Don’t Yuck My Yum
(My Very Tenth Newsletter)
A few days ago a close pal made fun of my TV taste. Specifically, she was aghast that I recommended the Kate Hudson Netflix series to you people. Her tastes run “important.” She’s like this with books too. If something isn’t shortlisted for the Booker or mentioned in The New Yorker, it’s never ending up on her shelf. And she won’t get the story on audio or digital, because in addition to preferring the “important," she’s insistent on the pure. My mother was like this, and I rebelled by immersing myself in what she would call garbage. I don’t think anyone enjoyed reading Scruples as much as I did, and leaving it out for everyone to see, made the experience all the more delicious.
I don’t mind that my friend yucked my yum: we have earned this over years of friendship and frankness. But I wish I could yum her yuck. Not every moment calls for high art. I’m not a reality show person. Not because I think it’s beneath me. I’m just a sucker for a script. Back in the day, my schedule revolved around All My Children. Not every TV show is Severance. Not every restaurant has a Michelin Star. I’m grateful that I can buy Bugles in a gas station. They make the car ride more enjoyable. “It’s fun to have fun,” said the Cat in the Hat. And while he is among literature’s most heinous villains, he had a point. If I could will myself to love Hallmark movies I’d be set for life.
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Distractions:
Snacks
The old lady in me can’t resist a good sucking candy. I was obsessed with Coffee Nips for a thousand years, and my dentist is the only one who is still benefiting from that habit. Right now, I’m loving Gin-Gins hard candies not as good as Nips–nothing will ever be. They aren’t as sugary but they feel more grown up. I also enjoy a strong ginger taste. If you need something with more going on, like say, ginger peanut butter, ginger apple, chewy stuff, gummy stuff, check their website.
TV
Suddenly there is so much to stream. I watched all four episodes of Adolescence in one sitting. The premise is simple: a 13 year old boy ( so cute) is accused of stabbing a classmate to death. I will say no more except that the acting is insane. I don’t know if I would recommend it to parents of tweens.
Movies
I said last week that I needed a rom-com, and I found one. In I Want You Back, Jenny Slate and Charlie Day, play recently dumped strangers who hatch a plan to win back their exes. It’s completely fun. I want to be friends with Jenny Slate. No offense to Charlie!.
Books
I know it’s going to look as if Jean Hanff Korelitz is my dear friend because I keep recommending her books. But I like her writing –except for the book that was made in the Nicole Kidman Hugh Grant thing on HBO. And this isn’t Oprah’s Book Club–I don’t have to recommend a book from every genre. I’m a one person team here. Blah blah blah. So here is it is: Read The Latecomer. In short, it is a gripping and fun family saga, but it also includes all of the book club topics: generational trauma, grief, guilt, religion and oh so much more. Most of all, I loved the characters.
Something I Learned
Have you noticed that all of the super Maga ladies and Matt Gaetz are starting to look the same? Numerous press outlets have dubbed this unique botox, filler tan combo as Mar-a-Lago Face. Cindy and I will be doing a deep dive into this phenomenon at our next Ruthless show.
ALSO
Another WSR advice column has been published. We tackled some pretty tricky subjects including whether it’s ok to watch a sex scene on the airplane when a child is sitting next to you and whether it’s ok for an older male co-worker to have a pet name for his young colleague. Some of the commenters were upset with us. They don’t understand our brand: all of the answers with none of the expertise.