The Adventures of Bartlet & Ash

A blog about old movies, classic cult films, current television, pop culture, and relevant birds brought to you by two rescue cats, Bartlet & Ash and their obedient giver of food.

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Couch Quarterback Cats Who Watch Stuff

I’m Matthew Pincus, a 4th year PhD candidate in English at University of Louisiana at Lafayette where I teach classes on composition and lit/film.

I study literary and cultural studies with a specialty in mid-20th century American fiction. Right now I spend a lot of time working at home on my book project, Women Crime Writers of the 1940s and 50s.
As a pop culture fan, I watch shows avidly with my cats rescue cats Bartlett & Ash, and my girlfriend, Jennifer.

Learn more about me.

Bartlet & Ash

Bartlet & Ash get their true beauty sleep during the hours of 2-6 pm, and 8-12 pm. Between these hours they feverishly watch birds, television shows, movies with occasional breaks to play with toy caterpillars, or other plastic thingamajigs shaped like bugs.

Bartlet, named after Martin Sheen’s character on NBC’s The West Wing (1999-2006) is a Louisiana swamp cat. A colleague who has gone on to teach at The New School, found him among a bunch of kittens under her back shed. When we took him in, he was malnourished and covered in fleas and ringworm. But now he’s a healthy, happy 15 lb. cat who loves to curl up and watch comedies – especially zany screwball comedies like The Lady Eve (1941).

Ash, named after our first rescue cat, was someone else’s rescue who ended up being allergic! After the original Ash passed away suddenly last Christmas, we adopted the gold-eyed kitten. His favorite pastime is watching the cardinals and finches who visit our 3rd floor balcony bird-feeders (there are 3), and running through cat tunnels. He’s a sucker for sci fi and suspense, but his favorite film is The Woman in the Window (1944).
Bartlet & Ash’s adventures have grown quite lonesome — bickering through meows and chirrups. They have requested a platform to express their opinions, and want to share them with all of you.
Every other week, Bartlet & Ash will post their thoughts about old movies, classic cult films, current television, pop culture, and relevant birds.

Tracy, Hepburn, Bogart and Bacall

This legendary feline pair is reminiscent of the chemistry between Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn or Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall on-screen. They watch on either a slate heather couch or a comfortable, navy chair and a half with a plush blue blanket.
Bartlet & Ash watch many subscription platforms, but have a fondness for Filmstruck, a streaming service which provides TCM classics, contemporary art films, cult films, foreign, and independent cinema gems. Filmstruck is a treasure for providing streaming access to hundreds of these for an affordable subscription fee and students save 35% with their academic discount.

Join them on their film and television adventures!

Blog: The Adventures of Bartlet & Ash

• COMING SOON Bartlet & Ash’s Viewing Pleasure: a list for those who wish to follow the fabled advice of, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”
• Next Time on AB&A: FX’s The Americans (2013-present)