FMG Newsletter: The Show I Haven't Started
and the book I'm accidentally reading
Happy Friday!!! It’s been a dreary, rainy week in Chicago, but I’ve been finding my joy via the usual routes: books, TV, white wine, and other peoples’ drama. Let’s dive in!
TV, Part 1: Though I publicly declared on Instagram that I was going to watch all of the new season of The Bear last weekend when it came out, I have yet to even start it. I’ve realized that I have a habit of putting off shows that I’m excited about (because I don’t want them to end). I promise, if I see just ONE more shot on Instagram of Jamie Lee Curtis looking grumpy and Chicagoan, I’ll start the first episode.
TV, Part 2: I haven’t allowed myself to climb aboard the Love Island USA train yet (should I?), but I have been otherwise occupying myself by obsessing over the DCC show, the new season of Perfect Match, Jenn’s new season of The Bachelorette, and old episodes of Gilmore Girls. I promise I’m still plugging my way through Succession — but I just don’t have it in me to watch essentially a feature-length film every night???
Books: I’m reading a book that has me SO hooked. I finished The Paradise Problem (so cute, so fun) and immediately dove into Everyone Here Is Lying. I’m going to be honest and admit that I thought I was borrowing None of This Is True (which is an insanely similar title???), but I’m so pleasantly surprised by my accidental Libby borrow. It is v v v dark — so yes I recommend it, but I’d also be happy to give content warnings to anyone who wants them. Next up is You, Again, which I saw in a bookstore while I was in Austin last month and placed on hold via Libby the second I got home. And that’s on budgeting!
Food, Part 1: The thing that has actually recently brought me the MOST joy is, randomly enough, this butter that I found at Whole Foods. I wouldn’t say I’m, like, obsessed with butter (?), but I love a buttered piece of bread as much as the next guy. I was hosting a friend for dinner, so I placed a Whole Foods pickup order filled with ingredients for vodka pasta, salad, and a little garlic bread. I saw this oat milk butter and thought “why not?,” and now I’m a forever convert. It’s so creamy? It’s so delicious? It literally tastes like how you’d imagine butter tastes when you see it in a cartoon??? Just try it.
Food, Part 2: This, of course, brings me to one of my favorite conversations — a great party question (at very cool parties) is to ask people what fictional foods they’d love to try. I grew up wishing for literally ANYTHING that Arthur’s family ate (in my house, we used to call a really good, balanced meal an “Arthur dinner”), and my sister Becca has long lusted after the microwaveable McDonald’s in the first Spy Kids movie. Tell me yours!!!!
Quick Hits (aka things I have to say but don’t need to dive into):
Lindsay Hubbard’s baby daddy is hot hot hot.
I liked Paige’s second suit better than the first — and while I personally would’ve liked to see one suit and one dress, it’s really fun to see her and her (very talented) stylist be creative together. Read Paige’s iconic new Highsnob interview here.
Two things can be true: Victoria can be lonely + isolated from the other DCCs, and said other DCCs can be nice people with good intentions (link to the Be There in 5 clip — and corresponding comments — here).
Jess Vestal’s interview on The Viall Files is very enlightening (if you’re anti-VF, you’re anti-me!).
Abigail Schlossberg, First Lady has a great ring to it.
I saw Niall Horan live on Tuesday for the second time, and it’s a genuine honor to be a fan of someone so talented, humble, and gracious. Stream my most-listened-to song of 2022 here.
May your weekend be sunny, silly, and delicious (order the butter!!!!).
XO,
Gail
And as a reminder:
It’s an election year (and a very scary one at that), and it is my duty to remind you that while newsletters like this are crucial for maintaining sanity and levity, I am not a news source and am in no way a replacement for staying informed. For every newsletter you read that makes you smile, I hope you also read an informed take on politics, world events, and social issues (then fact check it!) — and for every heavy piece of news you take in, I hope you also consume and/or create a piece of art that promotes light, laughter, and joy.