We go a little off the rails in this rowdy episode with our friend and fellow American abroad, Eric Millman, an erudite, currently Florence-based film scholar and writer who would happily opt for a mushroom suit when that time comes.

Since recording this episode, Eric has launched non-literary literary mag Perdigiornale, a "journal for enlightened hobos," with his co-conspirator Fede[rico] Poggiali (aka Sally's husband).  Eric's first book, the travelogue Pearl and Pavement: Unwashed America from a Magical Chool Bus, is available from The Place that Shall Not Be Named. You can learn more about his work and scholarship on his website.

Also, Mary would like to give a disclaimer for the three people that might actually care that she knows Marcello Mastroianni wasn't actually in I Vitelloni.  And she will also make a disclaimer on Eric's behalf that he knows Star Wars and Annie Hall date from 1977, not 1997. No Spritzes were consumed in the recording of this episode, obviously...