"the deceptively simple goal of trying to find people who love you..."

21 November 2024: I watched an episode of the latest (and sadly, final) season of Somebody, Somewhere last night and found myself welling up, feeling so seen by the show once again. So that's kind of how last night wrapped up for me--crying over this miracle of a show. 

This morning, while listening to the latest episode of Extra Hot Great while on my walk, I found myself welling up again when Phil Maciak (this week's "Valued Guest") pitched an episode for the Canon (season 2, episode 2). Here's the line from Phil that got me: "Somebody, Somewhere is about the deceptively simple goal of trying to find people who love you and learning to accept that love when they give it." 

"the most extraordinary thing..."

2 February 2018: “Because I’ve hardly ever felt comfortable anywhere. And when I have, it’s been with you. It has been the most extraordinary thing. I felt small. And in my proper place and not at risk of breaking anything precious.” –Chummy, to Peter, in the first season finale of Call the Midwife.

The always excellent Extra Hot Great reminded me of this episode, as Tara brought it forward to Canon consideration. Tara played the clip above and, as I listened to it this morning, I felt myself tearing up at Chummy’s vulnerability here, as she (temporarily) pushes Peter away to keep what has been so wonderful—their relationship, the comfort she feels with him—from being tainted. That feeling of comfort is just everything, isn’t it?

And her comment about feeling “small” with him (a reference to her height and general discomfort fitting into places) is such smart writing. The show’s creators will make it clear that they really aren’t as interested in the personal lives of their main characters as they are in telling the stories of their work in Poplar, but that makes these kinds of finely-rendered moments all the more important (they have to do a lot of work) and precious.

So starting the day thinking about the gift that is this show? Not bad!

[Another reason to check out this week’s EHG? It discusses a show I love almost as much: One Day at a Time. Oh—and a fun Game Time! And even more hilarious banter than usual…]

Spit-take

30 December 2017: "What is the value of having a jungle camo suit in the fucking sky?" --Tara Ariano on this week's Extra Hot Great, discussing the ridiculous Nightman. 

First real "snow day" of the year here (nothing too major--just enough to make a slightly anxious driver like myself stay home). Since the forecast was pretty spot-on, I had planned in advance to clean the bathrooms (yay...) and do some other "stuck in the house stuff." I had also saved this episode of Extra Hot Great to listen to while I toiled away. Tara's line legit made me do a spit-take as I took a sip of water. EHG is just so great, even when they are discussing shows I will never watch.

You know it's true...

14 September 2017: Today’s listening post is this entire exchange from Extra Hot Great. 

Tara: “It’s called Tong Wars…”

[Sound of click, click, click]

Tara (to Dave): “Did you bring tongs in just to do that?”

Dave: “Whenever you grab a pair of tongs, you always have to click ‘em three times. It’s like a universal thing. Nobody said that, but it’s something everybody does.”

Sarah: “It’s true. You are not a crackpot.”

Oh EHG, never stop making me laugh out loud while I am agreeing so enthusiastically. 

"TV Typos: Part Tw"

23 March 2017:

Clue: "Well kids, I reckon it was like this: before your Aunt Robin came along, your mom and I were in the Donner Party and one thing led to another..."

Answer: "How I Et Your Mother???" --Game Time on this week's Extra Hot Great.

Man, the Game Time on this week's Extra Hot Great was terrific. Made me laugh my head off. This week's game involved guessing a TV show title from a description of what that show would be if one letter in the title was changed.

"EHG 137: Going All In On The Family With This Is Us"

6 December 2017: A new episode of Extra Hot Great is always one of the best things in any day, but this week's episode, which featured a great discussion of This Is Us and of the infamous (crappy, horrible) finale of How I Met Your Mother really hit the spot on a cold and rainy day. I listened to it while I took breaks from grading to do some chores: clean the house, make some chicken soup (yup, looking for nature's medicine at this point...and I had some leftover chicken), balance the checkbook, etc. Always a delight to hear these folks!

EHG Game Time

26 April 2016: Today's good thing has got to be this week's "Game Time" on Extra Hot Great (one of my favorite podcasts). I laughed out loud (like loudly!) several times. So much fun!

Like chocolate and peanut butter...

22 January 2016: Let me be honest: today was a weird day for me emotionally. We are in the beginning of this awful snowstorm which just bums me out. I managed to teach 3 of my 4 classes today before having to cancel and felt so down about pulling into the garage, thinking, "When am I going to get to get out there again and see people?" But I am doing better than I usually do in these situations. I think part of the reason why is that I had this to listen to while getting ready in the morning and cooking dinner tonight. I love it when two great things come together. So what a treat it was today when Sarah D. Bunting of the awesome previously.tv and its terrific podcast, Extra Hot Great, was the guest on today's episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour. My two favorite podcasts coming together? Heaven!

Previously.tv and Rectify

After a long wait, the folks behind Extra Hot Great, one of my all-time favorite podcasts, and, (before that, one of my favorite websites) have started up their new venture: previously.tv. And it's pretty amazing--tons of great writing about television. Even though the site just launched on Monday, they've been collecting writing for some time. Explore a bit and you'll see some great pieces from earlier this year. Check out, for instance, this lovely piece about Andy on Parks and Recreation, written back in February. Or this one on Chummy from Call the Midwife. Both are parts of a "Characters We Love" series.

Which leads me to my next point: you all need to be watching Rectify. What an amazing show. So much is said through gestures, single images, the way a scene is laid out. The people behind this show get everything right. And of course, previously.tv has some smart writing on it. I just finished watching the episode that first aired a week ago and it blew me away, especially the last scene. Sarah D. Bunting says it best: "Don't let the pace fool you; Rectify is the unlaziest storytelling on TV right now."