My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Greetings to all of my semi-constant readers. The constant influx of  content can be overwhelming but I can break it down to my five faves this week. So here goes...

1)  13 Reasons Why streaming on Netflix is one of those series that is so brilliantly done you want to binge watch every episode at once. The casual high school cruelty may seem a fiction to anyone who has never been bullied but it happens every day in every school right under parents and teachers noses. 13 Reasons is the story of a newcomer trying to fit in and make friends. The deadly combo of modern technology and old fashioned gossip push a young girl to take  her own life. She has documented on cassette tapes each reason why including the story and name  of the people who contributed to her demise. These tapes are now being passed around and listened to by the guilty parties and we are transported to each event as it unfolded.  Heartbreaking and hopeful and intense. This is an amazing cast with Katherine Langford as Hannah our narrator and lead and Dylan Minnette who shares our experience as he listens to each tape. Some standouts as well is the great Miles Heizer from Parenthood and Alisha Boe from Ray Donovan. Special note is that unlike many High School shows the parents are not  caricatures. Veteran actors Josh Hamilton,Amy Hargreaves , Brian d'Arcy James and Kate Walsh do a great job of  defining these roles. All good reasons to watch this now.

2) Series episode prior to the  finale of Girls finds Hannah on a Goodbye Tour as she prepares to venture on with her life and begin a new chapter that may or may not include her friends. Jessa, Hannah, Marnie and Shoshanna have all drifted apart and making life choices on their own. Even Elijah appears to be maintaining a newfound adult sensibility. Andrew Rannells is funniest person in the room in every scene and I would love to see him have his own Elijah spinoff. Lena Dunham is leaving us on a high note wanting more. I want to prolong watching the last episode because then it truely will be over.

3) Drake's new release More Life is truely going to be huge . Blending genres for a top 40 album that will rule summer. Passionfruit, Blem, Get it Together (has a huge Lou Rawls melody built in) Madiba Riddim and Teenage Fever are all favorites. The more I listen the more I like it. It will have legs to last way past summer.

4) Speaking of summer, Stephen King is going to rule the summer and fall with upcoming releases. His new book Gwendy's Button Box out on May 30th. The Mist a new series on Spike TV June 22nd with a whole new take on the novella. After 10 years of anticipation The Dark Tower featuring Idris Elba will have a wide release July 28th. IT will be making its way to the big screen September 8th and the trailer alone is scarring me for life. And then here he comes again with a new book collaboration Sleeping Beauties with his son Owen King out September 26th. He has never been more in demand, and I am thrilled beyond words.

5) I am still as obsessed with Feud's Mamacita played by one of my favorite character actresses Jackie Hoffman as when she fist appeared onscreen. Joan Crawford's stoic German maid "Mamacita" was by her side and while a woman of few words , she made them count. Extremely loyal, She also fought for Crawford and with her. What could have been a camp cartoonish role is expertly played by Hoffman with just a deadpan fac and a caustic eyebrow lift.

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Update: Schitt's Creek season finale was heartwarming and everything I wanted. There might have even have been happy eye moisture on my part.

Greetings to all my semi constant readers and a busy few months are ahead and I am happy to share a few new things and  personal favorites. Summer is just around the corner and the days are getting longer and warmer but there is always something new to be found. That new trailer for Stephen King's IT is already scaring the pants off me. 

1) Tom Ford's " Nocturnal Animals " starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. A stunning story of a gallery owner who receives a very disturbing manuscript from her ex-husband played by Gyllenhaal. The film is immensely watchable as it cuts back and forth to the enfolding  manuscript as a story within a story . Gripping and dark and deeply satisfying. Available on DVD or Streaming.

2) Schitt's Creek I may have mentioned before is a a favorite of mine . Although season three is almost over I am left wanting it not to be over yet. This show is sharply written and the characters are even more developed than ever and I am finding myself rooting for the Roses. I want to see David fall in love and the will they/ won't they chemistry between Patrick and him is so endearing and well acted I am constantly waiting for their scenes together. Dan Levy has perfect comedy timing and Eugene Levy , Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy seem like a real family to me. A modern more realistic Green Acres that has many years of stories worth telling.

3) A recent visit to The Punchline in San Francisco was to see comedians Paul Mecurio and Carla Clayy. Paul a former writer for The Daily Show had a great set and much to my chagrin ,  I got hauled up on stage for a bit but all in good humor. Carla Clayy a San Francisco native and Punchline favorite was uproariously funny. She has hilarous stories and kept the audience rolling in the aisles with a very tight set.

4) It is that time of year again! Three's Company Live at Oasis featuring Heklina, Darcy Drollinger and the irrepressible Matthew Martin as Mrs. Roper. Featuring all new episodes it will be running all month long. Oasis keeps putting out quality "Only in SF" entertainment and this is no exception. Get your tickets immediately!!

5)  A literal calvacade of comedy stars show up in this new half hour scripted comedy Nobodies about a group of writers  (Hugh Davidson, Larry Dorf, Rachel Ramras) who write for a children's show and are trying to get meeting for a script they are shopping around town. Utilizing everyone they know in the business for help and bumbling their way around as each turn gets them in more trouble. I would love to see this show get better and better because it has much potential. Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone, Nate Saxon, Maya Rudolph, Jason Bateman and a host of others show up in versions of themselves.