Weekly Wide Web

Twitter Humor Confuses Me

The New York Times last week published an article about comedians on Twitter, mentioning that some have used the microblogging service as a way to launch careers, while others who are more established use tweets to work on their material.

I approve of comedians getting on Twitter, mostly because I tend to look at Twitter while waiting in lines, and I could use a laugh while I repress my senseless rage at the people ahead of me who are crippled by the decision-making process.

However, there was one weird part of the article—an extended reference to a Twitter feed delivered entirely in the voice of Matthew Perry's writer character from the short-lived Aaron Sorkin show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. As one of the few people who actually watched the show, I felt compelled to check out the feed (@MattAlbie60) ... and I'm not entirely sure I get it.

In general, people who write fan fiction are considered weirdos, even if they're just indulging in a hobby that allows them to enjoy an extension of a cultural sphere they enjoy—yet it's supposedly cool for people to engage in the same sort of imaginary world as long as there's some underlying snark. Feeds for nearly every character on the show have popped up, and they chat with each other. This is somehow less weird than Gilmore Girls slash fiction?

Like I said, I don't get it.


The week on The Range

We brought you the latest details from the campaign trail, as well as election results; followed the fallout from Gov. Jan Brewer's decision to remove Colleen Mathis from the Independent Redistricting Commission; previewed the upcoming ABC News special about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords; previewed Gabby's upcoming book; and shared the latest episode of the Arizona Illustrated Political Roundtable, hosted by Jim Nintzel.

We kept up with the movements of the Occupy Tucson movement; let you know that a new health center with a focus on cannabis was opening soon; told you why Congress was making bad Internet laws; and checked in with the super-committee that is supposed to save our federal government from bankruptcy.

We let you know that Radiohead was coming to Phoenix; recommended some new tunes from our music critics; gave a shout-out to the Sophie Hunger performance at downtown's Rialto Theatre; told you how you could help build a playground; urged you to check out Tucson Comic-Con; gave the latest spin on Tucson bicycling news; checked in with the pedal-powered Cyclopsicle stand; told you about a mash-up of cyclists and beer brewers; had a bite at Union Public House; continued to hunger for a local food-truck festival; discovered that Old Tucson was getting in on the local gardening craze; and yearned to shop at the new farmers' market at downtown's La Cocina.

We wished Tucson restaurants would dress up for Halloween; got excited when we heard the Mythbusters were coming to Tucson; shamed the Michigan state Senate; defended the art of television criticism; talked about X-Men comics; wanted to take the new Grand Theft Auto game for a spin; and watched a New York City rat run off with a whole slice of pizza.


Comment of the week

"What do you want to do, put people in jail for bullying? And who is going to say exactly what constitutes bullying?"

—It's rare that someone takes a pro-bullying stand, but TucsonWeekly.com commenter "Aaron Brown" seems to be doing just that ("Shame on You, Michigan Senate," The Range, Nov. 4).


Best of WWW

It's election week, and where else could you possibly turn to for your political news other than The Range, the Tucson Weekly's daily dispatch? Sure, there are other media outlets out there, but then again, one of those organizations endorsed a candidate who refused to meet with them, so keep that in mind.

As important as Tuesday's election was to our city, it also served as a warm-up for a year from now, when a new U.S. Senator from Arizona will be elected, candidates will be running in districts that haven't yet been determined, and there will surely be a civilized and rational discussion of the issues in the presidential race. We'll be here all year, providing the news in a way that doesn't suck.