'The Idea of You,' Julia Fox, Spring Spotify Playlist and More
Recommendations for your weekend
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Happy Friday!
Not much to say up top here this week — enjoy my list of recommendations this week and be on the lookout for a special bonus episode of my podcast dropping in the coming days all about my recent rewatch of “NYC Prep,” which you can now stream for the first time on Peacock.
I’ll also be sending out the list of everything I watched in April next week!
Read
At risk at pissing off a lot of people, I ventured to rank the 20 best Taylor Swift songs ever. (Gibson Johns for So.Gay)
I also ranked the 20 best Lady Gaga songs ever. (Gibson Johns for So.Gay)
The “New Era” of “Survivor” isn’t quite working. I loved this piece on all of the reasons why. ( for )
It’s time for Taylor Swift to find a new collaborator. (Larisha Paul for Rolling Stone)
I’ll always be rooting for Normani, who was profiled this week as she ventures to kickstart her long-stagnating solo career. (Connor Garel for The Cut)
Listen
Spring 2024 Spotify Playlist
Belatedly sharing my seasonal Spotify playlist, which serves as a catch-all for all of the music I’m loving during any given season. Give it a follow!
“Ghost in The Machine” Podcast
Using 19-year-old Belgian phenom Femke van den Driessche’s ban from cycling for “motor doping” as a jumping off point, this podcast jumps into the scandalous practice rumored to be permeating professional cycling. A fascinating listen — and they’re working on new episodes!
Watch
“The Idea of You” (Prime)
I just finished reading the Harry Styles fan-fic book that this new movie was based upon, and now I kind of wish that there I had read it earlier so that there was more time between when I read the book and saw the film adaptation. The reason for that is that the movie changes a lot in its adaptation, so I found myself getting frustrated while watching it, constantly asking myself: What’s the point of this change? (This review does a good job at encapsulating some of my feelings.) A little space from the book would’ve highlighted those choices less.
And that frustrates me because, really, it’s a fun and entertaining romance! Anne Hathaway’s performance anchors the movie in a necessary way, because you feel like without her this would sink several levels down to feeling like a run-of-the-mill streaming romcom. The book lets us marinate in the central characters’ romance, (while the movie rushes through the couple’s blissful period of forbidden love) before bursting their bubble, which amped up the stakes. I found that smaller changes like raising the age of the daughter and the singer and altering the protagonist’s class level took away from the effectiveness of the source material, too.
If you also read the book, you might find yourself feeling more critical of this film than someone who didn’t read it. Just know that I’m right there with you, but it’s also okay to just enjoy this movie for what it is without making too many comparisons to its source material.
“Under The Bridge” (Hulu)
This series co-starring Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone, which centers on a small town after a teen girl goes missing. Riley plays a writer returning home to study the town’s young women, while Gladstone plays the police officer investigating the case. It’s very well-done so far, and it’s hitting in a way that a lot of other recent high-brow shows haven’t for me.
Julia Fox in Cosmo’s “Cheap Shots”
This is a perfect video. I will watch Julia Fox do anything, and more celebrities could learn a thing or two about her authenticity and openness in front of a camera.
“American Idol” Pays Tribute to Mandisa
Three former “American Idol” contestants returned to the show to honor Mandisa, a successful, Grammy-winning alum of the show who died recently. They sang “Shackles (Praise You),” which Mandisa sang during her time on the show. I don’t watch “American Idol” anymore, but I thought this moment was really touching — and the little trip down memory lane reminded me of an iconic moment from Mandisa’s time on the show, during which she taught Simon Cowell an important lesson.
Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt’s Interview with Alison Hammond for “This Morning”
Ryan Gosling and British TV host Alison Hammond reunited for an interview promoting Ryan and Emily Blunt’s new movie, “The Fall Guy,” and it’s impossible not to smile while watching it.
Self-Promotion
“Summer House” Season 8 Deep Dive (Gabbing with Gib)
Finally took the chance to go deep on this amazing season of “Summer House” on my podcast. I welcomed on the co-hosts of Access Hollywood’s “Housewives Nightcap” podcast Emily Orozco and Lauren Herbert to help me do so. Listen below!
Interview with “Vanderpump Rules” Star Ally Lewber
Had a great time interviewing Ally Lewber from “Vanderpump Rules” for the first time. We talked a lot about the divided season, how her perception of the season differed from filming to watching it back, being the Scandoval whistleblower and more. Watch it above or listen to it below!
Currently
Can’t wait to dive into the new season of “Selling The OC” and “Hacks” during my weekend in the city — I also kind of want to see “The Fall Guy” starring Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling.