Birding Is My Favorite Video Game★★★★★
Rosemary Mosco A fun collection of cartoons about nature (not just birds!) collected from Bird and Moon. Mostly funny, a few serious.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along BlogA campy take on the super-hero genre, from the point of view of a D-list villain trying to make it to the big leagues.
Ghostbusters★★★★★The jokes are still funny, the story still works, and even the effects hold up pretty well.
The Glass Mendacity
Ark Theater, 2010 This spoof of Tennessee Williams’ most famous plays is funny on its own, but even funnier if you know the source material.
Pebble and Wren★★★★★
Chris Hallbeck Hilarious and heartwarming tale of a girl and the monster who lives under her bed.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off★★★★★The cartoon is both wackier and more introspective than the source material. Sort of a mash-up of the movie and comics, sort of a reunion, sort of a remake, and sort of a What If.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Movie)★★★★☆It’s a fun mash-up of movie, comic book and video game sensibilities, though it does suffer from cramming six books into a single movie.
Space Oddity★★★★☆
Catherynne Valente Not quite as fun as the first book, but it’s just as absurd and chaotic, and exactly what I needed in the weeks leading up to the 2024 election.
Space Opera★★★★★
Catherynne Valente Fun sci-fi social satire from Catherynne Valente: The world is a mess, but we can find the sublime in chaos.
Star Trek: Lower Decks★★★★★Hilarious self-parody of TNG-era Star Trek. Funny on its own, but even better if you know the shows it’s riffing on.
Starter Villain★★★★☆
John Scalzi A fun, fast read, parodying the James Bond Villain archetype. With talking dolphins and typing cats.
Tune in Tomorrow★★★★☆
Randee Dawn A fun romp through backstage theater, mystery, soap opera, mythology, fandom and screwball comedy romance tropes. (whew!)
Xanadu (Stage Musical)★☆☆☆☆
Segerstrom Center, 2009 The stage musical of Xanadu is a silly, self-aware parody that revels in its camp. I really liked about 10% of it. The rest, not so much.
