The Boys, Rhoda & paper mâché deodorant
September greetings!
You know what I realized the other day? This week marks five years since I lost my old job at USA Today. It doesn't feel like it's been *that* long since I was crankin' out blog posts at a breakneck pace ... although my arthritic feet and gray roots might beg to differ.
There are lots of things I could say about that strange time and the years in between, and at some point I'll share 'em all. For now, though, I just want to thank everyone who's reading this and has made the effort to keep up with me. Your support means more than you realize.
Now let's put on our party pants ...
What I'm into right now:
TV: I binged THE BOYS on Amazon, and what a nutty, bloody ride it was. Despite my mild case of Superhero Fatigue, I adored this tongue-in-cheek twist on the genre. Come for the action and lasers and unbridled badness, and stay for the storyline surprises (and eternal goddess Elisabeth Shue).
COMICS: I devoured the Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips story BAD WEEKEND and hope you will, too. What more can I say about the comics duo that has never done us wrong? The tagline alone fires the neurons: "Comics won't just break your heart. Comics will kill you."
MUSIC: Former pro skateboarder Tommy Guerrero became a star as part of the pioneering Bones Brigade. What I didn't realize (until my husband enlightened me) is that he's also a rad musician. I've been working/eating/dreaming to 2018's ROAD TO KNOWHERE, but I'm sure his entire discography is worth dipping into.
PODCAST: Rory Scovel and Daniel Van Kirk host PENPALS, a simple little podcast that becomes more delightful with time. In each episode, Rory and Dan read letters (physical letters!) from listeners. They comment, offer advice, share stories about their lives and basically make me feel like I'm hiding in the backseat, listening to them shoot the sh*t as they cruise around town.
TRAILERS: BETWEEN TWO FERNS: THE MOVIE is such a crazy concept, I bet it'll work. ... And watch out for the KILLER SOFA!
READING: Marc Myers wrote a piece about the message in Earth, Wind & Fire's "September." ... Elise Gravel created a printable illustration to help teach kids about what's happening in the Amazon rainforest. ... The wonderful Robert Bianco pays tribute to Valerie Harper. ... The A.V. Club spotlights the wonderfully titled film THE VELOCIPASTOR. ... The New Yorker profiles Linda Ronstadt.
EVENTS: Gotta make plans for the upcoming New Yorker Festival and Brooklyn Book Festival. Also, the Saturn Awards stream live Sept. 13.
HEAR ME, HEAR ME: I'm thrilled to be on another episode of SCENE BY SCENE WITH JOSH AND DEAN this week. We talk about Harvey Pekar and AMERICAN SPLENDOR, but we also touch on so much more. Dig it!
You know what else I'm super-into? Everything Bernie Kaminski makes outta paper mâché. This week he posted a medicine cabinet full of retro supplies that I'm completely in love with. Come on, just gaze upon that can of Arrid Extra Dry and whoosh back to a simpler time. Follow Bernie on Instagram for more pure delight.
What you're into:
PODCAST: From Dana B.: "My boyfriend is very into older country music and came across the podcast COCAINE AND RHINESTONES, which we've been devouring. Each episode tells the story of an artist or a song that was slightly controversial. I'm not a big country fan, and I love it." (I agree with Dana, by the way.)
MUSIC: Herman recommends some "summer songs" for the end of the season: Villagers' "Summer's Song," HAIM's "Summer Girl," Young the Giant's "Heat of the Summer," Lana Del Rey's "Doin Time" and The Cranberries' "Summer Song." I love this mini-playlist!
COOL COVER: Chris (aka BIG BUSINESS) sent this link to Maxence Cyrin's piano cover of "Where is My Mind?" that appears in Dave Chappelle's new Netflix comedy special.
MISCELLANY: From Kevin W.: "It's funny you mention Seattle Walk Report, because just last week I had this idea for my blog where I take a REALLY long walk in Toronto, shuffle my music and document it all with pictures and words." Cool!
ET TU, MON AMI? Send your sparkling recommendations to whitmath@gmail.com or leave a text/voicemail at 929-515-1988. They may appear in a future newsletter.
Longtime reader Jed K. shares this pic of himself as He-Man in 1985. "Like many folks my age, I loved He-Man and had so many of the toys," he says. "I wish I still had the mounds of attitude the kid in that picture does."
Do you have a retro pop-culture pic to share? Send it to whitmath@gmail.com.
Photo by Liliane Callegari
Notable new releases:
TV: Sacha Baron Cohen stars in THE SPY (Netflix, Sept. 6) ... DC Universe debuts TITANS (Sept. 6) ... THE DEUCE returns to HBO (Sept. 9) ... HGTV debuts A VERY BRADY RENOVATION (Sept. 9) ... Neil LaBute concocts the LOST-esque THE I-LAND (Netflix, Sept. 12).
MOVIES: LINDA: RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE celebrates the icon ... IT: CHAPTER TWO wants to scare the crap out of us ... BECOMING NOBODY profiles Ram Dass ... Morgan Spurlock helms SUPER SIZE ME 2: HOLY CHICKEN!.
MUSIC: This week marks new releases from Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde, The Highwomen, Bat for Lashes, Adam Green and Lower Dens, among others.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
Sept. 6: Brigid Berlin, Jane Curtin, Rosie Perez, Rhett Miller, Idris Elba
Sept. 7: Sonny Rollins, Dario Argento, Gloria Gaynor, Julie Kavner, Chrissie Hynde (pictured), Jennifer Egan, Evan Rachel Wood
Sept. 8: Aimee Mann, Neko Case, David Arquette, Kate Beaton
Sept. 9: Hugh Grant, Adam Sandler, Henry Thomas, Michelle Williams
Sept. 10: Jackie Estrada, Alison Bechdel, David Lowery, James Duval
Sept. 11: Brian De Palma, Virginia Madsen, Kristy McNichol, Moby, Ted Leo
Sept. 12: Neil Peart, Nan Goldin, Paul F. Tompkins
Here I am posing on a rusty old car seat that someone left on the sidewalk. Maybe next week I'll share a pic of the inevitable tetanus shot I'll be getting as a result.
Gimme danger (& a spiked seltzer),
Send email to whitmath@gmail.com and texts/voicemail to 929-515-1988. Also email for my mailing address or if you want to hire me as a writer/editor/speaker/Jeepster for your love.
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With a hat strategically dipped below one eye,
Carlton the Doorman
"She doesn't want to live off-camera, much less talk. There's nothing to say off-camera. Why would you say something if it's off-camera? What point is there existing?"
- Warren Beatty, on Madonna (in the 1991 film Truth or Dare)
Don't forget to read my kids' book, WE MAKE COMICS, on getepic.com!