Current Obsessions: 'Andor,' 'Re-Living Single,' and
Andor, Re-Living Single, Marvin Gaye, Dark Regards, and The Bright Sword
Hey,
Tim here with a rundown of my current obsessions. This is a segment of the newsletter that I’ve historically tacked to the bottom of my monthly letters but I’ve discovered its far too overwhelming trying to think back on four weeks of time at the start of each new month, so now, in what I consider to be a healthier way of bombarding you with the things in my head, I’ll be releasing “weekly blasts” of what I’m currently obsessing over. And, for the record, I put “weekly blasts” ins quotes to highlight how disturbing a phrase it is. And now, following the comedic rule of three, I will type it one more time. “Weekly blasts.”
My Apologies.
In all honesty, I do this because writing helps me remember. Things move so fast these days. It’s nice to sit down and track what you’ve been focusing on.
And this week, I’ve obsessed over…
TV: Andor (Season 2)
Wow. Tony Gilroy somehow got his hands on the world’s most popular IP and weaved it into something with an actual pulse. It’s a challenging to some viewers, but I I think that —
With Andor, live-action Star Wars leaps from its mainstream cushion and into the pool of specificity. Tony Gilroy is not dissimilar to Cassian Andor in that for years he’s been one of those behind-the-scenes writers who treats the job like mercenary work. He has the arsenal of strange tactics needed to get a vision across in the convoluted entertainment system. It’s not all that difficult to look at the evil empire as big business and the rebel alliance as artists who just want to… live, man.
I’m simply left baffled that this show… lives, man. It’s one of the rare ones where the ratings, much like the points in Whose Line Is It Anyway? truly don’t matter because you know the story is gonna stick around for years to come.
PODCAST: Re-Living Single
Not only is Re-Living single a top tier rewatch show about one of the funniest sitcoms ever made, it’s also one of the best examples of what a video podcast should be. I mean, if you’re gonna do video, I don’t want to see you sitting on some funky couch or just flipping a camera on to smoke weed in front of a flag — you should actually do something with the medium. Fun, camaraderie, and sincerity leap out of this podcast as Erika Alexander and Kim Coles dive into the inner workings of Living Single. Each episode brings heavy doses of laughter, balanced by an equal dose of wisdom from two Black actresses who have survived all of Hollywood’s craziness since the 90s.
MUSIC: Trouble Man by Marvin Gaye
I mean, it’s just one of the coolest damn songs of all time. And in these troubled times, I find it quite calming. It’s just nice having someone smoothly reassure you that you that “There's only three things, that's for sure / Taxes, death, and trouble…”
And the fun part about listening to the 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition on repeat so much is that I end up hearing so many versions of the songs on the soundtrack, which has ultimately convinced me that Marvin Gaye was one of the great film score arrangers.
If Star Wars ever actually make that Lando series, this is what it should sound like:
COMIC: Dark Regards by Dave Hill
I read this in preparation for the chat I’m having with
tonight at Taylor & Co. Books. Dave is just an all-around swell guy, and the comic is great. Truly captures his id and is simply a great read. You can get lost in the pages, which beautifully highlight and heighten his unique comedic impulses.
Listen back to my interview with him:
NOVEL: The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
Another reading assignment that turned into genuine fun. I dove into this novel in preparation for a chat with author for Queens Public Library — so instead of reading me ramble about how great it is, check out the conversation!
I love Marvin. The 2CD special edition of "Trouble Man" is excellent.