"Dead Eyes," dead Whit, Bea Arthur & so much more
"After being in the business for such a long time, I've done everything but rodeo and porno." - Bea Arthur ---- **long pause**
You: Uh, Whitney? Hello? Is that you?
Me: Yes! Sorry. I was just thinking.
You: About what?
Me: Oh, I don't know. Like how it's a shame people don't use the word "eviternity" more often. And how much I love that the new Huey Lewis & the News album is titled WEATHER.
You: You mean because they have another one called SPORTS?
Me: Yes. It's my favorite album title of the year.
You: Clearly, you don't pay much attention to albums anymore.
Me: You got me there.
Me: So anyway, did I tell you I wrote a comic about Bea Arthur?
You: Oh, wow! Wait ... is this a setup to a joke? I hope it's not an inappropriate one, because Bea's the best.
Me: I know. And no joke--I really did write and draw a comic about her. I posted a few pages this week, and the rest will go up on Patreon later today for 5 bucks.
You: Guess I better pony up for your Patreon.
Me: No pressure, but I'll be grateful if you do. Like so many of us, I dare to dream of supporting myself by making things.
You: That's a valid dream.
Me: And if I can't have that, I'll settle for a lifetime supply of Twizzlers and SPF 45.
Me: So I have a few obsessions this week.
You: Tell me about 'em.
Me: The first is DEAD EYES, a new podcast from actor and comedian Connor Ratliff. It's about how, 20 years ago, Tom Hanks--the most likable guy on the planet--abruptly fired Connor from the miniseries BAND OF BROTHERS. Along with celebrity guests like Jon Hamm, D'Arcy Carden and Bobby Moynihan, Connor tries to figure out why he was axed.
You: This is a true story?
Me: Totally. It sounds wacky--and it is--but it's also compelling and heartfelt. And it's called DEAD EYES because that's why Tom fired him: He said Connor had "dead eyes."
You: I could get into that. What else?
Me: I loved a short documentary called DIEORAMA about a woman who makes small models of crime scenes. I can't wait for Wes Anderson's THE FRENCH DISPATCH; the amazing poster was drawn by Javi Aznarez. I read CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, a play by Annie Baker, and the ending made me cry.
You: I love it when that happens.
Me: It's a gift.
Me: And oh, the other night I started watching A BREAD FACTORY: PART ONE, which I've been meaning to see for awhile. It stars Tyne Daly, Janeane Garofalo, James Marsters and other great folks--I can't say too much because I haven't finished the movie, but it's funny and thoughtful and tells the story of the fight to save a community arts space.
You: Those movies got incredible reviews last year.
Me: They're at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, if that moves you. But honestly, they had me at Tyne.
You: This phone call won't be complete until I hear you rattle off some new TV shows, movies and albums coming out in the next seven days.
Me: You got it. On TV, look out for the HIGH FIDELITY on Hulu (Feb. 14), the teen sci-fi series UTOPIA FALLS (Hulu, Feb. 14), DUNCANVILLE with the voices of Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Ty Burrell and Wiz Khalifa (Fox, Feb. 16) and YEAR OF THE RABBIT with the infallible Matt Berry (Feb. 19, IFC).
Movie-wise, there's DOWNHILL, FANTASY ISLAND and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG alongside the well-titled and smaller-budgeted EAT BRAINS LOVE and ENTER THE FAT DRAGON.
And finally, this week brings new albums from Tame Impala (holy prunes, this is good), Tennis and Huey Lewis & the News. So there ya go!
You: Thank you. Noted.
Me: Remember how last week a reader said that Z: A ZOMBIE MUSICAL is on Amazon Prime? Well, he dared to watch the thing and spotted me in a tiny scene.
You: How do you look?
Me: Pale. Suitably dead. I'll send you a photo.
You: So if I wanna get in touch with you, how should I do that? Put my lips together and--
Me: --text or leave a voicemail at (929) 515-1988. Or email me at whitmath@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
You: It's been real, Whitney. Stay healthy. Stay positive. Stay gold.
Me: For eviternity.
*click*