The Comfort of Little House on the Prairie
I grew up watching “Little House on the Prairie” — mostly reruns after school since the show premiered the year I was born. Even now, decades later, there are episodes I can remember almost scene for scene.
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Thrilling thoughts about ‘Black Mirror’ and real ‘American Horror’ stories
Every now and then, I offer a list of some of the best horror/thriller movies, television shows and documentaries I’ve recently seen. Here they are:
Black Mirror: I originally began watching “Black Mirror” a couple of years ago when the first season came to Netflix. At the time, I was a little embarrassed to share with others some of the content of this British science fiction series set in the near future with a technology/social media theme.
Touring Longwood: A Glimpse Into gothic grandeur and Southern shadows
There’s something hauntingly interesting about old places — stories frozen in time. That’s exactly the feeling I had standing on the front lawn of Longwood, the grandest and most mysterious of Natchez’s antebellum homes.
You may recognize Longwood even if you’ve never set foot in Mississippi. The exterior was featured in HBO’s “True Blood” as the home of the Vampire King of Mississippi. And it makes perfect sense — Longwood has that Southern Gothic aura. With its octagonal design and eerie stillness, the mansion practically begs for stories to be written — or filmed — within its walls.
Mad Men Meets Mississippi: Kit Williamson’s unexpected connection
With the “Mad Men season finale airing tonight, I was surprised to discover a Mississippi connection: Kit Williamson, a Jackson native and former St. Andrew’s student, landed a role this season as ad exec Ed Gifford.
I caught up with Williamson by phone last week. While our story ran in Saturday’s paper, much of it had to be trimmed — so here’s the full scoop.
From Meridian to Hollywood and Back: Sela Ward’s mission to help Mississippi’s kids
Before she was a crime-solving DNA expert on “CSI: NY” or winning Emmys for “Sisters,” Sela Ward was just a barefoot kid growing up in a quiet Meridian, Mississippi neighborhood — riding bikes, swimming in lakes, and sneaking into caves with friends for pretend séances.
These days, she still returns home — not just for family, but for a cause close to her heart: Hope Village for Children, the residential care facility she founded in 2002 for Mississippi kids in the foster system who need a safe place to land.
Ridgeland’s own Mad Men weigh in on the show that made advertising cool again
The term “Mad Men” once referred to Madison Avenue ad execs. But in Madison County, Mississippi, the creatives at Ridgeland’s Mad Genius embraced the name — hosting a full-on “Mad Menius” office party in costume to celebrate the hit AMC drama.
Creative Director Eric Hughes was hooked from day one.
Jackson fans go retro for ‘Mad Men’ finale
The “Mad Men” madness has officially made its way to Mississippi. Jackson residents Michael Busbin and Brian Kendrick are such big fans of AMC’s hit drama that they bought a retro home in northeast Jackson inspired by Don Draper’s mid-century cool.
“It already had grass cloth wallpaper and a living room rock garden — total ‘60s vibes,” Busbin said. “We’ve updated it a little, but kept the vintage charm. We love pieces like Eames and Panton chairs — anything that feels ‘Mad Men.’ It’s how we like to live — cool, relaxed, and a little nostalgic.”
How to party like ‘Mad Men’
Los Angeles-based Natasha Feldman and Julianna Strickland host a web-based cooking show about food and movies called “Cinema & Spice.” They are big “Mad Men” fans, and recently taped a segment about how to throw a “Mad Men” party.
Kermit, collectibles, and a little Mississippi magic
It’s not easy being green — but it’s very easy being a Kermit the Frog fan, especially this week as the new “Muppets” movie hits theaters. With that in mind, I thought it was the perfect time to celebrate the world’s most lovable amphibian by showing off a few of my favorite Kermit finds — and sharing why this little green guy holds such a special place in my heart.
Like many of you, I grew up in the golden age of “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street” — the 1970s and ’80s, when television was a little quirkier, a little fuzzier, and a whole lot more musical. Kermit wasn’t just a puppet. He was a philosopher. A dreamer. The gentle soul trying to hold everything together while Gonzo launched himself from cannons and Miss Piggy karate-chopped her way through love and drama.
Jim Henson’s Fantastic World comes to Mississippi
It’s hard to imagine childhood without the Muppets, and since “Sesame Street” debuted in 1969, generations have grown up with Jim Henson’s unforgettable creations. Now, Jim Henson’s Fantastic World — a traveling Smithsonian exhibit — brings his incredible legacy to the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Hailing from the Mississippi Delta, Henson transformed his early love for puppetry into iconic shows like “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street,” captivating audiences worldwide. This exhibit offers a rare glimpse into his creative process with 100 original pieces, including puppets, sketches, storyboards, and videos.
Mississippi Roots of HBO’s True Blood: How Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Series shaped the hit show
Did you know that HBO’s hit series “True Blood” has deep ties to Mississippi? The show is based on “The Southern Vampire Mysteries” novels by Mississippi native Charlaine Harris.
Born in Tunica in 1951, Harris grew up in the South, the daughter of a farmer-turned-school principal and a librarian. After graduating from Rhodes College in Memphis, she worked as a journalist in Clarksdale and Greenville before publishing her first novel, “Sweet and Deadly,” in 1981.
Mississippi UFO sightings reveal strange lights, triangles, and more — what’s really out there?
When we asked readers about their UFO experiences, many shared anonymous stories, fearing ridicule despite their credibility.
One radio reporter recalled seeing a mysterious light in Gautier that moved rapidly, then hovered motionless before darting away. Another witness, stationed on a German Air Force base in 1973, described a silent, brightly lit triangular craft crossing the sky in minutes — clearly not man-made.
Do You Believe in Ghosts? Mississippi’s paranormal groups say they’re real
Do you believe in ghosts? You’re not alone. Mississippi is home to at least 10 paranormal research groups made up of people who definitely do — and they’re part of a much larger trend.
Across the U.S. and U.K., more than 300 groups are actively investigating unexplained phenomena, often inspired by popular television shows like “Ghost Hunters,” “Medium,” “Ghost Whisperer,” and “Haunting Evidence.”
Stephen King’s ‘Nightmares & Dreamscapes’ vs. ‘Masters of Horror’: Which series delivers the bigger scares?
If you’re a fan of horror anthologies, you may have come across Stephen King’s “Nightmares and Dreamscapes,” the 2006 TNT miniseries based on King’s short stories. While the show delivers a few compelling moments, it doesn’t quite reach the chilling heights of Showtime’s edgier “Masters of Horror” series.
One of the standout episodes from “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” is “The End of the Whole Mess,” a haunting tale about a genius who creates a serum to end human aggression — only to trigger a global catastrophe. Another worth-watching installment is “Autopsy Room Four,” featuring Richard Thomas (John-Boy from “The Waltons”) in a role that’s a far cry from his wholesome TV past.
The $155 million mansion and the cost of living large in a world of need
Is it just me, or do you ever feel a little queasy when you hear about people spending absurd amounts of money on things no one really needs?
Take MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” for example. Every episode centers around a painfully spoiled teenager whose parents drop hundreds of thousands of dollars to stage over-the-top birthday extravaganzas — complete with luxury cars, celebrity cameos, and tantrums. It’s like watching the Academy Awards on a budget of bad parenting.
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