icymi Tom Wambsgans is TIRED
the WGA strike, a surprise Ed Sheeran concert, The Other Two S3, Speak Now (TV), and more
Last night, Taylor Swift performed her entire 3 hour Eras concert in the pouring rain, so we can get through this Monday is what I’m telling myself as I write this from still under the covers in my PJs because if Tom Wambsgans and I have one thing in common it’s that we are both TIRED***
Before I launch into what I’ve been enjoying over the last week, I want to say that I am fully in support of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) as they strike. If you aren’t aware, the WGA, which represents 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike on Tuesday after contract negotiations with studios, streaming services, and networks failed. And by failed I mean the studios refuse to pay writers the fair wages they deserve.
I encourage you to follow WGAWest on twitter as they have been incredibly transparent throughout the negotiation process and strike thus far. And I know it’s reductive to say this seems obvious and easy, but given the WGA is asking for fair pay for their work, residuals for streaming, the ability to be on set, NOT being replaced by AI (among other very reasonable things)… TO ME, this seems easy. Writers create the tv shows and movies that drive billions in profits and deserve to receive a piece of the pie. Bigger than the piece they are asking for, even.
As a card-carrying SAG-AFTRA actor and a consumer of HOURS of television every week, without writers, we have nothing. Just because what writers do is often a labor of love does not mean it is not labor.
In union solidarity, I walked the Netflix picket line this past Friday, and it was empowering. The signs across the city have been chef’s kiss so good. If you’re not paying attention on twitter, I’d start for the entertainment value of that alone. But also because this is important. Corporate greed is not just a Hollywood problem, and these writers are part of a movement paving the way for all of us.
Contract negotiations for the DGA and SAG are also about to be underway and there are rumblings by end of June we could all be on strike. Only time will tell…
***Let the record show that when this hits your inboxes I have fully gotten up and been a functioning member of society all day long. I am, however, still tired. That remains true.
Watching Lately
Sunday nights on HBO continue to be the bleakest hour and a half of television of the week. Yes, I’m obviously still talking about the one-two punch of Succession and Barry. 20 more days until both shows end, leaving a gaping hole in my life.
Spoilers here so scroll on if you’re not caught up BUT… the election-eve party on Succession climaxed with a Tom and Shiv fight beyond the likes of which we’ve previously witnessed. They almost never ACTUALLY say how they feel to each other, which is, at times, almost more painful to watch. But last night, among a litany of other awful things, Tom told a pregnant Shiv (let me remind you he STILL doesn’t know she’s pregnant because like I said they don’t tell each anything and it’s driving me CRAZY) that she would be a bad mother. Which, if you’ll recall, is actually what her own mother told her last season. So yeah…our girl boss in chief is not live laugh loving especially hard right now.
In Tom’s defense, who among us hasn’t said the most painfully cutting remark to the alleged love of our life when we haven’t gotten enough sleep the night before? Just kidding. It was indefensible. Everyone on this show is a monster.
Speaking of monsters and bad parents…and yes more minor spoilers here…Barry. We kicked off last night after a time jump seemingly 8 years in the future where Barry and Sally are in hiding traumatizing raising a child in the middle of nowhere. Donning a pair of glasses, now going by Clark, and never leaving the house, Barry seems to be taking to things fairly well. He is an adaptable sociopath, after all.
Meanwhile, Sally is absolutely spiraling. The only acting she’s doing these days is, as her son John puts it, “putting hair over her hair” as she goes to her day job at a diner. Sally’s character defining ambition has been utterly squashed by her current circumstances. To say she’s a disinterested mother is the understatement of the year. And truthfully though, I can’t tell if her disinterest or Barry’s hands on approach to parenting (read: showing his son violent videos of children getting killed while playing little league to discourage him from playing) is going to ultimately mess John up more. Best of luck to whatever lucky therapist gets to help him unpack all of that someday. Now that’s another show I’d happily watch.
I am on the final episode of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. I would like to finish it, but here I am writing this instead. Sorrows sorrows prayers etc.
Am I as in love with Charlotte and George as I was with Kate and Anthony of Bridgerton Season 2? No. I am never recovering from “you are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.” That one scene altered the chemistry of my brain. But I am a big fan of Charlotte and George and this spin-off all the same.
My biggest gripe with Queen Charlotte, besides the way Lady Danbury’s entire story line felt wildly unfair to her, is how unfair Brimsley’s felt! Protect that sweet man at all costs! I cosign Bolu’s below sentiment.
Lastly, The Other Two on HBOMax is back with season 3 (the first two episodes are now streaming) and I maintain its the best comedy currently on television. Please do yourself a favor and watch it. A perfect showbiz satire.
Yes, I am also still watching Yellowjackets and Ted Lasso, the two soccer shows. Enjoying the former, less so the latter. I DID get to attend a Ted Lasso FYC event last week on the eve of the writer’s strike, and it was a very festive fun evening filled with trivia with the cast and biscuits in pink boxes.
Reading Lately
I’m currently reading Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at The Lake, a second chance romance filled with summer nostalgia and a tall, creative, brunette male love interest. So obviously, this book jumped to the top of my TBR. Fortune’s 2022 release, Every Summer After, was one of my favorite books of last year and I’ve been patiently waiting for her sophomore novel since. 100 pages in and will report back next week with more thoughts.
This past week I also listened to the audiobook for Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard, a celebrity fake-dating romance. It was really enjoyable, but big eye roll at myself for accidentally picking up ANOTHER fake-dating book. Going to do my absolute best to avoid those for the rest of the summer.
Eating + Drinking Lately
Restaurant recs from the last week…
Della Terra: $18 bottomless mimosas with near constant refills, a sunday well spent
Angelini Osteria: in a city full of Italian food, this spot never disappoints (shared the spicy penne a la vodka and the tagliatelle bolognese — both delish)
Matsuhisa: I could eat their spicy tuna rolls every day for the rest of my life and you wouldn’t hear me complain once
The Lounge at Four Seasons in Beverly Hills: the cocktails are great and more importantly, 10/10 recommend for people watching, especially if you’re in the mood for a celeb siting
Listening Lately
On Thursday, I will be seeing Lizzy McAlpine’s tour, so I’ve been doing my homework to memorize every lyric on her set list ahead of the show. One thing about me, a concert is only as fun as the amount of words I know.
Yesterday, as I walked to do my usual Sunday farmer’s market shop, I stumbled upon a surprise Ed Sheeran concert. He sang three songs, one of which was Perfect because its clear he’s VERY pleased he’s won his lawsuit. Only in LA can an attempt to buy some strawberries turn into a pop-up concert by one of the biggest musical acts in the world.
And, I will leave you with this. Over the weekend Taylor Swift announced Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) will be dropping on July 7th. July is also my birthday month so just a big apologies in advance for the person I become.
In case the message was delivered with too much subtlety for you, I’m TIRED, so hitting send and logging off. Thanks for reading this far! If you feel so inclined, let your friends know they should subscribe, too. And as always you can find me on Instagram and TikTok. Come say hi.