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Mike Birbiglia’s ‘Good Life’ Special Isn’t Afraid of the Big Emotions

Maybe it’s serendipity that Mike Birbiglia and Sarah Silverman released their new Netflix specials just a week apart, considering that both devote so much comedy to elderly parents knocking on death’s door. In PostMortem, Silverman worries aloud that the topic is too heavy for stand-up, reflexively reaching for provocative punchlines whenever the feelings get too real. Birbiglia takes the opposite approach in his new special, The Good Life, leaning into the big emotions even when it means momentarily putting aside the laughs. 

A Real-Life ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Tried Cliff Clavin’s Losing Strategy

Legendary Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek sure made a lot of cameos in ‘80s and ‘90s TV shows, usually playing himself, and one time portraying a shadowy government agent who looks exactly like Alex Trebek. But arguably the greatest Jeopardy!-themed episode of television was Cheers’ “What Is… Cliff Clavin?”

It found the titular Boston watering hole’s resident know-it-all competing in the primetime game show. To his friends’ surprise, Cliff actually slays the competition, mostly thanks to a lineup of categories that are conspicuously right up his alley, including “Beer,” “Mothers and Sons,” “Bar Trivia” and “Celibacy.” 

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