Chris Vognar
@chrisvognar.bsky.social
TV/Pop Culture Critic, The Boston Globe. Concerned citizen. Ally.
Pinned
Chris Vognar
@chrisvognar.bsky.social
· Jul 17
Why ‘Jaws’ Works
www.nytimes.com
Any excuse to write about Jaws is a good one. In this case it’s a new doc, Jaws @ 50, that I covered for The New York Times. I, and it, make the case that it’s about the people, not the shark.
I’m not here to start no trouble.
I’m just here to write about The Super Bowl Shuffle. Or at least the new HBO doc The Shuffle, which tells the story of the ‘85 Chicago Bears novelty rap hit and video. I didn’t realize they taped the video the day after getting beat down by the Dolphins on MNF.
I’m just here to write about The Super Bowl Shuffle. Or at least the new HBO doc The Shuffle, which tells the story of the ‘85 Chicago Bears novelty rap hit and video. I didn’t realize they taped the video the day after getting beat down by the Dolphins on MNF.
A new HBO doc shows how the 1985 Chicago Bears did the Super Bowl Shuffle - The Boston Globe
The video was recorded the day after the Bears suffered a humiliating loss to the Miami Dolphins.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I’m not here to start no trouble.
I’m just here to write about The Super Bowl Shuffle. Or at least the new HBO doc The Shuffle, which tells the story of the ‘85 Chicago Bears novelty rap hit and video. I didn’t realize they taped the video the day after getting beat down by the Dolphins on MNF.
I’m just here to write about The Super Bowl Shuffle. Or at least the new HBO doc The Shuffle, which tells the story of the ‘85 Chicago Bears novelty rap hit and video. I didn’t realize they taped the video the day after getting beat down by the Dolphins on MNF.
Everyone is doing TV these days — including the great Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. His first-ever series, Blossoms Shanghai, premieres tonight on The Criterion Channel. It’s set amidst the Chinese stock market boom of the ‘90s, and boasts the same stylish sensuousness as his movies.
Wong Kar-wai is the latest movie master to go TV with ‘Blossoms Shanghai’ - The Boston Globe
The series, from the director of "In the Mood for Love," begins streaming on the Criterion Channel on Nov. 24.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Everyone is doing TV these days — including the great Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. His first-ever series, Blossoms Shanghai, premieres tonight on The Criterion Channel. It’s set amidst the Chinese stock market boom of the ‘90s, and boasts the same stylish sensuousness as his movies.
Just one more thing: In this week’s Autopilot installment I revisit the glorious first episode of Columbo. Directed by some guy named Spielberg.
When Steven Spielberg helped launch ‘Columbo’ - The Boston Globe
The Peter Falk series had all its trademark characteristics from the start.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Just one more thing: In this week’s Autopilot installment I revisit the glorious first episode of Columbo. Directed by some guy named Spielberg.
Vognar to readers: Watch Drop Dead City, a good doc about the story behind the headline.
A city on the brink and a headline for the ages take center stage in ‘Drop Dead City’ - The Boston Globe
President Gerald Ford didn’t actually tell the city of New York to drop dead.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Vognar to readers: Watch Drop Dead City, a good doc about the story behind the headline.
John Edgar Wideman’s essays read like poetry and flow like great jazz. And nobody writes better about basketball. I reviewed his new collection, Languages of Home: Essays on Writing, Hoop, and American Lives.
John Edgar Wideman writes about life with the lively rhythms of jazz - The Boston Globe
Yes, it's an essay collection but this is like a written form of jazz, a musical genre to which Wideman returns frequently.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
John Edgar Wideman’s essays read like poetry and flow like great jazz. And nobody writes better about basketball. I reviewed his new collection, Languages of Home: Essays on Writing, Hoop, and American Lives.
Documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud was the first American journalist killed in the war in Ukraine. Armed Only with a Camera, now streaming on HBO Max, spotlights his compassionate tenacity.
‘Armed Only with a Camera’ spotlights the first American journalist killed in the war in Ukraine - The Boston Globe
The short documentary, now streaming on HBO Max, tells the story of Brent Renaud.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud was the first American journalist killed in the war in Ukraine. Armed Only with a Camera, now streaming on HBO Max, spotlights his compassionate tenacity.
A few months ago my editor suggested we might send our readers into a frenzy by ranking the ten best Ken Burns projects. Our readers really like Ken Burns. And I am not one to pass up a healthy frenzy.
‘The Civil War’? ‘Baseball’? Ranking the 10 best Ken Burns documentary series - The Boston Globe
How does "The American Revolution" land among other Ken Burns projects? Read on to find out.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A few months ago my editor suggested we might send our readers into a frenzy by ranking the ten best Ken Burns projects. Our readers really like Ken Burns. And I am not one to pass up a healthy frenzy.
This week in my Autopilot series, I try to conjure what it was like to first watch Twin Peaks. A damn fine pilot episode.
The damn fine ‘Twin Peaks’ began with deeply earnest strangeness - The Boston Globe
The series is unlike any other primetime soap opera.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This week in my Autopilot series, I try to conjure what it was like to first watch Twin Peaks. A damn fine pilot episode.
You say you want a Revolution: Ken Burns’ 12-hour deep dive into the American Revolution should be savored, not binged. It’s a reminder of how rich, unwieldy, and brutally violent the country’s founding was.
‘The American Revolution’ is the answer to the binge-watch - The Boston Globe
In its ambitions and scope, the latest docuseries from co-director Ken Burns rewards slower viewing.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
You say you want a Revolution: Ken Burns’ 12-hour deep dive into the American Revolution should be savored, not binged. It’s a reminder of how rich, unwieldy, and brutally violent the country’s founding was.
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, in an acting league of their own in the new Netflix thriller The Beast in Me.
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys match wits in Netflix’s stellar ‘The Beast in Me’ - The Boston Globe
Two of television's best actors unite in a psychological thriller.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, in an acting league of their own in the new Netflix thriller The Beast in Me.
Spoke with Rakim as Berklee College of Music prepares to induct him into its hip-hop Hall of Fame. A singular presence on the mic, he helped make hip-hop a modern art form. “I was trying to make my name in the game, but I had no idea it would resonate with people the way it did,” he told me.
‘It’s very humbling’: Rakim reflects on being inducted into Berklee’s Hip-Hop Hall of Fame - The Boston Globe
The emcee, best known as one-half of Eric B. & Rakim, joins the ranks of past inductees like Roxanne Shanté and Edo.G this Thursday.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Spoke with Rakim as Berklee College of Music prepares to induct him into its hip-hop Hall of Fame. A singular presence on the mic, he helped make hip-hop a modern art form. “I was trying to make my name in the game, but I had no idea it would resonate with people the way it did,” he told me.
My Autopilot series returns with an appreciation of Arrested Development. One of those moments when you immediately knew you were looking at something special.
The quicksilver pacing of ‘Arrested Development’ created comedy gold - The Boston Globe
The Bluth family, introduced in speedy order, stands out for the distinctive reasons they're all a bit craven and bumbling.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:21 PM
My Autopilot series returns with an appreciation of Arrested Development. One of those moments when you immediately knew you were looking at something special.
In Pluribus, one woman’s rebellion against an alien positivity virus. It’s got promise, and deserves time to grow.
In Vince Gilligan’s ‘Pluribus,’ one woman fights the tyranny of happiness and conformity - The Boston Globe
Rhea Seehorn stars in a dark comedy about a misanthrope's right to be unhappy.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
In Pluribus, one woman’s rebellion against an alien positivity virus. It’s got promise, and deserves time to grow.
We got your Bad Santa. We got your Star Wars Holiday Special. And of course George Bailey. I regret never getting a drink at Nick’s Bar. In any case, here’s my holiday streaming guide.
From ‘Bad Santa’ to the amazingly bad ‘Star Wars Holiday Special,’ a feast of holiday streaming options - The Boston Globe
No matter your level of holiday spirit, you'll find something to watch.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
We got your Bad Santa. We got your Star Wars Holiday Special. And of course George Bailey. I regret never getting a drink at Nick’s Bar. In any case, here’s my holiday streaming guide.
Netflix’s Death by Lightning is about a great man (President James Garfield) killed by a delusional man obsessed with greatness (Charles Guiteau), and by some incompetent doctors. Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfayden are both excellent. It tells a good story in only four episodes. How bout that.
Netflix’s ‘Death by Lightning’ presents a story of assassination and a great historical could-have-been - The Boston Globe
Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, and some incredible 19th-century facial hair star in a series about the assassination of James Garfield.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Netflix’s Death by Lightning is about a great man (President James Garfield) killed by a delusional man obsessed with greatness (Charles Guiteau), and by some incompetent doctors. Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfayden are both excellent. It tells a good story in only four episodes. How bout that.
Not a big fan of Adam McKay’s “Vice.” But I love the scene where Christian Bale’s Cheney jujitsus Sam Rockwell’s Bush into the imperial vice presidency.
In ‘Vice,’ Christian Bale played Dick Cheney as a strategic, cagey power player - The Boston Globe
The film has its flaws, but it also has one nearly perfect scene.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Not a big fan of Adam McKay’s “Vice.” But I love the scene where Christian Bale’s Cheney jujitsus Sam Rockwell’s Bush into the imperial vice presidency.
I put together a very brief, by no means complete French New Wave watch list for those looking to go deeper after Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague.” Vive le cinema.
Beyond ‘Nouvelle Vague’: Five classic French New Wave films to stream - The Boston Globe
Get a crash course in Jean-Luc Godard and other filmmakers.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I put together a very brief, by no means complete French New Wave watch list for those looking to go deeper after Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague.” Vive le cinema.
Introducing HBO’s I Love LA, the TV comedy for the influencer age. It’s quite funny and self-aware. And it makes fine use of the Randy Newman song.
Living the influencer life (and making it very funny) in Rachel Sennott’s ‘I Love LA’ - The Boston Globe
The new HBO series turns a sharp eye on the lives of young people in LA.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Introducing HBO’s I Love LA, the TV comedy for the influencer age. It’s quite funny and self-aware. And it makes fine use of the Randy Newman song.
It’s Halloween, which means Linus is still waiting for JFK Jr., I mean the Great Pumpkin.
‘The Great Pumpkin’ as symbol of hope, delusion, and ... QAnon? - The Boston Globe
It's the 59th anniversary of "The Great Pumpkin," Charlie Brown.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:38 PM
It’s Halloween, which means Linus is still waiting for JFK Jr., I mean the Great Pumpkin.
Emma Thompson gives the second best performance in Down Cemetery Road. Which should tell you something about how good Ruth Wilson is. Apple TV has the latest from Mick Herron, the writer behind Slow Horses.
Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson are a dynamic duo in ‘Down Cemetery Road’ - The Boston Globe
The show, a twisty paranoid thriller, gives both actresses plenty of good material.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Emma Thompson gives the second best performance in Down Cemetery Road. Which should tell you something about how good Ruth Wilson is. Apple TV has the latest from Mick Herron, the writer behind Slow Horses.
Every now and then I will embark on a fool’s errand. Like ranking the top 10 network sitcoms of all time. And forgetting MASH. Man. Lotta MASH fans out there.
‘All in the Family’? ‘Seinfeld’? Ranking the top 10 network sitcoms of all time - The Boston Globe
The shows on TV critic Chris Vognar's list are strictly comedy (no dramedy), and strictly network (as they always said, it's not TV, it's HBO).
www.bostonglobe.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Every now and then I will embark on a fool’s errand. Like ranking the top 10 network sitcoms of all time. And forgetting MASH. Man. Lotta MASH fans out there.
We live in a golden age of sports documentary. I wrote about two new ones, Netflix’s Who Killed the Montreal Expos? (answer: it was a group effort); and Prime Video’s Allen Iv3rson (bad title, pretty good series). Practice?
The death of the Montreal Expos and the life of Allen Iverson join a golden age of sports documentary on TV - The Boston Globe
Between series and one-off films, intimate portraits and dynasty tributes, there’s always something to cheer for or hate-watch.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We live in a golden age of sports documentary. I wrote about two new ones, Netflix’s Who Killed the Montreal Expos? (answer: it was a group effort); and Prime Video’s Allen Iv3rson (bad title, pretty good series). Practice?
H.P. Lovecraft was a pretty screwed up individual. He’s also the most influential horror writer of the 20th century. For Halloween I wrote about his streamable TV presence, with special emphasis on Night Gallery and Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, plus Lovecraft Country.
H.P. Lovecraft, New England’s master of the macabre, is ready to stream this Halloween - The Boston Globe
Find adaptations from a few different masters of the uncanny.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
H.P. Lovecraft was a pretty screwed up individual. He’s also the most influential horror writer of the 20th century. For Halloween I wrote about his streamable TV presence, with special emphasis on Night Gallery and Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, plus Lovecraft Country.
You know it’s NBA season because Draymond Green is about to make a cameo as an anonymous patient on St. Denis Medical. His character was struck by lightning. Some NBA fans are probably good with that. Also I get to riff on The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island. Go Warriors.
NBA instigator Draymond Green checks into ‘St. Denis Medical’ - The Boston Globe
The Golden State Warriors forward plays a small role in the mockumentary's upcoming season premiere.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
You know it’s NBA season because Draymond Green is about to make a cameo as an anonymous patient on St. Denis Medical. His character was struck by lightning. Some NBA fans are probably good with that. Also I get to riff on The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island. Go Warriors.
I wrote about Bugonia and defended my favorite misanthrope, Yorgos Lanthimos.
Paranoia, conspiracy, and Emma Stone with a shaved head drive deadpan comedy in ‘Bugonia’ - The Boston Globe
The latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos won't dissuade people who think he's prone to misanthropy.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I wrote about Bugonia and defended my favorite misanthrope, Yorgos Lanthimos.