How a Script Doctor Found His Own Voice

Plus: the year of the orca; the case against travel; and a guide to getting rid of almost everything. View in browser | Update your preferences Thursday, December 28, 2023 In today’s newsletter, a Hollywood “ventriloquist,” and then: • The year of the orca • The case against travel • A guide to getting rid of almost everything Profiles How a Script Doctor Found His Own Voice For decades, Scott Frank earned up to three hundred thousand dollars a week rewriting other people’s screenplays—from “Saving Private Ryan” to “The Ring.” Finally, he decided to stop playing ventriloquist. By Patrick Radden Keefe Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » 2023 in Review 2023 in Review The Year of the Orca A group of killer whales ramming boats in the Strait of Gibraltar this summer launched a tidal wave of cheeky projection from would-be marine biologists. By Rachel Riederer 2023 in Review The U.N. Announces the Hottest Year The climate heated up, but clean energy did, too. By Bill McKibben 2023 in Review The Year of Ozempic We may look back on new weight-loss drugs as some of the greatest advances in the annals of chronic disease. By Dhruv Khullar Trivia Break: Who composed the score for “On the Waterfront,” and dedicated his Symphony No. 3 to the memory of John F. Kennedy? Play our Names of 2023 quiz pack » Dept. of Diversions The Weekend Essay The Case Against Travel From June: It turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us that we’re at our best. By Agnes Callard Annals of Gastronomy One Day—and One Night—in the Kitchen at Les Halles From 2000: For weekenders at the restaurant on Park Avenue South where I work as the chef, a saddle of wild hare stuffed with foie gras is not a good special. By Anthony Bourdain On and Off the Avenue A Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything From 2022: Once you’ve thanked and said goodbye to the items that do not spark joy, what can you do with them? By Patricia Marx Winter Items in The New Yorker Store! Stay warm all season with hats, hoodies, sweatshirts, and more. Browse and buy » Fun & Games Dept. Crossword A Beginner-Friendly Puzzle Hairy “Addams Family” cousin: three letters. By Elizabeth C. Gorski Daily Shouts O.O.O. Messages for Everyday Life I am currently on leave from human interaction, after receiving a TikTok comment from a stranger who called my forehead a “fivehead.” By Jenny Arimoto Daily Cartoon Thursday, December 28th By David Sipress P.S. Rachel Riederer has declared 2023 the year of the orca, so now is as good a time as any to revisit Susan Orlean’s story on the campaign to release Keiko, the whale of “Free Willy,” into the wild. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the daily newsletter from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.