My Q1 Entertainment Roundup
Back to my media binging roots
I am known to binge a tv show. When I veg with no regret, a hair mask in, tea hot, I can watch three seasons in three days. In fact, for a couple of years I had a spreadsheet where I detailed every season of tv and movie I watched. But I stopped last year because I was really busy with the production of my pilot.
I really wish I began at the top of this year because I have devoured SO many pieces. And with my looming genetic Alzheimer's, I will likely forget it all (she typed with a dying smile, staring past her computer, contemplating the inevitable).
I did have a couple of show re-watches including Ted Lasso (Apple TV), Shrinking (Apple TV) and Younger (Hulu/MTV/but originally on TVLand). But I was in need of deep comfort.
Anyway, I’m expanding! Trying to watch more movies, read more books and get out to catch a show. So without further ado, here are my top picks from Q1 of 2024.
Books
This is honestly the only book I fully read this quarter. Winter hit me hard, so sitting with myself in silence was really difficult. But once I finally got into this book, it was LOUD. I could almost hear Julia Fox narrating the entire story. It’s fast paced, inspiring and awesome in all meanings of the word. Highly recommend this for my New Yorkers who were around while she was growing up. It is insane to imagine her doing everything she was while I was on the playground in Washington Square Park.
Shout out to Lia Flannery for gifting this to me!
Please send me book recommendations! Looking for memoirs, fiction and anything telling a succinct story really.
Movies
I enjoyed this movie for being a joyful meta commentary. I want more Black art like this and more Black people getting PAID for art like this. The director, Cord Jefferson, just won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Well deserved.
Perfect Days and the Art of Priority
My partner and I saw Perfect Days at the Angelika on Thursday. The peaceful, stunning film directed by Wim Wenders is about Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo and his simply crafted life. I will be talking about the movie’s most basic premise — so no spoilers!
This is a stand up set, but I am categorizing it here. I am so excited to be sitting on a couch in the future with my kid and them being entertained just as much as I am. The glitter, the stories. Julio Torres is hilarious. His comedy is the deadpan, subtle humor I warmed up to through Nathan Fielder and Joe Perra. I am so happy his name is coming to the forefront more than it has since he’s been active in the industry.
Television
Girls5Eva on Netflix and Peacock
My friend Julia introduced me to this show after it dropped on Netflix from Peacock. We watched The Bold Type together and were shocked at how much it entertained us. I texted her after the first episode of Girls5Eva that it reminded me of 30 Rock. But if I had been paying attention to the credits at all, I would see the Executive Producer is Tina Fey and created by Meredith Scardino. The show reeks of Kimmy Schmidt vibes so it absolutely makes sense. But Kimmy Schmidt actually made me so wildly uncomfortable, I was surprised I enjoyed this show so much. It’s probably the diversity and talent. The cast is amazing.
One Day on Netflix
I saw the Anne Hathaway movie so long ago I forgot a key detail about the ending. Anyway if you need to cry, this is the show to watch.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime
I finished the first season of this show in one night. I was struggling to stay awake but I had. to. finish. It was the very classic Donald x Hiro Murai collab visually. Their style for Atlanta is always what drew me in. I was definitely too young to watch the original Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) movie, so I don’t remember the details outside of “hot husband and wife try to kill each other but have sex also.” This show is a prime example of how talented comedians are. We’ve already seen Donald Glover go from Derrick Comedy to serious musician to Atlanta. But Maya Erskine going from PEN15 to this? Insane. There are funny parts, but this is in now way a comedy. I wish this wasn’t a spin-off because I know more people would watch it.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Peacock/Bravo
As I listen to Las Culturistas weekly, there was no avoiding the Bravo-verse, let alone the RHOSLC. I originally started watching from the fourth — most recent — season because I heard about all the drama going down and wanted to hop In immediately. But my friends yelled at me to start from the beginning and boy, they were right. You cannot make this shit up! I’ve learned so much about Mormonism (which feels serendipitous with the Nara Smith come up) Utah, and scamming the elderly.
Live Shows
Jaboukie & Friends at Union Hall
What a fuckin talented gay. I had previously been to comedy nights where the host just gets up in the middle, attempts crowd work and then shrugs it off and says “okay whatever fuck you guys.” But this man came with a POWERPOINT with recent news and funny commentary. The man was PREPARED. And I’m pretty sure every featured comedian was also queer!
The PROBLEMISTA Tour: Julio and Friends at The Bell House
I feel like I had seen ads from Problemista since early 2022, so I have been waiting it for so long. I still have not seen it, but it was really fun to see the talented people who star in the film, marketing the movie by marketing themselves. I saw Julio here before seeing his special and thought he seemed nervous. However, it is literally just his schtick. Highlight was Larry Owens who I have seen in so many TV shows, so I was thrilled to see him sing his comedic jams live and also know he’s in a movie!! Congrats, dude.
Music
The pop girlies are back y’all. Thank gawd.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan
I was introduced to Chappell Roan last year when Pink Pony Club showed up on my roommate Spotify mix. I’m not one to find music before it’s prime, so I was a year late. But from there, I had anticipated Chappell’s album until it’s release this past September. Her voice is gorgeous and her storytelling immerses you into a moment. You can just tell she is having a blast, and it makes me want to too.
ALL of Reneé Rapp’s Discography
I was introduced to Reneé through HBO’s Sex Lives of College Girls and have been so invested in her growth. She’s young, and I feel like you can see a very genuine and sincere person grow within the music she’s producing. She’s a talented actress on stage and screen, yes, but she is a full package pop girlie through and through. We love a triple threat.
COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé
Right at the buzzer, she swoops in with a slam-fricken-dunk. In my experience absorbing Beyonce’s music, this feels like the first time where she is directly telling people, “fuck off, I’m gonna do what I want” and she absolutely slayed. It’s only been a couple of days since the album dropped but it’s the only thing I’ve been listening to. Favorites so far are “YA YA,” “II Hands II Heaven” and “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus.
As we emerge into spring (aka, Q2) I’m not really anticipating any new media, so if you have anything to get on my radar, please leave a comment.