On 'The White Lotus,' the Value of Event TV and Portia's Outfits
This article blew my mind
There’s nothing I care more about right now than “The White Lotus.” And while I’m absolutely devastated that we only have one episode left of this perfect season, I’m also craving the end of it. The finale airs on Sunday, none of us truly has any idea what’s actually going to happen and we’re all going to be watching at the same time. I can’t wait.
True capital-E Event TV is so rare these days, especially outside of awards shows and sp*rts, but HBO somehow manages to produce such moments with its scripted dramas time and again in a way that should have other channels and streamers taking notes. Just in the past couple years, watching episodes of “Big Little Lies,” “The Undoing,” “Games of Thrones,” “House of Dragon,” “Euphoria,” “The Mare of Easttown,” and “The White Lotus” all felt like appointment viewing as they got to the meat of their seasons. Watching them even a day late felt like being left behind by the zeitgeist for the week. By the time these shows got to their season or series finales, there’d be a palpable electricity in the air that I haven’t felt much since the heyday of Shonda Rhimes on ABC or, honestly, early seasons of “American Idol.”
It speaks not only to the effectiveness of the week-to-week release strategy in building anticipation and and interest and momentum for a show, but also to, I think, the public’s obvious desire for high-quality releases that we all want to watch. The rarer such TV moments get, the more exciting and comforting and unifying they feel. And watching a mediocre, mid-budget Netflix release just because it’s there, binging it all in one weekend and then forgetting about it three days later just doesn’t hit the same.
Back to “The White Lotus” for a second before I get to some recommendations from this week: We need to talk about Portia, who is objectively the most annoying character on the show this season (even though I think she’s going to save Tanya from tragedy), and her outfits. Speaking of everyone being on the same page: We can all agree that every time she steps out of her hotel room to complain about being on an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy, her ensembles are an absolute trainwreck:
But that’s the entire point. One of the best fashion writers there is, Rachel Tashjian, wrote a fascinating article about the brilliance of Portia’s outfits, deeming her “TV’s Best-Dressed Character,” and she totally convinced me.
Portia is dressed “like she’s in a Delia’s catalog” because she’s unsure of who she is while also wanting to fit in with her fashion-obsessed generation. Poor girl.
Listen
Podcast interviews that I loved this week:
Lindsay Hubbard on “So True With Sophie Ross”
Sophie interviewed Lindsay this week, and they discussed everything that’s going down on “Winter House” this season. I loved hearing directly from Lindsay about the whole situation with Jason, in particular. Listen here!
Darren Star on “On With Kara Swisher”
Kara’s interview style is incredibly to the point, and I love that about her. Darren, who created “Sex and The City,” “Melrose Place,” “Beverly Hills: 90210,” “Emily in Paris” and more, isn’t her usual kind of guest, but it was a great conversation. Listen here!
Sheryl Lee Ralph on “Into It”
Sam Sanders interviewed the Emmy-winning “Abbott Elementary” star about her career and they went off onto unexpected tangents that I found to be really unexpected and informative. She’s such an icon. Listen here!
Matt Rogers on “Everything Iconic With Danny Pellegrino”
A fun chat between two people whose pop culture takes I really respect. They talk a lot about “Real Housewives,” Matt’s amazing new Christmas special, Mariah Carey and more. Listen here!
Read
TikTok’s Low-Level Analysis of ‘The White Lotus’ is Breaking My Brain’ by Lady Ruth Ashcraft (Jezebel)
This!!! My Boyfriend, A Writer, Broke Up With Me Because I’m A Writer by Isabel Kaplan (The Guardian)
My (now ex) boyfriend, a writer, broke up with me because I’m a writer. So….I figured I might as well write about it! @guardian
After you read this one, do yourself a favor and read the replies/quote tweets on the writer’s tweet about the article.
Arielle Charnas’ Business, Something Navy, is Floundering Amid Dwindling Sales, an Employee Exodus, and Furious Suppliers by Katie Warren (Business Insider)
This did not live up to the hype, sorry!
Instagram Didn’t Kill Party Photography. It Just Made It Evolve. by Emily Kirkpatrick (NYLON)
‘Gangnam Style’ Brought K-Pop to the World, But Haunted Its Creator by Jin Yu Young and Victoria Kim (NYTimes)
The E-Mail Newsletter for the Mogul Set by Claire Malone (The New Yorker)
The Making of Our ‘Reasons to Love New York’ Cover by Christopher Bonanos (New York Magazine)
Watch
Viola Davis and Jennifer Lawrence
Variety is rolling out its “Actors on Actors” series right now, and this was the first one they released. A lovely conversation between two of the most alluring actresses in Hollywood right now.
My Unorthodox Life - Season 2 (Netflix)
Some truly fascinating moments caught on camera as Julia Haart’s marriage and career imploded.
Harry & Meghan (Netflix)
Haters gonna hate, but this is a well-done docuseries that colors in more of their story, gives necessary background on Meghan and Harry’s lives and tries to figure out what went wrong when. The first three episodes are out now, and the final three are out next week.
Bravo, Bravo, Fucking Bravo
These back-to-back breakout episodes for the new friends of on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” could not be more welcome. They’re proving to be the disruptors that this cast needed and breaking up the frustrating gridlock that has been their dynamic so far this season.
The first four episodes of “The Real Housewives of Miami” season 5 came out yesterday on Peacock, and… wow. This is going to be an all-time season of “Housewives.” Watch it.
If you haven’t watched Bethenny Frankel and Jeff Lewis’ episode of “Watch What Happens Live!” from this week, stop what you’re doing and watch it right now. It was chaotic and fun and a welcome dose of old school Bravo.
Self-Promotion
This week’s episode of “We Should Talk” features an interview with Dr. Nicole Martin from “The Real Housewives of Miami,” one of the new additions from the show’s big return last season. We talked all things season 5, her engagement between seasons, Lisa Hochstein’s divorce and more. Listen here!
I was on my friend Sarah Galli’s Bravo podcast, “Andy’s Girls” talking all things “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” and “Potomac.” Listen here!
Currently
Listening to SZA’s new album, SOS, and just trying to stay sane during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, TBH.