Television
Down in the Valley (Starz)
This show slapped.
It is a documentary-style series on Starz that explores the real stories that inspired the incredible show P-Valley. There are six episodes in the first season. Here are their titles and a bit of explanation cause that will give you an idea of what each episode is about:
- Diamonds of Memphis (strip club)
- Saints and Sinners (woman of god destigmatizes sex in the South)
- Out of the Mud (formerly closeted black man raps)
- From the Juke to the Junt (the music of P-Valley)
- Hoodoo Women (self-explanatory)
- Ten Toes Down (Black country life)
Nicco Annan is a fabulous host. Annan connects with the people in this show, which is apparent in every episode.
The standout episode for me was Episode 4: From the Juke to the Junt, which focused on the music of P-Valley, which I’ve been fascinated with since the first time I watched. Before the show even existed, musicians were creating music for the fictional town of Chuccalissa… and it was GOOD.
Hearing Jucee Froot and Annan discuss the way the theme song came to be brought tears to my eyes, y’all. This whole episode had me so emotional.
I think this would work as a solo watch, too. Even if you’ve never watched a single episode of P-Valley, there’s something for you here.
But of course, IIIIIII want you to watch P-Valley first. And then come talk to me about it.
Taxi (Paramount Plus)
James Burrows likes two things: this apartment window and hard nips.
So far, those are my two main takeaways from Taxi.
Here are some smaller ones:
I might have a crush on Judd Hirsch. He’s negative often, which I don’t like, but (for the most part, so far) it feels like he’s a good man. He’s unafraid to be soft and genuinely seems to care about everyone around him. And most importantly, he is accepting of everyone and knows what to do to de-escalate almost any situation. I think if I had seen this male character (and more like him) on television, I might have felt differently about how I was supposed to be treated by men.
Now granted, the one female member of the cast gets sexually harassed by almost every other character, including one who can barely speak English in season 1. But those were the times. It really drives home a woman’s role in the world in the late 70s/early 80s.
One thing that is wild to me about this show is Danny DeVito. Almost every line he has could work for Frank Reynolds on Always Sunny. There was one whole episode that I think could work as shot for shot remake with the Always Sunny gang too.
Latka would be played by Charlie, of course.
For All Mankind (Apple TV +)
I love these women. And some of the men on the show, too.
Not fucking Space Grandpa, though.
I’ve watched this series more than once already, making it a great background noise for when I’m arting or something similar. I know the show’s beats enough to get what I need from the dialogue.
And we know I listen to the soundtrack enough, right?
I don’t know how often I’ll be watching episodes of this, but I just wanted to take a moment to mention it, just in case you haven’t seen it and were waiting for the right time.
The right time is now.
Australian TV (Or Dropout TV)
Australian Survivor Heroes vs. Villains
WE ARE BACK BAYBEE.
I am actively wiggling in anticpation until we get to the episode with the absolute best tribal council ever.
So many good things happen this season I can barely breathe with excitement.
Aubz told me I was a simp for Simon and well, I guess that is true.
I can’t wait to tell her about how much I hated him with vile piles of hate daggers in my eyes the first time I watched this season.
Movies
Stress Positions (Hulu)
I have been counting down the days until this movie was streaming. I am a huge John Early fan because of Search Party (which is also responsible for my Cole Escola obsession. They are the creator and star of Broadway’s Oh, Mary!)
This movie was …weird.
I mean that as a compliment. Here is a short description from the film’s IMDB page:
Terry, in strict quarantine in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn home, cares for his injured nephew, a 19-year-old Moroccan model named Bahlul, drawing attention from everyone in his life.
John Early played Terry. He made me forget Elliot, his incredibly memorable character in Search Party.
This movie made me think.
It took me back to the early days of the pandemic when we were all terrified and unsure of what the future would bring. We were wiping down everything that came through our front door with Clorox wipes. We strictly quarantined, seeing less than ten people in a year. It was scary.
And this movie brought that feeling back a bit.
The other big thing I thought about while I was watching this movie was how people we think would be liberal and accepting (a gay fella living in NYC) can still have some pretty strong prejudices of their own.
The other big thing I got from this movie is the quote, “Fiction is freedom!” I think I’m gonna print up a lil sign to hang up in my office
This movie rounds out a few others I’ve watched in that year or so that have me screaming at the top of my lungs, “Movies that feel like 1990s indie films are back, baybee!!”
I just hope A24 & Neon don’t get Weinstein-ed, you know?
The Fall Guy (Peacock)
Y’all, this was pure fun. It was camp. It was snappy. The fighting was good and easy to follow. The stunts were incredible.
Just go in and watch it. It’s a bop.
Also, please, please, please take note during the credits of how long the list of stunt people employed on this film is. I am not embarrassed to say that I teared up when I saw it.
And yes, watch the credits because there is an after-credits scene. But also watch the credits because so many people worked hard on the movies and TV we love. It warms my heart to think about the “Assistant Best Boy Grip” excitedly pointing out their name to their friends who came to watch this movie with him. Or the set decorator who finally stopped being someone else’s assistant when they get to see Set Decorator….Their Name for the very first time.
And also, it’s fun to read through the names and roll them around in your mouth. Watching the credits is fun. At least, it is for me.
