It was only when I first saw the trailer for the Oscar-tipped Timothée Chalamet table tennis blockbuster that I realized it’s loosely based on the life of the eccentric ping-pong champion Marty “The Needle” Reisman, whom I so often found sitting on a sofa in my living room on East 57
Tina--Thank you for your insightful and glorious writing. Your posts are just the perfect tonic for all we have endured this year. All the best for a more peaceful year for all of us. Warmest regards, Sandi
who proves once again that she can keep two dozen side stories on their leashes like a Manhattan dogwalker encountering a squirrel family in Central Park,
and to her life's love interest dead or very much alive through her,
and her loving ping-pong disinterest
(how do I get Timothy C. into this sentence? Well, I'm just no T.B.)
Dear Tina B: Makes me happy to read about Harry as "Pongiste". My late husband, John Heilpern, whom you mention as a fellow enthusiast and part of the basement gang (!) ended up taking lessons from a teenage Chinese master uptown on Broadway for many years, much to my amazement...It must have been Harry's influence. Though when I saw John play once or twice I was floored by the speed and talent.. As a Jewish boy from Manchester who never picked up a bat or kicked a football, I think the ping pong gig made him feel very...sportif! Off to see that film asap.
Hi, Sydney and yes I think Harry and Marty amped up John's Ping Pong chops. what fun they had, we all had in those basement glory days ! Happy New Year T
Tina, thank you for another delightful Fresh Hell. What a story! All the best to you and your lovely family over the holidays, and may we all have a better 2026.
Tina--Thank you for your insightful and glorious writing. Your posts are just the perfect tonic for all we have endured this year. All the best for a more peaceful year for all of us. Warmest regards, Sandi
To racontesse supreme,
Tina Brown,
who proves once again that she can keep two dozen side stories on their leashes like a Manhattan dogwalker encountering a squirrel family in Central Park,
and to her life's love interest dead or very much alive through her,
and her loving ping-pong disinterest
(how do I get Timothy C. into this sentence? Well, I'm just no T.B.)
what a great seasonal toast! So glad you're in the Fresh Hell community, Happy New Year T
Wonderful comment. Raconteuse.
Subscribe to my substack.
Thank you
Dear Tina B: Makes me happy to read about Harry as "Pongiste". My late husband, John Heilpern, whom you mention as a fellow enthusiast and part of the basement gang (!) ended up taking lessons from a teenage Chinese master uptown on Broadway for many years, much to my amazement...It must have been Harry's influence. Though when I saw John play once or twice I was floored by the speed and talent.. As a Jewish boy from Manchester who never picked up a bat or kicked a football, I think the ping pong gig made him feel very...sportif! Off to see that film asap.
Hi, Sydney and yes I think Harry and Marty amped up John's Ping Pong chops. what fun they had, we all had in those basement glory days ! Happy New Year T
What a fabulous story. You bring us right there with you and, for sure, brought my idea of ping pong to a whole different level!!!
So glad you enjoyed. Love having you in our Fresh Hell community T
You are ALWAYS at the center of the zeitgeist! I love this piece and have enjoyed my subscription to Fresh Hell. Happy Christmas and New Year.
delighted to hear this from you , Katie, a zeitgeist queen yourself T
Deep thanks.
Saw the movie last week, and it was engrossing, frenetic, dazzling and exhausting. I needed a couple of paracetamol when it was done.
I did not expect to see a story about the real Marty here, of all places. You remain a seemingly endless supply of surprises. Happy Holidays.
I didn't expect to see Marty here, either, after all those years of Harry telling me to pay attention! So glad you enjoyed T
I have relished every sharp bite and rely on you to say what whirls around in my tortured head.
So happy to join you in your whirl! Thanks for being in the FH community T
Bless you, Sandi T
Happy Holidays Tina!
My what a fun pair your Harry and Marty — such dapper fellows who played with panache and joie de vivre
They were indeed a pretty hilarious sight. T
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and all the Fresh Hellions!
And a great 26 to you too T
Table tennis! I wud to play every night growing up with my father. Then played every night with my son. Waiting for my grandson!
Its truly a fun intergenerational connection point. Lets hope Marty even posthumously inspires more love of the game T
All fresh, and may Hell be just like this.
and may we all burn with delight! Thx! T
Tina, thank you for another delightful Fresh Hell. What a story! All the best to you and your lovely family over the holidays, and may we all have a better 2026.
Cheers to that ! And Happy new year to you.T
Tina
I am so happy to have subscribed to Fresh Hell.
Your view of the world sits wonderfully with mine.
Can’t wait for more of your columns.
That makes me happy, Monsieur Urton. delighted to have you as a reader T
Thank you for an enlightening interview with Leopoldo Lopez.
Poor man suffered miserably and now trying to lead on to democracy.
Difficult task with Trump allegedly leading the way.
I love this! Can’t wait to see the movie – is it streaming? My father taught me to be a ping-pong whiz, but warned “always let the boys win.”
Well to hell with that sentiment! Or should I say Fresh Hell to that. I think its streaming on Apple or rented on Amazon T