ignore the debate, read this instead
This week: Vox Lux, Workin' Moms, and the return of Keanu Korner.
Hello again!
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Here’s what I watched last week - the good, the bad, and the embarrassing:
Monday, July 22
On account of having seen The Lion King during that heatwave two weeks ago—of which the only impressive part is hearing Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen doing Timon and Pumba to perfection—I watched the Seth Rogen episode of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee because it is the image Netflix advertised to me.
Side note: Did you know that Netflix changes the photos they use to promote shows based on your specific profile?
“So… how are you, in as few words as possible?”
Back to Jerry’s vanity project - it’s not the type of television programming I normally consume on account of this man has enough money and fame so why on earth does he also need a show where he literally just drives around vintage cars shooting the shit with his friends? HOW MUCH MORE MONEY DO YOU NEED, JERRY, HUH??? I also find the “into cars” shtick equal parts irritating and boring, much like when Jay Leno does it.
My annoyance being what it is, there are still delightful moments throughout the series…like the time Jerry goes rug shopping with John Mulaney only to have John’s very stylish wife veto the rug they bring back and the time Jerry goes to Tracy Morgan’s house (full stop).
This Seth Rogen episode is also good because Seth is a genuine sweetheart (I don’t know this personally but you can just tell). Jerry takes him to a random diner that turns out to be one Seth clearly loves because when they walk in, Jerry asks, “When was the last time you were here?” and without missing a beat, both Seth and the hostess answer, “Last week.” Adorbs.
🤗🤗🤗 When Seth suggests they get some fries to share 🤗🤗🤗
The two also have a very interesting discussion about Bill Cosby and rehash the last time they both saw the convicted rapist. This isn’t the kind of stuff an interviewer would bring up with either of them and even if someone did, the candor and comfort of the comedian-to-comedian discussion could never be replicated in a journalist-to-comedian setting. So ok, perhaps I do see the point of Jerry’s interview show.
But then I watched the Bridget Everett episode and the tone is very different. With Seth, there’s a rapport, specific things Jerry wants to discuss, and a plan as to where they would go together. With Bridget, Jerry seemingly picked her up willy-nilly, drove to a random town in New Jersey, and decided to wing it from there. At one point along the journey, Bridget asks, “Do you live here? Did you pick this town for a reason?” and Jerry just bumbles something insanely out of touch like, “Me? Come here?! No, I just figured it could be nice.” The fuck?!
Then, over coffee at the Cafe Angelique in what turns out to be Tenafly (you see, the coffee part of the title is because their sponsor is Lavazza - that Italian coffee that tastes of burnt cardboard yet is still better than Starbucks), the two discuss a mutual acquaintance whom Bridget likes and Jerry apparently loathes in a high school mean girl sort of way. Instead of saying as much and moving on, Jerry launches in a diatribe about what a hack this guy is, how he never liked Jerry because Jerry could hold his own in comedy and this guy “obviously” couldn’t, and so on and so forth. We don’t know who they’re talking about because the guy’s name gets bleeped out in post but the entire exchange comes off as uncomfortable and unnecessary.
Internet speculation suggests the comedian Jerry hates is allegedly Bobcat Goldthwait.
Again, with Seth, there’s discussion of his work, his start in LA, doing stand-up in Canada as a teenager, a visit to his office, and questions about how he works with his writing partner. With Bridget, there’s just Jerry yelling about some other dude they both know who Jerry cuh-learly feels some type of way about.
I’m not saying this is downright misogyny, but I will say that back in that John Mulaney rug-shopping expedition, Jerry replies to John saying his wife has good visual sense (she is a literal artist, for cryin’ out loud!) with this:
Yikes yikes yikes yikes yikes.
Monday night, I curled up in bed with the newest episode of Claws but only made it 10 minutes before passing out.
Where to watch: for Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee - Netflix, for Claws - tnt.com
Tuesday, July 23
On Tuesday morning, I watched Robert Mueller’s testimony and felt very sad for America. Then I attempted to self-soothe with a new episode of Queer Eye and it worked!
Help us, JVN. You’re our only hope.
I thoroughly loved the episode where Jonathan goes back to his high school in Illinois to celebrate his former band teacher. Music and culture classes really are so important (FUND THE ARTS!) and seeing the impact Mrs. Dooley had on Jonathan and how much she genuinely cares about her work and students will fill you with joy and hope for the future even in this dismal times.
Where to watch: for Mueller’s testimony - the news, for Queer Eye - Netflix
Wednesday, July 24
I didn’t watch TV on Wednesday but I did go see Vox Lux at BAM thanks to the generosity and obsession of Ian McKenna. I had ignored the film when it came out last year thinking it would be campy and dumb. But I’m extremely glad I watched it and feel like it made me think in a way that most things don’t usually.
Me, trying to figure out if Vox Lux is good or bad.
I can’t tell you that it’s a great movie. But it’s clear every decision that went into creating the movie was extremely deliberate and director Brady Corbet is obviously trying to say…something. What that message is and how to feel about it is entirely up for discussion. Email me if you watch it and tell me what you think. I have my own theories but don’t want to spoil anything here. So I do recommend it but be warned the opening scene depicts a school shooting and is extremely graphic.
Where to watch: Hulu
Thursday, July 25
Thursday was a bit of a catch-up day for TV. I went through two episodes of Late Night with Seth Meyers, and the latest Jane The Virgin, Claws, and Grown-ish.
*Jane The Virgin and Claws spoilers ahead*
FTR, I’ve been #teamrafael 4eva and it just feels really good to be right, y’know?
The most important of those is Jane The Virgin because the series ends in one more episode and I really like where it’s going so far. Everything is wrapping up nicely and I cannot wait for the big wedding we have been waiting for the entire 5 seasons.
Meanwhile on Claws, we were introduced yet another gang from yet another foreign country (welcome the Triads from Macau) while also tackling the true evil that is racism in a scene I can only describe as instant gratification wish fulfillment.
After Jenn’s husband finally gets this book published does his first book event only to find out his enthusiastic publisher is a white supremacist and the crowd is filled with racists. Fighting ensues and while I agree violence is never the answer, boys and girls, it was nice to watch Jenn punch a white supremacist in the face. There was a real shocker at the end and it’s genuinely sad Quiet Ann can’t catch a fucking break despite being the best character on that show.
Where to watch: for Late Night and Grown-ish - Hulu, for Jane The Virgin - cw.com, for Claws - tnt.com
Friday, July 26
The time finally came to watch Vice and I stayed up late to finish it. After hearing lots of mixed reviews since it came out in 2018, I didn’t hate it as much as I expected to but I also expected it to be much more critical of Dick Cheney.
Give Amy Adams an Oscar already, you MONSTERS!
To be clear, it does criticize the former VP but there’s something about Christian Bale in the fat suit that makes it difficult to suspend my disbelief and instead of thinking, “Wow, that Cheney really fucked over America,” my overwhelming thought was, “Wow, look at Christian Bale work really hard to play Dick Cheney.”
That said, Amy Adams knocks it out of the park as Lynn Cheney and that is a story I’d like to see more of.
Where to watch: Hulu
Saturday, July 27
No TV was watched on Saturday but I did go to the Eater Young Guns Summit and enjoyed this great roof.
Sunday, July 28
Please watch this.
There’s a second season of Workin’ Moms out, the Canadian sitcom from Catherine Reitman. I watched the entire thing and can genuinely say it is a perfect season start to finish. Beware that the season ends with a gut punch in the final episode that will have you questioning everything. But before that, it’s a wholly beautiful, clear-eyed, honest, and empathetic look at a woman’s experience, especially as it accurately depicts the complexity of female friendship and how you never really have anything as figured out in life as you think you do.
Where to watch: Netflix
Monday, July 29
I spent most of the day listening to the Over My Dead Body podcast from the same people who made Dirty John and Dr. Death. It’s about a messy divorce in Tallahassee and one of the exes ends up ☠️☠️☠️.
*Mild Younger spoilers ahead*
Then I watched the last two episodes of Younger and continue to be annoyed by how much the writers seem to hate happiness and only want Liza to live in a constant state of emotional turmoil.
This is Molly Bernard. She plays Lauren on Younger and she is perfect.
I did appreciate Lauren turning Josh’s baby into an Instagram star and how they show the ridiculousness of influencer culture. Also, the Chip and Joanna Gaines knock-off storyline was hilariously perfect and so was the casting.
Where to watch: for Over My Dead Body - wherever you listen to podcasts, for Younger - tvland.com
Tuesday, July 30
*Claws spoilers ahead*
Late Tuesday, I caught up on Claws in an episode that involved a lot of violence, a lot of cold-blooded murdering, and a lot of purposeful crime. I say purposeful because usually when Desna and her crew rob, cheat, steal, or kill, it’s under duress or threat of death to themselves. And while there was a threat this time too, there was also perhaps, another option???
The other problem with this episode is that everyone is either not a good enough actor to pull off the intensity of the drama or it is so over the top that maybe no one could deliver a believable performance. Either way, Desna is finally coming to terms with all the inadvertent bloodshed she’s caused in her scheming to become the Boss. Like I mentioned after the season opened, maybe Desna doesn’t have what it takes to be a true OG because it seems like what that involves heartlessness and outright cruelty, two things that we know she (thankfully) doesn’t possess.
Justice for Quiet Ann!
True, Desna’s crew has done some fucked up shit in the last 3 seasons, but it’s always been a reaction to a threat or simply to stay alive. There are two episodes left in season 3 and it’ll be interesting to see exactly where they take this. Ideally, it’ll be a complete turnaround for my favorite manicurists and not just more same old “We’ve killed this mob boss, let’s level up our crime involvement.”
Where to watch: tnt.com
And that’s all she wrote, folks. Stay tuned for next week’s TV diary where we WILL discuss the very last episode of Jane The Virgin EVER.
xoxo,
-delia
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