I’m here to say that this is a terrible time for trying something new.
Don’t get me wrong – I, too, was filled with ambitious goals of how I’d spend all this newfound free time. I was finally going to learn more about Content Marketing and Search Engine Optimization! I’d read those intimidating Pulitzer Prize-winning books! By God, I would finally watch The Sopranos.
Here’s what I learned: Content Marketing and SEO are about as interesting as I thought they would be – which is to say, not at all. Books that are a slog to get through defeat the purpose of “entertainment.” And I don’t get the appeal of watching unattractive New Jersey mobsters in hideously dated fashion kill people. (I get the appeal of baby ducks in a pool, though.)
So these days I find myself returning to my old favorites. My existential comfort food. I’m sure you have your own, but what is the purpose of recommendation roundups* other than to force my beliefs on others? Enjoy what I enjoy, dammit!
*As a note: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of everything worth checking out. Rather, it’s content that I’ve loved and (in many cases) continued to revisit in these dark times. Utterly bingeable and perfect for having on in the background when you might be feeling frustrated or lonely.
PODCASTS
No matter how many times I explain to my dad that podcasts are essentially the same thing as his beloved Car Talk, he doesn’t get it. And man, do I regret allowing him to walk outside while I was listening to a program that essentially recaps old episodes of The Office – he’s never gonna let me live that one down.
Hopefully you’re more evolved than Mike Lombardi.
Reply All: My go-to top podcast recommendation for anyone and everyone. Self-contained episodes that dig into stories related to the internet (which is, at this point, everything), often hosted by a duo of delightfully bickering nerds. The world has already praised the recent episode, The Case of the Missing Hit (and I wholeheartedly agree), but in moments of insomnia or depression, I find myself re-listening to all of their Yes, Yes, No segments. The premise is simple: The hosts’ boss, Alex Blumberg, comes to them with (usually) a tweet that he doesn’t understand, and they break it down for him. Think of it as Memes for Dummies. It’s delightful. (Bonus: The hosts are interviewed in this other podcast episode.)
How Did This Get Made?: The same question you ask yourself anytime you inadvertently watch a bomb of a movie, this podcast features three comedians/actors (and guests) who rip apart some of the most well-known turds in the film industry. I’d recommend starting with episodes where they review a movie that, if you haven’t seen it, you at least know enough about it to follow along. Suggestions include: Face/Off, Junior, Super Mario Brothers, Ernest Goes to Jail… and, for a change of pace, any of the Fast and Furious-related eps. You’ll see what I mean.
TV
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ll give Schitt’s Creek and Curb Your Enthusiasm another try. But when faced with endless empty hours and an uncertain future, I wanted some familiar faces.
Friday Night Lights: Confession: I don’t like football. Seriously. I’m pretty ambivalent to watching most sports, actually, unless it’s once in a blue moon and live, but football is probably my least favorite. But I LOVE this show. It makes me want to move to Texas. It makes me want to live in a small town where football is the top attraction and pastime. And you better believe it makes me want to grow up to be just like Tami and Coach. Even at its worst (The sudden appearance and then disappearance of Santiago? Anything related to Becky? The murder coverup?!?), it’s like a warm blanket for the soul.
Parks and Recreation: If you haven’t watched this series start to finish yet, it’s time to take a long, hard look at the decisions you’re making in life.
BOOKS
I went on a very bad date last year with a dude who had gotten his Masters degree in creative writing (first red flag) but didn’t like to read. This blew my mind, and when I dug into why, it basically came down to the fact that he felt like he had to read only what I like to call “impressive” books. And while, yes, I get the benefit of challenging yourself to reading something more challenging than a Jodi Picoult novel, now is not the time to read something because you should.
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand: I get a special kind of satisfaction from reading books that take place in locations I’ve visited or lived in, so this one – which is set on the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket – was perfect. I’m stranded in Florida at the moment, and while I’m enjoying the warm weather, this hit home what makes summer in New England so special. Plus: Identical twin switching! Intertwined love affairs! Major home renovation!
Well Met by Jen DeLuca: Again, this is not the time to force yourself to read anything impressive. Hence, this romance novel that takes place at a quaint summer Renaissance festival. (ICYMI: I used to hit up the Michigan Ren Faire every summer in high school and beyond.) Nothing less than a pandemic would have me publicly admitting how much I enjoyed this book, but there you go.
Hit me with your own recs!