That Still, Small Voice

Jan 8, 2024 | mousterpiece.substack.com | Josh Spiegel

Well, friends, it has been quite the packed holiday season, since last we spoke. First of all, I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable time with family, friends, or anyone else who may give you joy. (I don’t know that the third group wouldn’t encompass family or friends anyway, but you do you.) It has been a bumpy holiday season for me both personally and (semi-) professionally.

Dec 18, 2023 | mousterpiece.substack.com | Josh Spiegel

When you think of the phrase “Muppet movie,” what comes to mind? I don’t mean to refer here to the 1979 film The Muppet Movie. I mean the concept of a Muppet movie. What does that concept mean, in your head? You can feel free to tell me in the comments, but let me offer my own answer for now. A Muppet movie, to me, is an all-ages adventure/comedy that has more than enough gags that appeal a bit more to the older members of the family but still works for the younger ones.

Dec 14, 2023 | mousterpiece.substack.com | Josh Spiegel

Hey, folks. Like many other Substack publishers, I’m publishing this letter today for visibility from the founders of Substack to answer a very simple question about their disturbing willingness to monetize Nazis on the platform. If you’re a Substack publisher, too, I encourage you to publish the letter as well. Dear Chris, Hamish & Jairaj:We’re asking a very simple question that has somehow been made complicated: Why are you platforming and monetizing Nazis?

Dec 12, 2023 | mousterpiece.substack.com | Josh Spiegel

In some ways, I suppose it was an inevitability. When you place The Simpsons in a bracket of the best in any aspect of TV, it should not come as a surprise when the Fox animated sitcom holds its own against all comers. And even against the lovable losers in a basement bar in Boston…well, perhaps especially against such lovable losers, there was only so much tension. We began with 128 seeds in the Ultimate TV Comedies bracket, but today, we have one winner…Yes, that’s right, it’s The Simpsons.

Dec 11, 2023 | mousterpiece.substack.com | Josh Spiegel

The new Disney film Wish tells us that when it comes to the universe, we’re all shareholders, but when it comes to Disney itself, we cannot all be categorized into the same group. I have long thought that we can all be placed into four groups regarding the Walt Disney Company. In the first camp, we have the True Believers. These are the people who think that everything Disney does is perfect, that fairy tales are real, dreams always come true, etc. They adore Disney. Disney can do no wrong.