simmons is now on board with them.—BK

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Why she's a legend, and will continue enjoying her Lifetime Pass for years to come. (Hat tip, Michael effing McKean!)—JS

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Meaty profile of two young, hopeful baseball superstars: Atlanta's Jason Heyward, who is currently in the majors, and Washington's Stephen Strasburg, who should be later on this season.—BK

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Certainly obstacles to firing them are entrenched, but considering the alternative, can we afford to keep ignoring the problem?—JS

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A classic April Fool's Day article from back when people read magazines—MW

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For those of you keeping track at home, I now lead all other PoopReading.com contributors combined in links to articles dealing with the disputed authorship of Shakespeare's plays. The score is two to nothing.—JM

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Behind the scenes with Gerald Blanchard, the world's most ingenious thief.—JS

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Interesting look at, among other things, how the rapid growth of Carolla's audience created some distribution cost issues, and how that has him experimenting with ways to make podcasting profitable.—BK

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On the shifting landscape of Clint Eastwood's movie career.—JS

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Christopher Hitchens preemptively weighs in on tomorrow's upcoming Baron von Funny with his own alternate Ten Commandments.—JM

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With HBO's Hanks-produced The Pacific taking to the airwaves, a look back at his role in chronicling the turning points of a nation.—JS

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Long, thorough, interesting... I'd say he found it.—BK

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My friend Merrill has been at this a while now. Individual posts are a little short for our purposes, but with plenty of archives, you can customize to any length.—JS

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The article which inspired Boal to write The Hurt Locker, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination (and most people expect him to pick up the Oscar on Sunday).—JS

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A long – long – retrospective of the legendary actor and director's work.—JM

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Several authors offer their best advice. Here's the first part...—JM

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... and here's the second.—JM

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The unsung heroes behind your favorite Disney movies were sweatshop laborers – and, since we're talking about the 1940s, that means grandma!—JS

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Just a fantastic read. A detailed and moving profile of Ebert and his long, hard-luck battle with cancer, the subsequent loss of his jaw and voice, and his renewed love affair with the written word.—BK

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Covering the long, complicated history of failed attempts to revive – with and without Chevy Chase – the once-popular comedy franchise.—BK

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Talks a lot about stand-up (and doing stand-up in character as Randy in Funny People), and not quite enough about Parks and Recreation.—BK

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Fans of other teams make the sad and not even remotely convincing cases for their suffering being greater than those of us who follow the Vikings.—JM

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Part II: more of the same.—JM

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Newsweek's annual Oscar roundtable is one of the magazine's long-standing treasures, and this year's edition brings Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Carey Mulligan, and Gabourney Sidibe together to talk shop.—BK

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Teachers unions might not be able to protect the ineffective and incompetent for very much longer. If that's the case, everybody – apart from the ineffective and the incompetent – wins.—JM

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We try to steer clear of blatantly partisan political links, but since this is a liberal pet issue being advocated by a prominent conservative, I figure it's okay.—BK

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The infamous – and terrific – profile where he talks about quitting acting (and hurls around some exquisite insults) is finally available online.—BK

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It is what it sounds like: The Dude by way of The Bard. (Obviously this runs way over the usual length, but we've linked to every other Lebowski thing out there, so there's no sense stopping now.)—JS

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A fascinating excerpt from the new book Game Change that reveals the sordid dysfunction inside the John Edwards presidential campaign, and offers yet another lesson in the folly of buying into the public image of any famous person.—BK

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Every entertainment option is now at our fingertips; shouldn't that level the playing field between blockbusters and more obscure fare? Not so much, for a few interesting reasons.—JS

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We can take it as a given that "Celebrity Rehab" is awesome, because Dr. Drew is involved. But overall, does it help or hurt? Or both? Or neither?—JM

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John Mackey, the Whole Foods CEO who sparked controversy (boycotts and "buycotts") with his healthcare stance last fall, turns out to be a fascinating if inscrutable fellow.—JS

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An interesting and thought-provoking read, even for someone like me who's spent most of his life making sure he already knows this stuff. (Happy birthday, Steve!)—JS

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Turns out that Toby Young, that bald English one-trick-pony douchebag from "Top Chef," is actually an excellent writer and an even better cultural critic. Who knew?—JM

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This was a fun one last year, so here's this year's version. My personal favorites are Pabst Smear, Carnal Befoulment, and German Beef Initiative.—BK

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There's no question James Cameron is an uncompromising visionary who's transformed the sci-fi genre. But it remains to be seen whether his pet project Avatar will be a creative watershed or an embarrassing waste of time.—JS

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A look back at how the '00s became the best decade in television history.—BK

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New fiction from the late DFW, which is a rare thing. And it comes in under a thousand pages!—JS

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50 films, including many interesting choices, lots of good rental ideas, and the wisdom not to neglect Pixar.—BK

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Please enjoy these placeholder football picks by a young up-and-comer to tide you over until I get mine up first thing Saturday. Wait, did I say Saturday? I meant Sunday. First thing Sunday. Promise.—JM

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Hypoallergenic socks, Baby Kneepads, cutting down trees over nut allergy fears... is it any wonder we're hitting the tipping point on "helicopter parenting"?—BK

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Boyhood: turns out it's not all just sports and farting. (even if it's mostly sports and farting)—JM

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Reading Peter King is as much a Monday morning tradition as dreading going back into work, or cursing yourself for not working harder in your 20s. Enjoy!—JM

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Several personal favorites, several books I've been meaning to get to, and in general, a big ol' reminder that I wish I had more time to read.—BK

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I sense the potential for some copycat lists here at PoopReading.com.—BK

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Yet another "technology will make us all stupider" article. Notable anyway for some fascinating information about brain science.—JS

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This piece is a little long and a little dry, but it's about Wikipedia. And I love Wikipedia. I mean, you want to know about the Maldives (just to pick something)? You go to Wikipedia, and BOOM! Now you know all you'll really ever need to know about the Maldives.—JM

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Downey goes long on life, love, and why he agrees with the author's choice for the greatest actor in the world.—BK

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Read your Peter King, kids. It puts hair on your chest!—JM

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I'm not crazy about linking to all kinds of garbage about the Letterman mess, but as with most things Dave, this piece proves too fascinating to refuse, and keeps things pretty above board.—BK

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It's come to this: I'm linking to my own stuff now. But this one is worth it, if I may humbly be allowed to say so.—JM

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Dear Internet: I have now linked to every funny or fascinating item I can find or think of. Please come up with some new stuff. Thanks!—JS

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Geez, I hope not; that's where I keep all of my stuff!—JM

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There's a Pythons documentary and a new Fawlty Towers DVD set on the way. Besides, I'll take any excuse to listen to Cleese talk about writing Fawlty Towers.—JS

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Yeah, yeah; two football links. Quit whining, they're both good. In an excerpt from his new book of essays, Klosterman explains why he – and we – love football so damned much.—JM

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I was waiting for a dramatic Pete Carroll victory to pull this goodie from the archives; I think Saturday's odd combo of "suspenseful" and "trouncing" will do. (Ignore the dopey premise and title – you'll enjoy an insightful profile of a fascinating guy.)—JS

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Gladwell asks the provocative question: how different (for the competitors) are dogfighting and football?—BK

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Here's what I link to when left to my own devices, folks!—JM

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Spoiler: it was unions, pretty much. Unions and environmentalists. Also, Arnold didn't help matters.—JM

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In an effort to avoid the tabloid craziness of Letterman's current scandal, let's all enjoy this terrific bit of classic poop reading about how his 2000 heart attack transformed both the host and his show.—BK

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You don't necessarily have to be a football fan to enjoy this column (trust me, my knowledge of the NFL is cursory at best), especially because of a brilliant "Most screwed-up celebrity kids in 2025" fantasy draft tangent that pops up in the middle. (My apologies to Joe for possibly stealing a Simmons link.)—BK

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With Bionicle, video games, and tie-in toys, it's definitely not the LEGO you remember. As kids, we had a big bin of random blocks, not a bunch of separate model sets.—JS

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Ignoring the brain trauma problem in retired players and hoping the problem goes away would be bad enough, but what the NFL is doing is even worse.—JM

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An Emmy roundtable discussion with Toni Collette, Jon Cryer, Jim Parsons, Amy Poehler, and Sarah Silverman.—BK

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It's not Tuesday morning anymore, but everything should still apply.—JM

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America's sex laws really are shameful – and anyone who thinks they make children safer is delusional.—JS

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If anyone can capture the offbeat mix of whimsy and the macabre, it's Jonze. (No offense, Tim Burton.)—JS

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The Flem File takes a look at one man's obsession with football at the dawn of another glorious NFL season.—JM

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As Saturday Night Live makes more inscrutable cast changes this week (Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson out, two new ladies in), here's a classic feature from 1995 that showcases the dysfunction that has long existed behind the scenes.—BK

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Simmons. Vegas. Read it.—JM

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One of my favorite film blogs reiterates the arguments against a 3D revolution. (Keep beating that drum – we'll kill it yet!)—JS

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Bill Simmons writing about Vegas; that's like Julia Roberts going on Letterman. You just don't miss it.—JM

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Those stories you hear about New York City teachers being paid their full salary to sit in a room for years on end, doing nothing? Completely true.—JM

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Drug prices are about to go down (because there's no need to put actual medicine in them), or up (because the expensive ads are what make them effective), or not (because we know very little about how medicine actually works).—JS

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Obviously Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson is in a class by himself, but there are 11 others to bear mentioning as well.—JM

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I didn't even realize this was a quiz until the end of round one, and by then I'd already peed myself.—JS

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Some insight into why Craigslist.org still looks like the rest of the internet used to look ten years ago, yet manages to be one of the most successful websites anywhere.—JM

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Turns out exercise helps a little but mostly just makes you healthy, not thin. Apparently, to lose weight you have to eat better, so... rest easy, extra 15 pounds of mine! You won't be going anywhere anytime soon.—JM

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Among many topics, he touches on fatherhood, why this is a golden age for television, and his new film The Big Fan.—BK

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Football!—JM

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An older profile of prestidigitator, carny historian, and David Mamet repertory player Ricky Jay. But you'd be hard pressed to find a more fascinating subject, no matter what the year.—JS

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Great stuff about Role Models, a wonderfully thorough telling of the origins of The State, and an explanation why there will never be another Wet Hot American Summer.—BK

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My apologies for the A.V. Club-heavy linking today, but when they decide to post interviews with David Wain and Jon Hamm on consecutive days, what's a The State/Mad Men fan to do?—BK

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The Hall of Fame Game happened over the weekend. I know! We're only a few weeks away from real, actual NFL football. I can't believe it either!—JM

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Astonishing investigative report on a team of web-based prank callers who have caused thousands in damage.—JS

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When you combine Gladwell and To Kill a Mockingbird, you've got my attention. An interesting look at the history of racial prejudice and Southern liberalism by way of the classic novel.—BK

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People increasingly view copyright and trademark laws as tools of oppression and avarice, rather than protectors of innovation and commerce as they were intended to be. Why? Shit like this.—JS

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Not that this should come as a huge surprise, but it seems as though the efforts of each era to define the character of Judas Iscariot say a great deal more about the era than about the character himself.—JM

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A look at how the current failure of the Oakland A's has some in baseball taking joy in the "downfall" of GM Billy Beane, and wondering whether the concept of Moneyball is dead. (It's not, mostly because people continually misunderstand the lessons of that book.)—BK

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An alternate take on an idea our own Joe Mulder took a crack at a few weeks ago, though this one goes even further back in history.—BK

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The Sports Guy breaks down the offseason of the NBA, a league I don't really follow, using quotes from Almost Famous, which he borderline-hilariously proclaims "the movie of the decade." Still... new Simmons is new Simmons. Plus, this is only part one!—JM

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Several books advance various theories on how and why obesity has become so much more common in the United States (and the rest of the developed world).—JM

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For instance: men sexually harass women because they are not sexist. And more.—JM

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It's Michael & Michael week here at PoopReading! (I guess the new show better be good, huh?)—BK

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He spends a little time doing that, but mostly he talks about doing stunts, writing his autobiography, playing the banjo, and, of course, comedy.—BK

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A nice profile of Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, and an example of what newspapers can still do well, particularly with sports: the author knows the subject and he knows the town, and it comes through in the writing.—BK

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This seven-parter is long (of course), but it winds through a fascinating spectrum of topics. Is a forgery less beautiful than the original? Is an artist's name more significant than his talent? Why do we sometimes want to be fooled by hucksters?—JS

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Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist is back in reruns on Comedy Central! Here's a meandering interview with its star, discussing the show and many, many other things.—JS

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A great idea with some good choices, including the requisite love for Toy Story 2. And man, were there some lean years in the mid-to-late 90s.—BK

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Snapper, the lawn mower people, decided their brand would be better off not being associated with Wal-Mart, even though it meant turning away their millions of customers.—JS

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I finally saw Into the Wild, and thought it was excellent. This is the magazine article that begat the book that begat the movie.—JM

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Just pretend that Year One never happened, and you can enjoy this lengthy, meaty interview with the comedy legend.—JM

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Gladwell looks at how the digital age has transformed the ways in which things are made and sold by way of a review of Chris Anderson's new book Free: The Future of a Radical Price.—BK

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A bit of classic PoopReading from 2000: a profile of Simpsons writer George Meyer, one of the best profiles The New Yorker has ever done (and that's saying something).—BK

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Without overstating the case, I can say that reading Bill Simmons' annual NBA Draft diary is one of the highlights of any true sports fan's year.—JM

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"Anything I give you would only be a placebo." "Where do we get these placebos!?"—JM

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As a warning to the presumptive #1 selection in the upcoming NBA draft, Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers season ticket holder Bill Simmons breaks down the post-1976 history of the team that holds this year's top pick. It's as comprehensive as it is horrifying; that is to say: very.—JM

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Or, essentially, "One Media Outlet's Extensive History of Whipping People into a Frenzy, Just to Do It."—JS

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He talks about a lot of things over the course of a long, rambling conversation, including putting an end date on 30 Rock.—BK

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A 5,000-word piece taking bores to task... put that in your irony pipe and smoke it!—JM

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An in-depth history of cooking shows, fascinating whether you watch them or not. (I don't.)—JS

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Bryce Harper, the 15-year-old phenom from Las Vegas who, among other things, once hit a 570-foot home run. (And no, this isn't another Sidd Finch fake out.)—BK

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I've been re-watching Newhart courtesy of WGN, and it's been fun to be reminded what a hit Larry and the Darryls were, and how great Sanderson was in that role. And his modesty and graciousness in this interview just makes you want to root for him.—BK

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An interview in The New Yorker with Bill Simmons on the NBA Finals and his upcoming book.—JM

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I'm no Galifaniac, but his Comedians of Comedy performances were unique and daring (and funny) and I've never seen him in anything I didn't like him in. (Full disclosure: I have not seen Out Cold.)—JS

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He's a character, and today his business is going gangbusters like you'd expect. (Normally I'd link to the printable, one-page version, but I find that picture of him so perfect. Yoink!)—JS

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A site that makes lists for you! I can think of some guys who'd love that. This list balances the predictable with the insane, with details about ABC's Life on Mars that I'm amazed are not punishable by law.—JS

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How do you make sure you have tons of great emails from prominent celebrities to answer in your preview of the NBA Finals, which start tonight? Simple; you make them up!—JM

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Big surprise – some of the so-called "experts" that peddle advice on Oprah may not know what they're talking about.—BK

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Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates once pitched twelve perfect innings... and then lost. Being a baseball geek, I've known that for years. This is an in-depth look at the game, suitable for those who know the story and those who don't.—JM

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Celebrating bee week with a look back at a classic spelling bee post. (In a just world, Joe would be posting this link, since he first introduced me to it. And yet.)—JS

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Terrific profile of Conan in the midst of his transition to The Tonight Show that also manages to work in a look at the changing landscape of late night comedy.—BK

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With the help of science and technology, the author explores the many ways – psychologically, physically, chemically – that we experience love.—BK

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Even if you aren't a fan of Grodin (to which I say, really?), it's worth reading for his refreshing candor, including a section about his work in the 2006 film The Ex that features some of the most frank answers I've ever seen an actor give.—BK

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Alec Baldwin was on Letterman last week, which reminded me of this excellent profile from the days before Poop Reading. It's worth reading again, but at the very least it belongs in our archives.—JS

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You're wondering if it's a coincidence I've linked to three Jonah Lehrer articles in less than a month, aren't you? Yes, it is. (But the real question is: how does he write them so fast?)—JS

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A few years ago, Bill Simmons and Malcolm Gladwell had an epic email exchange that covered mostly basketball, but also covered anything and everything else. Yesterday, they did it again. This is Part One...—JM

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Here's Part Two...—JM

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...and here's Part Three.—JM

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A terrific feature on Woody Allen and Larry David and their collaboration on Allen's Whatever Works. (It's also a review of the film, so while there's nothing specifically spoiler-y, it does include the typical discussion of the plot and characters.)—BK

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If nothing else, Star Trek gives us a nice angle to discuss the science of outer space. (Yep, the old "spaceship explosions should be silent" gripe again.)—JS

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The Onion AV Club talks to one of the greats.—JM

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On the heels of Manny Ramirez's suspension, Esquire reruns their offseason interview with Jonathan Papelbon, in which the Red Sox closer refers to his ex-teammate as a "cancer."—BK

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I'll not go so far as to suggest that this sort of thing will be coming to America any time soon; nor will I go so far as to suggest that such a thing would be unimaginable.—JM

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Gladwell's back! Gladwell's back! And he's got a nice little (or actually, not so little) piece about how underdogs win by exploiting conventional thinking – for example, by making liberal use of the full-court press in basketball.—BK

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A review of two new parenting memoirs by Ayelet Waldman and PoopReading.com favorite Michael Lewis turns into a look at the changing landscape of modern parenting.—BK

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A talk with Jeff Dowd, the real-life inspiration for The Dude character in The Big Lebowski. If you're not interested in his experiences being a part of the Seattle Seven in the 70s, you can find the Lebowski stuff about halfway down the page.—BK

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Lengthy, scathing rant about the Postal Service (not the band, though that would be great, too). Kramer was right – who needs it?—JS

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When Bill Simmons writes about the NBA, it's like when Julia Roberts goes on Letterman; you just don't want to miss it.—JM

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We don't get much Tuesday Morning Quarterback between January and August, so I suggest we all get while the getting is good.—JM

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Peter King tells us all we need to know about the NFL draft. Probably. I mean, if there's more to know that he hasn't told us, I wouldn't know it.—JM

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When there's free Sedaris on offer, you take it.—JS

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The title of the piece says it all; no need for me to try to elucidate.—JM

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An in-depth look at the rise in the use of "neuroenhancing" drugs as a way of battling fatigue and the demands of a wired world.—BK

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TMQ returns from hibernation with his annual NFL draft column! Rejoice!—JM

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If you like Pac-Man, this'll keep you entertained for quite a while. If you don't, then greetings! How are things in Communist Russia?—JS

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And the crime of the century behind the theft. (A similar story popped up in William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade but I had no idea it was true!)—JS

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Yeah, sometimes we link to fiction here at Poop Reading. Fiction that makes you think.—JS

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Bill Simmons is right: Dwyane Wade is Jack Bauer.—JM

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For those of you looking for a 10,000-word piece on the collapse of the Icelandic banking system, here's a 10,000-word piece on the collapse of the Icelandic banking system.—JM

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My wife found out about this piece on Oprah; even so, you should still check it out. It's really long, but it's endlessly fascinating.—JM

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Marinovich's story remains a sad cautionary tale: an obsessed father tries to create the perfect football player, and in the process, quite possibly destroys his son's life.—BK

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Not updating currently, but among the most poopable things I've ever seen online. Print out a few of these entries whenever you need a quick fix.—JS

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Ted Williams was a piece of work, with a mix of rage and ego that made him a borderline sociopath, and that comes roaring through every inch of this super-long profile of the Hall of Fame hitter, now available online for the first time since it originally ran back in 1986.—BK

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As this piece accurately points out, "there are only four people alive so familiar to Minnesotans that they can be referred to by a single moniker: Jesse, Prince, Dylan — and Sid." (thanks to Cousin Adam for the link)—JM

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In honor of this, the foolingest of days, here's some classic poop reading that's my choice for the greatest hoax of all time.—BK

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I first came across this December 1981 Sports Illustrated profile of Andre the Giant ten years ago or so, and I've read it at least once a year since then. It's one of the more interesting things you'll ever read, and it'll keep you in poop reading for about a week. Enjoy!—JM

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An interview with philosopher Alva Noë about the nature of human consciousness. I don't know about you, but I dig this sort of thing.—JM

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This ESPN "Outside the Lines" piece, which digs a little deeper into the peculiar story of a 73-year-old college basketball player, ought to keep you busy for quite a while.—JM

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No, we're not being paid from the I Love You, Man promotional budget. Just thought I ought to make that clear.—JS

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As always with these kind of things, you might quibble with the choices, but you can't dispute the greatness of the idea. And man, is that Sports Region tough.—BK

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The Catch-22 of all celebrity is that we want to feel like we know these people, but the reality of the circumstances makes that inherently impossible. And the Catch-22 of this profile is that it makes you feel like you know Ben Affleck.—BK

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How writer/director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, Duplicity) works to find new ways to surprise jaded movie audiences.—BK

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One of our underappreciated favorites talks about Joss Whedon, comedy, his early soap opera work, and his new ABC show Castle.—BK

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It doesn't even matter who Phil is. Everybody should write this list and put it on the internet. But since I'm not going to, here's Phil's.—JM

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Brilliant profile. At times it's a maddening and skittish read, which seems to mirror the experience of spending time with Gervais.—JS

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Plenty of people liveblog the Oscars; you can bet TWoP does it best.—JM

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Another sign of 30 Rock's underappreciation: in order to get a nice, long article about the best show on American television, we have to turn to the British.—BK

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To tide you over until tomorrow, when PoopReading.com offers fresh, homegrown Oscar picks, here are some from the indispensable AwardsDaily.com—JM

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As a topic, it's a horse that has seen better days, but the style of the piece and his theory on the difference in fan/media outrage between baseball and football players make it worth checking out.—BK

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Through a profile of the Rockets' Shane Battier, Lewis digs into the emergence of statistical analysis in the NBA. Can we just have Michael Lewis write all the in-depth sports profiles? Please?—BK

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Lengthy, entertaining profile of comedian Demetri Martin, he of the new Comedy Central smash hit Important Things.—JS

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A fascinating exploration of the shifting factors influencing one of life's biggest decisions: wait for true love, or settle?—JS

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Leitch gives an in-depth recounting of his infamous April 2008 appearance on HBO's Costas Now.—BK

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I don't really follow the NBA when my Minnesota Timberwolves are bad (i.e., I don't really follow the NBA), but I feel like I get all I need to know from The Sports Guy's annual trade values column.—JM

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Without giving away any of the titles, I can tell you that it manages to give some love to Albert Brooks, Steve Martin and Pixar, which is enough to win us over.—BK

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There are so many generalizations in this piece that, if you ever went to grad school, your brain will actually liquefy and drip out of your nostrils as you read this. You just won't be able to handle it. And the generalizations are pretty much right on, too, which will only make you madder.—JM

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I understand that war is hell. I understand that killing is not to be romanticized. That said, you must – must! – check this out; it's one of the best things I've read on the internet in ages.—JM

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The NFL season isn't really over until Gregg Easterbrook writes his Super Bowl column and hands out the Longest Award in Sports. Enjoy.—JM

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Searching for the interview about Phil Connors staying in Punxsutawney for 10 years in Groundhog Day, I found this. Which is also interesting, and reveals the early incubation of The Year One.—JS

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May as well let the King sum up XLIII for us, no?—JM

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A profile of director Bob Fishman that details the incredible amount of effort that goes into making a successful TV broadcast of an NFL game.—BK

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Newsweek's annual Oscar roundtable is always terrific, and with Robert Downey, Jr. and Mickey Rourke on hand, this one stays plenty interesting.—BK

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There's not much football left this season (i.e., one game), which means there's not much Gregg Easterbook left this season. Read him while you still can!—JM

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It's been a while since I linked to Peter King, but I figured if anybody would be able to make anything of the NFL's pre-Super Bowl off-week, it would be him.—JM

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I am by no means a pet person, and I don't usually go in for the sentimental "my beloved dog" stuff. But, to paraphrase the great Bill McNeal, you'd have to be a robot not to cry at this.—JM

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An ultra-high-end scavenger hunt goes wrong in the Nevada desert. Beware all activities that require a "liability waiver."—JS

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Much like I had to do seven days ago, The Sports Guy tries to pick up the pieces after an 0-4 weekend with the NFL picks.—JM

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The evidence is piled on, so skim liberally, but some powerhouse entries (like Peter Travers's baby-on-baby action) mustn't be missed. (I won't soon forget this instant-classic gem: "Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are this generation's most engaging on-screen couple.")—JS

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The world's best, longest, and least-about-football football column is almost done for the year; don't miss it while it's still around!—JM

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A look at movie marketing via a profile of one highly-skilled practitioner of that art. An utterly fascinating and depressing look at the state of modern studio moviemaking.—BK

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I enjoy Baseball Hall of Fame debates, as long as we acknowledge that it's all just time-filling silliness. Because as long as Bert Blyleven isn't in (he was denied induction again today), no one can actually take this seriously.—JM

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For all the grammar nerds who've flocked to us following yesterday's posting of the "wherefore" rant and the spell-checker analysis, this will delight you.—JS

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Studies indicate that when we fight our temptations we really fight with ourselves. Struggling to lose weight, quit smoking, or finish that novel? The good news is, either way you win!—JS

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The tradition continues – a Vikings win equals a Peter King link.—JM

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For those of you with new iTunes gift cards burning a hole in your pocket.—BK

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Longish, but there are worse people to spend a few extra minutes reading about.—JS

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One day after a gut-wrenching Minnesota Vikings home loss to the Falcons, it's only fitting that we link to a recap of a "HIMYM" episode wherein a plot point involves the mother of all gut-wrenching Minnesota Vikings home losses to the Falcons.—JM

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Not a great deal of suspense for 2008's Time Magazine "Person of the Year." And maybe I'm nuts, but, when it's actually a man, can't we go ahead and say "Man of the Year?" Just for old time's sake?—JM

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I once heard someone say that they didn't feel like they'd seen a movie until they read Pauline Kael's review of it. I feel the same way about Linda Holmes, TWoP's former Miss Alli, and "Survivor" episodes.—JM

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Mostly by burying it in a deep, deep hole, it appears.—BK

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A touching exploration of the way that jokes, and a specific sense of humor, tend to run through a family.—BK

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Every time the Vikings win, I link to Peter King here on the homepage. The Vikings have won four in a row... I'm afraid to stop!—JM

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I have to see this movie. (And unfortunately, you have to click on four different pages to read this article.)—BK

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Simmons went 5-11 with his NFL picks last week. I went 9-7. I'm just sayin'.—JM

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Highlighting the potential winners among next year's slated releases.—BK

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Comparing the degree of difficulty in identifying potential greatness in two vastly different fields: NFL quarterbacking and teaching. How awesome is Gladwell?—BK

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Lamenting the dearth of originality since the days of Hoosiers and Field of Dreams.—BK

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You know our (well, my) policy: when the Vikings win, it's fun to read about the weekend's NFL action. Have fun!—JM

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Overly dour at times, and the writing gets surprisingly slapdash, but if you're as a big a Fey fan as we are, it's a worthwhile read.—BK

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Bill Simmons is back, and so are his "Ramblings." Rejoice, America.—JM

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Trey Parker and Matt Stone discuss the ways in which South Park pushes people's buttons.—JS

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When the Vikings win, we here at PoopReading.com are more interested in reading NFL weekend-in-review stuff. Well, two of us are; the third cares no more for football than he otherwise does. Anyway, enjoy Peter King!—JM

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An update on the Netflix Prize, the puzzles of computerized recommendation, and the ongoing scourge of Napoleon Dynamite.—JS

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An involved and fascinating look at the history of suck.com, another in the Internet's history of excellent and now-defunct sites.—JS

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A panel of 179 musicians, journalists, record execs and others produces a massive document. You can argue over the choices, but you can't deny that this is a fine piece of listmaking.—BK

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A look at some recent books on the scourge of "overparenting," with fresh insights and many questions worth pondering.—JS

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Is there such a thing as genius? Gladwell contends success is really a matter of hours and hours of hard work. The analysis is fascinating.—JS

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Part one of a two-day mailbag extravaganza from Simmons. Part two comes tomorrow.—JM

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There's definitely a movie in here. Get Will Ferrell on the phone, somebody!—JM

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Do you realize that the Vikings are tied for first place? Yes, those Vikings. The ones who stink. I know, I can't believe it either. Read about this and other NFL developments the one and only Peter King.—JM

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In an off week for yours truly, please to enjoy a real NFL column.—JM

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The author of "Positively Fifth Street" writes about his 2008 World Series of Poker experience.—JM

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Lengthy profile of Baseball Prospectus stat-cruncher Nate Silver, who's analyzing political polls on the side at FiveThirtyEight.com to see if he can predict the election.—JS

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Ranking the Wild Card Era MLB postseasons. The scoring system is more than a little arbitrary, but it's still a fun concept.—BK

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How The Big Lebowski became the most worshipped comedy of its generation.—BK

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My close personal friend Bill Simmons previews the 2008-2009 NBA season.—JM

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A few notes about this GQ profile of Jimmy Kimmel: 1) I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's good, 2) it's on like 12 different pages, so you'll have to do a lot of clicking, and 3) page 4 seems to be missing as I write this. Still; check it out.—JM

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Bill Simmons offers up a modestly titled fantasy basketball preview column.—JM

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Williams' deal signals labor strife while Dallas faces chemistry issues.—JM

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Malcolm Gladwell explores the differences between creative prodigies and late bloomers. Fascinating, and for some of us, reason to hope.—BK

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Bill Simmons on the [plural possessive form of "Red Sox"] latest insane, ridiculous, history-defying comeback.—JM

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A weird, fascinating and occasionally hilarious profile of Norm Macdonald, done about a year-and-a-half ago. Still makes for good reading, though.—JM

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Yet another exposé of security theater at the airport pre-boarding screening.—JS

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Those poor Patriots, they look plain awful.—JM

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With dark clouds approaching, can the Cowboys weather the storm?—JM

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The funniest writer in the history of The Simpsons talks about hobo obsessions, cynicism in comedy, and praying for Mojo. From 2004, but still terrific.—BK

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Our "length" meter only goes up to three rolls, but, this Bill Simmons mailbag should keep you busy for an awfully long time.—JM

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The New Yorker's presidential endorsement may be an obvious one, but it's excellently stated. If "associations" are really such a huge liability, can one do worse than George W. Bush? Jameson (and the New Yorker) thinks not.—JS

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Elgin Baylor's legacy should be that of a pioneer who paved the way for the modern NBA.—JM

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Could Eli Manning be better than his big bro? Yes.—JM

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Running backs calling the plays and taking snaps? Just another Sunday.—JM

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One of the internet's few absolute must-reads, Bill Simmons breaks down the "Karate Kid" trilogy in a post that resonates every bit as much today as it did when he wrote it six years ago.—JM