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May 11Liked by Ryan Elston, Ryan Wildstar

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. would have been my dream professor when I was in college.

So many of Arnold Bocklin's paintings are absolutely haunting--for instance, Isle of the Dead. I can see why his paintings have inspired artists in many different genres.

Thank you for reminding me of one of the funniest movies ever--Waiting for Guffman.

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We say the same thing about Henry Louis Gates Jr. (aka Skip)! And yes, Bocklin's work is totally influential and it's easy to see why. Glad you enjoyed it.

Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show are two of my favorite comedies ever. Brilliant, that whole group.

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May 11Liked by Ryan Elston, Ryan Wildstar

My dinner with Andre is perhaps my favorite movie. I saw it when I was in high school and it also changed the course of my life. It blew me away. I’ve tried to find it recently on Netflix. Of course they didn’t have it. I’m not familiar with criterion. But I would love to see it again

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I love that! It's so good seeing it again after sooooo long. It really is a brilliant film. You should check out Criterion, there are so many AMAZING classic films on their channel. We are loving it!

https://www.criterionchannel.com/

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May 11Liked by Ryan Elston, Ryan Wildstar

Thank you for sending me the link!

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May 15Liked by Ryan Elston, Ryan Wildstar

Well, I must chime in because this podcast made my day (as usual)! Waiting for Guffman and My Dinner with Andre are two of my all-time favorites. I think I watched Waiting for Guffman every night we showed it at the Crystal, and I still watch it at least once a year. Stool Boom! Nothing Ever Happens on Mars! A Penny for Your Thoughts!

Chris and I just rewatched My Dinner with Andre again a few months ago...sheer perfection. I I doubt I would have thought so at 10 years old though. Ha! (I do look periodically for My Dinner with Andre action figures--I can't believe someone hasn't made them in real life....)

Ryan Wildstar, Best in Show is also a treasure. I remember I watched it with my parents a long while back--they were on the dog show circuit (Dobermans) in the 70s, which still mystifies me. They both said it may as well have been a real documentary because it was so spot on AND they knew the lineage of the dog that played Rhapsody in White. It was bananas.

I downloaded the audiobook of Black Box today before my latest four-hour work drive. You can't beat Skip Gates. He gives me so much hope. And joy. Like you two!

Sending so much love and healing thoughts to you both!

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Thanks so much for the love and healing thoughts! The struggle is real.

I'm delighted (though not surprised) to learn that you share our adoration for My Dinner with Andre and Waiting for Guffman (aka the best double-feature ever)! By the way, I literally google "My Dinner with Andre action figures" every six months or so. Still waiting.

And Best in Show! Had no idea your parents were connected to the surreal world of show dogs. Parker Posey's unforgettable performances in Christopher Guest's films have brought me endless joy over the years. (The underrated Mascots deserves an honorable mention here too.)

Let me know what you think of The Black Box! Everything Skip says feels so relevant right now. The history and ideas are so brilliantly told, and the entire conclusion might be my favorite editorial commentary of the year so far. So many quotes I'm saving for later.

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