22 things to warm your cockles 🔥
Lovely to see you! In celebration of the new year, here are 22 things I've been watching/whatevering since we last corresponded:
1. THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT - Jennifer Beals + Star Wars! (I know, there's other stuff, too.)
2. MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN - This intense Taylor Sheridan show is more SONS OF ANARCHY than YELLOWSTONE.
3. TOO TOUGH TO DIE - Subtitled "An Aging Punx Anthology," this book features comics from Emily Flake, John Porcellino, Sophie Crumb, Aaron Renier and others about punk nostalgia and growing old with your boots on.
4. LICORICE PIZZA - Loved this movie so much I wanna see it again in a theater in a pandemic.
5. ZOLA - Now on Showtime, it's the best movie you'll ever see about a viral Twitter thread.
6. Cat Power - Her new COVERS record is out next week. Listen to "Unhate," you'll love it. (She also had a freewheeling conversation with Marc Maron that'll make you miss your Southern relatives.)
7. A CARNIVAL OF SNACKERY - There are some good bites in David Sedaris' diary entries, including stories about Phyllis Diller, who gave him alcohol and sold him a painting.
8. TERRY ZWIGOFF - Gilbert Gottfried's podcast interview with the CRUMB/GHOST WORLD/BAD SANTA director is gossipy and great. Next time I see Billy Bob Thornton walking toward me, I'm gonna run the other way!
9. Danny McBride/Kevin Hart - I love how McBride and his friends left Los Angeles and now make stuff in Charleston, S.C., instead. Kevin Hart interviews him on his podcast.
10. AMERICAN NIGHT - Will this movie be good? Who knows, but it's about a stolen Andy Warhol "Marilyn" portrait and stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
11. CATWOMAN: LONELY CITY - I love Cliff Chiang's vision of an older Catwoman in a post-Batman world. The first two issues are out digitally and physically.
12. THE SINNER - I just started watching this show (via Netflix), which recently concluded with its fourth season.
13. NEVER SAID NOTHING - Liz Phair made an Audible project where she talks about her career and plays a few songs.
14. DESTROY ALL MONSTERS - The latest RECKLESS graphic novel from Brubaker/Phillips is action-packed bliss that I couldn't put down.
15. EL DEAFO - My daughter loves Cece Bell's graphic memoir, so we may have to watch the animated series.
16. ENDLESS ENDLESS - Aaron B. wanted to make sure this book about the Elephant 6 collective and Neutral Milk Hotel was on our radar.
17. LEGENDARY SPIRITS - Derek Marks released a collection of his fabulous "Grace, Jerry, Jessica & Me" comics, which imagine a world where his roommates are Grace Jones, Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange.
18. WAITING FOR IMPACT - I binged this entertaining Dave Holmes podcast about a '90s boy band that was forgotten before they even got started.
19. I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE - The kid and I have been watching this singing game show, which is more enjoyable than I'd ever admit.
20. Zack Smith - Our longtime friend provided some amazing distraction by unearthing this 1983 Saturday morning cartoon preview and the aforementioned Phyllis Diller explaining how to have a successful yard sale.
21. Has Brian Jordan Alvarez met my family? This video made me laugh so hard.
22. And I was so moved by this story of a sixth grader who saved two lives in one day.
CONGRATS, FRIENDS! My friend Matt Champagne hugged Larry David on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM! Michael Rodrick got offed on THE BLACKLIST! Benjamin Wagner made an animated music video! DJ Ephemerol/James Sime released synth tracks "for your 1988-89 Belgian nightclub"! Brian Heater released the 500th episode of his RIYL podcast! And Dean Haspiel wrapped an astounding run of his RED HOOK comic *and* appeared in a Christmas special that was shot in the studio we share.
Congrats to everyone on their creative achievements! (If YOU have an achievement that deserves a shout-out, just holler.)
That's all for this week -- you can read my daily diary comics on Patreon and/or send your original rap lyrics and recipes to whitmath@gmail.com.
*naps in snow*
Bad Leroy Brown
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Carlo D. is a longtime reader and Patreon supporter in Amsterdam. With his generous level of patronage, he gets a "classified ad" in this week's newsletter! See his ad below:
Wanna surprise your loved ones for Valentine’s Day? What about custom wrapping paper with their faces on it? I can add initials, seasonal decorations, etc. I can also produce a custom comic story with your loved ones. Check my webpage for details, find me on Instagram or email dalsassocarlo@gmail.com.
"Aim high, and you won't shoot your foot off."
- Phyllis Diller
Find me via Twitter, Instagram & whitmath@gmail.com.
Read my kids' books on Epic!