Articles by: Julian Spivey

“America’s Sweetheart” is a term that is typically given to a female celebrity that is generally beloved by the majority of the American public. A long time ago Marilyn Monroe was “America’s Sweetheart.” More recently actresses like Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock have been given that honor. The [...]

In 11 semesters at The Echo I’ve heard many of my fellow student-journalists talk (complain is probably more accurate) about how journalism is hard. My response has always been, “Hard? This is the easiest thing in the world.” Because if you’re doing this, it should be because you love it [...]

1. Clark Gable – “Gone with the Wind” There simply isn’t a better film exit and there likely never will be one better than Clark Gable’s exit at the end of Victor Fleming’s 1939 masterpiece “Gone with the Wind.” While Gable’s Rhett Butler gets “the line” it’s made possible by [...]

Martin Scorsese’s newest release “Hugo” is simply a delight for hardcore film lovers. The film, set in 1930 Paris, is about a 12-year old orphaned boy named Hugo Cabret, played by newcomer Asa Butterfield, who lives in the walls of a train station where he maintains the station’s clocks. Hugo [...]

The funniest comedy on television is in danger of possible cancelation and desperately needs your help. That show is NBC’s “Community” and it’s about a group of misfit community college students, of all ages, races and beliefs, who are bonded together in friendship because of their study group. The show [...]

1. John Turturro Character actors simply never get the credit that they’re due. It’s probably because they’re rarely, if ever, the star of the show, but oftentimes they steal the show. John Turturro is a scene stealer who often steals the entire show. He’s the most gifted character actor in [...]

AMC has thankfully revived the Western genre, a genre that once was the most popular on television but had died out over the years, with its new original series, “Hell on Wheels.” The network is known for its critically acclaimed dramas “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead,” which [...]

Around Halloween, the world’s population reached the seven billion people mark and that number is a little bit of a scary one because the world’s population keeps on building, yet space to put those people remains the same. The seven billion people mark is only bound to go up over [...]

1. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones (1980) If there was one country music standard it would have to be George Jones’ tragic 1980 classic “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” which many critics and fans alike consider the greatest country song ever recorded. The song is the true [...]

Starz’s new original series “Boss” already has a ton of weight on its shoulders. It’s a weight entirely put upon it by its own network, as many critics and entertainment writers out there are claiming that the seedy political drama is the most important original series in the premium channel’s [...]

1. Alan Shore & Denny Crane “Boston Legal” Alan Shore (James Spader) and Denny Crane (William Shatner) was the ultimate TV bromance on ABC’s legal drama “Boston Legal.” You know it’s the ultimate bromance when you’re comfortable enough sharing a bed together. While it might have been the perfect bromance, [...]

Toby Keith’s 15th studio album “Clancy’s Tavern,” named after the bar his grandmother owned in Fort Smith, Ark., is a departure from many of Keith’s recent works of rowdier music, but still proves to have more misses than hits. The opening single from the album “Made in America” is really [...]

With the next presidential election coming up in 2012, some students and professors around campus are trying to involve themselves and their peers in politics. Many students’ political beliefs are shaped by their families and the households they grew up in, known as political socialization. UCA political science professor Gary [...]

“The Ides of March,” directed by and co-produced, co-written and co-starring George Clooney, is a political drama full of fantastic acting performances, but somewhat short on story. “The Ides of March” follows the Ohio Democratic primary where Pennsylvania Gov. Mike Morris (Clooney) is trying to defeat Arkansas Sen. Pullman (Mike [...]

Innovator and Apple founder Steve Jobs died last Wednesday at age 56 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Jobs was the driving force behind such popular electronics as the iPhone, iPod and iPad, among others. In the world today, it seems like everybody owns at least one Apple product, which [...]

Fox’s newest Sci-Fi drama “Terra Nova” premiered last week after more than a year of speculation and intrigue with a two-hour pilot that proved to be worth the wait. “Terra Nova” was initially supposed to premiere last fall season, but was pushed back due to torrential rains in Australia, where [...]