Category Archives: Television

Season 5, Episode 7…

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So. Episode 7. Spoilers, so I’ll add some space…
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What a great juxtaposition. Abe, waiting around for Ethan to exhibit a birthright of genius he claims every Maisel son exhibits at age 6, but he lights up like a star when he realizes the gift has been passed on instead to his granddaughter. But he and others adjacent are stubbornly unable to recognize or appreciate the preternatural genius of the one and only Midge Maisel. Moishe and Shirley are even now blind to the fact that Midge is a really big deal; even as they occupy front-row studio seats at The Gordon Ford Show, they are unable, I mean physically unable to accept that the tickets came from Midge. Indeed, when Abe first discovers his daughter’s new avocation, he’s not proud. He’s not impressed. He is angry with her to the point of silent treatment. Esther, it seems, will not have to fight her previously-assumed role as did her mother. Those closest to Midge still see her as the happy homemaker, recording her own measurements in a journal and crafting the best brisket in the world. Esther will have an easier go of it.


Episode 8, to air May 19, is titled “The Princess and the Plea.” I think we’re going to learn more about how Joel ended up in the slam. Too obvious? Or might it refer to Midge and Susie burying the hatchet? What say yinz?

Writers On Set

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Having a writer on set is one of the big issues that is causing the Writers Guild of America to strike. While I’m really annoyed to be missing live episodes of SNL, it sounds like the writers are really facing some existential issues in their profession, as in, the studios and the streamers would really like streaming to allow the way writers have always been paid to change for their favor, as corporate America is wont to do.

Here’s a great Twitter thread explaining why having a writer on set is such a big deal and how it actually can be thought of a labor cost that pays for itself…

UNION

It’s What’s For Dinner

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I often have an internal debate on if cooking sous vide is worth the effort. I mean, you season the meat, then you gotta vacuum seal it, which uses a lot of plastic, then you gotta dunk it in water and ensure that it’s weighed down, and then you gotta throw it in a hot pan for a minute so it doesn’t look quite so ugly.

I have to say, though, these days, I’m leaning toward “worth it.”

Meanwhile, how about that Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?

I have to say, I am not a fan of exposition. It’s lazy. In television, please don’t tell me, NCIS. It’s a visual medium. Show me.

But in the case of S5 Ep6, I mean, exposition was the point, and it was used smartly to bulldoze the story forward. It was couched within a story, within the event of our girl getting the honor of a lifetime, a Friar’s Club roast (this really needed a Jeff Ross cameo but okay) but I think this episode was the most talky-talk episode in the whole thing.

Yet, it was done so well, couched within a context, exposition without a wet towel smacking you in the temples, that you really didn’t notice you were being talkie-talked to. So good, and man, they moved mountains with gigantic excavators when it came to advancing this story in one simple episode.

I hope Susie gets to answer and/or make that call. Peace in our time, and tits up.

American Idol Notes, S21, E6, 605

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Kaeyra – “Cold” by Chris Stapleton. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Elise Kristine – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Sarah Mac. “Stone Cold” by Demi Lovato. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Jayna Elise – “Who Wants To Live Forever” by Queen. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Nate Peck – “Lightning Strikes Again” by Dokken. Then, “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, No.

McKenley Brown – “Love on the Brain” by Brianna. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes. Begrudgenly.

Isaac Brown – “Golden Hour” by JVKE, then “Essence” by WizKid. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Cam Amen – “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, holy shit. Platinum ticket.

Sierra Harris – “Barracuda” by Heart, then “Firework” by Katy Perry. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Phil Kane – “Osage County,” Original. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Brooklyn from Brooklyn – “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John. Lionel Richie, No. Katy Perry, No. Luke Bryan, No. Me, No.

Fire Wilmore – Again – “Love in the Dark” by Adele. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Kaya Stewart – Original – “This Tattoo.” Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Meh, nepo baby.

Oliver Steele – .”In My Life” by the Beatles, then “Change the World” by Eric Clapton. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

American Idol Notes, S21, E5

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Mariah Faith Drocella – “Whenever You Come Around” by Vince Gill, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Nailyah Serenity – “My Man” by Barbra Streisand. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Kaleigh Clark – “The Dance” by Garth Brooks, then “I Surrender” by Celine Dion. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, No. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, No.

Tori Green – “Cry Pretty” by Carrie Underwood. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, No. Me, No.

Pjae – “Mirror” by Madison Ryann Ward. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Warren Peay – “To the Table” by Zach Williams. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Meh.

Carina DeAngelo, “Good Kisser” by Lake Street Dive. Judges, Yes. Me, No

Johnny Knox, I have no idea what song he did. Judges, Yes. Me, No.

Paige Anne, “What About Us” by Pink. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, No. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Meh.

Ophrah Kablan – “Baby I Love You” by Aretha Franklin. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Kamron Lawson – “Take On Me” by A-ha, then “Truly” by Lionel Richie. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Owen Eckhardt – “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Fire Wilmore – “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars. Lionel Richie, No. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, No. Me, No.

American Idol Notes, S21, E4

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Dany App – “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Amara Valerio – “Bust Your Windows” by Jazmine Sullivan. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Savanna Christian – “Eye of the Tiger”. Not a real segment, no no no no no no no no no no no. Why did they even bother to broadcast this?

Hannah Nicolaisen – “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Reete Thorns – “I Believe” by Fantasia Barrino. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, No. Me, No.

Tripp Taylor – “I Believe to My Soul” by Ray Charles. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, F87K Yes. F87K Yes, F87K Yes, F87K Yes, F87K Yes.

Rach Karma, “Holy Diver” by Dio. Katy Perry looks terrified. No No No No No No No No No.

Colt Glover, “Rock Salt and Nails” by Flatt and Skruggs. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Cay Aliese – Original, “City of Nashville.” Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, No.