Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 7: Poetic Justice
To survive this gameDon’t question Coach’s honorIt’s gonna cost you Well, that may not be entirely true, but I have to acknowledge and pay tribute to Benjamin “Coach” Wade’s series […]
Anthony Cusumano is a comedy writer, performer, and producer based in Chicago. In 2023, he launched The DnA Sketch Show, a recurring variety show, and in 2024 he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed musical Miracle at Century High School.
Review: Luis Carreon Captivates with Card Tricks in Intimo
The true marker of a successful magic show is not whether the audience speaks those five inevitable words—“How did they do that?”—but in the magician’s ability to captivate the crowd […]
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 6: Blood Moon Rising
It’s never a good sign when Jeff Probst promotes a Survivor episode with the threat of an unprecedented, game-altering twist. The core game of Survivor is so inherently compelling that […]
Review: Mike Doughty Rocks Garcia’s with Wit and Warmth
In 2024, after a 25-year hiatus, Soul Coughing, one of the wildest and weirdest bands of the ’90s, reformed for the “We Said it Would Never Happen” tour. Much like […]
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 5: I’ve Got a Blank Parchment, Baby, and I’ll Write Your Name
Last week, Survivor 50 was preempted by an installment of The Zac Brown Smile Time Flower Power Variety Hour–ok, not really, but the show dedicated a third of its airtime […]
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 4: Zac Brown Overstays His Welcome
When the Survivor 50 trailer dropped at the end of last year, fans were mostly thrilled to get a sneak peek at the milestone season. One element, however, was met […]
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 3: No Fury Like a Swiftie Scorned
When Survivor brings back returning players, it’s not uncommon for them to carry with them baggage from prior appearances. In the original All-Stars, Jerri Manthey was eager to get revenge […]
Interview: Fantasy Fuel Is a Dream Come True for Evann McIntosh
When Evann McIntosh moved to Chicago from Wichita in 2022, the singer-songwriter didn’t just change cities—they reinvented their artistry. “I moved out here initially in a group of other people […]
Review: Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy and Friends Tackle R.E.M. Classics at Metro
In the 21st century, it’s normally a matter of when, not if, a band that breaks up will reform. Some acts barely allow enough time to be missed when the […]
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 2: A Fifth Shot at a First Impression
They say you never get a second chance to make a great first impression. But how about a fifth? Though he’s long-beloved by much of the audience, Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth […]
Preview: The Onion Co-Founder Scott Dikkers Brings FunnyCon to Chicago
As a co-founder of the venerable satirical newspaper The Onion, Scott Dikkers is no stranger to launching comedy institutions. His latest endeavor is the biggest yet—the first annual FunnyCon, a […]
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 1: A Reheated Rivalry for the Ages
After a quarter-century on the air, the only thing more familiar than Survivor itself is the biannual assortment of articles promoting its latest season, lauding the show’s longevity and how […]