Mark McDermott
Journalist, Popular Culture Scholar
Mark McDermott is a writer, popular culture maven, and lover of good beer.
PROJECTS
ChicagoNow
Tales of Chicago Bars as Fischman's Announces Reopening | The ...
Tales of Chicago Bars as Fischman's Announces Reopening
ChicagoNow
Wanna buy Meister Bräu? You can! | The Beeronaut
This remains one of my most popular articles, thanks to people Googling to find out whatever happened to this Chicago brand beer.
groupon.com
Top Chicago Brewery and Tap Rooms | Groupon
First of a series, for Groupon's new Chicago Restaurant Guide, on the best breweries, brewpubs and beer bars in town.
Encyclopedia of Television
The Flip Wilson Show
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
The Flip Wilson Show was the first successful network variety series with an African-American star. In its first two seasons, its Nielsen ratings placed it as America's second most-watched show. Flip Wilson based his storytelling humor on his background in black clubs, but adapted easily to a television audience. The show's format dispensed with much of the clutter of previous variety programs and focused on the star and his guests.
My own collection of writing samples
CareerBuilder articles
PDF versions of articles in the Chicago Tribune CareerBuilder section.
ChicagoNow
Interview with Director Joe Swanberg of "Drinking Buddies"
This month, we have the debut of “Drinking Buddies,” an independent movie centered around people who work at a craft brewery. The movie, written and directed by Joe Swanberg, debuted online July 25
In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000: Essays on Film, Fandom, Technology and the Culture of Riffing
“Hamlet will return in Thunderball”: Historical Precedents of Riffing
The ability to superimpose critical or humorous comments on an existing performance seems to be a recent development made possible by modern technology. Certainly the casual observer of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 and its spin-offs would see a similarity to earlier TV entertainments like the old horror movies presented on local TV by acerbic hosts in campy horror settings. But it is possible to dig a bit deeper and find occasional comedic presentations that wouldn’t sound out of place being enacted by Joel or Mike, and the ‘Bots.
This chapter will attempt to define the elements of riffing that set it apart from other types of literary or dramatic lampoons. Then, some examples of performance that fall under this definition will be offered for consideration. Through examples from the years before recorded performance, I hope to be able to make it possible to bring up more obscure, but no less enlightening examples.
Encyclopedia of Television
Mark Goodman & Bill Todman
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
Mark Goodson and Bill Todman were among television's most successful producers of game shows. They refined celebrity panel quizzes with What's My Line and I've Got a Secret, and created games that lasted for years. Some, like The Price is Right, became even more popular in revived versions. Many of their shows have been adapted for production in television systems outside the United States.
Encyclopedia of Television
Spitting Image
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
The premiere of Spitting Image opened with a puppet caricature of Israel's prime minister Menachem Begin wearing a magician's outfit. With a flourish, he produced a dove of peace from his top hat, then announced, "For my first trick . . ."--and wrung its neck.
Encyclopedia of Television
Dick Ebersol
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
In his various executive positions Duncan Dickie Ebersol has contributed several innovations to the NBC television network. He shepherded Saturday Night Live onto the air, then returned as producer to "rescue" the show in the early 1980s.
Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise Fans, Merchandise, and Critics
The Menace of Fans to the Franchise
That The Phantom Menace (1999) disappointed Star Wars fans is a cultural commonplace. Yet the critical failure of the first prequel trilogy film has been belied by the movie’s actual box-office performance.…
How did the vocal Star Wars fans engage the issue of the apparent decline of their beloved franchise? Here I examine three forms of creative public expression that reflect their dissatisfactions. …
ChicagoNow
Walgreens Big Flats 1901 beer | The Beeronaut
No holds are barred in my review of the new cheap beer available at Walgreens... Read more »
ChicagoNow
Big Shoulders Debuts with Hopapalooza IPA | The Beeronaut
I took yet another little stroll out to the Beer Bistro after work on June 6. My last visit there was last August, to be among the first to try the new Hopothesis IPA. And once again I’m headed there to meet the brewer of a new beer, making its world-wide debut. Big Shoulders has... Read more »
ChicagoNow
Baderbräu Returns – Again | The Beeronaut - ChicagoNow
Last July this column marked the return of Baderbräu, the beer which, along with Goose island and the Weinkeller, launched the Chicago craft beer scene in 1988. The following year it became the first Chicago craft beer to be bottled for retail. Robert Sama, a fan of the Czech-style Pilsener, bought the brand when he... Read more »
ChicagoNow
Local Beer Makers at the FoBAB Documentary Party - ChicagoNow
I was having so much fun sampling at talking beer last Saturday, that it's only now that I realized I had been to my first film premiere. A fourth floor loft studio on North Racine was packed full for the debut of "FOBAB," a documentary shot at Chicago's tenth annual Festival of Barrel Aged Beer. It was a short film, to be sure, and the producers did not discuss what would happen to it next, but the crowd was very appreciative, cheering on-screen appearances of John Laffler (ex-of Goose Island's Barrel program, now a partner in the forthcoming Off Color Brewing), Randy Mosher (5 Rabbit) and Pete Crowley (Haymarket Pub & Brewing), among the many "Kahunae" of barrel-aged beers...