Miranda J., Busy P., 'Lost,' a video + more
Assorted pleasures and squiggles
I hope this message finds you hale and hearty. Let’s start with a video recorded just moments ago:
(I often share videos with paid subscribers, so if that appeals to you, consider an upgrade.)
lost and smoke
Thanks to everyone who has said nice things about my Lost essay. Can you believe that show premiered 20 years ago? Good lord, I had so much time on my hands back then. I remember the weekend would come, and I’d think, “What am I going to DO with these 48 long hours?” I’d see so many bands and movies and TV shows and friends and extravagant appetizers. Now it’s a slightly different scene, two days feels like 48 minutes and appetizers are for amateurs, let’s just go straight to the main so I can get a good night’s sleep.
TRUDY SELLOUT IS ON THE MOVE! Thanks to everyone who has bought my slim volume of short fiction — I’ve been shipping batches of it every day, so if you haven’t received yours, it’s coming soon.
There’s still time to buy: Purchase the book for $15 via Venmo or Paypal (info below). All books are signed and shipped in a swanky cardboard mailer. For an extra $5, I’m happy to throw in my 2023 Diary Comix.
On Venmo, my account name is whitneymatheson. On PayPal, it’s whitmath@gmail.com.
This week I picked up Miranda July’s new novel, ALL FOURS. I’m only three chapters in, but I’m already immersed — not a shock, since I’ve gobbled up pretty much everything she’s made in the last 25 years. The book follows a 45-year-old woman who embarks on a solo cross-country road trip, where things DON’T QUITE TURN OUT AS PLANNED. Last night I was reading it and said “Uh-huh” twice to the wall.
The bookstore had signed copies, always a thrill — although I’m still making peace with the fact that *this* is Miranda’s signature:
I looked at every copy, and they all had squiggles! Once I was signing my little books and another writer told me it looked like I was signing a check. So maybe I’m the one who’s doing this all wrong.
JANET PLANET is gonna be wonderful. It is the first film from Pulitzer-winning playwright Annie Baker, and I’m already wondering if I should see it in a theater or at home, because I will surely leak long tears. (Answer: Of course I prefer the theater. I have a hard time watching movies at home without thinking Oh, maybe my existence is better served right now by laundering socks or ordering more boutique garbage bags.)
The movie comes out June 21.
Busy Philipps has a new talk show on QVC+, which you can watch free and now. The 30-ish-minute eps feature interviews and interactivity, where viewers can click ‘n’ buy what’s onscreen. It kind of reminds me of when Wheel of Fortune contestants used to go “prize shopping” in furnished rooms — an idea they should bring back, because new cars and cash prizes make for ho-hum television.
Busy This Week also reminds me of MANY years ago, when I pitched a Pop Candy TV series to a cable network that also involved heavy product placement, although all of the products were by indie artists. I was met with an “Uh, this isn’t exactly what we had in mind, but thanks,” which I might as well etch on my tombstone.
The show also reminds me that during the pandemic I wrote a children’s book about hummingbirds and named the main character Busy (after Busy P., but also because that’s a great name for a hummingbird). You can read it here if you’re curious.
More things I’m into this week:
The new season of HACKS
Paul Scheer and Optic Sink on THE BEST SHOW
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ conversation with Anne Lamott
My kid’s enthusiasm for WNBA star Caitlin Clark
REBEL GIRL by Kathleen Hanna
OK! Gotta go ruminate and motivate, see ya soon.
in vaseline,
melissa steadman
Nice wittering. Ace links.
Bust those moves, Whitney!