Television
The Simpsons (Disney +)
I feel like, for a hot minute, The Simpsons was on a downswing. I am happy to report that it is swinging back up, y’all. We’re on season 15 and Bob Odenkirk is a producer.
I don’t think we’ll get anything as uniquely unusual as the Conan O’Brien Days, but I’m still excited.
Somebody Somewhere (MAX)
I’m sad that this is over. Like very, very sad.
But I’m happy with how it ended.
Shrinking (AppleTV+)
I didn’t watch the new episode this week. I was much too invested in Bad Sisters to do anything else.
Bad Sisters (AppleTV+)
I didn’t know what season 2 was gonna do, but I’m glad they did it.
I’m as invested in these sisters as ever. I’m only two episodes into the new season, and I am LOVING the new detective. I feel her in my bones. She’s awkward and so good at pattern recognition, but not in a schlocky television way. She’s played perfectly by Thaddea Graham, who I will defintiely be looking up after I get done typing here.
Something TERRIBLE happened in the second episode, and I don’t know what’s gonna happen next. Of course, I don’t, though. I didn’t write the show.
The Sticky (Amazon Prime)
I will watch Margo Martindale in ANYTHING.
She was perfection in The Americans.
She broke my heart a whole lot in The Hollars.
She made me fall in love with her talent in The Riches.
She was one of the few things I did not hate about Dead Man Walking.
And, of course, she is absolutely amazing as herself in Bojack Horseman.
Plus, did you know she was the original Truvy in Steel Magnolias? Yup, she originated Dolly Parton’s movie role in the very first Off-Broadway production! I would have loved to see it.
So, yeah. I love Margo. When I heard she had her first starring role in a TV show, I knew I would powerwatch it all in one sitting.
Here is the description from Amazon Prime:
“The Sticky is a comedy-drama series about Ruth Landry, a maple syrup farmer who, in defiance of a heartless system, assembles a team to undertake the Canadian heist of the century. The target: the country’s multi-million dollar maple syrup surplus.”
We watched all six 30-minute episodes in an afternoon.
It was darker than I expected. With the poster and the name, I thought it was gonna be more of a llighthearted comedy. I think it is defintiely more of a short-form drama, or, more obviously, a heist.
It had a great “fuck the man” energy that I really loved.
And Margo was fantastic, of course, but she was not my favorite.
My favorite was this fella:
His name is Guillaume Cyr, and he played a character named Remy, who I actually got more main character energy from than I did Margo. He’s the perfect mix of John Candy, Paul Walter Hauser, and the Chief on Tacoma PD. He’s got mad charisma, so I’m gonna watch his career as it unfolds.
You know what? This show was good. It wasn’t great, but it has mad promise. If they continue with it, I think it would hit a great stride around season 3 and then get all sparkly and famous from there.
It’s a fun watch, though. I recommend it.
Pop Culture Jeopardy (Amazon Prime)
Look, this was suggested right after we finished The Sticky, so we said, “why the fuck not?!”
It’s like bar trivia, y’all.
It makes me feel real smart.
Except the music categories. I don’t give two shits about song titles. Only the melodies.
Australian TV (Or Dropout TV)
Australian Survivor Heroes vs. Villains
We’re back! We’re back! We’re Back! This week!
Side note: there have been a few news articles about the two new seasons of Australian Survivor coming to screens in 2025. Everytime I read them I get very excited and then immediately very sad. Molls would have been so hype for these. I miss her bunches.
Movies
Fly Me To The Moon – 2024 (AppleTV+)
I watched this because Anna Garcia from DropoutTV was in it.
It was… fine.
I think Channing Tatum was wrong.
It was just a little loose and flimsy, storywise.
Lots of scenery chewing.
I think I am spoiled because of the high quality space experience of For All Mankind (yes, I am talking about my space show again, lol.)
Other
Andrew Polk: Presented in Lo-Fi (Sam Tallent’s YouTube Channel)
I love stand-up comedy.
More specifically, I love independent stand-up comedy.
The ones that aren’t afraid to say the genuinely controversial things, not just those that are akin to network TV comedy jokes.
Andrew Polk is one of those. And I’d never heard of him before.
This was 23-ish minutes of some really well-thought-out stand-up jokes. When a joke began, I couldn’t figure out the punchline. This is unusual for me because I can normally figure out where a joke is going before the punchline hits.
I’m not bragging, by any means. My pattern recognition skills make it very difficult for me to enjoy traditional comedy.
So I’m thankful to people like Andrew Polk, who can surprise me.
And thankful for comedians like Sam Tallent for lifting other folks up so high. I love that energy.
And Sam’s comedy and also his massive writing talent.
