EW loves MN The editors at Entertainment Weekly love Minnesotans. They really do.

In their new issue, they picked "The New Classics" -- the 1,000 best movies, TV shows, albums and books of the last 25 years. Prince's "Purple Rain" was named the No. 1 album -- "one of the artistically out-there achievements in pop history" and "the purest expression of his musical genius." Also making the list were Bob Dylan's "Time Out of Mind" at No. 26 and the Replacements' "Let It Be" at No. 79.

Former Minnesotans were all over the TV list. Lizz Winstead cocreated "The Daily Show" (No. 14) which featured Craig Kilborn in its early years. Craig Wright cocreated "Six Feet Under" (39), which costarred Peter Krause. Mark Frost cocreated "Twin Peaks" (49) and Richard Dean Anderson was "MacGyver" (98). And "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (63) was made in the Twin Cities with a whole bunch of local folks and puppets.

In movies, the Coen Brothers placed at No. 34 with "Fargo" and No. 64 with "No Country for Old Men." Minneapolis producer Bill Pohlad was behind "Brokeback Mountain" (31) and former Minnesota screenwriter Charlie Kaufman wrote "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (38).

In theater, August Wilson's "Fences" rated No. 6 and "Sandman" by Neil Gaiman, who lives in the greater metro area, was No. 46 on the books list.

I'm sure we'd all quibble (that's what lists are for), but you betcha we're proud of the recognition.

JON BREAM

Film grants A children's book author, a self-described "Army brat," a media production creative director and a Lebanese filmmaker/lecturer have each won $25,000 McKnight Fellowships in Screenwriting and Filmmaking. "Kindred," a social drama by Daniel Laurence, and "The Saint of Denmark Falls," a Minnesota-based mystery by Alan W. Porter, won for excellence in scriptwriting. Filmmaking awards went to Gabriel Cheifetz for his short-form community documentaries, and Hisham Bizri for his "visual meditations" on culture and art.

COLIN COVERT