2017 started off with a lot of SNOW and icy roads for me. Which meant more time for pop culture consumption. Which was good, because January launches a lot of great pop culture!
Reading
For Christmas my dad bought us March Book 1,2 & 3 by Congressman John Lewis. Yes, that John Lewis who was in the news over MLK weekend. Which is exactly when I picked up Book 1 to read. Then the next day Book 2. And then a week later I read Book 3. (Fun fact about graphic novels – they’re short and only take about an hour or two to read!) I am embarrassed to say how much of the Civil Rights movement I wasn’t aware of, and what incredible and amazing people were doing incredible work to make our country better. We still have a long way to go, but as my dad keeps saying – “John Lewis is the MAN!”
Like many people I’ve been reading and watching a lot of news coverage the past few weeks. Which means it’s time for me to turn it off and read a book. Up next: Dark Matter and Underground Railroad.
Watching
I couldn’t figure out why NBC decided to break up The Good Place instead of just running all 13 episodes straight through, but that season finale was one of the better twists I’ve seen on any television show in a long time. If you haven’t watched The Good Place yet, go watch the entire season. It’s very clever and funny and I love anything Mike Shur does!
The OA – as my dad said, it’s the best show about liturgical dance he’s ever seen. I have to say I agree, and it sure is different from anything I’ve watched. But that pilot hooked me and while I wasn’t on board with every twist and turn the show took, and I’m still not sure I understand how it ended, it was the right kind of weird TV I needed for a snow storm.
I watched the first two episodes of The Young Pope and, well, it’s certainly different. I mean, there’s a kangaroo and a very unhealthy relationship between the first American Pope and the nun who raised him. The next few episodes are on my DVR, and I may need another snow storm to pick it back up again…
Colony is back and it’s great! I really liked the first season and think the second is off to a great start. I especially liked that the premiere took place mostly on the day of the arrival. Not enough post apocalyptic stories take the time to show us what happened and the immediate aftermath. I always appreciate it when we see how it all went down.
I finally watched 13th on Netflix and that along with reading the March trilogy makes you have a lot of thoughts and feelings about this country of ours. 13th is nominated for a couple of Oscars, and it should be towards the top of your watch list before it wins a bunch of awards. Ava Duvernay can do no wrong.
After Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds passed away at the end of the year, HBO pushed up the release date of their documentary Bright Lights. I knew they’d had a contentious relationship earlier in life but didn’t realize just how incredibly close they were. After watching it it makes complete sense why Debbie couldn’t live without her daughter.
Listening
All things Crooked Media have been getting me through this year. The guys from Keepin it 1600 – probably my favorite podcast of 2016, launched their own media company in the new year. Their interview with President Obama was really really fantastic.
The Watch has been keeping me sane with all my TV watching this month. With some crazy Oregon snow storms I spent a lot of time on the couch and not as much time walking and listening to podcasts. But when I did, this was at the top of the list to keep me sane.
And if you missed Lin Manuel Miranda on Fresh Air at the beginning of the year, go back and give that a listen…
What pop culture have you been enjoying as we start 2017? What’s next up on your lists to read, watch and listen to?
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