With Love From, Aly & AJ: Former Disney Channel stars Aly & AJ have long been favorites in my personal discography—like, I’m still bumping Insomniatic—but their recent career renaissance has been a true joy. With Love From is a worthy follow-up to A Touch Of The Beat…, continuing the sisters’ dreamy, sunkissed Laurel Canyon era. Standouts for me are “Sunchoke,” the titular “With Love From,” and the Springsteen-esque opener “Open To Something And That Something Is You.” It’s an overall great collection, with songs I’ve been listening to on repeat since it was released in March. And if you have the chance to see them live, they put on an excellent show.The Company You Keep: I’ve taken to write about my favorite one-season wonder of the year, but if this is the last time I get to say it: is the in 2023. The chemistry between con man Charlie (Milo Ventimiglia) and CIA agent Emma (Catherine Haena Kim) was delicious, and each episode’s wacky caper was a blast in its own right. Especially in the wake of the strikes, I’ve found myself returning to broadcast TV (I’ve also loved watching Grey’s Anatomy for the first time) and really appreciating the traditional format. The Company You Keep is a show that really could have flourished if it had been given the same grace and growth period we used to give 25-episode dramas. Sadly, it wasn’t to be—and the show got pulled from streaming, double unfair!—but the short, sweet season can still be , and I can’t recommend it enough. See You Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan: We’re living in a romance renaissance. I probably don’t even have to suggest you read Happy Place by Emily Henry, because if you’re into rom-coms, it’s likely already on your shelf. So here’s another romance author I can’t get enough of: Annabel Monaghan, whose latest novel See You Next Summer will transport you to the beach and back to the bloom of first love. Monaghan’s simple, straightforward prose hooked me with Nora Goes Off Script, and the second-chance romance between Sam and her teenage love Wyatt similarly wiggled its way into my heart. Some runners-up, just for kicks (don’t tell anyone I did more than three things!): India Holton’s The Secret Service Of Tea And Treason and Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, if you like to mix romance with a dash of fantasy.
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Patrick DeWitt is my favorite working author, so I’m glad somebody enjoyed The Librarianist, but it certainly wasn’t for me. Definitely my least favorite thing he’s written. Bob Comet is an excellent name, though.
“(Bonus gratitude: British channel Dave’s continual devotion to uploading the series to YouTube for viewers in the States to keep up with.)“
Taskmaster is not on Dave and has not been on Dave for OVER FOUR YEARS, dude.
Its’ on Channel 4. You’re such a big fan, aren’t you?
muh-three-g-four-n
I’m going to second the Taskmaster rec, though I wasn’t as enamored with this most recent season than some of the ones before. Each season is different, both because of the participants and the tasks and while I wouldn’t call Series 16 the best, it is still very good.If I were recommending a good place to start, I’d say Series 4 with Hugh Dennis, Joe Lycett, Lolly Adefope, Mel Giedroyc and Noel Fielding because several are recognizable, then maybe go to Series 2, then the rest. (I could sit here and order the seasons, but that would be subjective and a lot of work, plus they all have highlights and are great.)
Playlist for Series 4: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRWvNQVqAeWKl5VBUf8gNeGR_9ABi5RHo
For what it’s worth, the video game Genshin Impact is still going, with new content still being released.
This year they released a new nation called Fontaine with a three part quest story that started kinda slow (I thought), had a nice reveal in the middle, but then just crescendo-ed to have a pretty surprisingly moving and even a bit heartbreaking finale. For a video game inspired by fantasy anime, its writing, imagery, and music continue to impress.
I am glad Neil Newborn is getting the attention. First heard of her in Resident Evil 8 as Heisenberg the brother of Lady Dimitrescu. Maggie Robertson and him did some streams together, both absolutely lovely people. Glad to see them thriving.