Entertainment Picks of the Week
When it comes to television and pop culture in general, I am a voracious consumer. I love TV. Give me several seasons of a show and I’ll sit for hours. Give me a movie? Not so much. For some reason, a two-hour commitment to one story is overwhelming to me. But endless hours of something episodic? I’m in.
I am a firm believer that art and entertainment can help us heal and help us feel better, overall. For me, I feel happiest when I have a great book I’m reading or listening to, a TV show with fresh episodes to look forward to at the end of the day, and always, always, always good music to sing to and give me energy.
Here are some picks from last week that made life a little more fun and, well, entertaining:
Emily in Paris
Darren Star’s latest project, Emily in Paris, debuted on Netflix on October 2. By midday October 3, I finished all 10 episodes. The show centers around Emily, a good midwestern gal plucked out of her Chicago marketing agency and placed in their sister agency in none other than Paris. Throughout the 10 episodes, we watch Emily navigate not understanding or speaking French, living above a super hot neighbor, dealing with a boss who hates her, finding new friendships, and building both her personal and professional social media profiles.
Let’s just get this out of the way: much of the show is unrealistic and the character of Emily isn’t that dynamic. HOWEVER, it’s fun. It’s a fun distraction, it’s fun fashion, it’s fun to see Paris (Zach and I were supposed to be there for several weeks this year, but that’s neither here nor there), it’s fun to see Emily flirt with French men, it’s fun to see her work wins.
As I said to my mom, Emily in Paris is not going to change your life, but it’s an easy, breezy, light distraction. Also, PARIS.
PEN15, Seasons 1 and 2
I was significantly behind on the PEN15 trend, but now that I’ve watched two seasons within one week, I am a STAN. The show follows Anna and Maya, two 33-year-old women IRL, who play the 7th-grade versions of themselves. What is absolutely MIND BLOWING to me is the accuracy of the year 2000 7th grade experience they depict. They literally follow the timeline of my life.
From exploring their bodies to having crushes, feeling like an outsider, creating AIM screen names, first kisses, first periods, and beyond, the heart of the show is Anna and Maya’s friendship. They have their ups and downs, but they are there for each other no matter what.
It’s beautiful to witness their friendship. It made me nostalgic for the bffs I grew up with and all the painful outfits (low-rise jeans….!), group video projects, unreturned crushes, choreographed friendship dances, and sleepover pranks. It also made me long for that feeling: that even though everything feels awkward right now (bodies, relationships, school), the future will solve it all and make it all better. Watch IMMEDIATELY.
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
OK, I actually haven’t finished The Marriage Plot yet, but I am a little over halfway through and fully wrapped up in the characters’ worlds. It’s all 80s yuppie academia, love, that time right after college graduation where you don’t know wtf you’re going to do AND you’re in the middle of a recession (been there!), and some travel. And more that I don’t even know yet!
The bigger plug, though, is for the Libby app. I am listening to this as an audiobook to work on my listening skills and to multitask while I clean and go on long walks, and I cannot recommend the Libby app enough! All you need to do is download the app, input your local library information (whichever library you have a card for!), and you have thousands of books AND audiobooks at your fingertips FOR FREE. YES, I AM YELLING. I cannot get over this! The magic of the library blows my mind STILL.
Music
Even though it’s still 80 degrees here in Los Angeles, I’m pretending it’s fall when I’m inside the house. I’m lighting pumpkin bourbon candles, throwing on cozy sweatshirts, and yes, of course, consuming pumpkin spice. My music choices also tend to reflect the season. Summer 2020 was the summer of Gaga. I could not stop listening to Chromatica (tbh, I’ll never stop). In the last week, though, I found myself gravitating toward Taylor Swift’s Folklore, which I kind of abandoned after the week it was released. It’s the most fall album ever. Give me a good Pinot Noir (my fall wine preference) and some Folklore, and I’m staring out the window envisioning myself in a movie about heartbreak (even though I am very happily married).
Fall is also always Ella Fitzgerald season. I’ve loved Ella since I was in 10th grade and borrowed Ella CDs from the library and burned copies at home (see library obsession above; also, sorry for breaking the law). One of the most thrilling music releases of late has been Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live). In this rare, recently unearthed 1962 recording, you can hear how much pleasure singing and music brings Ella— you can hear it in her voice, in her delivery. The effect is infectious.
I hope you can find some comfort, joy, and entertainment in these picks. I’d love to know your thoughts and what you’re enjoying lately!
xx
Kailey