feb. 1

Links we love today: Joan Rivers gets high, bulletproof skin, Why We Broke Upand more

Assistant Editor Samantha Pitchel reads everything so you don’t have to.

Here are the links we loved today:

Happy 30th anniversary, Letterman! Celebrate by checking out Huffington Post Comedy's incredibly thorough video tribute to the iconic talk show host.

This week’s episode of Who Charted? features guest Jason Mantzoukas.

Classy CNN commentator reporting on Occupy DC tells viewers: “Watching a hippie protestor get tased just makes my day.”

Joan Rivers gets stoned on camera for her new reality show; A very special Superbowl message from The Real Housewives of South Boston.

Bryan Cranston will guest direct an episode of Modern Family; Get a sneak peek at The Simpson’s 500^th episode.

Los Campesinos perform live on The Current.

Barnes & Noble, indies refuse to stock books published by Amazon.

Movies banned in foreign countries for weird reasons.

Bulletproof skin exists, is amazing / terrifying.

The Daily profiles RuPaul:

“Even my celebrity is a critique on celebrity. It’s a wink-wink,” he said. “I realize in studying our society and culture that it’s hypocritical and not really real. I think that has always been the role of a drag queen: To remind the culture that it is not to be taken seriously and that you are not who you think you are, per the description on your driver’s license.”

Baratunde Thurston explains “How to Be Black” on today’s Fresh Air.

The Frisky calls Caitlin Flanagan "the Lifetime Original Movie of New Yorker writers" in this review of the controversial writer's recent pieces.

Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) takes to the streets to ask people, “Why did you break up?” He's promoting his new novel, Why We Broke Up, and the Why We Broke Up project, which asks readers to submit their own stories online:

Beautiful compilation of overhead shots of hands in Wes Anderson films:

Brain-dead teen, only capable of rolling eyes and texting, to be euthanized, reports The Onion:

Aubrey Plaza gets super creepy in this new video for Father John Misty:

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Reexamining Don Draper

Jon Hamm, Henry Winkler, and more headed to Austin for TV festival

Getty Images

Jon Hamm is coming to Austin to talk about Don Draper.

From May 29 to June 1, 2025, the ATX TV Festival will take over downtown Austin, and this year Jon Hamm will be joining the festival for the first time.

Hamm will be here for an event called A Mad Men Retrospective, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show's finale. In this panel (the moderator of which is not yet announced), Hamm will reflect on his Emmy-winning performance as Mad Men's Don Draper, the uniqueness of the character in the TV canon, and the show's influence 10 years after it ended.

Jon Hamm may be best known as Draper, but he's also given celebrated performances in several movies and other shows like Fargo, Black Mirror, and — fun fact! — Gilmore Girls.

Celebrating TV is what the ATX TV Festival is all about. This annual summer event is put on by ATX TV and consists of screenings, Q&As, and panel conversations; plus all sorts of parties, live music, happy hours, and other events. It's known for reunions of classic series and cult hits, and according to the website, it's like "TV camp for grownups."

Jon Hamm isn't the only heavy-hitter in this year's lineup.

Programming also includes an acting class and Q&A with Henry Winkler himself, a live script reading of classic episodes from The Golden Girls and Designing Women (guest actors to be announced), a reunion of the creatives and cast of the HBO hit series The Leftovers, a live recording of the podcast Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast with Suits stars and co-hosts Sarah Rafferty and Patrick J. Adams, and much more.

Additionally, the festival's annual Pitch Competition is still accepting open pitch submissions through January 17. This gives creatives in Austin a chance to pitch their show idea in front of some of the industry's biggest showrunners and executives. Those in the top 10 will receive a year of support to make the next steps in their TV careers.

Festival badges and passes ($150-535) are on sale now.

celebrities tv festivals