This week we welcomed Cliff to the family! Everyone is doing well but we’re TIRED and I think my pop culture consumption for the next month or two may be a bit sidelined by over Instagraming my puppy! the good news is Cliff joining the family is a great excuse to binge Cheers on Netflix. Here’s what pop culture I consumed before Cliff arrived this month…

Reading

I read a book in two days this month and it was amazing! My Sister, the Serial Killer is a super fun and fast read. I appreciated the twists and turns and unique writing style.

I picked up the latest Lianne Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers, a few months ago and finally started reading it after a friend encouraged me to keep going (the first chapter is really random). Now that I’m in to it I’m really enjoying it. I love how her characters connect…

I also caught up on my giant comic book stack a couple weeks ago. I still love The Walking Dead and this latest story arc was really well done even if a MAJOR character dies. They did a great job.

Listening

The David Letterman interview on WTF was wonderful. I’ve loved Dave my whole life (thanks to my dad) so this was a go to podcast interview and it didn’t disappoint.

The Daily did a week of episodes from Europe talking about the rise of nationalism using the EU Parliament elections as background. It was FASCINATING. The rise of Millennials who are anti-immigration is frightening.

I’ve been enjoying Chelsea Handler‘s podcast – the story about her Best Friend Mary and a water bottle is something I can’t un-hear. And her conversation with her psychiatrist is also fantastic. On the other end of the spectrum This Land is a really well done, although heart wrenching, story of Native Americans in Oklahoma and a Supreme Court case that should be decided on this week.

Watching

The Ellen Degeneres episode of Letterman’s My Next Guest… was really wonderful. I’ve always liked Ellen but didn’t know half her story.

I discovered the final season of Unreal on Hulu recently and it was just as over the top ridiculous as every other season. A great summer escape show.

I’m really liking this season of The Handmaid’s Tale. The relationship between Serena and June is great and Emily’s escape was fascinating.

I am LOVING the last half of this final season of Jane the Virgin. I don’t want this show to end but I am hopeful it will be all I want it to be.

I’m caught up on Big Little Lies and while I didn’t think the show needed a second season, it has been fun to watch Meryl Streep this season…

The Night King is dead, all hail Bran the Broken. May has been a pretty epic Pop Culture month. I hope you’ve enjoyed it and gotten outside to enjoy some beautiful weather on top of the great pop culture that occurred this month!

Reading

In anticipation of the 3rd season of The Handmaid’s Tale, I picked up the graphic novel version of the book. I’m excited for Margaret Atwood’s sequel coming this fall and can’t wait for the new season to start next week. If you’ve read the book and want a quick refresher before The Testaments this is a great way to accomplish that task!

I’m heading to the coast this weekend for some quick R&R and hoping to enjoy a book and maybe a few comics while I’m there. May was a busy month and not enough reading happened…

Listening

I’m sad I didn’t get tickets to Chelsea Handler and I have’t read her new book yet (but it’s on my short list). However, her new podcast Life Will be the Death of Me is great so far. The first interview is with her BFF Mary McCormack who I also really enjoy and their friendship is exactly what I would expect it to be.

My friends were going on a road trip last week and needed a few podcast suggestions. I couldn’t believe how long I’ve been writing my pop culture round up and how many great podcast series I’ve listened to along the way. It’s time for another true crime mini series (please share your suggestions!). In the mean time I think we’ll check out Blackout (the Rami Malick miniseries) and Small Town Dicks which my friend suggested.

Watching

May has been a pretty epic month for TV. I know I’m in the minority but I liked the Game of Thrones Finale. I cheered when we saw Tormond again and cried when Jon & Ghost were reunited. I’m glad Dani isn’t queen and think Bran was a weird choice but it does break a cycle that it will still somehow be destined to repeat. And I’m honestly just glad Tyrion survived. And Arya.

It got pretty dusty in our house for the Big Bang Theory finale. It’s always been such a sweet and fun show, it filled a light hearted TV show hole in my heart that I will now have to fill with something else.

I’m enjoying this final season of Jane the Virgin but wish Jane & Rafael would just GET BACK TOGETHER ALREADY! I’m not as into this season of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, so we’ll see if I finish the season. I have watched Wine Country twice so far and it will easily be in my “frequent repeat” collection for the rest of time. I didn’t realize that I needed Paula Pell & Emily Spivey in EVERY MOVIE FOR THE REST OF TIME PLEASE.

Earlier this week we went to Schitt’s Creek Live and it was AMAZING. The highlight was Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara singing God Love’s a Terrier obviously. And maybe the Schitt’s Creek Family Feud which I would have lost. But I did come home with a new Rose Apothocary sweatshirt – hooray!

What pop culture has kept you sane this month? Any good binge’s over Memorial Day? What are you looking forward to with this summer pop culture uptick?

April has been a whirlwind – including a great trip across the PNW visiting family and celebrating a 2nd birthday and a 50th birthday (neither were mine). That also meant time to read a book on those flights around the region! All that and the return of Game of Thrones means April is a great pop culture month…

Reading

I thoroughly enjoyed On the Come Up by Angie Thomas. Thomas wrote The Hate U Give a couple of years ago, which I also loved. I love that she has kept her books in the same neighborhood (and I heard her 3rd book will do the same). I also appreciate that while referencing events between books, the characters don’t cross over (yet…)

I have another flight soon that I’m hoping will allow for some time to read ANOTHER book, not sure which one it will be yet…

Listening

Thanks to my amazing client Bronwyn I discovered The Dropout which is about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos. It was CRAZY. I sort of knew the story but WOW Holmes is a piece of work. I read a great follow up piece in Wired about how we expect this kind of behavior from men in business but rarely do we see a woman lie, cheat and steal millions without any sort of guilt. Fascinating…I can’t wait for the miniseries.

I am a woman so obviously a lot of Homecoming: The Live Album is happening around this house. And I am so grateful that my Monday morning workout class has been including a different version of the Game of Thrones theme song…

Watching

Winter is Here. I am so excited that Game of Thrones has returned and sad that it’s the final season and almost over. I was thrilled to see every character at least pop up in the season premiere. We seem to know where everyone is, and now to see who makes it and who ends up on the throne…

I finally finished Broad City. What a fantastic and hilarious series. I am sad that it’s over but excited to see what Abbi & Ilana have in store for their own future creative endeavors. I also really loved The Other Two, if you didn’t catch the series and need some funny and ridiculous summer TV, start here.

This final season of Jane the Virgin  has all the telenovela tropes I was hoping for from the final season (amnesia!?!!)  I am going to be so sad when it’s over. The final season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was good and I like how it ended but I may need to rewatch that finale. I felt the live musical special after was more memorable. Just me?

I did LOVE Schitt’s Creek and that penultimate episode was FABULOUS. And the latest season of Queer Eye was just what I needed.

What pop culture is keeping you sane this spring? Have you seen Endgame yet? (no spoilers – I may be a couple weeks…)