Newsletter No. 11: My fave TV of 2018 and more
Greetings and salutations!
What's new with you? Tonight I have tickets to see a comedy show, and let me tell you, I CAN'T WAIT. Three things that always make me smile, no matter how crappy my day is:
- The Head Crusher from Kids in the Hall;
- The giant food in Sleeper (or anything featuring oversized/tiny food items, really);
- That episode of Get A Life where Chris puts a submarine in his bathroom*.
What are yours? Send 'em my way. Now let's get on with the feature presentation ...
* Particularly the part where he screams "Squid! Squid!"
11 things I'm into right now ...
A few things that have been buttering my biscuit:
1. I finished Season 2 of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, which is just as witty and bright as the first. It kills me that we don't see Luke Kirby's Lenny Bruce in every ep, but wow, I'm mesmerized when he appears. (Also, I know it's TV, but Midge's kids are almost invisible! Maybe next season a flash-forward will show her son fronting a punk band or something.)
2. I've also been watching SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, the 30-minute drama on Facebook Watch. It's a heavy story, and if you have a history of depression, I suggest you digest slowly. But Elizabeth Olsen and is grand, Mamoudou Athie is heartbreaking, the directors include heroes like Allison Anders and Jamie Babbit, AND Luke Kirby even pops up (but not as Lenny Bruce).
3. Did you see this column by Devo's Gerald Casale? In it, he talks about the band's origins at Kent State, how their theory of "De-evolution" has come true and how, today, Devo is "merely the house band on the Titanic." May this band live forever.
4. My holiday wish list isn't long, but I did ask for a 2019 Moleskine Daily Diary. It's hard to find a diary/planner that gives you a whole page for each day. (This year I used the Moleskine blank desk calendar, but I found I was less likely to write on it.)
5. For what it's worth, I'm also down with this $4 disposable fountain pen. Honestly, if I just got a bucket of pens for Christmas, I'd be thrilled.
6. Lately I've been listening to THE SOFT SPOT, a podcast where guests share nostalgic things that immediately send them to a cozy, happy place. Recently comedian Rhea Butcher shared all sorts of love/trivia about BACK TO THE FUTURE. The show is hosted by chill/cheerful couple Julian McCullough and Meg Molloy.
7. I know we're pushing the deadline for holiday shopping, but I love Prints on Wood, a site where you can buy prints/gifts from some amazing artists. Renee French sells stuff there, as do Shepard Fairey, Tara McPherson and tons of other folks. You can even upload your own pics to create a custom wood print.
8. I love the trailer for BLACK MONDAY, a new Showtime series where it's 1987 and Don Cheadle will either save or ruin us all. It debuts in January, as does a new season of SMILF!
9. Speaking of trailers, how good-looking is GOOD OMENS with an angelic Michael Sheen and a demonic David Tennant? Is this a dream? Is it time to get up and pack my kid's lunch already?
10. This week on my hotline, I mentioned an Andy Warhol graphic novel called ANDY: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANDY WARHOL by Dutch artist Typex. I don't have it yet, but every time I go to the bookstore, I can't stop staring. Silver-edged pages are a nice touch.
11. And finally, a new Guided by Voices song is always something to celebrate. As long as Bob Pollard is still high-kicking his way through the day, the world can't be all that bad.
When your daughter comes home from school covered in handwritten tattoos, it's not necessarily a bad thing.
... And 11 things YOU'RE into right now:
Seen/heard/experienced something amazing? Email me or call/text my pop-culture hotline at 929-515-1988.
Thanks for suggesting these:
1. the series KIM'S CONVENIENCE, which looks great and has two seasons streaming on Netflix;
2. the HBO series SUCCESSION, which apparently had an excellent season finale;
3. the book WORD BY WORD: THE SECRET LIFE OF DICTIONARIES by Kory Stamper;
4. the Stingray Qello streaming channel on Amazon, which is full of music docs;
5. the excellent Nina Simone/Lauryn Hill mashup, FEELING GOOD (thanks, Vinnie!);
6. this 2006 Lollapalooza set from The Frames, which includes a dancing appearance by Beatle Bob, whom I referenced last week (nice catch, Shannon!);
7. Metallica's non-profit All Within My Hands, which gives back to communities that have supported them over the years (thanks, Mark!);
8. the motivating track "Great No One" by The Beths;
9. Kacey Musgraves' lovely, repeatable "Slow Burn" (thanks, Benjamin!);
10. a new synth-y song from the band Fever High, "Avec You"; and
11. the Dickies' rockin' cover of "Silent Night."
These recs make my life better! Sharing is caring, and I'm so happy you guys care enough to reach out.
BONUS: Best TV of 2018!
Now, have I seen ALL the shows? Of course not — like you, I have ferns to water and dreams to achieve. But I attempt to rank my favorites below:
11. RIVERDALE, which is all sex and candy and tastes so good;
10. BETTER CALL SAUL, which scratches that Walter White itch a little more each season;
9. POSE, which is hopeful and heartbreaking with a fantastic cast;
8. BOJACK HORSEMAN, which dazzles with its layers of pathos, silliness and animal puns;
7. GLOW, which makes me laugh and root for ladies in leotards;
6. KILLING EVE, which raises my blood pressure with its hot tension and cool fonts;
5. COBRA KAI, which was way more perfect than I ever expected;
4. WILD WILD COUNTRY, which technically isn't a TV series, but who cares, this is my list;
3. QUEER EYE, which made me cry miles of happy tears;
2. THE AMERICANS, which had the year's most unforgettable series finale; and
*makes suspenseful sounds*
1. TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, which deserves far more attention for all it achieves as a music documentary and comic tragedy. For editors who wish to quote this newsletter, please cut and paste the following: "If you see just one show this year, it should be TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, Mike Judge's brilliant animated doc series that delivers high comedy, hard lessons and an invaluable musical education." While Season 1 highlighted country outlaws, Judge brings us the funk in Season 2, assembling must-see episodes about Rick James, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, James Brown and other legends. The only downside to this Cinemax series is that more folks don't have access to it, particularly millennial viewers who could really benefit from the historical takeaways. If I were still teaching music journalism, I'd make it required viewing.
I also loved: NARCOS: MEXICO, THE BISEXUAL, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, ONE DAY AT A TIME, THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW and THE WHO WAS? SHOW (for kids)
And you loved: ATLANTA, HOMECOMING, THE GOOD PLACE, THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD and LODGE 49 were the shows you mentioned most as your No. 1 series of 2018. Thanks, TV!
John Travolta is furious that it isn't GOTTI. (And don't tell him, but GOTTI is Rotten Tomatoes' lowest-rated film of the year with 0%.) Anyway, tell me what you LOVED this year. Email or text/call 929-515-1988. Next week I'll share my faves and yours.
Until next week ...
- I welcome all emails, texts and voicemails! Again, the number is 929-515-1988. I post a new culture recommendation every weekday, and sometimes I sing. Leave your ideas at the beep.
- If you're a publicist/person who needs to send me something, please contact me for the best mailing address! (Don't use the address on this email.)
- Know someone who might enjoy my newsletter? Have 'em subscribe via WhitneyMatheson.com or this page. And thanks to everyone who's posted nice things on Twitter/Facebook/your child's forehead/etc. I truly appreciate it!
Dressed like Minnie Pearl,
*eats fudge banana swirl*
Whitney
"I'm no dummy. I'm not a puppet. And all the people that make fun of me, or call me a cartoon ... They're talkin' outta their ass." - Cyndi Lauper (1984)
"I've put up with a lot of crap, but I believe that the guy who's still standing wins. You wanna try and out-stand me? Well, you better take a lot of vitamins." - Cyndi Lauper (2016)