Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Rec: #901: All the Travel Man Drinking Scenes

 



What: What it says on the tin --- a compilation of Richard Ayoade drinking with Kathy Burke in Barcelona, Jessica Hynes in Iceland, Chris O'Dowd in Vienna, Mel Giedroyc in Paris, Noel Fielding in Copenhagen, Greg Davies in Moscow, Paul Rudd in Helsinki, Aisling Bea in Budapest, Sally Phillips in Stockholm, etc.

I dare you not to howl with laughter when Mel starts glugging absinthe.


Representative quotes: 

"Gosh, you can taste the savings."

"It's like being slapped by a tiny, scented fist."


How to get it: This particular one-hour video is currently up on YouTube.


Connections to previous Wreckage: I've mentioned Travel Man before (Rec. #396, List #63, Rec. #592, SSoW #36)! Gosh, I miss traveling. And drinking/eating indoors with other people, actually.


Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Addendum to List #97/Rec. #900: Taskmaster NZ, Season 1

 


What: Well, well, well, the Kiwis have come to play. This first season of the New Zealand version of the UK show starts out full blast, with all of the chaos and joy of the original. Plus, some inspired original tasks! Like "Convincingly paint the Taskmaster like a 5-year-old" and "Be as unhealthy as possible for 10 seconds."

Enjoy some clips!


You may recall that I've painstaking ranked all Taskmaster cohorts (part 1, part 2, part 3). Well, this group is right up there, and I've determined it's the new #5. 

(Now that Series Eleven is complete, I'm moving that group [Kendall, Wozniak, et al.] up to #4, which puts Series Six [Chaudhry, Tarbuck, et al.] now at #6.)

The second season of Taskmaster NZ is currently airing and is excellent. We'll get to that later.


Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Rec. #899/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #57: Tig Notaro - Drawn



Stream what: Typically for Tig Notaro, her latest stand-up special could easily have been called "Memorable Disasters in My Life: Real and Imagined." Untypically, it's fully animated -- in several different styles, no less. Fanastic results.

Stream why: It really is about time someone picked up where Dr. Katz left off*.

Stream where: HBO Max

Connections to previous Wreckage: For more Tig, see Streaming Suggestion of the Week #29: One Mississippi, and related nuggets (Rec. #420, Rec. #489).




*NB: If you are a critic who somehow did not make a connection between Dr. Katz and this special, you should probably give me your job now, please and thank you.


Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Rec. #898: The Thursday Murder Club

 


What: This mystery novel is clever enough to function above and beyond its almost-twee high-concept premise --- a group of residents in a retirement village investigates a murder.

It's so clever and accomplished that Kate Atkinson herself blurbed it.

Comparable to: Tone-wise, it's not unlike Knives Out.


Representative quotes: 

"I would never have therapy, because who wants to unravel all that knitting?"

"That would be like looking for a needle in a haystack made entirely of needles."

"He’s all the things that can go wrong with men if you leave them to their own devices."


How to get it: The Thursday Murder Club has been a critical and commercial success and is widely available. At least two sequels are planned. Steven Spielberg's production company bought the film rights.

Connections to previous Wreckage: Author Richard Osman was on the second series of Taskmaster (see List #97). Knives Out was Rec. #856: Best Time at the Movie Theater


Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Rec. #897/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #56: The Dog House UK

 


Stream what: Watch as people as people are matched with their best-fit rescue dog. 

Stream why: This series honestly could have coasted just on all the emotional buttons of cute, like some sort of extended compilation of YouTube animal videos -- but instead, we get layers from both the people (what are you telling yourself about your life?) and the dogs (how much does connection cost?).

Also, there's this great out-of-the-blue bit where receptionist Elisha asks a vicar (and prospective dog owner) about his beliefs: "So do you believe in astrology? What about ghosts?" 

Stream where: Two seasons are now up on HBO Max.


And the rescue center is a real place! Check it out: https://support.woodgreen.org.uk/








Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Rec. #895/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #55: Celebrity Best Home Cook



Stream what: You know how The Great British Bake Off does little celebrity sprint versions? This is a celebrity version of Britain's Best Home Cook (where Mary Berry went post-Bake Off) --- but it's a *full season*.

Stream why: Claudia Winkleman remains the most charming host on the planet! The round that determines who goes home is judged blind! Everyone is nice to one another! Mary Berry uses opera glasses to peer at the cooks from a pandemic-safe distance!

Stream where: Hulu


Connections to previous Wreckage: I previously recommended the original, civilian version of Britain's Best Home Cook as Rec. #802 (season 1) and SSoW #35 (season 2).


Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Rec. #894: Gourmet Hound

 



What: Gourmet Hound is an absolutely delightful web comic with a tv-miniseries-level premise --- Lucy uses her uncanny sense of taste and smell to track down a certain chef she knows only via their cooking.

Along the way, she gets caught up in the lingering tangles from the mass exodus of several chefs from a workplace gone wrong.


Comparable to: Do you adore how food is cherished in Studio Ghibli films? That same level of loving attention is given to it here as well. 

How to get it: All 166 episodes of Gourmet Hound are available for free online. Start here


Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Rec. #893/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #54: Baroness Von Sketch Show

 



Stream what: Baroness Von Sketch Show is a Canadian tv sketch comedy series. Those tend to have a pretty good record! This one is with Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen.

Stream why: It's a natural successor to Kids in the Hall.

Representative bit:

"Diane, we are living in television's golden age of empowered women."

"Absolutely! I mean, it used to be you'd only see pretty girls getting raped and murdered on tv. But now, you get to see a powerful woman investigating pretty girls getting raped and murdered on tv."

"We've come a long way."


Stream where: Here in the U.S., the show airs on IFC and the first season is streaming on Amazon Prime.


Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Rec. #892: Haunted House

 



What: This song from the brilliantly named Sir Babygirl is an accurate description of how pretty much every social interaction feels now, right? ... Right?

Representative lyrics:

And no one knows the difference from my laughter and my screams
When everyone around me's twenty shots under the sea
And I can't tell if I'm drowning or floating
So I just keep on going, going
And I don't even know if I wanna be free
'Cause the freedom of this party is killing me

How to get it: Don't miss the gut-driven video on YouTube.

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Rec. #891: Kajillionaire

 


What: A young woman (Evan Rachel Wood) slowly realizes that her parents' (Debra Winger, Richard Jenkins) use of her to run a lifetime of small cons is ... not great. Enter Gina Rodriguez.

I loved this absurdist comedy from writer/director Miranda July.

Representative quote: "I don't have any regrets. You're gonna have regrets, though. Because you're gonna miss sex and dancing and pancakes. I just had that one pancake. So I'm not gonna be sad."

How to get it: Streaming on HBO Max. Or rent from wherever. (Or borrow the DVD for free from your local library, which is what I did! Because the streaming universe is increasingly just trying to recreate the price-gouging user-unfriendliness of cable packages. And libraries are great.)


Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Streaming Suggestion of the Week #53: Flo & Joan - Alive on Stage

 


Stream what: Flo & Joan are a musical comedy duo (à la Flight of the Conchords or Garfunkel & Oates) and this is a fully produced version of one of their fantastic shows.

Stream why: I was lucky enough to see Alive on Stage, er, live in Edinburgh. It was one of my 2018 highlights. (Rec. #709: Best Musical Comedy Duo.)

Stream where: Amazon Prime


Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Streaming Suggestion of the Week #52: Colossal

 


Stream what: It's a monster movie! Kinda. Sort of.

Stream why: It is so smart. Anne Hathaway is truly great. Also, I know everyone's all over Jason Sudeikis for Ted Lasso right now, but honestly he was born to play entitled brats masquerading as "nice guys," like he does here. 

Stream where: Hulu


Connection to previous Wreckage: Colossal was Rec. #448.


Thursday, April 15, 2021

List #97: Ranking Taskmaster Cohorts, Ultimate Countdown! The Top 5 (Part 3 of 3)


During this pandemic, I've seen lots of people discover the UK delight Taskmaster, brainchild of Alex Horne. As someone who, over the course of the past four years, has steadily made her way through every available iteration and offshoot (you realize most of these people have podcasts, right?), I say, "Welcome!"

See also: Rec. #696, Rec. #731, List #71, Rec. #858, Rec. #873, List #95


Many casts have now had the absurd and joyful Taskmaster experience, and I have thoughts on all of them.

Let's count down! See Part 1 here. See Part 2 here


5. Series Eleven (currently airing; ranking subject to change): Charlotte Ritchie, Jamali Maddix, Lee Mack, Mike Wozniak, Sarah Kendall

Currently airing, so who really knows, but it's already had a couple of instant-classic tasks (two words: table - salt). Not to mention the magnificence of Sarah Kendall's hair.


4. Series Six: Alice Levine, Asim Chaudhry, Liza Tarbuck, Russell Howard, Tim Vine

Earns this spot mainly for the iconic cake-sitting, but each contestant in this one is sincerely likeable in their own way. Plus, bonus! Alice Levine says, "Hey, girl" to Alex.


3. Series Seven: James Acaster, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman, Phil Wang, Rhod Gilbert


Best line: "I wanted to be on the girls' team really badly." | Runner-up: "A laminator!"


2. Series Four: Hugh Dennis, Joe Lycett, Lolly Adefope, Mel Giedroyc, Noel Fielding 


Highest ratio of deliciously chaotic contestants | Fave task from this group: Hide from Alex


1. Series Five: Aisling Bea, Bob Mortimer, Mark Watson, Nish Kumar, Sally Phillips


This cast does the most enthusiastic cheering on of one another, by far. They also do some of the best stuff. "Write and perform a song for a stranger" is my favorite task, ever ever ever -- both the process and the results. Also unforgettable: The point-of-view film from Sally Phillips





[Tiny bonus: May I humbly suggest a fun add-on? For any season/series, take a drink every time someone walks into a new task space carrying a cup of tea. You'll only stay sober for the US season.] 

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

List #97: Ranking Taskmaster Cohorts, Ultimate Countdown! (Part 2 of 3)


During this pandemic, I've seen lots of people discover the UK delight Taskmaster, brainchild of Alex Horne. As someone who, over the course of the past four years, has steadily made her way through every available iteration and offshoot (you realize most of these people have podcasts, right?), I say, "Welcome!"

See also: Rec. #696, Rec. #731, List #71, Rec. #858, Rec. #873, List #95


Many casts have now had the absurd and joyful Taskmaster experience, and I have thoughts on all of them.

Let's count down! See Part 1 here and Part 3 here.


9. Series Two: Doc Brown, Joe Wilkinson, Jon Richardson, Katherine Ryan, Richard Osman

Several instant-classic moments in this one: impress a mayor, Lord Greg Davies, the potato golf heartbreak ...


8. Series Eight: Iain Stirling, Joe Thomas, Lou Sanders, Paul Sinha, Sian Gibson

Lou Sanders was made for this show.


7. Champion of Champions (aired between Series Five and Six): Bob Mortimer, Josh Widdicombe, Katherine Ryan, Noel Fielding, Rob Beckett

Highlight from this two-parter: Katherine makes a mess in episode 2


6. Series One: Frank Sinner, Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan, Tim Key


The very first series/season! A very strong start!



Tuesday, April 13, 2021

List #97: Ranking Taskmaster Cohorts, Ultimate Countdown! (Part 1 of 3)


During this pandemic, I've seen lots of people discover the UK delight Taskmaster, brainchild of Alex Horne. As someone who, over the course of the past four years, has steadily made her way through every available iteration and offshoot (you realize most of these people have podcasts, right?), I say, "Welcome!"

See also: Rec. #696, Rec. #731, List #71, Rec. #858, Rec. #873, List #95


Many casts have now had the absurd and joyful Taskmaster experience, and I have thoughts on all of them. 

Let's count down! We're starting from the weakest series/seasons, but even those are great! See Part 2 here and Part 3 here. Top 5 are coming on Thursday.


14. New Year Treat (aired between Series* Ten and Eleven): John Hannah, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Nicole Coughlan, Rylan Clark-Neal, Shirley Ballas


Perfectly fine, but just one episode.


13. Series* Ten: Daisy May Cooper, Johnny Vegas, Katherine Parkinson, Mawaan Rizwan, Richard Herring


Filmed during the pandemic. Thank the gods for the raucous laughter of Daisy May Cooper and Johnny Vegas.


12. Series Three: Al Murray, Dave Gorman, Paul Chowdhry, Rob Beckett, Sara Pascoe 


Very fond of Chowdhry, Beckett, Pascoe. Can't stand Murray or Gorman.


11. U.S. Version (season 1 and only): Dillon Francis, Freddie Highmore, Kate Berlant, Lisa Lampanelli, Ron Funches



10. Series Nine: David Baddiel, Ed Gamble, Jo Brand, Katy Wix, Rose Matafeo

A very solid run! Especially considering that Baddiel and Brand could not have cared less, Gamble and Matafeo maybe cared too much, and Wix had to be subbed two episodes because of a health issue.



*Reminder that "Series" in UK = "Season" in US


Thursday, April 8, 2021

Rec. #890/ Streaming Suggestion of the Week #51: Feel Good



Stream what: Creator Mae Martin also stars in this dark comedy/drama-with-funny-bits about a comedian recovering from addiction and starting a new relationship ... and also starting to depend on that as a new addiction.

Stream why: Excellent writing (see quotes below) and a stellar cast, including Charlotte Ritchie, Lisa Kudrow, Sophie Thompson (yes, Emma's sister), and Sindhu Vee. It also features actors from my beloved W1A and my also-beloved Green Wing.

If your little '90s brain ever wanted to see Phoebe from Friends and Wickham from the 1995 Pride and Prejudice as a couple, this is your chance!

Representative dialogue:

"Sometimes I think I just love George, but I actually also love grapes." | "Yeah, George is not your entire personality, darling. You gotta remember that. Addicts fixate. You gotta mix it up."

[Meanwhile, from George] "I think that love should sit beside your life, like a lamp."

Stream where: Netflix


Connections to previous Wreckage: Green Wing was Rec. #110. W1A was Streaming Suggestion of the Week #33.


Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Rec. #889: Convenience Store Woman


What: Nearly every review of Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman mentions that it's difficult to describe, so I won't. I will say that your mileage may vary with this one. 

For example, they say: "uncanny and depraved" (The New Yorker) and "sublimely weird" (The Guardian). I say: very relatable, richly distilled slice of one woman's interior life.

Representative quote: "Before me now was a human male, mindlessly hoping that one of the same species was going to breed."

How to get it: This slim novel, the first of Murata's to be translated into English, is everywhere. It is both popular and critically acclaimed.

Connection to previous Wreckage: Convenience Store Woman was part of List #96: Things to Read from 2020 That You Might Have Missed While Sitting in the Abyss.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Rec. #888: The Basic Ball (A Black Lady Sketch Show)

 



What: A Black Lady Sketch Show is very descriptively and accurately named, with glorious series regulars Robin Thede, Quinta Brunson, Gabrielle Dennis, and Ashley Nicole Black. This sketch, also accurately named, is one of the show's best.

Representative quote: "I'm looking for sadness. I'm looking for Eeyore in Dior. Oh, she is serving you a whole nap!"

How to get it: If you, like me, are someone whose budget does not run to HBO dollars, rest assured that much of the show's content is currently up on YouTube.


Connection to previous Wreckage: See more of Ashley Nicole Black, as featured on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Rec. #417.


Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Rec. #887/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #50: Murder, She Wrote

 


Stream what: Ah, Murder, She Wrote. Angela Lansbury in small-town Maine is as close as the U.S. has come to delivering the Golden Age-style murder mystery coziness usually seen in English villages.

Stream why: Did you realize that, especially in season 1, every single male character vaguely over the age of 45 spends the episode thirsting after our heroine? This is exactly as it should be.

Stream where: Peacock



Image source: https://mythirdparent.tumblr.com/post/173527130987/only-a-few-left-of-this-incredible-murder-she


Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Rec. #886/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #49: Never Have I Ever

 


Stream what: Never Have I Ever is about Devi, a high school girl determined to come back swinging after a couple of truly awful years. 

Stream why: It's exactly the sort of coming-of-age story we've been missing. These characters (wildly interesting nerd girls!) actually remind me of real-life teenagers I knew from my real-life teenage life.

Representative quotes: 
"We are smart. And idiots are banging all the time. We can learn how to do it, too."

"I'm a goddamn delight! I should punch you in the Adam's apple for saying that."

"No cocaine for me, thanks. I'm good."


Stream where: Netflix


Monday, March 1, 2021

Streaming Suggestion of the Week #48: Away We Go

 


Stream what: Soon-to-be new parents Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) embark on a road trip, looking for somewhere to settle.

Stream why: The cast is bonkers. Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamilton, Melanie Lynskey, Chris Messina, Paul Schneider, etc. etc.

The performances from Rudolph and Lynskey are particularly jaw-dropping standouts.

Stream where: Peacock (another one, I know -- but it's free)


Connection to previous Wreckage: Away We Go was Rec. #83.


Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Streaming Suggestion of the Week #47: This Way Up

 


Stream what: Aisling Bea, Sharon Hogan, and Aasif Mandvi are all skilled comedic actors who can also go achingly, soul-deep dark. They need that full scope in This Way Up.

Bea herself created This Way Up, a story of Áine after a breakdown, and provides generously for others in Áine's orbit as well. 

Stream why: Season one, with its superlative acting and writing, deserved way more attention than it got. I'm absolutely thrilled it's been renewed for a second season.

Stream where: Hulu


Connection to previous Wreckage: This Way Up was Rec. #831. Even more connections there, if you follow the trail ...


Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Streaming Suggestion of the Week #46: Russian Doll

 


Stream what: In a world where time is a flat circle and yesterdaytodaytomorrow is a labyrinthine hall of mirrors where death is ... everywhere, Nadia tries to figure out what the hell is going on. Timely.

Stream why: Creators Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland successfully make existential dread funny. It's so good. So, so, so good. 

Stream where: Netflix


See also: Russian Doll was Rec. #775 and was the reason for the glories of Rec. #812. It also made it to the Best of 2019 as the "Best Worst Day."


Monday, February 8, 2021

Rec. #885/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #45: Pretend It's a City



Stream what: With this docuseries, Martin Scorsese tricks the notoriously writer's-blocked wit Fran Lebowitz into writing more essays. Just ... verbally.


Stream why: I am always, always interested in what Fran Lebowitz has to say, even on those occasions when I don't agree with her completely. (Oddly, I think I am less reverent about Great Artists -- capital "g," capital "a" -- than she is.)

(That said, I think she is 100% right about a lot of things. Like telling Spike Lee he's wrong about sports.)


Representative quotes:

"I'm now too old to die young."

"I have two main activities in life: smoking and plotting revenge."

"She wants to know if there's a suffocating political correctness, and my answer is I'm breathing fine."


Stream where: Netflix


Connections to previous Wreckage: I've covered her books (Rec. #188: Metropolitan Life, Quote for These Times #5, Rec. #347: Social Studies) and her previous Scorsese doc, Public Speaking (List #61: Unpretty Women and Their Cities).


And also: I said this on Twitter already, but I stand by it: "Ideally, Pretend It's a City should have included an episode where Fran Lebowitz and @nlyonne chat while browsing through racks of coats."


Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Rec. #884/Streaming Suggestion of the Week #44: What the Constitution Means to Me

 


Stream what: I was supposed to see a performance of What the Constitution Means to Me in Chicago on March 14 last year. That didn't happen.

I am therefore even more grateful that this live filmed production of Heidi Schreck's play exists. I knew it would be good, but I didn't quite expect it to be this amazing, riled up, live-wire tour de force.

Stream why: Schreck has been performing the show for 10 years. It just keeps being essential viewing as it asks a crucial question --- "Is it all broken?"

Stream where: Amazon Prime


Fun fact: This filmed production was directed by Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood). Can't wait to see what she does next.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Rec. #883: David Tennant Does a Podcast with Stacey Abrams

 


What: David Tennant interviewed Stacey Abrams on his podcast earlier this year and it was excellent. Perhaps relevant to our collective interests right now??

How to get it: Grab David Tennant Does a Podcast With ... wherever you get your podcasts. It's had two very good seasons so far. (The Olivia Colman episode is still the best.)

Connections to previous Wreckage: In Rec. #785, I explained how this podcast overcomes two General Truths of Podcasting. In Rec. #847, I graced it with a "Best of 2019" title.


Friday, January 1, 2021

Rec. #882: Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine

 



What: Natasha Lyonne directs Sarah Cooper (more than a lip-syncer!) and an all-star supporting cast (Aubrey Plaza, Marisa Tomei, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Winona Ryder, Helen Mirren, Megan Thee Stallion, etc etc etc) through a surrealist narrative adventure.

How to get it: Stream on Netflix.