AitN: February 25, 2019

Trivia maven and former Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen ’07 returned to the familiar stage for Jeopardy! All-Star Games, which debuted on February 20. The show’s first-ever team tournament reunited 18 of the most successful and popular recent contestants. Cohen was featured in a Vulture Q&A to discuss the experience.

William P. Barr ’71, GSAS’73

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

William P. Barr ’71, GSAS’73 was confirmed as United States Attorney General on February 14, with a 54–45 vote in the U.S. Senate. This is his second time as the nation’s top law enforcement official – he also held the job during the administration of George H.W. Bush (1991–93), making Barr both the 77th and 85th attorney general. From The Washington Post: “Barr is widely respected in the conservative legal community and has vast experience in the Justice Department — having served previously as the attorney general, deputy attorney general and head of the Office of Legal Counsel.”

Writer Andrew Martin ’08 published “A Few Things I’d Like to Discuss With Ethan Hawke” in a special Valentine’s Day feature for The New York Times. Five writers were tasked with composing a love letter “to an actor or fictional character who has been nominated — or, in one case, passed over — this year for the 91st Academy Awards.” Martin chose to write about Hawke’s performance in First Reformed.

On February 13, The New York Times positively reviewed Daniel Immerwahr ’02’s book How to Hide an Empire, which examines the United States’ history of colonialism in places like the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

Lilly Burns ’09 directed the February 7 episode of Broad City, “BitCoin and the Missing Girl.” Burns is a producer of the cult hit comedy, which is in its final season.