Random Weekend Thoughts From An Idiot

Vince McMahon, Mandy Patinkin and Pushing Pencils

I’ve sworn off Twitter for good. Too toxic, too addictive, too many bad choices.

But, look, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a bunch of dumbass thoughts racing around in my head. Of course I do! Don’t we all?

Years ago, you shared those half-formed inklings with your closest circle of friends. Everyone would laugh at your dumb-assery and move on. Today? You portion them out, incomplete as they are, to an audience that could theoretically include everyone in the world. In writing! Forever!

Occasionally, if your number comes up, and you face potentially life-altering consequences for a random musing you jotted off on the toilet at the end of a shitty workday. Doxing, potentially losing your job, harassment that can last weeks or longer—all as a consequence of a stray thought someone is likely willfully misconstruing because they need to feel something for a moment.

What’s not to love?

Anyway, some thoughts, directly from an idiot to you.

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When you watch WWE events, buy merchandise or attend a live show, Vince McMahon collects a large chunk of the money. He’s the largest individual shareholder in a mega-corporation, regardless of whether or not he’s personally deciding who’s going to win a wrestling match between Baron Corbin and big ole Otis. It’s less that he’s left the business and more that his embarrassed partners want to hide him from the world until the sweet release of death—or the next news cycle.

Miss me with your non-stop online condemnation of a guy you're continuing to support financially so you can watch Logan Paul or whoever do wrestling matches. It’s phony and it’s obnoxious. There’s one way to send a loud message to TKO and WWE brass—stop watching and stop buying. It’s the quickest way fans can institute sweeping, systemic change. You care about the victims, sure. Just not enough to put your money where your typing fingers are.

Investors don’t think you have the guts.

The stock price barely shifted in the wake of McMahon’s latest shocker and subsequent resignation. The smart money is betting all of this goes away and you go right back to cheering a 50-something Rock, muscles straining against his thinning skin as he makes pussy jokes for an audience filled with children, pushing the next generation of stars (themselves fast approaching 40) even further back in line.

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I’ve loved Mandy Patinkin for as long as I can remember. The Princess Bride is a perfect little book and the film adaptation is somehow even better. Patinkin, in particular, elevated the material in a really profound way. I think about Inigo Montoya and his long pursuit of revenge way more than I should.

“You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

A man of multitudes, he also moved the blood in Evita, teaming with Patti LuPone for one of the best musicals of the 80s and added a consistent beating heart to Homeland, a fantastic, already forgotten television show now on the wrong side of the political divide, no doubt an uncomfortable watch for Hollywood tastemakers.

People who know me in real life are also well aware of my proclivity for cozy mysteries. I’m an Agatha Christie enthusiast, both in book form and on television, particularly David Suchet’s magnificent portrayal of Hercule Poirot. The recent invasion of Christie homages on both page and screen and have been quite welcome. Ruth Ware, Knives Out, it’s been a joy to have mysteries in that style back in the culture.

As you might imagine then, the new Hulu series Death and Other Details (produced and created by Heidi Cole McAdams and Mike Weiss) is right in my wheelhouse. Not only is it essentially a locked-room mystery, it also has the glitz and old-timey glamour you’d expect from Downtown Abbey or Gilded Age.

The first two episodes of the show, starring Patinkin as a semi-disgraced, world-famous detective, were wonderful as expected. The show set up the premise, introduced the characters and began laying out the mystery and red herrings. It was really well done, with Patinkin lending his well earned gravitas to the light-hearted proceedings.

Things unfortunately, took a step back in the next two episodes. The show felt less focused, the story less sharp. It was still an enjoyable watch—but I have some doubt about their ability to see this through to a finish. I remain, as ever, optimistic.

Recommended

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Like many of you, I was saddened to learn of the death of Carl Weathers. The man has been a part of some of my favorite fictional worlds, bringing his unique charisma to memorable projects like the Rocky films and The Mandalorian. For years, members of my extended family would greet each other with a manly hand clasp, demanding to know whether or not they’d spent much time pushing pencils.

As much as I loved Apollo Creed, my favorite Weathers performance came against type in Arrested Development. There, Weathers played a version of himself, focused completely on getting bumped from flights, taking advantage of craft services and making sure he never once dipped into his per diem.

Hope he is getting a stew going in the next life. Rest in peace.

Jonathan Snowden is a long-time combat sports journalist. His books include Total MMA, Shooters and Shamrock: The World’s Most Dangerous Man. His work has appeared in USA Today, Bleacher Report, Fox Sports and The Ringer. Subscribe to this newsletter to keep up with his latest work.