Sam Brooks is a playwright, journalist and critic. Email him on sam@thespinoff.co.nz
It's the biggest movie of all time – why on earth wouldn't you go see it with a live orchestra playing the music? Titanic superfan Sam Brooks went last night and ascended to a higher plane of existence.
Sam Brooks argues why Catholic Rebellion thriller Gunpowder is far more interesting than other dour dramas from the same period.
On Friday little known developer Supremacy released a mobile game named Mongrel Mob Defence and the media, predictably, went nuts. Sam Brooks says this kind of controversy not only allows these kinds of developers to thrive - it's what they need to survive.
Sam Brooks defies the ancient wisdom 'never read the comments' and goes deep into nine weeks of the TV Guide's Mr Telly letters.
Little Red Lie is the misanthropic, dark-as-tar game from indie developer Will O'Neill. Gaming editor Sam Brooks played it – and was disturbed by what he found.
Today it was announced that Stage Challenge is no more for this world. Sam Brooks crowdsourced people's favourite memories of the competition, and scoured YouTube for the best of the rest.
This week, Creative Assembly announced another spinoff to the Total War series, this time based around the Three Kingdoms War in China. Sam Brooks investigates why this period is a bizarrely popular one for video games.
Sam Brooks uncovers Watching Ellie, a Julia Louis-Dreyfus sitcom that got buried somewhere between Seinfeld and Veep.
Over the break, Sam Brooks rewatched Friends in its entirety. Ten seasons, 236 episodes, and as many cutesy episode titles. But what if those titles were just a bit more honest?
2018 is set to be another big year in gaming. Sam Brooks sets down his most anticipated games of the year, including one that he hopes to a higher power actually, finally, comes out this year.
The Good Wife is one of those show that has always seemed to be around, but you’ve probably never seen. Sam Brooks tells you why you haven’t watched it yet, and why you should fix that immediately.
A playwright interprets his favourite song from Lorde's album Melodrama.
In July, US Ambassador Scott Brown had what he probably thought was an interview scheduled with Kim Hill. What actually ensued was a brilliantly shady media boxing match. Sam Brooks gives his play-by-play.
Sam Brooks picks out what you should watch this Christmas when things get too stressful and you just need to curl up on the couch.
There have been 15 numbered titles, it has sold 130 million copies worldwide, and it's spawned countless spinoffs. On its 30th birthday, Sam Brooks reflects on Final Fantasy and what the series means to him.
Arriving December 19, Lightbox’s new historical epic The Hollow Crown is bringing some serious silver screen stars to your little streaming device. Sam Brooks shares a guide on where you know them from and who the heck they’re playing.
Sia played Mt. Smart Stadium last week. Sam Brooks went and found the concert – and Sia's entire anti-persona persona – sadly wanting.
Tyler Henry aka The Hollywood Medium is giving one of the most bizarre and compelling performances on television right now, and he probably doesn’t know it.
This morning Kim Hill generously gave Don Brash 30 minutes in which to explain his problem with te reo on the radio. Kim Hill expert and superfan Sam Brooks brings you her best burns.
We go deep on one of the biggest songwriters of the decade, who's about to become one of the biggest popstars in the world, and even got to talk to her about her craft.
Search Party is back on Lightbox for its second season, with new episodes coming every Monday. Sam Brooks is here to tell you why you really need to catch up.
After a rocking season last year, Briefs Factory returns with their new show Briefs: Close Encounters. Sam Brooks responds to the two very different sides to the show, and how the company marries them.
Want to introduce your small child to the favourite bands of your youth without scaring them with Little Earthquakes or Hounds of Love? Sam Brooks has you covered.
Stevie Nicks played in Auckland last night, with The Pretenders as special guests. Sam Brooks was there.
Propel has released their new high-performance drone, and it's a goddamned Star Wars one. Sam Brooks went to the lavish launch event, somehow flew it, and reports back.
Last week five women accused comedian Louis CK of sexual harassment, charges he admits are true. Sam Brooks writes about why Louis CK has always been a problematic comedian – and not just for this.
