Tequila Everyone?

Posted on by Team Penthouse

Big Shots (and Their Tequila)

Dozens of spirited celebs have taken the leap into the liquor market since George Clooney and Rande Gerber sold their famed Casamigos tequila to the spirits company Diageo for a reported $1 billion. Here, Penthouse takes a look at notable booze brands launched by some of the biggest names in showbiz and sports. So belly up to the bar, and learn more about these top-shelf celebs.

KENDALL JENNER

The 25-year-old model and star of the recently wrapped Keeping Up with the Kardashians named her 818 tequila after the area code of her native L.A. Judges at the World Tequila Awards say 818’s reposado has “an earthy nose which hints at pecan pie, sweet potato and caramel.” But booze isn’t her only venture. With her makeup mogul sister, Kylie Jenner, the couture queen launched the Kendall + Kylie fashion line. She also broke into the beauty industry with the oral hygiene line Moon. And the entire Kardashian clan is gearing up for a new reality show on streaming service Hulu.

DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON

The former wrestler turned action movie hero owns Teremana tequila with co-founders Dany Garcia, Jenna Fagnan and Ken Austin. The brand’s reposado and blanco have been praised for their citrus-tinged flavor and oaky nuances, and the Ballers actor, 49, has frequently featured the liquor on his popular Instagram account. The savvy businessman has also partnered with apparel manufacturer Under Armour to release the Project Rock collection, which includes training shoes, hats, bags and clothes for men and women. He’s also launched Athleticon, a competitive bodybuilding show in the vein of Mr. Olympia.

RITA ORA

The “Let You Love Me” songbird, 30, says she collaborated with a female master distiller on Próspero’s blanco, reposado and añejo varieties with hopes to “push boundaries” in a largely male-dominated segment of the industry. Upon its 2020 release, she explained, “I do feel like this project really comes from the heart.” The British performer has also branched out into acting and modeling. She’s been the face of Italian sneaker brand Superga and has a designer collaboration with Adidas. She’s also co-designed a capsule shoe collection with Italian footwear legend Giuseppe Zanotti.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

The 40-year-old recording artist — and star of the flick Palmer — brought the “SexyBack” to the alcohol market in 2013 with business partner Kevin Ruder via their award-winning 901 tequila, which has since been renamed Sauza 901. Its reposado is said to feature hints of vanilla, while the añejo boasts notes of pepper, coffee, nuts and roasted oak. The former NSYNC boy bander has sold more than 32 million albums as a solo artist. But he’s also been involved in the restaurant biz and launched the William Rast clothing line with pal Juan “Trace” Ayala and the collaborative collection Fresh Leaves with Levi’s.

SAMMY HAGAR & ADAM LEVINE

The “I Can’t Drive 55” rocker, 73, and the Maroon 5 frontman, 42, collaborated on what they call the world’s first tequila-mezcal hybrid in 2017 — 11 years after the former Van Halen singer founded Cabo Wabo tequila and seven years after he sold his stake in CW to the Campari Group for $11 million. Sammy has owned nightclubs in Mexico, Lake Tahoe, Fresno and Las Vegas, and in 2011, he launched Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum. Adam created the First Act 222 guitar, which was built to his specs and sold in Target, and also launched his own fashion line, 222.

MICHAEL JORDAN

The 58-year-old Chicago Bulls veteran and six-time NBA champ — along with four co-founders — created Cincoro tequila, its name being a portmanteau of the Spanish words for “five” and “gold.” You’ll need deep pockets for its ultra-premium extra añejo, which clocks in at nearly $1,600 — but other varieties come with more reasonable price tags, hovering near the $100 mark. Of course, money is no object for Jordan, who’s worth a reported $1.6 billion. The retired jock is principal owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and co-owner of NASCAR’s 23XI Racing, which fields driver Bubba Wallace. Jordan’s got numerous endorsement and business feathers in his cap, including his hugely popular Air Jordan sneakers with Nike.

CARLOS SANTANA

The legendary guitarist, 73, actually hails from Jalisco, Mexico, the famed home of tequila, giving him a greater connection to the spirit than most celebrities. Casa Noble has been produced since the 1700s, but Santana, along with business partners, bought a stake in the brand in 2011. The iconic axman has also used his musical knowledge and expertise to design several Gibson and PRS Guitars. In 2019, Santana launched the Carlos Santana Coffee Company, and a year later, he announced a partnership with Left Coast Ventures, a cannabis and hemp business headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., which saw the creation of cannabis brand Mirayo.

AC/DC

Thunderstruck is more than one of the Australian rock bands biggest hits — it’s also the name of their successful tequila line. The brand’s earthy silver variety is said to feature a buttery taste with a semi-dry fade and a smooth finish, while its reposado is a robust beverage with a warm, golden hue. The tequila followed the 2012 debut of the band’s Thunderstruck wine. They’ve also got their own Rock or Bust German premium lager, AC/DC beer and the energy drink High Voltage. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the legendary rockers, who’ve also had their own branded headphones, Converse Chuck Taylors and a Monopoly board game.

TOBY KEITH

The 59-year-old country superstar’s Wild Shot mezcal sets itself apart from the pack by being made with 100 percent green agave — instead of tequila’s typical Blue Weber agave — and by featuring a worm in the bottle. According to Keith, “It’s not there for the looks. It is there to be eaten.” The singer also owns the popular Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill restaurant chain, which is named after one of his hit tunes, and established the clothing line TK Steelman, among other business ventures. With an estimated net worth of $365 million, he’s been dubbed the Cowboy Capitalist.

CHRIS NOTH

Sex and the City’s Mr. Big is the face of Ambhar tequila, as well as the brand’s creative director and majority shareholder. Noth, 66, once bragged his booze was “better,” “richer and more complex” than Casamigos, but he generously added, “There’s room in the market for both.”  The accomplished actor, who’s reprising his iconic role in the Sex and the City HBO Max reboot, is also a big name in NYC nightlife. He’s been a co-owner of The Cutting Room with Steve Walter since its founding in 1999, and with co-investors David Wells and Damon Dash, he was an owner of The Plumm, which closed in 2009.

POST MALONE

This year has brought plenty of new music, including the song “Tequila Shots” from G-Eazy and Post Malone. Although the tattooed “Circles” singer doesn’t have his own brand of tequila, in 2018 he was presented with a custom bottle of Avión Reserva 44 — which was engraved with an image of his famous face. However, you may be surprised to learn that Malone is behind Maison No. 9 wine, an homage to rosé. The vino’s name is said to be inspired by the artist’s favorite tarot card — the Nine of Swords — and is priced at a very affordable $22.

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY 

The Lone Star State’s favorite bongo-playing son, Matthew McConaughey, joined forces with Kentucky bourbon distillery Wild Turkey to launch Longbranch. The small batch, eight-year-old bourbon boasts flavors of caramel, pear and hints of citrus with notes of pepper and toasted oak. But bourbon isn’t McConaughey’s only passion. The 51-year-old Oscar winner is also a minority owner in Major League Soccer’s Austin FC. Calling the sport a “great uniter,” the actor says he’s focusing on establishing a “legacy” that utilizes Austin’s culture to help the franchise’s “roots grow deeper, not just wider.”

Alright, alright, alright. (Sorry. Had to be done.) … Seriously, though, we were impressed that the star shunned the typical tequila branch in favor of some good ol’ American bourbon. It even has its own web site which you can check out — presuming you can remember your birthday or at least be able to subtract 21 from 2021. If you cannot, you likely should not be here anyway. You’re gonna be confused.

Sustainable in Style

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Penthouse Highlife — Fall 2021

Sustainable Footwear

Some will call it sacrilege. We just call it good taste.

For far too long the rubber flip-flop has been an overused staple of a regular man’s summer wardrobe.  But with time comes connotations, and one can’t help but associate this floppy piece of footwear with lazy days at home and beer-guzzling guys in sports bars rather than a stylish ensemble.

Now is the time to invest in something a little more considered; something that will keep the wind running through your toes without sacrificing on style.  In layman’s terms—it’s time to get yourself a pair of sandals.  The sandal market has really come into its own in recent years, managing to brush off years of stereotypes associated with bearded ’70s hippies and Silicon Valley CEOs.

The main reasons for this are bigger demands for comfort, longevity and something that can be worn with anything other than a pair of shorts and a vest or T-shirt.  Some of the biggest names in the business are throwing out superb designs made from the finest leathers, with soles that can withstand anything from a day sauntering around at home, to a soiree at the beach or a step about town.  They quite literally go with anything in your wardrobe, from shirts and cardigans, to roomy slacks and jeans.

As many of us turn to more ethically made sustainable clothing, this little investment could be one of the best and most comfortable you make this summer, while ridding the world once and for all of uncomfortable, easily broken rubber flip-flops. And if your friends disapprove? Well maybe they should not really be your friends. We’re just saying to consider that.

Sustainable Automobiles

Electric Car Sustainability

Welcome the electric king.

With the arrival of Cadillac’s Lyriq, a  great new era has begun. The production debut of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq culminates a century of innovation. Testing of Cadillac’s inaugural luxury SUV has been running ahead of schedule, and customers can place order reservations from September 2021. Estimates now project initial availability starting in the first half of 2022.

“Throughout the next decade, Cadillac will define the future of luxury transportation through a series of exciting new electric vehicles, and it all begins with Lyriq,” said Rory Harvey, vice president, Global Cadillac.”

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq’s stunning design and artfully integrated technology combined with GM’s Ultium platform will deliver a high-performance luxury experience unlike anything that has come before it, setting a new standard for Cadillac.”

Lyriq will be available with both premier technologies and stirring performance capabilities enabled by the vehicle’s dedicated electric architecture. Complete with a 12-module, 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack and rear-wheel drive, Ultium platform will deliver an estimated 340 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque—and a Cadillac-estimated over 300 miles of range with a full charge.

“Thanks to the modular and highly flexible Ultium platform that powers Lyriq along with advanced virtual development tools, Cadillac has been able to accelerate development and put more real-world miles on prototypes sooner than expected,” said Jamie Brewer, Lyriq chief engineer. “It’s exciting to see our objectives realized on the road—and it means we are on track to bring this pioneering electric luxury vehicle to customers nine months earlier than originally planned.”

Lyriq will feature next-gen variable Regen on Demand technology, along with the convenience of One-Pedal Driving. Regen on Demand enables drivers to control how quickly Lyriq slows down, or comes to a complete stop, using a pressure-sensitive paddle located directly on the steering wheel.

Additional Specs

  • Optional Super Cruise, the industry’s first true hands-free driver-assistance technology for compatible roads
  • 33-inch-diagonal advanced LED display
  • Active Noise Cancellation system
  • Slim-line LED headlamps with choreographed lighting sequence
  • AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system with headrest speakers
  • KeyPass digital vehicle access
  • Dual level charge cord
  • Standard 20-inch split, six-spoke alloy wheels or optional 22-inch dynamic split-spoke reverse rim alloy wheels

Fit for a King

The interior presents clean and simple with a focus on secondary and tertiary design elements, including intricate laser-etched patterns through wood over metal decor, which has never been done before. The large, curved LED screen is the centerpiece. All of the components are incorporated artfully, blurring the lines of separation between technology, lighting and decor.

Sustainable Celebrations

Sustainability in Beverages

Technically all beverages themselves could qualify as sustainable, as they do tend to come from plants. That said, the process of making them could pose a carbon footprint problem. Also, and we should be honest here: Not all beverages are created equal.

Mezcal 101

In the most simple terms, the difference between tequila and mezcal is how it is cooked. Tequila is produced by steaming agave inside industrial ovens before it’s distilled two or three times in copper pots. Mezcal’s agave is cooked inside earthen pits that are lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before being distilled in clay pots.

Tequila tends to have a smooth, sweet flavor, and mezcal is often described as savory and smoky. The smoky quality comes from the underground cooking process.

MANHATTAN

  • 2 oz. Doña Vega Espadín Mezcal
  • 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
  • 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a shaker and add plenty of ice. Stir for 15 rotations. Strain into your selected glass. Can be served straight up or on the rocks. Garnish with a charred orange peel, maraschino cherry or a brandied cherry.

OAXACA OLD FASHIONED

  • 2 oz. Mezcal
  • .25 oz. Simple Syrup
  • 2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions: Stir together all ingredients in a rocks glass with a large ice cube until well chilled.

SMOKY CASA MARGARITA

  • 2 oz. Casamigos Mezcal
  • 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
  • .75 oz. Agave Nectar
  • 2 dashes Orange Bitters

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a tin shaker. Add ice. Shake well. Strain into a rocks glass. Add fresh ice. Garnish with a charred orange peel.

Don’t get us wrong, we love classic tequila cocktails, but when we fire up a cigar, we sometimes find ourselves itching for tequila’s smokier cousin, mezcal. When the sun is setting on another scorching day, rather than reaching for a whiskey nip to pair with a fat Cuban, try those bold, spirits-forward takes on the traditional Manhattan, old-fashioned Oaxaca and classic margarita with a twist.

Remember, it never hurts to slip on some sustainable comfort that not only lets your toes breathe, but also lasts for years and years. Jump in your environment-friendly technical marvel of a car, and head out to escape for the weekend at your local commune with nature destination. Then experiment with some new favorite ways to add some mezcal to your cocktail rotation. You’d best plan on staying overnight as you apply these new mixology experiments, however. Serious science takes serious effort, so put your keys in a safe place away from you as you contemplate what else you all might do to further sustainability efforts in your own little piece of the world.

Automobile manufactures make it easy to research things like the Cadillac Lyriq, but we can give you a head start on awesome sandals and truly fine mezcal. We do try to be friendly like that around here.

Sustain On, Our Friends!

Currency Apocalypse

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Currency: Impending Economic Apocalypse

[Before beginning, we should note that the views reflected in this editorial reflect ONLY those of the author, and not Penthouse as an organization. Characterization of “Crackpot Ideas” only exists from extremely subjective interpretation. Sadly, middle ground has all but disappeared these days in the US vs. THEM chaos we keep electing to Governments around the world. Just bear that in mind as you evaluate the (actually interesting) theory presented. -Ed.] Continue reading “Currency Apocalypse”

VA Care

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Don’t Believe Everything You’ve Heard About VA Care

For the last decade or so, a few times a year I’ve hopped on the R train and headed south, south, south. Past the hipster villages of North Brooklyn, past big, sprawling Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery, even past the Little Hong Kong that’s built up in recent times. My destination’s been off the very last stop, 95th Street, in the neighborhood of Bay Ridge, a part of Brooklyn that’s not a tourist destination or a human zoo. It’s a conservative enclave in deep-blue New York, featuring a smattering of pizza parlors and Irish pubs nestled around residential streets, and it’s where the Brooklyn VA Medical Center resides. Continue reading “VA Care”

Sex Satire

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Sex & Satire in the Soviet

Alexandr Grigorev is a Russian artist, architect and designer creating metamodern expressionist fine art illustrations and paintings with a postmodern pulse-raising erotic edge. Penthouse spoke with Grigorev about the Soviet-era magazine that inspired his style, how social media hinders artists, and the power of provocative (Sex Satire) art. Continue reading “Sex Satire”

NFTs are AOK PDQ

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WTF are NFTs?

Building upon the successes and widespread acceptance of Bitcoin and Ethereum, NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are one-of-a-kind crypto assets that assign ownership to unique works of art. First designed as “Colored Coins,” these assets were worth small fractions of Bitcoin and painted with distinct information, setting them apart from regular transactions. Continue reading “NFTs are AOK PDQ”

Elvira and Her Naughty Knights

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But first, a word from our sponsor.

Now onto the evening’s feature entertainment.

The Top 5 Reasons Penthouse Loves Elvira: Mistress of the Dark

Elvira by AndrogynArtTruth be told, should you finally decide to write your autobiography at seventy years old, and you happen to have been hit in the head with a tear gas canister at a Jimi Hendrix concert when you were a teenager, odds seem pretty good that you have an interesting tale to tell. Around here, naturally, we love interesting tails — er, tales. You see, Elvira would love that joke, which obviously solidifies her in our list of wisest and most interesting celebrities.

In fact, we became so excited that we wanted to share why we have such a huge crush on the television personality and spooky superstar.

1. She used to be a Vegas showgirl and once spent an evening with Elvis.

Prior to her career as Elvira, the then 17-year-old Cassandra Peterson, with permission from her parents, became the youngest ever Vegas Showgirl, dancing in “Viva Les Girls” at The Dunes Hotel. One fateful night, she ended up at an after-party with Elvis Presley, who gave her what she has since referred to as the advice that changed her life. He told her to leave Vegas, advised her to get a singing coach, and suggested she get serious about a career in show business. Elvis saw real talent and drive in Elvira, and Vegas showgirls do not have a long shelf-life, after all.

Fun Fact: In 1971 on the Las Vegas strip, you could employ an underage girl to dance topless in your show, but if one of her friends from the cast dared to be seen in public having dinner with Wilt Chamberlain, you could fire that friend for this heinous offense. … This was barely 50 years ago, folks. Pay attention to what’s happening out there. We owe that to each other.

2. Elvira’s Movie Macabre ran for five seasons and gave us plenty of laughs and scares.

The original run of the series spanned from 1981 to 1986 and made Elvira a household name — her pale vampiric visage and enchanting curves filling up her every frame. Schlocky B-grade horror and science fiction movies were the name of the game on late-night TV back then, and Elvira played host to these viewings, occasionally interjecting her own pun-filled quips and commentary. Subsequent versions of Movie Macabre followed over the years, as did two feature length films, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and Elvira’s Haunted Hills.

For the cinema-elite, one can hardly think of Halloween without Elvira, but throughout the years she has become practically synonymous with cheesy horror. As her book wonderfully illustrates, however, we owe the gratitude to the woman behind the character. True to humble form Cassandra even refers to “Elvira” in the third person throughout the memoir.

“… she demands respect without ever having to compromise her (however warped) integrity.”

“She knows she’s not perfect, and she’s okay with that.”
Cassandra Peterson on “Elvira”

In some wise opinions (ours, and therefore wise, for example) a true cinematic education could never be complete without watching Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. If you cannot appreciate campy, then you clearly have not matured completely. (At least that would be one theory.)

3. Cassandra recently came out about her nineteen-year relationship with another woman.

Granted we have blurred the lines between Character and Actress there, but that was intentional. As revealed in Yours Cruelly, Elvira, Cassandra Peterson’s nearly two-decade long relationship with Teresa “T” Wierson brought her out of the proverbial closet and shed light on her identity as a queer individual to the surprise and delight of many of her fans. She states in her memoir that she is with, “someone who makes me feel safe, blessed, and truly loved.” We couldn’t be happier for the two of them!

While the book never makes clear her actual sexuality — how she “identifies” in modern terms — Cassandra reveals a long series of heterosexual relationships (apparently), while basically helping us understand that we are all significantly more as humans than our choice or gender of our sexual partners. If you understand that many of these early days were the type where one could lose a job for having a dinner companion boasting the wrong skin shade, you can see that society did not exactly encourage public figures to be open … pretty much at all.

We will say one thing specifically here, though. Everybody has a “lost my virginity” story, but very few could compare with the how – or to whom – that Elvira shares in the biography. We could tell you, of course, but that would rob you of a truly fun part of reading the book, which you should definitely do.

4. At 70 years of age, Elvira remains a style inspiration to all budding (and aging) goths.

Elvira’s larger-than-life character – from her black bouffant hair down to her skin-tight dress with a dagger in the belt – conjures an iconic image in the minds and hearts of all those who love her. Though she was met with a cease-and-desist letter in the early 80s from Maila Nurmi, who claimed Elvira was copying her character Vampira, courts ruled in favor of Elvira. We think there’s room for all gorgeous goths to play! Actually, even after seven decades on earth, Cassandra Peterson still looks remarkably appealing — and spry. At the age of seventy, she might be more vampiric than we think. (Just kidding!)

Regarding that whole naming-rights thing, one might think that The Oak Ridge Boys took the name of their famous song Elvira from this enchanting character. At it turned out (perhaps) it actually happened the other way around. Elvira got her name from the song. Should everyone be honest, probably a lot of momentous events in history occurred because of a figurative – or literal – drawing of ideas from a hat. (Again: Read the book.)

5. Two BIG reasons: her gorgeous 34Ds!

Next to her razor-sharp wit, Elvira’s two biggest assets are probably what you notice first when you flip on the (literal) boob tube and tune in to her show.

Full disclosure, that last item came from one of the Social Media mavens here at Penthouse, and surprisingly resistant to our “objectifying” complaints, they insisted on its inclusion. Honestly you have to throw the Social Media team a bone every now and again, or they can start feeling all downtrodden and such. (It makes you weep. … Really. Swear.) Besides, throughout her career, Elvira has both accentuated and poked fun at her physical manifestation.

“Opportunity only gives you knockers once.”Elvira

Now being Penthouse and all, we still felt the need to dress up the day with some past “costume” photo shoots featuring — in alphabetical order, because it’s way less frightening that way — Allie Haze, Daisy Marie, Dani Daniels, Julia Ann, Layla Sin, Leigh Raven, Marica Hase, Nikki Fairchild, Ruby Knox, Shawna Lenee, and Victoria Sin.

Finally, we simply had to conclude with a couple more quotes from Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark — which would be the full official title, by the way. She has a lot to say in this one, all of it entertaining and fun. When you find yourself sad that you have completed 394 pages because you wanted more, you know you have found a great book.

“That’s the moment I decided not to let little things like facts discourage me.”

“How was I supposed to know that turkeys can eat themselves to death when given unlimited access to food?”
Cassandra Peterson

Now we need to go explaining “books” to the Social Media team. A person can say a lot if they get more than 288 characters to do so. Also, we make a different team entirely sad if we did not mention that you might see all of the people on this page, well except Elvira, in rather more detail on PenthouseGold. Wow. That was a lot of shameless plugging today. Good for us!

“Giddy-Up, Pah-Oom, Papa-Oom, Papa MOW-MOW” … (Sorry. Had to be done.)

Wonderful illustrations continue, by the way, on AndrogynArt of the Instagram variety.

ManyVids Moments Begin

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An Alternative with ManyVids

We’ve been highlighting some individuals taking charge of their own lives (and incomes) for a little over a year now with the monthly Camster features, and some folks here decided we should spread the love out a bit and look for some performers covering some different bases in the wide open “camming” industry. We hit upon ManyVids as the beginning of the new journey here, simply at the suggestion of one of our social media team members, although in fairness we did not ask too many questions about where the detailed knowledge of the organization came from. (Some questions you really do not want to know the answers to, y’know? There are times when you simply cannot unsee a mental image if your journalistic inquiry leads you down a certain path, so we have learned to avoid those when possible.) Continue reading “ManyVids Moments Begin”

Eyes Have It

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Eyes on Camming for the First Time

It probably comes as no surprise that the popularity of camming has skyrocketed in the past two years because of the pandemic. It makes a lot of sense that people around the globe (whether model or customer) would turn to live sex during the isolation. People lost their jobs and had to work from home to make ends meet. Others were horny and couldn’t have random hookups on dating apps so they had to get creative and enjoy live sex through the computer screen. In fact, thousands of the most successful models you’ll come across started their camming careers during the pandemic. But many other popular models got started within the last few months in the (sort of?) eye of the post-pandemic, so never let timing throw you off. Continue reading “Eyes Have It”

Tim O’Brien

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The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien

Literary documentaries serve a curious function. Most follow writers at the end of their careers as they look back on their lives and work, so they’re pensive, even wistful. This can be interesting in its own way, especially to other writers (raises hand), but there’s an inactive reminiscent quality that fills a good many. Lives spent in the letters can indeed prove worthwhile and fulfilling, but that doesn’t mean they make for riveting television. Continue reading “Tim O’Brien”