Neal Justin
Critic / Reporter
Culture Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. Before coming to Minnesota, he was a crime reporter for the Rockford Register Star and graduated from Northwestern University. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms. He is the former president of UNITY and former governing board member for the Asian American Journalists Association. He is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas.
Latest from Neal Justin
Leslie Fhima goes on date with Gary Levingston on ‘Bachelor in Paradise’
The Minneapolis native finally makes a connection on the ABC series.
July 22, 2025
‘Clean’ comedian Nate Bargatze loves Minnesota — and it loves him back
The most popular comic on the planet will be in St. Paul’s Xcel for two consecutive nights.
July 22, 2025
Slashed public broadcasting funds a ‘worst-case scenario’ for some Minnesota stations
The bill includes more than $1 billion in cuts targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS.
July 18, 2025
Leslie Fhima gets brief spotlight in her 'Bachelor in Paradise' debut
"The Golden Bachelor" and "The Golden Bachelorette" contestants' screen time in Paradise has been minimal in comparison to their younger counterparts.
July 16, 2025
Minnesotan Leslie Fhima is making her ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ debut
The Minneapolis fitness instructor and former “The Golden Bachelor” contestant is a fan favorite.
July 15, 2025
How KFAN's Initials Game rose to take the Minnesota bar scene by storm
Radio personality Cory Cove looks back at how he invented a popular word game.
July 15, 2025
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A new look at the mystery of Jodi Huisentruit, the TV anchor now 30 years missing
“Her Last Broadcast: The Abduction of Jodi Huisentruit” debuts this week on Hulu.
July 15, 2025
Demise of Palmer’s Bar reflects broader changes in Cedar-Riverside
International shows at the expanded Afghan Cultural Society are on the way as the neighborhood shifts to reflect the growing population of Africans and Muslims.
July 14, 2025
Minnesota played a major role in documentary about string band Carolina Chocolate Drops
“Don’t Get Trouble In Your Mind: The Carolina Chocolate Drops’ Story” is now available on YouTube.
July 5, 2025
Review: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic stays weird for Treasure Island Casino show
The 65-year-old entertainer grooved along to classic parody hits for nearly 14,000 fans.
June 29, 2025
![Weird Al Yankovic performing his song The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota early in his set Tuesday night at the Grandstand. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com Weird Al Yankovic and his No Strings Attached Tour stopped at the Grandstand Tuesday night, August 27, 2019 at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/PZ7JJCMK75YSF5R63LR2TICMNY.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Wolves and Lynx games could become a lot hipper with new ownership
Don’t be surprised if more celebrities start cheering for our local teams.
June 25, 2025
Review: ‘SNL’ star Kyle Mooney creates good vibrations with bad music in Minneapolis show
The comedian kicked off a nationwide tour at the Fine Line.
June 24, 2025
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