blessingx

Getting a little glimpse at an alternative world - Match Game 2008 pilot with Norm MacDonald, Sarah Silverman, Rashida Jones, etc.

Just started season two of The Morning Show (AppleTV+). First episode takes place almost entirely on New Year's Eve, 12/31/2019. Everyone is, of course, looking forward to straightening out their lives the following year. Call me sappy, but it choked me up a little when Auld Lang Syne came on. The next episode is titled, of course, "It's Like the Flu". Check it out.

It felt like it, probably because I wanted to stop watching by the second episode, but it has strangely compelling pacing and a handful of small story arcs always happening in at least three, shifting, locations simultaneously. It’s hard to find a point to stop. For example anyone made a widow/widower (and there’s a lot of that) usually has a new lover/spouse in the same episode, sometimes the next scene. Keep on movin’ don’t stop.

Finished all 29 seasons of Vikings (Amazon Prime/Hulu/maybe still History). Not sure why I stuck with it, it’s not great, but it did a few things kind of interesting, first hitting historical—ish major events (though time-compressed and linked to a single family) and second around religion comparisons and interwinding ideas (though by they got to Buddhism it felt tacked on). For what it’s worth it landed much better than GoT, though I’m not sure how they’re going to handle the upcoming Netflix sequel, Vikings: Valhalla, as it’s set 100 years after the original series, and some events have historically already happened in the original (damn, time-compression). If you’re feeling sick or lethargic this may be for you.

Ada Lea's One Hand on the Steering Wheel the Other Sewing a Garden Sample:

There have been a few over the years I’ve enjoyed. The last was Come on Up to the House: Women Sing Waits. Swapping genders (and vocal skills) certainly adds a new spin. I know I mentioned it many month ago. And for single artists releasing a covers album, there’s a ton. I think the most recently discussed one was k.d.lang’s Hymns of the 49th Parallel.

Anyone else give this a listen? Is it just me or is this a pretty uninspiring cover collection? I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico Ex. On to much better... Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine's A Beginner's Mind "The theme is philosophical musings on movies, ranging from Old Hollywood (All About Eve) to monster flicks (The Thing), horror (Hellraiser III, Night of the Living Dead), modern classics (She's Gotta Have It, Silence of the Lambs; the album is dedicated to director Jonathan Demme who died in 2017), even action (Point Break). Opener "Reach Out"—based on director Wim Wenders' fantasy Wings of Desire—is a mindbender: Is this sublime harmony and gentle guitar Simon & Garfunkel circa 1965? Then there’s the twee and wistful, almost medieval folk of “Olympus” whose chanted “There’s no place like home” chorus might make you think The Wizard of Oz but is, in fact, based on Clash of the Titans and focuses on the love story of Perseus and Andromeda..."

I’m too focused on my seemingly inability to mentally adapt to the new mobile Safari URL bar position.

Julian Lage Squint

A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle shines new light on the classic album https://thebaffler.com/latest/a-coltrane-surprise-ho-bynum

Adia Victoria's A Southern Gothic

The Photographer’s Dilemma Peter van Agtmael in the maw of the American war machine https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-photographers-dilemma-craze?utm_campaign=enjoy&utm_source=the-talented-mr-thiel-tyson

Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985

"The very first act of copulation was done sideways, square-dance style." Evolution may not have played out correctly since.

If you’re on a one-percenters kick, don’t miss New Order. 🤑

Chet Baker Let's Get Lost

What about his famous Bob Saget roast when he confused everyone? Ran from nasty all the way back to the 50s.

I’m not sure my favorite Norm moments, but there’s something to be said about relentlessly attacking your subject.

Something tells me we're three steps from Burt Reynolds.

Tell us about your dreams

And damn, right after Belmondo, Nino Castelnuovo. RIP. https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2021-09-07-actor-nino-castelnuovo-is-dead.B1mKEeGrzt.html

Why isn't Pitbull on your list? The Dune Sketchbook by Zimmerman

Add Jean-Paul Belmondo's characters to the cool list. RIP. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/06/jean-paul-belmondo-star-of-breathless-dies-aged-88

DakhaBrakha again