When it comes to a great optical illusion we always take the bait, because we can’t help but be lured in by a talented artist with a cool hook. That’s why we like to cast a wide net over the Internet: ...

John Mulaney’s hosting gig on Saturday Night Live had its fair share of high-wattage cameos and silly make-up and costuming, but the cut-for-time short Fish Dreams brings the absurdity to a new level.

I’m a believer in connecting the dots, even if they are years apart. Two dots struck me this week, essays that argue for deep observation. One, written in 1873, sounds eerily like another, written in ...