Oh wow. I caught my breath at your opening paragraph. Years ago, I got called by an audiobook producer to narrate a best selling book called "The Surgeon". It was about a serial killer who prayed on rape victims. My daughter was 6 years old. I knew I could not be in the world of this book for 3 weeks and keep my sanity, so I said "No thanks", and shared the reason why. It was my very first offer of an audiobook...and I had to turn it down. But the next day he came back with an Alice Munro short story collection. And I resonate with Kristin DeMarr's "Bodkin" recommendation. It took me awhile to get into it - but then, I was hooked!
I hear you. I had to stop watching certain seasons of crime dramas I enjoy (“True Detective” season 3 comes to mind) because of the focus on a missing child. Not sure if you remember “The Killing” but similarly it focused on the disappearance of a high school girl and I loved that show but boy was it impossible to watch - my kids were a lot younger then which made it easier in some ways though. This one hits a little too close. Good on you for having the emotional awareness to say “no” to that narration when your kiddo was young. And it’s a good learning to remember that it manifested in another better fit opportunity!
Motherhood did a weird thing to my tastes in media. In the BCY (Before Child Years) “Brazil” was one of my favorite movies. Afterward? I couldn’t get even halfway through it.
Haven't seen it in years and not sure it would still hold up. But certain lines like that stuck in my head. Also, the Central Services recording that ends with "This is not a recording."
Lots of Stoppard type stuff too since he was involved in the script.
Always enjoy your watching and just-watched lists! I haven't seen most of all of them! Now that I have a TV again (I was trying to find the same one, or one that would fit the same mount on my wall...alas, I had no luck with that, hence the couple of weeks of TVlessness.).
I'm watching One Day, which I think you recommended a while back and it's one of those shows that I really liked the first couple of episodes and each subsequent one a little less. The acting is excellent, it's the script that I'm finding lacking.
We just watched "The Greatest Night in Pop" about the making of We Are the World and I really enjoyed it. Amazing archival footage. Seeing Michael Jackson in the studio working out the details of the song, Stevie Wonder derailing the recording by trying to get a Swahili verse added, screwing Sheila E., Bob Dylan looking extremely awkward....all gold.
And we watched The Contestant (HULU). It was tough to watch, as it was one of the cruelest "reality" TV moments in history. But endlessly fascinating regardless to see the lengths producers will go for ratings.
I greatly enjoyed “One Day” so much so that I think I wrote about it twice!
I just watched a CBS Sunday Morning from last week that featured Lionel Ritchie talking about this Netflix special on “We are the world” and now I want to see it! It’s on my watchlist but alas, it will have to wait for after part 2 of Bridgerton binge over the weekend. Priorities, after all…
A friend recommended Bodknin and I loved it! Watched the whole thing in a day and a half. Mystery, humor, and so fantastic!! Another one along these lines is Elsbeth - watched that one next lol
I loved season 3 of Hacks! I saw some people saying they were disappointed in it, but I have no clue why! 100% agree with your assessment! And yes, Helen Hunt pickleball was amazing!!
I have a hard time with the shows that take an emotional toll, so not sure I will watch Under the Bridge. It takes me a bit to recover from those.
Thanks for sharing Kristin. I think by the ending of the first episode of “Bodkin” I was in but it took two sittings to finish the first one. I do hope it comes back for another season. I enjoyed the chemistry of the three leads and the moral of the story (cause there was one) of empowering people to rewrite the stories they tell themselves. There’s something truly inspiring about that.
Do you play pickleball? I think I was able to fully appreciate it as I was playing for a while!! No way you just start picking up the rules so fast.
I thought the actors in Bodkin were brilliant, but I also found David Wilmott fantastic. I couldn't stop watching him.
Someone recommended Documentary Now to me and I've been binge watching it. I don't know how I didn't know about it, but I'm a big fan of Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, so I'm in heaven. I've watched a lot of the documentaries they spoof, so that makes it even more fun.
Oh wow. I caught my breath at your opening paragraph. Years ago, I got called by an audiobook producer to narrate a best selling book called "The Surgeon". It was about a serial killer who prayed on rape victims. My daughter was 6 years old. I knew I could not be in the world of this book for 3 weeks and keep my sanity, so I said "No thanks", and shared the reason why. It was my very first offer of an audiobook...and I had to turn it down. But the next day he came back with an Alice Munro short story collection. And I resonate with Kristin DeMarr's "Bodkin" recommendation. It took me awhile to get into it - but then, I was hooked!
Kym
I hear you. I had to stop watching certain seasons of crime dramas I enjoy (“True Detective” season 3 comes to mind) because of the focus on a missing child. Not sure if you remember “The Killing” but similarly it focused on the disappearance of a high school girl and I loved that show but boy was it impossible to watch - my kids were a lot younger then which made it easier in some ways though. This one hits a little too close. Good on you for having the emotional awareness to say “no” to that narration when your kiddo was young. And it’s a good learning to remember that it manifested in another better fit opportunity!
Motherhood did a weird thing to my tastes in media. In the BCY (Before Child Years) “Brazil” was one of my favorite movies. Afterward? I couldn’t get even halfway through it.
I couldn’t do “Brazil” before either! But I did have edgier tastes.
"Tuttle, not Buttle"
Is this a nudge to watch "Brazil"?
Haven't seen it in years and not sure it would still hold up. But certain lines like that stuck in my head. Also, the Central Services recording that ends with "This is not a recording."
Lots of Stoppard type stuff too since he was involved in the script.
Yes!! The friend that recommended Bodkin told me to give it a couple of episodes!
Always enjoy your watching and just-watched lists! I haven't seen most of all of them! Now that I have a TV again (I was trying to find the same one, or one that would fit the same mount on my wall...alas, I had no luck with that, hence the couple of weeks of TVlessness.).
I'm watching One Day, which I think you recommended a while back and it's one of those shows that I really liked the first couple of episodes and each subsequent one a little less. The acting is excellent, it's the script that I'm finding lacking.
We just watched "The Greatest Night in Pop" about the making of We Are the World and I really enjoyed it. Amazing archival footage. Seeing Michael Jackson in the studio working out the details of the song, Stevie Wonder derailing the recording by trying to get a Swahili verse added, screwing Sheila E., Bob Dylan looking extremely awkward....all gold.
And we watched The Contestant (HULU). It was tough to watch, as it was one of the cruelest "reality" TV moments in history. But endlessly fascinating regardless to see the lengths producers will go for ratings.
Thanks for the comment Steve.
I greatly enjoyed “One Day” so much so that I think I wrote about it twice!
I just watched a CBS Sunday Morning from last week that featured Lionel Ritchie talking about this Netflix special on “We are the world” and now I want to see it! It’s on my watchlist but alas, it will have to wait for after part 2 of Bridgerton binge over the weekend. Priorities, after all…
A friend recommended Bodknin and I loved it! Watched the whole thing in a day and a half. Mystery, humor, and so fantastic!! Another one along these lines is Elsbeth - watched that one next lol
I loved season 3 of Hacks! I saw some people saying they were disappointed in it, but I have no clue why! 100% agree with your assessment! And yes, Helen Hunt pickleball was amazing!!
I have a hard time with the shows that take an emotional toll, so not sure I will watch Under the Bridge. It takes me a bit to recover from those.
Thanks for sharing Kristin. I think by the ending of the first episode of “Bodkin” I was in but it took two sittings to finish the first one. I do hope it comes back for another season. I enjoyed the chemistry of the three leads and the moral of the story (cause there was one) of empowering people to rewrite the stories they tell themselves. There’s something truly inspiring about that.
Do you play pickleball? I think I was able to fully appreciate it as I was playing for a while!! No way you just start picking up the rules so fast.
Hahaha no, I do not play pickleball.
Yes, Bodkin had some good messages! And the chemistry between the characters was so great!
I thought the actors in Bodkin were brilliant, but I also found David Wilmott fantastic. I couldn't stop watching him.
Someone recommended Documentary Now to me and I've been binge watching it. I don't know how I didn't know about it, but I'm a big fan of Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, so I'm in heaven. I've watched a lot of the documentaries they spoof, so that makes it even more fun.
David Wilmot is a gem.
“Documentary Now” is hilarious. Top episodes IMHO were the Grey Gardens one, Juan likes rice and chicken, Batsh*t Valley
Grey Gardens was brilliant. Just started watching Juan Likes Rice and Chicken, so shall savor it.
Thank you, and honestly I somehow feel guilty for killing the buzz with "Push."
Thanks for the mention, Beth! I hope you’re enjoying ‘Trying’ as much as I am! :)