Rest in Peace, Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou passed away today. Seems like a good time to re-read, Why the Caged Bird Sings. The Hairpin has a lot of links to her other work, and also the end of her memorable inaugural poem for Bill Clinton.

And a delightful comedic tribute to her from Maya Rudolph on SNL:

Read 'Light is Like Water" a Short by the Late Gabriel García Márquez

Anyone who's taken Latin America literature (or hopefully just literature at all) has read some of Gabriel García Márquez's work. 100 Years of Solitude is still one of my favorite books. But if you aren't familiar or want to read something short to remind yourself of what a great author he was, you can read his short story, "Light is Like Water" here. You can also read some thoughts on his passing here and a proper obituary here.

Actor Paul Walker Has Passed Away

At age 40, actor Paul Walker (most well known for his Fast and Furious series), died in a car crash while attending a charity event north of Los Angeles today. A friend of his, driving the car, also perished. Walker was known for using his fame and fortune to help causes he cared deeply about, especially shark conservation. /Film wrote about the accident and a little about Walker himself, and included a statement from his representation. Variety has a full obituary. It's horrible when anyone so young passes away. He will be missed. My thoughts go out to his friends and family during this terrible time.

Tribute to Kumar Pallana

A favorite scene-stealer in Wes Anderson's films, Kumar Pallana passed away last month at the age of 94. Below is a tribute to him courtesy of Dallas Morning News, assembled and broadcast at a screening of Bottle Rocket and book signing for the recently released The Wes Anderson Collection. It's a loving tribute to a great actor and a greater person.

'Bunheads' Goodbye Dance

This summer I've watched a lot of So You Think You Can Dance because it is one of the few reality shows where I feel like I actually learn something watching it and it's culturally enriching (where do you see contemporary dance routines on a regular basis? Or fox trots? Or Venetian waltzes?). So when Amy Sherman-Palladino released this goodbye dance for Bunheads it reminded me that that was also a show with good dance (and some really fun characters!), and I'm sad that it's not coming back.



[via Videogum]

It's Always 'Muppets Tonight' in Heaven Now

/Film has a lovely write-up about Jane Henson, Sam and Friends co-creator and puppeteer, longtime collaborator on the Muppets, wife of Jim Henson, and mother to their five children, including current Jim Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson and avant-garde puppeteer and director Brian Henson. She passed away on April 2nd. She was 78.

Heaven: Two Thumbs Up?

Roger Ebert passed away today at age 70.

Here is his obituary.

Want to go see a movie this weekend?

Working on my night cheese alone from now on.

The last episode of 30 Rock aired. It was very satisfying and feelings-inducing and a nice meditation on goodbyes: how painful they are, how they make people act, and how badly we need as much resolution as possible, we being both the audience and the creators. Could the last week's episode have been the series finale? Yes, and it would have been perfect, but it might not have been completely honest. This week was about honesty: how much the show has meant to the people who work there, how much it has meant to its (admittedly tiny for broadcast) audience, and how much we will miss it when's it's gone, even if it got really weird and loopy at times. It was by far one of the most self-referential, self-critical, and super meta series finales I've ever seen, which couldn't be more fitting to a show that fits all of those descriptors at once. I was also happy to get a chance to see the whole cast, staff, and crew say their own goodbye using the classic SNL wave-off. Did you catch the woman with the "Wrap Gift" trucker hat in the back? I have a sneaking suspicion it was Judah Friedlander's, well, wrap gift. I especially loved that it was the same color as his final trucker hat.

My fiance and I paused the episode at the beginning to read Kenneth's list of things not to do on TV shows and thought it was funny how true it was to 30 Rock, the obvious joke. There was one thing on the list that seemed like a throwaway, though, the last one: "No immortal characters". During the "One Year Later" epilogue, when everything got increasingly "In a perfect world-y" I realized that not only was the list referencing 30 Rock as a whole, it was also encompassing this episode, capping off the list with an immortal Kenneth agreeing to produce 30 Rock based Liz's stories as told to her great-granddaughter, complete with flying cars zipping in the backdrop behind Kenneth's head.

While last week's episode was an artfully crafted (the Willy Wonka plot and the reveal of Liz's adopted twins especially), expertly written episode, this week's finale was a messy, mushy, sentimental send-off, providing just the amount of cathartic release for everyone who has traveled on this seven-year journey with Liz, Tracy, Jack, Kenneth, Jenna, Grizz, Dot Com, and everyone on 30 Rock. It wasn't perfect. Instead, it was just right.

Some highlights and noticing's:

• Did anyone else notice how janky the green-screened Conan-Lemon scene (come on, Conan, you couldn't fly in for one thirty-second scene? Geez!)? 
• Pete faking his own death, and explaining not at all subtly how great he was at faking his own death
• Cupcake sandwiches!!! I forgot that was a thing - the best of things! And how nice of everyone to wait for Liz to come back out of her office before eating (I know, I know, it was for the joke, but I still felt bad for all that cake! Less bad for the sushi because blerg!).
• I'd totally watch Grizz & Herz! And not just because I love dogs as co-stars (yes, I've seen half of a few episodes of Dog with a Blog and one of those half-episodes actually had a really great joke in it!). Also, someone really should give Grizz his own TV show. Everyone from The Office is getting an NBC development deal, why not 30 Rock?
• While the Blimpie's plotline gave Lutz a funny send-off, of course their last lunch should have come from the teamster's secret Italian sandwich shop. I would have also settled for Cheesy Blasters or Sabor de Soledad chips.
• Loved how Kenneth proved he would be able to NBC to glory by knowing exactly what would make Jenna feel real sadness (the loss of her mirror).
• Liz's chats with the moms (and Criss) on the parenting forums were priceless
• While I loved Jenna's callback to The Rural Juror, couldn't we have gotten a super sad, super spooky-scary rendition of Werewolf Bar Mitzvah instead? 
• Liz and Jack love each other in, as it should be, a completely and intensely-clearly-stated platonic way.

But my favorite part? How sweet and true it was for Tracy, who has truly been abandoned, to not want to have to say goodbye ("Is this the way white women say 'I'm going out for cigarettes?'"). I don't want to let go, either, Tracy, but if we have to, you did a great job. I love you, too.

We Went To There.

I'm going to miss you so much, 30 Rock!! (fitting that I went to breakfast at the real 30 Rock today!)



It looks like the embodiment of all that is 30 Rock, Tina Fey, will miss us, too.

[via HuffPo TV]

Eyes on the Stars: A Story Corps' Short

Story Corps' latest animated short is about Ronald E. McNair, a physicist and astronaut who was the second African American to fly in space. Tragically, he passed away during the 1986 Challenger mission at age thirty-five. His brother Carl remembers him in this short, "Eyes on the Stars"



Story Corps, you always make me cry! And yet I'm so much better for having listened...

[via Neatorama]

TCM Remembers: 2012

Really moving tribute from TCM on many of the people who worked in film and passed away this year. Don't miss Andrew Sarris and Nora Ephron, two of my favorites:



[via GITS]

Nora Ephron

As you all know, Nora Ephron passed away this week at age 71, leaving a great hole in the hearts of those who love beautifully written romantic comedies, essays, and memoirs. A lot of people wrote a lot of things about her that are much more thorough and astute than I can, so here are some of my favorite thoughts of the life of this amazing woman:

Remembering Nora Ephron, and How Her Essays Made Her Movies Better, Alyssa Rosenberg, ThinkProgress

In Memoriam: Nora Ephron (1941 - 2012), Scott Myers, GITS (full of great videos and interviews)

RIP, Nora Ephron (or: Nora Ephron is gone, and she was perfect), Nicole Cliffe, The Hairpin

For myself, I can only say that "When Harry Met Sally" is an absolutely perfect romantic comedy and one of my favorite movies of all time. Every time I watch it, I notice some new detail, some new callback, some new character beat that teaches me how intricate and layered a great movie needs to be. It also proves that not all New York comedy needs to be cynical even if they incorporate drama and well-drawn characters. Optimism, if cautious and earned, can be just as intelligent and rewarding a choice. And, of course, she was one of the first film writers I heard of who was a woman and, better yet, who wrote comedies. She set an amazing example and lived an amazing life. I never knew her, but I will miss her stories.

Maurice Sendak: Chicken Soup with Rest

Acclaimed author and all-around incredible person, Maurice Sendak, passed away at age 83 today. I can only assume that he's In the Night Kitchen now, dreaming and going on adventures with his dog Jennie and all his other friends who passed away before him. What a happy reunion they're having today.

Numerous blogs have covered his death with videos and tributes and quotes. Here are the links to the ones that have helped me remember this humble truth-teller today:

Maurice Sendak, Author of Splendid Nightmares, Dies at 83, NY Times

Bill Moyers: My Time with Maurice Sendak, HuffPo

Wild Things: Drawings, Quotes, and Memories from Maurice Sendak, Gawker

Remembering Maurice Sendak, ThinkProgress

'Where the Wild Things Are' Author Maurice Sendak Has Died at 83, /Film

Safe journey, Maurice. I hope there is a hot bowl of soup waiting for you when you arrive.

In Memoriam, and Life: George E. Schreiner

George E. Schreiner was a pioneer in the field of nephrology and helped found the National Kidney Foundation (among other nephrology associations). He spearheaded the incredible legislation (signed by non other than President Nixon) that ensured Medicare coverage for all ESRD patients and kidney transplant recipients, regardless of their ability to pay. This legislation has helped save and extend innumerable lives. We all owe Dr. Schreiner a great debt.

During his term as President of the NKF, one of the greatest struggles in organ donation was overcome: the Uniform Donor Card became recognized as a legal document for the donation of organs for transplantation after death. Amazing.

He passed away on April 12, 2012 at the age of 89. You can read more about the life that he gave us here.

How fitting then, that this months is Donate Life month, when those still living are encouraged to sign up to be an organ donor when they pass away. Lean more about helping give others the gift of life at DonateLife.net. You can help them reach their goal of registering 20 million new organ donors in 2012.

Also, this.

We'll Miss You, Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs passed away this evening after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. He was a young man who worked hard and accomplished much. His will to live was stronger than most, but even someone with immense will, talent, drive, and fortune cannot best death forever, even when it strikes too young.

Despite issues I've had with the Apple company, Steve Jobs was a man whose achievements are immeasurable, beyond innovations in computers, phones, and the way that we interact with the world, he also helped create and fund Pixar, one of the most important cultural icons of our time. He was both a profoundly scientific and creative man, a rare combination. I wish he had gotten a chance to show us more of what was in that brilliant mind of his.

He also understood the importance of giving back to the community. After his liver transplant three years ago (around the same time I had my kidney transplant), Steve fought hard to improve access to transplants among all patients in California and across the country. He knew that, as a wealthy man with the ability to move across states easily, he could register in a state where he would have better access to a transplant. He also knew that was unfair to others. Instead of simply being grateful for his good fortune, he decided to give back by asking for policy changes that would increase access to transplants for all patients, not just those wealthy and well enough to travel.

If you'd like to read more, Gawker has a round-up of heartfelt thoughts and reactions to Steve Jobs' passing.

We'll miss you, Steve. You (and I'm sure you knew this) will not be forgotten. I hope you are resting peacefully now. You deserve it.