There’s nothing quite like getting on an airplane and flying away on vacation. It’s been more than two years since we had a real vacation, thanks to the pandemic, and it did not disappoint! We spent our days on the beach reading, then happy hour on the lanai playing Qwirkle and evenings binging TV. Here’s the pop culture I enjoyed this month…

Reading

Finally people, I had time to read some books! And with only one VERY TERRIBLE CHOICE, it was great. I finished Jo Koy’s Mixed Plate on audiobook and it was a really great memoir. His mom is a hilarious character and I know that his new show Josep will reflect that!

My first book of vacation was the beach read I needed, People We Meet on Vacation. It was light hearted and an easy read, exactly what I needed to get me into vacation mode. Then I read the worst book I’ve read in a very long time, and then I finished the trip with Detransition, Baby which is a great book and one that I know made a lot of year end lists in 2021.

I had been meaning to read Kitchen Confidential ever since I found an autographed copy years ago, it’s been on my bookshelf. After watching Road Runner last month (FYI, it’s going to be on CNN in March if you haven’t watched it yet!) I decided to try the audio version which Bourdain reads. It’s hard and also calming to hear his voice. I miss his tone and sarcasm. It’s so weird to remember that he wrote this BEFORE he made it big. If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan and haven’t read this book, grab the audiobook for your next read.

Listening

Vacation didn’t make for a lot of podcast time, but I did try to keep up on What a Day while we were gone. The Joe Rogan episode of The Daily was really interesting too if you missed it.

There’s a new season of Sounds Like a Cult and the first episode was about Trader Joe’s, I felt seen…

I downloaded The Trojan Horse Affair but haven’t started it yet. Too many audiobooks, might be time for a podcast binge…

Watching

While visiting my niece last month I watched part of Encanto but that kid decided to finish the movie without me, SO a week later I ended up watching again, and it was wonderful. I will always talk about Bruno…

My dad texted me to tell me I needed to watch Encanto (check!) and Coco which hadn’t made my list – we aren’t big movie watchers at my house and my husband really isn’t a cartoon guy. Luckily on our flight to Hawaii Coco was available and you better believe that the movie finished just as we were landing and I am sure my seatmates thought I was crying about the landing, but it was the perfect ending that got me.

Vacation seemed like the right time to finally watch Season 4 part 1 of Ozark. It was dark and crazy and we decided that before the final part comes out, we’ll have to rewatch the series since there are so many moving pieces that we had a hard time keeping track. Back home we finished up Yellowstone which I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. It’s a crazy story with lots of moving pieces, and of course I love the local politics stuff! If you liked Succession or Righteous Gemstones, try Yellowstone, trust me.

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window is the most ridiculous title I’ve ever had to type. Kristen Bell can do no wrong in my book, when I was 2 episodes in and on the fence, my sister in law texted to keep watching. I am so glad I finished this series on the flight home. The over the top-ness of the series and the final whodunit reveal were the exact amount of insanity I didn’t know I would love.

I am LOVING The After Party on Apple+. That every episode is a different movie genre is such a clever idea. There are a ton of great characters, and obviously so far my favorite was the musical ep! For a complete 180* TV experience, I also really enjoy All Creatures Great and Small  – it’s a really sweet show where nothing bad happens and the squabbles are very British. And to continue the boomerang, I loved this season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake, and I am so glad that Real Housewives of New Jersey are back!

Okay, vacation or not, what pop culture did you enjoy this month?

When it’s cold outside in winter, it’s easier to stay inside and binge TV. It’s a little harder for me to listen to more podcasts when I’m not typically driving as much (thanks Omicron) but we made due this month. Here’s what has helped me kick off 2022!

Reading

My first book of the year was a great mystery – All Her Little Secrets. This book would make a GREAT miniseries and definitely keeps you on your toes. I was reading this book while I finished Succession and the two family owned/operated businesses had eerily similar characteristics. (Wait – did Roman do that or the CFO?)

I had about 45 minutes left in Jo Koy’s memoir Mixed Plate before the library returned the audiobook for me. So, I’ll finish it when I get it back in a couple of week. I REALLY enjoyed the book and learning more about Chelsea Handlers boyfriend – and a fellow pacific northwest guy!

We went to visit my brother’s family this month and I thought that The Housewives would be a good book for the plane – which it was. Very easy reading and gossipy behind the scenes stuff. If you’re a fan of any of the housewives, this was a fun companion book. I do want a new chapter or revised edition that includes the Housewives of Salt Lake City and the Ultimate Girls Trip included.

I am currently reading Anthem by Noah Hawley who is an author and show creator that I always enjoy. I’m also listening to Kitchen Confidential after finally watching the Bourdain documentary earlier this month. Hopefully more on both of those next month!

Listening

Besides not finishing Jo Koy’s book, I’ve been appreciating the usual mix of OPB Politics Now, What a Day, The Daily and Majority 54. Nothing else too exciting has popped on my podcast radar lately – any good suggestions?

Watching

Norm had his TPLO surgery 5 days before Christmas which forced us to lay low and chill with our dogs. It was GLORIOUS, even with the snow and below freezing temps. We finally binged Succession and loved it as much as I expected. I read a NYT review about how The Righteous Gemstones is a great compliment to Succession and I have to agree.

We just started Yellowstone after everyone I talked to about tv and Succession said “we’re watching Yellowstone too, have you seen it?” Seriously. So. Many. Of. You. So we’re on Season two and LOVING it! All three shows have a similar format – wealthy family with a single older father who has the PERFECT daughter (who is probably not) and a few sons who varieties of evil/screwups/disappointments. If you’ve watched two or more of these shows, you can’t unsee it.

Sex Lives of College Girls was such a fun show that I binged over the break. We rewatched it with my brother and sister in law while visiting, it’s that good. Mindy Kaling created this show and it does not disappoint. Neither does the new season of Queer Eye which was just the new year gift I needed.

My favorite show we’ve finished in 2022? Dexter: New Blood. Yes, it was perfect. We also discovered that we don’t do violence and really scary stuff like we were able to handle with the original series. This was the finale we should have had 10 years ago. LOVED it.

I’ll continue to keep my TV show spreadsheet updated for 2022 along with my Goodreads. I’m off on a big vacation next month and looking for a couple good paperbacks to make the trek with me. Any suggestions are welcome!

I watched a LOT of great TV this year – some made me think, same made me smile, some made me hungry and a few even made me angry. It was a GREAT year for TV. Here in no particular order are my Top 10 things I watched in 2021…

1. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist – Breaking into song, when done well, can be so much fun. I am sad this show didn’t get more seasons but am grateful for a holiday wrap up movie!
2. WandaVision – I love my superheroes with a side of TV sitcom history and this show was just what I needed last winter. It was clever and I appreciated that you don’t have to be really into the MCU to get all the references.
3. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy – I will always love Anthony Bourdain and his style of TV. Last year I thought Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi might fill the Bourdain sized hole in my heart, and it does too (Taste the Nation Holiday Edition would have been 11 on this list), but Stanley Tucci’s love of Italy – the people and the culture was such a joy to watch each week. I can’t wait for the next season.
4. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – I have loved this series from the beginning and this final season was a perfect sendoff. If you somehow missed this show and you’re a fan of Parks & Rec, Happy Endings and smart comedies, add it to your holiday binge to do list.
5. Top Chef Portland – I was surprised how grateful I was that this season was not only in my home state, but also that they embraced the pandemic. This season was so much fun and even though the wrong person won (Team Sara all the way!) this was exactly what this Oregonian needed during the pandemic.
6. The Story of Late Night – Really any of the CCN “The Story of…” series from this past year could be included here. The Story of Late Night was such a great history of television and pop culture and race and gender. If you missed the series and miss Letterman like my dad does, this is for you.
7. Hacks – This show is perfect and Jean Smart deserves every award she gets. I wasn’t sure during the pilot if I was going to make it, but that final scene driving down the worlds longest driveway was EVERYTHING. And it just got better from there.
8. The White Lotus – The absurdity of this show was what I loved most. Molly Shannon should be in everything (and she was – honorable mention to The Other Two this season!) and Jennifer Coolidge is a national treasure. The spreading of ashes at sea is one of my very favorite moments of television, ever.
9. Ted Lasso – People love to hate on a sophomore slump, but I disagree! We got a Christmas episode in July that was an instant holiday classic. We had one of the greatest character twists over this season that I continue to think about. And we had to decide who to replace Earl Greyhound with: Tina Feyhound or Macy Greyhound. #teamfeyhound
10. Only Murders in the Building – Funny old white guys making themselves laugh is DEFINITELY what I thought this show was going to be. And I was oh so pleasantly wrong. Only Murders harnessed the craziness of Martin Short that can drive me crazy and used it to his strength. And holy crap did Selena Gomez hold her own with these two comedy legends. I can’t WAIT for the next season…

What shows helped you get though 2021? What shows are you excited for in 2022? Need my full list for recommendations over the holiday break?