Well, January was a great month for Pop Culture I think. We had the Golden Globes with my two favorite ladies, we had the Grammy’s with a couple of very cool performances (Chicago AND Robin Thicke? 33 couples got MARRIED? wow) and I got the nasty cold going around so did some binge watching. Evidently my Pop Culture New Years Resolution was to get caught up to live on some TV shows.

When I get a cold, all I want to do is lay on the couch and watch TV. Last year I read The Revolution Was Televised by Alan Sepinwall and TV critic that I’ve grown to like after reading this book. In the book he discusses 12 shows that revolutionized television. And so I’ve tried to watch a couple of them of them, since I’d only watched 2 of them! The first one I’m watching is Friday Night Lights. I don’t like football, BUT man this show is great. It’s kind of a slow burn show, and great drama and people who really love and care for each other. Everyone needs a Coach Taylor in their life!

Veronica Mars. After I backed the movie on Kickstarter and got my tshirt, I realized I needed to FINISH the series which I’ve owned for years. So, with a few quiet TV weeks to start the year I finally finished the series. It was great, and now I’m REALLY excited for the movie.

Justified. I really like this show, and finally finished Season 3, and when I heard Season 4 was on Amazon Prime, I watched 9 episodes in one sick day…yes, you are jealous. Season 4 was MUCH better than Season 3, and Season 2 will always be one of my favorite seasons of TV EVER. ( the John Lithgow season of Dexter is on that list). I’m now caught up and watching Season 5 live.

Sherlock. I have loved every episode of this show, but for some reason the 90 minute time frame always keeps me from popping in an episode to watch when there’s nothing on TV. I finally watched Season 2 of the show, and WOW it was great. I have Season 3 on the DVR to catch up on hopefully this week. 3 episodes is never enough, but when they’re SO spectacular I’m OK with it.

Up next…Doctor Who (I’m still on the Pond’s eps), Orphan Black, and  Luther.

Books

Super Graphic. I got this book for Christmas and quickly devoured it. It’s infographics on comic book characters. It’s a nerds dream come true. It’s the PERFECT gift for any comic book lover in your life.

Visitation Street. I read about this book in Entertainment Weekly a few months ago. It was $2 on Amazon Kindle a while back so I picked it up, and just started reading it this weekend. So far, so good. I’ll hopefully have a full report next week!

The Walking Dead. Good grief, with the absence of the TV show they doubled up on the comics, and I missed that memo so I’m all out of whack and behind since I have issue 116 and 118, and now it’s up to 120. Yes folks, THESE are my issues in life…

That’s what’s up in my pop culture world to get the year started- how about you? Any pop culture resolutions?

It’s that time of the month again where I share what I’m watching, reading and listening to. Please make sure to share your suggestions in the comments, I’m always looking for good pop culture!

Watching

Holy crap folks, I saw Gravity this weekend. Everything I’ve heard and read about this movie said THIS is the reason to go to the movies. And they were absolutely correct! See it in 3D and prepare to be afraid of space. For 5 minutes after the movie I sat in my seat catching my breath. I don’t think I breathed for the last 75 minutes (of a 90 minute film.). Seriously. Go see this. Take your family, or get away from your family for a couple hours and go see it. Trust me on this one. WOW. WOW.

My DVR continues to be filled with the usual lineup: The Walking Dead (The Governor’s back!), Homeland (Saul knew where Brody was? WOAH!), Masters of Sex (trust me on this one), Parks & Rec, Parenthood, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. You get the idea. But, my husband & I are really enjoying the Esquire Network. Yeah, like the magazine. 2 shows specifically: The Getaway, where a celebrity takes a trip for 3 days to a very cool city. Paul Feig’s trip to Boston was a BLAST, and I love Rashida Jones more for her London trip a couple weeks ago. We also have enjoyed Brew Dogs, which inspired our recent weekend down in San Diego. If you’re a craft beer fan, AND like guys with Scottish accents, THIS is the show for you. Set your DVR and prepare to do some vacation planning!

Reading

I just finished The Husband’s Secret which I’d read some good reviews of. I really enjoyed the book. I like the 4 different stories that all come together kind of thing. My suggestion though: Skip the epilogue, it’s pretty cheesy and could ruin the book for you, it adds nothing.

I had a great chat with my comic book shop guy the other day when I was picking up the latest The Walking Dead issue. My Thanksgiving reading will now include Saga, Y the Last Man (I’ve mentioned Y before, I started it this summer, thanks dad!), and Ex Machina. I will also be buying comics for some of the older kids in my family for Christmas, someone has to raise these kids right!

Listening

I’ve got the usual slew of Podcasts keeping me entertained as I drive around the Puget Sound (and down to Oregon for Thanksgiving) right now. As I write this I’m revisiting one of my favorite albums ever, Beck’s Odelay.

Christmas is right around the corner, and I refuse to play Christmas music until Thanksgiving. Someone on Twitter mentioned last night that Josh Groban’s Christmas album is the best ever. And since I couldn’t reach through twitter and slap her, I figured I’d make my list here: Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Oakridge Boys (I knew I married into the right family when my first Christmas with them this album came on), Bob & Doug McKenzie (2 turtlenecks, and a Beer…in a tree), any Starbucks Christmas album works as good background music, as does A Charlie Brown Christmas album. Fun Fact: My Christmas CD’s stay in the car. Mostly because it’s the only places to listen to CD’s, and the only time I listen to CD’s in my car is over the holidays. What holiday albums do you love to listen to this time of year?

So there’s my round up for the month. Hopefully there’s a few suggestions here to get you through the Thanksgiving weekend!