Jake Martin

Voices

Jake Martin, S.J. is an assistant professor of film studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He received his PhD in Film Studies from Trinity College, Dublin in 2023. His book What’s So Funny About Faith: A Memoir from the Intersection of the Hilarious and Holy was published by Loyola Press in 2012. He has been a contributing writer on film and television for America since 2009 and has written for numerous other publications including Huffington Post, Busted Halo and American Catholic Studies. Jake is also an actor and improvisational comedian whose solo show ”Learning to Pray in Front of the Television“ was an official selection for the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Jake has performed at numerous venues in Chicago and New York

Arts & CultureIdeas

Why I hate pickleball less than I used to

Jake MartinSeptember 01, 2023

I used to hate pickleball. I’ve (almost) had a conversion.

Jim Gaffigan delivering a standup routine

Arts & CultureIdeas

Jim Gaffigan’s comedy doesn’t hide his Catholic faith. It also doesn’t weaponize it.

Jake MartinSeptember 01, 2023

The comedian's headlining with Seinfeld speaks to his growing reputation as one of the fundamental voices of American humor.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the Wimbledon trophy in London July 14, 2019, after defeating Switzerland's Roger Federer in five sets. (CNS photo/Andrew Couldridge, Reuters)

Arts & CultureIdeas

Tennis star Novak Djokovic may be the GOAT. So why do fans hate him?

Jake MartinJuly 07, 2023

Novak Djokovic is a flawed man, which he has proven on multiple occasions, but what athlete isn’t?

Arts & CultureTelevision

The keys to the success of ‘Derry Girls’: Northern Ireland, Catholicism and the ordinary lives of teenage girls

Jake MartinOctober 13, 2022

The third season of ‘Derry Girls’ has plenty of laughs to offer and goes deeper with all its main characters.

Kamila Valieva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, reacts in the women's short program during the figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 15,, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Arts & CultureIdeas

Olympic figure skating always brings the drama. This year is no different.

Jake MartinFebruary 15, 2022

As the Beijing games draw to their conclusion, my only hope is that there is room for more than just Kamila Valieva’s story in the public imagination.

Conan O’Brien ended his nearly 11-year run on TBS, Thursday, June 24, 2021, with the final episode of the late-night show “Conan.” (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Arts & CultureTelevision

Dear Conan O’Brien: Late night television didn’t deserve you.

Jake MartinJuly 09, 2021

Conan never did quite fit in, and I mean that in the best possible way.

The cast reassembled for “Friends: The Reunion” (photo credit: HBO Max)

Arts & CultureTelevision

‘Friends’ was the escapist sitcom you weren’t embarrassed to love

Jake MartinJune 01, 2021

“The Reunion’’ shows “Friends” for the fantasy that it always was, while at the same time showing what sustained and continues to sustain that fantasy: the shared affection, admiration and respect of six very talented actors.