Likable

Futurama is easily one of the most tenacious shows in television history. Despite being canceled numerous times, it always seems to return – most notably next year, when Futurama gets revived once again, this time on Hulu. But why does Futurama always seem to come back? Because fans can’t get enough of the compelling, hilarious, and oftentimes complicated characters. From episodes that downright make you cry, like “Jurassic Bark,” to episodes so complex they needed to create their own mathematical formula, like “The…

A young Indian American woman Alia (Sophia Ali) rolls her eyes at her mother’s generation in the affluent New Jersey community where she grew up. The aunties, she jokes, are a bunch of “sari-wearing zombies”, only interested in shopping and gossiping about who’s getting married and who’s getting fat. Alia’s assessment of her mum – and her own privilege – are the subject of this extremely likable mother-daughter comedy with a smart script from Geeta Malik, who has said in interviews her affectionate send-up is…

The Simpsons is one of TV’s longest-running shows, and throughout its three decades on television, audiences have been introduced to the many residents of the town of Springfield. One of the reasons the show is so popular is because the characters are so compelling. While just a cartoon on the surface, The Simpsons actually resonates with viewers on a much deeper level. Every character we meet on the show is unique, yet oddly relatable. It’s as if we already know them (or at least someone like them). And while all…

Orlando Figes is a historian and the author of 10 books on Russian and European history, including the multi-award-winning A People’s Tragedy, about the Russian Revolution – named one of the “100 most influential books since the war” by the TLS. Born in London in 1959, Figes studied and lectured at Cambridge and later became professor of history at Birkbeck – a position from which he recently retired. His latest book is The Story of Russia, which condenses 1,000 years of history into a tightly written, illuminating…

Humans behave in strange ways. We readily reveal our inner feelings during moments of weakness, which doesn't seem like the smart thing to do.Just by observing someone's behavior, we can tell when they are in pain, frustrated or upset. Surely the best strategy is to try and conceal weakness? Why run the risk of being taken advantage of?  Many other animals rarely show visible behavior changes when they are struggling. Vets and animal carers have to rely on cues such as changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or hormone…