Nathan Rabin IPA: /neɪˈðɨn ʁɑːˈbiːn/ (born April 24, 1976) is an American film and music critic. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Rabin was the first head writer for The A.V. Club, a position he continues to hold today.
He coined the phrase manic pixie dream girl as a cinematic type. He was a panelist on the short-lived basic cable show "Movie Club with John Ridley" on American Movie Classics. In 2007, he began My Year of Flops on The A.V. Club, where he re-evaluated films that were shunned by critics, ignored by audiences, or both, at their time of release. As of January 2008, the year was finished, but he continues the project as a bi-monthly feature. Other ongoing features Rabin writes for The A.V Club include Dispatches From Direct-To-DVD Purgatory, a tongue-in-cheek look at DVD premieres, reviews for TV shows like Louie, Silly Little Show-Biz Book Club a humorous exploration of trashy books about entertainment, and Ephemereview, which offers critiques of sub-reviewable pop-culture detritus.
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, author, playwright, producer, musician and composer. Martin came to public notice as a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and later became a frequent guest on The Tonight Show. In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked Martin at sixth place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics.
Since the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, Martin has become a successful actor in both comedic and dramatic roles, as well as an author, playwright, pianist, and banjo player, eventually earning Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards, among other honors.