Oh November…between a trip to NYC and a long holiday weekend, I am pop culturally stuffed this month! Here’s a few of my favorites – can’t wait to hear what pop culture got you through the holiday weekend this year!

Reading

Artemis – I read a book! I had planned to take another book on my recent flight to New York but when Artemis was my Book of the Month I couldn’t wait. And it was SO FUN. If you liked The Martian you’ll love this one too. It’s nerdy and science-y and funny and a great caper. It was the perfect escape and a quick read!

According to my Goodreads 2017 challenge, I’ve exceeded my goal! I hope to read another book or two and catch up on comics over the next month.

Listening

As you may have surmised, I am in love with all things Crooked Media. So when I learned that my political crush, Jason Kander, was starting his own podcast I was thrilled! And it does NOT disappoint! Majority 54 is about the 54% of Americans who didn’t vote for the President and what you can do. In the latest episode he interviewed a former CIA agent who was fascinating. He also gives you recommendations for how to handle political discussions with those who voted for our current administration. A VERY helpful tool for the holidays. Unlike Pod Save America or Lovett or Leave It, which can end up more rant-y than helpful, this one does a great job at listening I feel.

I mentioned last month that I really enjoyed Dirty John. And that podcast recommended that I check out Young Charlie which is all about Charles Manson, who was alive when I started listening to the podcast a few weeks ago… If you like a “how they became a serial killer” story, you should listen (and check out my watching recommendation that compliments this…)

Watching

There is too much TV going on in November, and rainy weekends and holidays are perfect for binge watching!

Stranger Things 2 – I LOVED IT. It was such a fun 8 episodes (yes I know there were 9, but Jane’s side trip didn’t do it for me). I loved Eleven & Hopper getting so much time together, I loved how Will was an INCREDIBLE actor I loved Mad Max & Lucas and I totally called it with Dart. OH, and holy babysitters club Steve! I could have absolutely done without Billy however, gross on gross on chest hair and gerry curls gross.

You’re the Worst – I’ve really liked this show in seasons past – but this season was dark and angry and not my favorite. With the news that the show will wrap up next season, I’m curious to see how they do it and make me not hate the characters as I was this season…

Mind Hunter – (see Young Charlie reference above) – I heard a lot of folks rave about this show and give me a heads up – it took the trip to New York to watch the first 4 episodes on my flight and they didn’t disappoint. Jonathan Groff is fantastic, and Anna Torv is doing her best Carrie Coon impression. The show is about the beginning of FBI Profilers and also about the beginning of serial killers in a way. It’s historically based and really interesting. I’m almost finished…

Let’s take a moment to talk about how incredible Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has been this season. Wow. This season of Crazy Ex is all about mental health (she really is crazy…spoiler alert) and it is fantastic. It can be a hard sell (I just tried with a TV friend this week) with 2 original musical numbers per episode – but…

I’m also really loving Jane the Virgin this season (no plans to read the book, but a very clever tie in). I’m getting mixed reviews on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, but I’ll check it out, it’s Gilmore Girls creators how could it be bad? I enjoyed the excellent mid-season finale for The Good Place. The Anthony Bourdain Puerto Rico episode was amazing, as was the Southern Italy episode. I still need to watch Jeremiah Tower’s episode…I’m almost caught up on Mr Robot which had a really visually interesting episode a few weeks ago. I think Mr Robot is a show better binged…

Live Theater – When in NYC you see a show right? Well, we often eat our way through the city (which you know if you follow me on Instagram). But with Steve Martin premiering a new play staring Amy Schumer and Kegan Michael Key we were sold! Meteor Shower was FANTASTIC! Amazing cast and so funny, if you find yourself in NYC check it out!

I am sure I’m forgetting something, and I’m sure you’ll let me know what it is in the comments below. What’s on your radar for December besides The Last Jedi?

October is always pop culture overload on TV, add in a few rainy weekends to get caught up on comics and a couple of great podcast series concluding AND Stranger Things? I need a sick day to get caught up on my pop culture priorities!

Happy Halloween folks, here’s what’s been keeping me on my toes this month…

Reading

I mentioned last month that I started HRC’s book – What Happened. I finally finished it, and as a (giant surprise) supporter of Hillary’s I liked it. Parts of it (the Russia stuff) went on longer than I would have liked, BUT I learned some stuff I wish I’d learned (or heard through the noise) before the election.

I also had some time to catch up on my comics lately – huzzah! Ms Marvel, Hawkeye and Captain Marvel continue to dominate my comic faves these days. Well done ladies of Marvel. AND I like the new Princess character in The Walking Dead, I think…

I have been fascinated by Rasputin (the crazy Russian monk) since I first learned about him in high school (and that terrible movie Nicholas & Alexandra) so when I saw a new graphic novel about him a few weeks ago I snagged it. It was OK, but not what I was hoping for and seems to have taken some historic liberties…

Next up for the plane ride to NYC – Fierce Kingdom…

Listening

All the usual suspects are showing up in my ear balls, but thanks to an Entertainment Weekly MUST list, I discovered Dirty John earlier this month and it was CRAZY good. It’s a mini-series podcast so you have time for it. If you like Serial or a good long con, this is for you.

I was sad to realize today that Ear Hustle has finished their first season. It’s been a fantastic series and I hope they’re back soon.

And in music (I know…) last week I went to see Depeche Mode last minute with a friend and it was AWESOME. I was never a big fan, not because I don’t like them, they just conflicted with my Dave Matthews listening time growing up. (I don’t judge your musical taste!) Their latest album includes my new favorite song Where’s the Revolution which you should listen to…

Watching

Strangers Things is back and congrats if you’ve finished it – I have made it through the first two episodes so far and really loving it. I decided to savor this season/I had a busy weekend but I promise it’s a top priority!

I’m LOVING this season of The Good Place! The twist last season and the twists this season are fantastic. “It’s Chinese for Japan” is easily my favorite line of television in 2017.

I’m also really enjoying The Mayor, if you haven’t checked it out, fix that. Black-ish continues to be a great family show, the Monopoly night episode was great (also their premiere was Hamilton inspired, so get on it people).

I think Mr Robot is better binged, or else that’s what I’m telling myself because I’m 2 episodes behind, but loved the premiere! I am sorry but This is Us isn’t making the cut this season.

OK, that’s enough pop culture for one month – what’s on your pop culture list task list this month?

September means the Emmy’s (if you’re a TV junkie like me) and the beginning of the fall tv season. But before new shows began this week I found some great pop culture to keep me motivated…

Listening

I was chatting with my brother over Labor Day weekend and he suggested that I check out House of Carbs – and he was right. I had downloaded an episode to try before he mentioned the pod. It’s a great bit of food news and travel food news each week. If you wake up in the morning and the TV is on Food Network from the night before, this podcast is for you…

I hadn’t listened to much of the Nerdist this summer but the live show from ID10T Fest was great, as was the interview with Tatiana Maslany. My friend Mary Lou, with a fabulous podcast herself, mentioned her new favorite podcast – My Dad Wrote a Porno. Yup. It’s exactly what it sounds like. And it’s HYSTERICAL! The guy reads the “book”  his dad wrote with two friends who make comments every other sentence. I haven’t listened as much as I want to because I can NOT listen while driving…

And for a complete 180, I really enjoyed the Pod Save America interview with Hillary Clinton and her interview on Fresh Air…

Reading

How do you make time to read each day? I have been on a string of books that are too easy to put down and not keeping me enthralled. Maybe it’s the books I’ve chosen, or maybe it’s that Twitter is such drama these days. I need a better system for reading.

Currently I’m reading What Happened, the Hillary Clinton book. I’m really enjoying it – her insights on being a woman in politics are fascinating to me. I’m learning and appreciating her a lot more than I have before.

My book and comic book piles are OUT of control – I need a power outage so I’m forced to read for about a week…

Watching

Why am I not reading? Because every spare moment there’s something to WATCH! This summer had a lot of great female characters – Huzzah!

I finally watched the final season of Orphan Black. This is a show best binge watched – too many characters and crazy plot lines to keep track of weekly. The final season wrapped up the story well, although I sort of wished I had watched the whole series at once, I had a few “wait, who’s that again?” moments.

I finished The Sinner last week and appreciated that they pulled it all together. My sister in law texted me a couple of weeks ago and thought I had finished the series – she asked if it ended well because it’s SUPER WEIRD. Neither of us knew at the time how it would end, but we were both satisfied with the ending – even it if took some very dark and twisted turns to get there…

A few years ago I watched Top of the Lake with Emmy favorite Elisabeth Moss. So when I heard that Top of the Lake: China Girl was happening AND it featured Brienne of Tarth herself – Gwendolyn Christie – I was IN. I tend to limit my dark/weird/creepy sex crime shows to one at a time but I ended up with Top of the Lake and The Sinner wrapping up at the same time. I’m glad I had The Good Place on Netflix to cleanse my palette. Anyway, TOTL: China Girl was really good, not amazing like the first season, but the intertwining of the season and plots was great. I’m a TV nerd not a film student, but this season felt like it needed one more run through editing – a lot of scenes just ended or transitioned awkwardly. And holy Nicole Kidman – she was a fantastic addition!

I loved The Good Place last year and am so happy it’s back! The premiere was fantastic and I’m so excited for where it will take us this season! AND I’m really enjoying this season of You’re the Worst which is the BEST and you should be watching it.

The Emmy’s

I didn’t really plan to write about The Emmy’s, but I have some opinions and a lot of I TOLD YOU SO’s.

First of all, if you haven’t watched The Handmaids Tale, please stop reading this and go get a free month of Hulu to watch it! Every award they won was deserved. And if you watched The Leftovers then you REALLY know what an amazing actress Ann Dowd is and that she deserved that Emmy for all her work in the past year.

I also was on board with Big Little Lies winning – that show was great and so was Nicole Kidman. (who you can see in a very different maternal role in Top of the Lake: China Girl) You should watch it. Also – one of the kids is Young Sheldon (which my husband predicts will have a short lifespan).

My favorite episode of Master of None this season was Thanksgiving which won Lena Waithe a writing Emmy (the first for an African American Woman). It was a wonderful bottleneck episode that you should watch. 

Finally, if you haven’t watched The Night Of yet, you need to. It’s great.

What’s your pop culture consumption look like this month? What new shows are you excited about? How do you make time to read and not watch so much TV?