Newsletter No. 8: Van Gogh, Mapplethorpe, yams, etc.
And we're back!
What, you thought I'd take the week off to eat yams and watch British mysteries with my relatives? Nah, this train never stops -- although right now I am in my childhood bedroom, surrounded by dusty yearbooks and old piano trophies.*
Wherever you are, I hope you're feeling full, calm and appreciated. If not, allow me to offer a brief escape.
* Also in this bedroom: about 200 college newspapers, six Cabbage Patch kids, a clay pot I made in high school, the Wheel of Fortune board game, Adventures in Babysitting on VHS, my old retainer and an ankh necklace a guy gave me in the '90s.
11 things I'm into right now ...
When I wasn't chaperoning my kid's field trip or stuck on Amtrak for several hours, I was probably cherishing/devouring one of the following:
1. Yes, I fell down an EVENING AT THE IMPROV wormhole this week. Fifteen seasons of the comedy showcase are on Amazon Prime, and it's pretty fun to see Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron, Greg Proops, Jerry Seinfeld, Doug Benson, Sarah Silverman and everyone else in their rad '90s fashions. (The hosts are pretty incredible, too; they include everyone from Cicely Tyson to Vincent Price to Mickey Rooney.) I spent so many hours watching this and VH1's STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT back in the day that it's no wonder I have such an affinity for blazers.
2. I started reading Jeff Tweedy's memoir, LET'S GO (SO WE CAN GET BACK), which is funny and insightful and a little weird-in-a-good-way. Check out the first chapter, in which he assures us, "Jesus, of course I'm going to write about the drugs."
3. In case FilmStruck can't be saved, maybe we should become charter subscribers to the Criterion Channel, which launches in the spring. Bring on the Belmondo!
4. I'm in the middle of E.L. Doctorow's RAGTIME, and everything positive I could say about it sounds like a Time Life Books ad. (For example: "It makes you feel like you're a front-row witness to history!" Lordy.) Anyway, Milos Forman's 1981 movie based on the book is on Amazon Prime right now, though I won't dare to watch until I finish.
5. What did you think of HOMECOMING, the thriller series starring Julia Roberts? Did certain moments remind you of THE PRISONER and LOST and like 20 other shows? It was also nice seeing Frankie Shaw, whose Showtime series, SMILF, can't return soon enough.
6. Here's a clip of the upcoming Robert Mapplethorpe movie starring Matt Smith. It was written and directed by Ondi Timoner, whose 2004 Dandy Warhols/Brian Jonestown Massacre documentary, DIG!, made me love her for life.
7. If you're gonna go out, go out with a bang: The podcast 2 DOPE QUEENS ended its run with a funny and perfect Michelle Obama interview. I also listened to the debut ep of Conan O'Brien's new podcast, in which Will Ferrell references Scrub-A-Dub, an unhinged Mr. Clean-esque character he played on Late Night. Twenty years later, it still cracks me up.
8. Thanks to the guys at the HEAVYWEIGHT CHUMPS podcast for having me on this week to talk about movies, writing, small towns, Michael Flatley and much more. It was a pleasure!
9. If you haven't seen JULIET, NAKED yet, just go for it. Ethan Hawke plays a musician who was popular in the '90s, and Chris O'Dowd is an earnest fan. This has truly been Year of the Hawke, and I'm 100% onboard.
10. Next week I'm gonna try to see AT ETERNITY'S GATE, Julian Schnabel's new film about Vincent Van Gogh. Willem Dafoe stars, and Oscar Isaac plays Paul Gauguin. The vivid colors onscreen may be worth the price of admission.
11. If you have an HBO subscription, you can now watch the Season 2 premiere of Cinemax's TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS. It's all about George Clinton, who tells some insane stories about zombies, drugs, fire and nudity in various combinations.
Like Dave Gahan, I just can't get enough of your movie/TV/music/everything recommendations! Call now to leave a voicemail and hear my latest greeting. Text anytime. (Huge thanks to Chris M. for making this graphic.)
... And 11 things YOU'RE into right now:
I love hearing from you -- and, unlike what you may be experiencing this weekend, all of our interactions will be positive and free of weirdness/judgment/comparison to your siblings! Call/text at 929-515-1988. and listen to my new outgoing message every weekday.
This week you're loving the following:
1. The audiobook version of Rachel Kushner's THE MARS ROOM (thanks, Jerilyn!);
2. this new song from Joe Jackson, who's steppin' out with a new album in January;
3. the lineup for the Treefort Music Fest (thanks, Mark!);
4. AMERICAN HORROR STORY: APOCALYPSE, which just ended its wacky season;
5. DC Comics' miniseries MISTER MIRACLE, which our pal Jed wrote about the other day;
6. the historical novel CROSSING THE HORIZON by Laurie Notaro;
7. new episodes of SOUTH PARK;
8. GORILLA AND THE BIRD: A MEMOIR OF MADNESS AND A MOTHER'S LOVE by Zack McDermott;
9. Neuhaus Belgian chocolate;
10. the always-classic A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS; and
11. THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE, IQ84 and KAFKA ON THE SHORE, which were your top three Murakami book suggestions.
Thanks for these, and please keep 'em coming! I also welcome recs for great seasonal beers, board games, facial cleansers and cookbooks.
Gabba gabba hey, it's some New York graffiti I passed the other day ...
As seen on Instagram, here's a photo of myself in the school nurse's office when I was 17. And just in case you need a better mental picture of my high school, there's a nice "dangers of spitting tobacco" poster in the background.
Until next time:
- I've never been so easy to reach! Email me by hitting "reply" or leave a voicemail/text at 929-515-1988. Let me know what you're reading, watching or listening to ... or just make up a song about Ione Skye. I welcome it all.
- Tell folks to subscribe via WhitneyMatheson.com or this page.
Have a happy, healthy week! I'm thankful for your kindness, the enduring music of Robert Pollard and a Little Free Library on my block.
Those aren't pillows,
Whitney
"Daylight's nice, but I can get plenty of it after one in the afternoon." - Peter Buck in SPIN magazine, 1991