What’s Up Gillies???

Thank God for Crystan.

I’ve written before about how grateful I am that my friend Crystan is in my life. Aside from shaping one of my defining life choices in a big way, she’s also my tether to more mainstream pop culture. When I feel like I’m lost in a sea of super heroes and space operas, there’s Crystan, ready to pull me back to shore with talk of Shonda Rhimes, Aaron Sorkin and Broadway Musicals. (None of these things, by the way, are explicitly UN-nerdy, but they’re on a slightly different track.)

So when she suggested that we check out the Gilmore Guys live show this past Saturday, I knew it was exactly what I needed to kick off fall. A season for which Gilmore Girls always felt very appropriate. (Fall also always makes me want to watch Gossip Girl, I’m not sure why…)

Gilmore Guys is probably the funnest podcast ever. It’s hosts Kevin Porter and Demi Adejuyigbe are insightgul, earnest and hilarious, they find guests who both love and understand the show, as well as can be critical about it. Overall the whole experience is a delight, and I wish I had given it a chance sooner, but I’m working my way through it now, and I’m just trying to enjoy the ride.

Saturday’s live show was energetic and fun, and relentlessly positive, even though it was about a crappy season 7 episode. (UGH season 7!) Special guest Mara Wilson (!!!!) vibed with the guys and analyzed, kindly, this not that great episode of television.

I should not that when Mara Wilson stepped on stage, I almost cried. I adore her, and have since I was kid, (Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire and that Miracle of 34th Street remake, yo!) and her writing in the past few years has always been awesome. Plus she’s The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your House on Welcome To Nightvale, so you know, win!

Overall it was a very fun night, and I’m deeply grateful to have a friend who finds this sort of thing to do.

And who’ll sit in the car with me on the way there crying along to a Sutton Foster song…but that’s a different story entirely…

Not much to say

I haven’t felt much like writing lately so no big post today!

BUT the new Cassandra Clare came out today so that may get me going again on the obsessive train!

Here’s hoping. 

I’ve also been binge listening to This is Rad. 

Basically this post is a mini Things I’m obsessed with!

Enjoy!

Things I’m Obsessed With Right Now: Strong Ladies Edition

Hey Everyone! I’m going through a couple of obsessions lately, and most of them are lady type people and feminism related, and thus let’s begin.

• The new season of Veep. God, could this show get any better? Amy’s freak out at Selina was incredible last week and the fact that Selina is the most ineffective president ever is particularly awesome. If you haven’t watched Veep, I recommend it. It’s funny, smart and altogether brilliant. (Not to mention Bechdel-busting, and great at the numbers game.)
• Agent Carter got renewed! Hooray! Let’s all happy dance.
• NYCC tickets and acquiring them. (Not feminism related exactly, but still annoying) Look, I’m not the only one of my friends to get shut out. It’s a decent mix of people who got some and who didn’t. Hoping to hit the jackpot at Special Edition and if not, it’s Stub Hub for me!
• The ACLU inquiry into hiring practices in Hollywood at as related to sexism. Can we get a Boo-Ya!
• Sailor Moon…going over six months strong on the obsessions list. You’re about to hit the Batman mark my friend. Congratulations.
• Jen Lancaster, I reflected on her work and what it meant to me last week, but now I’ve been making my way through her books again. This happens pretty much every year. But I felt it was worth noting.
• The Indoor Kids podcast. Oh my God. I love this podcast. I’m behind on everything because I’ve been listening through old episodes but it’s so worth it. It’s hosted by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, and they’re adorable. Emily is everything I love about the women I’ve encountered as I’ve traveled through the oceans of nerd culture. She’s feminist, she’s sex positive, she’s intelligent, she’s passionate about games. I’m completely obsessed with it. You should listen to it.
• The adding of more female characters to Silicon Valley.
• Hey! Pitch Perfect 2 tonight. I’m not like, super psyched about it. I think it’s a wholey unnecessary bit of movie, but I’m just excited that another Bechdel Buster is getting an ridiculous unnecessary sequel.
• Ava Duvernay is in talks to direct either Black Panther or Captain Marvel. I will take either, but I’d rather see Black Panther, not because I want her pigeon holed, but because she directed Selma and thus has strong working relationships with most of the best black actors in Hollywood, and that will be a useful network for Black Panther.
• Oh right, and the Supergirl sneak peak? How AMAZING IS THAT? This show looks perfect. I’ve always wanted The Devil Wears Prada but with powers. If it sounds like I’m being sarcastic, I absolutely am not. Seriously, I’m all packed for this weekend and seriously considering changing up and doing Supergirl instead of Black Canary, it’s that good.

So that’s what’s going on with me. How are you guys?

Things I’m Obsessed With Right Now: Guys it’s SO COLD

So I know I was supposed to write about Sailor Moon today, but I was out in the city last night, so instead I’m doing things I’m obsessed with right now! Here we go!

• New Cosplay that I’m working on! I’m planning for the conventions (yes that’s a plural!) that I’m going to this year. I plan on doing what’s called in the Doctor Who fandom as “50’s Rose,” which is the adorable bobbi soxer outfit that Rose wears in the episode “The Idiot Box.” I have the dress. I need to figure out the jacket and hair and I’m there, and I’m really excited about it.
• Empire. I love it sooooooo much you guys. I love the music, I love the characters, I love the ridiculous story lines. I loooovvvveee Cookie. Who doesn’t love Cookie? She’s amazing. Taraji P. Henson is amazing. Just, amazing. “What do you do Yoko? DO YOU PLAY THE TAMBOURINE?” I might just start saying this to people in my life, for no reason. Also Jamal came out. And sang an adorable song with child-who-might-be-his-daughter-but-probably-isn’t-because-come-on-guys-really? Also Andre? So crazy! Right? And it turns out Hakeem has feelings and isn’t the worst. Wow. Good for Hakeem. I could keep going. This post could basically be all about Empire.
• A new podcast! Tales From The Jungle Crews, where a guy who used to work on The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland interviews other people who used to work for The Jungle Cruise and it is fascinating and awesome and you wouldn’t expect it to be, but it’s really cool.
• Talking about how cold it is. Look, if you’re not in the Northeast, you’re probably sick about hearing it. It’s not even that cold anymore, but before yesterday, it was so cold. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW COLD IT WAS!
• Listening to songs from Empire. Even if you don’t watch the show listen to “No Apologies,” and “You’re So Beautiful,” and also maybe “Drip Drop.” Or just watch Empire. WATCH EMPIRE!
• Editing my manuscript. I’ve rewritten nearly 20 pages now. It’s terrible. I hate it. But I’m invested enough to keep going. Which counts as an obsession…I guess.
• Choosing what Cons I want to go to this year. Obviously, I’m going to New York Comic Con. There’s no question there. That’s my con. I know I’ve only gone twice, but I still feel protective of it. I might go to Special Edition New York as well, that’ll be a little more last minute. I’m also looking at Atlantic City Boardwalk Con, and Dragoncon in Atlanta…that’s going to come down to money. (Believe it or not, Atlanta might be cheaper because I have family there to stay with…pretty much, I need someone to split the hotel room with me in Atlantic City to make it worth it…Anyone want to go with me? Split a room? Let me know.)
• Taraji P. Henson. And Empire. Have I mentioned that I’m obsessed with Empire?

So that’s where I’m at these days. Enjoy your obsessions! I know I’m enjoying mine.

Vacation Stuff

So, I’m in Vegas for the next few days. (Hopefully I’ll be writing about it, if I find anything to write about…)

But for now, let’s talk about the pop culture that I brought along with me.

• Serial, I listened to the first half on the plane, and I’m sitting in my room listening to it now. I get it. It’s amazing. I was slow to jump on this one. I own that. But wow, wow, wow is it ever gripping.
• Dragonfly in Amber I read this on the plane. Or part of it. I still don’t love Jamie and Claire. But SO MANY MORE TIME TRAVEL SHENANIGANS in this one. Much fewer sexy times though. Claire is in the 60’s trying to find Geillis, while back in the 1700’s she and Jamie are trying to prevent the Jacobite uprising and save many lives and change history, I have my suspicions about who Geillis is though.
• Captain Marvel Trade Paperbacks: In Pursuit of Flight, Down & Higher, Further, Faster, More haven’t broken into them yet, but that’s because I’m laying lazily in my big fluffy bed in the Hard Rock Hotel, and it’s all the way on the other end of the room.
• Good Omens & Sandman Volume 3: I don’t think I’ll ever go anywhere without some Gaiman in my back pocket again. It at least feels that way.
• Nightwing Vol 4 Trade Paperback: I’ve been putting off reading the wrap of Kyle Higgins’s run, because I don’t want it to be over. I like Grayson, I think it’s an interesting take on the character and a good way to get Dick out of the Endgame and Eternal stuff, allowing breathing room for Tim, Jason and eventually Damian. But Kyle Higgins wrote wonderful stuff for Nightwing and I miss it.
• Daredevil: The Man Without Fear by Frank Miller: It’s Daredevil Year One. At New York Comic Con, Joe Quesada said this and Brian Michael Bendis’s runs are the basis for the new show. You know, like Year One and The Long Halloween are the basis for Batman Begins? I think I’m going to like this show.
• Saga Volume 1: Finally getting around to it. I’ve but it up for the while.

It’s also a Crystal week, so I’ll still be watching, and Kim Possible obviously. And I won money last night! I mean, $80 at a penny slot, but it covered my gambling and dinner for that night, which was pretty great!

Things I’m Obsessed With Right Now: Christmas Time Edition

Hey all! It’s a lazy blog day! Things I’m obsessed with right now (Some one them are Christmas-y others, not so much):

• Michael Buble’s Christmas. This is a perfect Christmas album. His interpretations of “Santa Baby” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” are brilliant reinterpretations of traditionally feminine songs. Particularly when he asks, “Santa, buddy, fill my stocking with Canucks tix, for kicks, throw me on the first line.” Adorbs. Also the original, “Cold December Night,” is probably my favorite artist specific Christmas song, except…
• Jimmy Buffett’s “A Sailor’s Christmas” which actually might be my favorite Christmas song ever. It’s a beautiful little ditty where Jimmy puts his special talents to work on Christmas, a sweet ballad about Christmas in The Caribbean.
• Chris Rock’s New York Magazine interview. I’ve mentioned growing up in a comedy house before and 90’s SNL was a big part of that. I’ve always loved Chris Rock, but GOD this is so good. Read it.
• All the Into The Woods trailers. Just all of ’em. I can’t wait to see this movie. (Still not sure WHEN I’ll get to it. My Christmas week is pretty packed, but I need to find space for Into The Woods and Annie…)
• My family’s inter cousin secret Santa, which for my mom’s side I’m running this year. This is less now that the drawing side of it is over and it seems like everyone got their names without incident, but for a good week, I was EXTREMELY preoccupied by it.
• The Legend of Korra season 4. OMG, it’s so good. I even liked the much maligned clip show. Because I mean, it was lame, but they did a good job commenting on fandom with it. (Mako’s section dealt with shipping, Korra’s with ALL THE FEELS, and Varrick and Bolin’s with headcanon.) And we’ve seen awesome moments from both Katara and Toph, so I’m hoping we get something from Zuko and Spirit Aang at some point in the final two episodes.
• Speaking of my new favorite fandom, The MarySue’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Newbie Recaps, having just felt all of these things just a few months ago, along with the “HOW DID I NOT ALWAYS KNOW ABOUT THIS?” aspect of them, they’re a fun read.
• The brand new Wolf-Pop podcast network. Paul Scheer’s little pet project is pretty amazing. So far, I have 3 of their podcasts in my regular rotation (the only station that has more is Nerdist, because it’s Nerdist), Denzel Washington Is The Greatest Actor of All Time, Period With W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery, which analyzes each of Denzel’s performances and is just brilliantly funny, Maltin On Movies with Leonard Maltin (duh) and Baron Von, where they pick a new release and a theme related to it each week, and choose three movies in that theme to discuss, one that they love, one that they hate and one that was a “sleeper” that most people wouldn’t think of. And then finally Crybabies, in which Susan Orlean & Sarah Thyre talk about pop culture things that make them cry. I relate very strongly to this. (And fits into my ongoing, listen to more podcasts hosted my awesome ladies project, double win!)
• Any “Geek Girl Gift Guides” and not just because of the alliteration because I just love almost all of the merchandise shown in them.

So that’s what I’m loving these days!

Designated, My New Obsession

I haven’t even gotten to the stage in my latest obsession where I’ve shared the fact that I’m obsessed with it with the people in my life. (Except my mom, because she overhead it and asked.) I’m still at the point, where even though I know that this is a thing that’s out in the world, that lots and lots of people like, I’m like, “this is my thing. I will not share it! I want to horde all the fun for me!” This will pass fairly soon, and I’ve decided I’m going to push it in order to write this blog post.

I’m talking about The Thrilling Adventure Hour.

As I’ve mentioned before, over the past six months or so I’ve gotten really into Podcasts. (If there’s stuff you like, point me toward it, because I’m always looking for new stuff!) When Ben Acker and Ben Blacker were on The Nerdist a few weeks ago, my interest was piqued. I decided to check out this Thrilling Adventure Hour.

Um, I am both glad and terrified that I did that. I have spent the past few weeks just listening constantly to the stories in this podcast. I cannot get the Sparks Nevada theme out of my head. AT ALL.

He rights the outlaw wrongs on Mars. He’s from Earth.

It took me about a minute to fall endlessly in love with Beyond Belief, which is about Frank and Sadie Doyle, who are Nick and Norah Charles, but they see ghosts instead of solving murders. I love The Thin Man, and this hysterical riff on it is pitch perfect.

And then there’s Captain Laserbeam.

How do I describe Captain Laserbeam?

Like, if Captain Planet and Batman from ’66 and Superman at his best mixed their DNA, it might sort of approximate Captain Laserbeam.

First of all, he’s played by John DiMaggio. (You know him as Bender, I know him as Doctor Draken.) And he fights ridiculously themed villains, with the help of his Adventurekateers. One of his fellow superheroes is Phillip Phathom, the undersea detective, who is Batman, but under the sea. (His parents died, at sea…) it’s all so stinking brilliant.

The whole show is underwritten by Patriot Brand Cigarettes and Work Juice Coffee, and performed by amazing actors like Paul F. Thompkins. It’s a great show.

But I guess, I’m at the point in my obsession where I want to find other people who are obsessed. So this is my shout into oblivion (See, see, I am familiar with TFIOS…I know that’s a thing…) asking for other fans of this thing to come forward and hang out with me. I’ll start push it on my friends who I think would like it shortly. That’s the next phase.

But for now there’s this.