Jason Colavito
@jasoncolavito.bsky.social
Author, researcher. Pop culture, science, & history. Bylines in Esquire, The New Republic, CNN, Slate, etc. My new book, "Jimmy," about James Dean out now!
If canned cranberry sauce is not gelatinous enough four your Thanksgiving, be sure to check out Cranberry Souffle Salad, which turns canned cranberry sauce, pineapple, and mayonnaise into a gelatin ring.
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
If canned cranberry sauce is not gelatinous enough four your Thanksgiving, be sure to check out Cranberry Souffle Salad, which turns canned cranberry sauce, pineapple, and mayonnaise into a gelatin ring.
Watching the "Everybody Loves Raymond" reunion reminds me how much the Frank and Marie looked and sounded like my grandparents--and how vehemently my grandparents insisted at the time that they could see no resemblance and were insulted by the comparison when my father told them.
November 25, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Watching the "Everybody Loves Raymond" reunion reminds me how much the Frank and Marie looked and sounded like my grandparents--and how vehemently my grandparents insisted at the time that they could see no resemblance and were insulted by the comparison when my father told them.
"Instant Pizza." A grilled biscuit topped with tomato puree, salami, a pineapple ring, and stuffed olives.
November 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM
"Instant Pizza." A grilled biscuit topped with tomato puree, salami, a pineapple ring, and stuffed olives.
With Thanksgiving this week and Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time for "Frozen Jellied Turkey Vegetable Salad."
November 24, 2025 at 3:05 AM
With Thanksgiving this week and Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time for "Frozen Jellied Turkey Vegetable Salad."
The final episode of MGM's "Billy the Kid" encapsulated everything wrong with the show. Completely divorced from real history, and deeply in love with a fantasy version of Billy, it had the Kid triumph with his 21st century values and literally ride of happily into the sunset.
November 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The final episode of MGM's "Billy the Kid" encapsulated everything wrong with the show. Completely divorced from real history, and deeply in love with a fantasy version of Billy, it had the Kid triumph with his 21st century values and literally ride of happily into the sunset.
"Cottage Cheese and Kidney Bean Salad." A mix of cottage cheese, kidney beans, shredded cabbage, and French dressing. And yes, it is in gelatin.
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
"Cottage Cheese and Kidney Bean Salad." A mix of cottage cheese, kidney beans, shredded cabbage, and French dressing. And yes, it is in gelatin.
For the Trump Administration, "The Man in the High Castle" is aspirational.
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
For the Trump Administration, "The Man in the High Castle" is aspirational.
Today marks one year since "Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean" was published. I suppose it's something of a win that the new revelations reported in the book have been accepted to the point that they are now referred to as common knowledge that everyone already knew.
November 20, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Today marks one year since "Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean" was published. I suppose it's something of a win that the new revelations reported in the book have been accepted to the point that they are now referred to as common knowledge that everyone already knew.
Flank steak stuffed with carrots and hard-boiled eggs, 1969.
November 20, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Flank steak stuffed with carrots and hard-boiled eggs, 1969.
"Soup on the Rocks." Campbell's Soup used to recommend drinking chilled beef broth with ice cubes as "a great way to cool off." Recipe books from the 20th century say that warm beef broth was a popular drink at one time.
November 14, 2025 at 3:30 AM
"Soup on the Rocks." Campbell's Soup used to recommend drinking chilled beef broth with ice cubes as "a great way to cool off." Recipe books from the 20th century say that warm beef broth was a popular drink at one time.
"Charleston Shrimp Bake -- Meatless and Marvelous!" At center is plain elbow macaroni. The sauce surrounding the pasta is just an unreconstituted can of condensed tomato soup with powdered parmesan cheese, topped with shrimp.
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"Charleston Shrimp Bake -- Meatless and Marvelous!" At center is plain elbow macaroni. The sauce surrounding the pasta is just an unreconstituted can of condensed tomato soup with powdered parmesan cheese, topped with shrimp.
Two government officials have books out this week. These vanity projects almost never turn a profit, and it seems difficult to understand why publishers keep shoveling money into officials' wallets except to launder payoffs or buy influence.
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Two government officials have books out this week. These vanity projects almost never turn a profit, and it seems difficult to understand why publishers keep shoveling money into officials' wallets except to launder payoffs or buy influence.
"Brave New Breakfast by Betty Crocker"--Eggnog on Trix, 1957.
November 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
"Brave New Breakfast by Betty Crocker"--Eggnog on Trix, 1957.
Somehow this keeps coming to mind.
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Somehow this keeps coming to mind.
The Today Show claims to have found Noah's Ark. It just ran an NBC "exclusive" with Christian researcher Andrew Jones, who is promoting the Durupinar site, as he has for years. This time he's claiming to have found "tunnels" under the natural formation that he claims are the ship's "decks."
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The Today Show claims to have found Noah's Ark. It just ran an NBC "exclusive" with Christian researcher Andrew Jones, who is promoting the Durupinar site, as he has for years. This time he's claiming to have found "tunnels" under the natural formation that he claims are the ship's "decks."
In its previous episode, "Ancient Aliens" delivered an apology for the British Empire. This week, they celebrated Japan, saying space aliens have guided and controlled its history--implicitly endorsing its murderous, expansionist pre-WWII colonial regime. www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/review-...
November 7, 2025 at 7:48 PM
In its previous episode, "Ancient Aliens" delivered an apology for the British Empire. This week, they celebrated Japan, saying space aliens have guided and controlled its history--implicitly endorsing its murderous, expansionist pre-WWII colonial regime. www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/review-...
I finished "Death by Lightning." I liked it as a sort of fantasy Victorian "West Wing," but the producers tried so hard to make clear heroes and villains for a "Passion of St. James of Garfield" that they left too much out and distorted the real people too much.
November 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I finished "Death by Lightning." I liked it as a sort of fantasy Victorian "West Wing," but the producers tried so hard to make clear heroes and villains for a "Passion of St. James of Garfield" that they left too much out and distorted the real people too much.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of "Garfield's Halloween Adventure," a classic that traumatized many 1980s kids when the gentle comedy suddenly takes a turn into unexpected terror.
October 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Today marks the 40th anniversary of "Garfield's Halloween Adventure," a classic that traumatized many 1980s kids when the gentle comedy suddenly takes a turn into unexpected terror.
Completely not bothered at all.
October 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Completely not bothered at all.
Seventy years ago this week, "Rebel without a Cause" opened at the Astor Theater in Manhattan. Critics of the time interpreted the film as an argument for stricter parenting, praising the ending, which they misinterpreted as Jim and Judy's parents "finally" approving their union.
October 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Seventy years ago this week, "Rebel without a Cause" opened at the Astor Theater in Manhattan. Critics of the time interpreted the film as an argument for stricter parenting, praising the ending, which they misinterpreted as Jim and Judy's parents "finally" approving their union.
Review of Ancient Aliens S21E16: “Mysteries of the Norse Gods,” in which the show's writers seem to have misunderstood the Wikipedia pages they cribbed from. www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/review-...
October 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Review of Ancient Aliens S21E16: “Mysteries of the Norse Gods,” in which the show's writers seem to have misunderstood the Wikipedia pages they cribbed from. www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/review-...
After weeks of delays getting this out of customs, my copy of the Polish edition of my book arrived today. It looks great, with lime green accents and lime endpapers. It's longer than the US edition due to fewer lines per page, larger font, and added footnotes for Polish readers.
October 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
After weeks of delays getting this out of customs, my copy of the Polish edition of my book arrived today. It looks great, with lime green accents and lime endpapers. It's longer than the US edition due to fewer lines per page, larger font, and added footnotes for Polish readers.
"Frosted Lime-Walnut Salad." Aesthetically, this looks like it might have been good until you realize that the lime Jell-O is filled with celery and pimentos, and the frosting is mayonnaise.
October 20, 2025 at 12:25 AM
"Frosted Lime-Walnut Salad." Aesthetically, this looks like it might have been good until you realize that the lime Jell-O is filled with celery and pimentos, and the frosting is mayonnaise.
"Avocado Italiano" -- Elbow macaroni and avocadoes with radishes and carrots over lettuce. "Reflect on the glories of Rome," says the ad.
October 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"Avocado Italiano" -- Elbow macaroni and avocadoes with radishes and carrots over lettuce. "Reflect on the glories of Rome," says the ad.