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Patreon Newsletter #8: June 2022!

Added 2022-06-09 03:37:15 +0000 UTC

From Arnie:

Summer is always the busiest time for me since production on whatever Jackbox game I’m working on that year is usually in the most intensive part of production. Gotta get everything done for the fall.

Plus, I’m prepping to move. (Just from one part of Chicago that’s practically a suburb to another part of the Chicago area that actually is a suburb, but still.)

One of the highlights of my month was the Eurovision Finals. Basically a huge song contest where European countries compete to see who can have the best song/performance. Most Americans probably only know about it from the Will Ferrell movie, but honestly, the real event is a lot weirder. It’s hard to explain, but somehow the portion where each country has a representative who gets 20 seconds on live tv to announce who they voted for (and sort of try to make it about themselves) is somehow the best part. Imagine if every state gave one person 20 seconds to talk during the Super Bowl. Matt and his girlfriend came over and made mimosas and apps. Martin Wilson (Blemish) and his kids came over with beers (well, Martin brought the beers, not his kids). I suspect everyone was humoring me a little bit in watching it at all but it was a fun little gathering. Can’t wait for Eurovision 2023.

TV – The tv I watched this month from favorite to less favorite. Frankly most of this was good and even the stuff at the bottom I enjoyed very much.

Better Call Saul s6 pt1
Kids in the Hall - I can’t believe how great these new episodes that just came out are.
Eurovision Finals - My only criticism is that there were less truly weird songs than last year.
Owl House (a bit of s1 here and there with the kiddo)
The Circle s4
Search Party s4
Girls 5 Eva s1
Old Enough

Movies – Same deal: best to… least best. (Most were pretty decent.)

The Quick and the Dead
Navalny
The Outfit
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Ambulance
The Gift
Ghostbusters: Answers the Call - Not great… but I still think the gender swapped casting was a good idea. If anything this movie was mostly bogged down by the endless references to the original movies.

Appearances – What other podcasts was I on?

Citycast Chicago (May 13th episode) - This is a local daily news podcast that I enjoy and they invited Matt and I on to talk about stories from the week that we thought were interesting (and, also, I guess, to lower the bar on how smart their guests have to be).

Music - Someone asked about what music we’ve been listening to. I used to really pride myself on finding new music (but it was usually the most obvious indie stuff, like Neutral Milk Hotel… a band I still love, but it’s not like I was really unearthing obscure artists). As I get older I’ve gotten more out of touch, relistening to the same old albums (which I’ve started to notice are more samey and dour than I realized at the time) or just retreating into pure dad rock. I listen to a fair amount of pop music now, due to having a kid and frequently defaulting to “well let’s just listen to this playlist of Upbeat and Comtemporary-ish Songs that Are Safe for Family Listening.” I’ve always been a bit of a pop-timist but I’ve been enjoying expanding what I listen to and injecting a little more energy into my day.

Some stuff I’ve especially enjoyed lately (not all of this is safe for family listening):

Frank Ocean
the new Arcade Fire album
Charlie XCX - I especially like the song “New Shapes” with the chorus “What you want… I ain’t got it!”
the new Harry Styles album
I gotta admit… I like a couple of the new Justin Beiber songs. Well, I say “new.” I have no idea when they came out.
The Cars - okay, there’s still a lot of dad rock in my rotation!
Depeche Mode
Major Lazer

One Last Thing – In the comments share a nickname you would secretly be okay with going by.

Arnie

From Matt:

These months go by so fast. I have very little to report.

You may have already seen me in a series of Amazon Fresh ads online. I believe these are only playing in the LA market for now. I’m a grill guy who wears his apron like a cape. This was a very fun shoot with a great crew and cast.

Finished listening to the audiobook of A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Scwab. I recommend it, but I decided to jump into a different series for the moment. Moved on to (and really loving) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. Also have been listening again to How Did This Get Made. It’s just so good and funny. I don’t recommend starting with the Drop Dead Fred episode, but it is essential HDTGM.

Not much time for games, but I have a PS5 on the way now and I will soon be playing Spider-Man and yelling “Parker!” (I assume J. Jonah Jameson is the main player character). Elden Ring also looks cool, but games that kill you real easy? Don’t know if that’s ever going to be my speed (see previous Pokémon -related newsletters).

Made a KILLER mushroom gravy to go on some chicken thighs last night. Also learned how to prepare Belgian endive and made mashed celery root. Trying to develop a few more tricks for my chef’s belt. More veggies are good. I lean on green beans too much.

From Adal:

Hey Future Lizards!

Lorny Lonry, look who’s Horny!!...I mean Forty! It’s very weird to grow old. I think of when I was young and my parents were like 30 and I was like “these old fuckers have it all figured out” and now I know that none of us do, nor will we ever. What I’m trying to say is…..”Stay here! Stay as long as you can! For the love of god…cherish it. You gotta cherish it. You do…” - Billy Madison

On a last minute whim, Jemma and I decided to go to Iceland to celebrate my birthday. We had an exceptional time! Truly a magical and wondrous place. It absolutely ranks number tops as the most geologically beautiful country I’ve visited. It’s a smorgasbord of fire, ice and everything nice. We did 7 days of the Ring Road which is the most fun I’ve ever had driving. If anyone is ever going, let me know as at some point I’ll type up a list of recommendations a’la New Orleans.

Other than that I’ve been keeping pretty busy. I have some new projects I’m working on that will hopefully pop up around August or September. I’m working on a Children’s Book and need to find an illustrator. I’m trying to downsize my material possessions so looking to do a garage sale soon (you’re selling your GARAGE Adal?! Shut the fuck up, you know what I mean). I’m still consuming way too much media as well.

Here’s what media I consumed in May (quite a bit of tv because of all the hours spent in the air) -

TV:

Better Call Saul Season 6
I Love That For You - I’m biased but just an overall delightful comedy that’s unlike anything I’ve seen. Funny, weird, dark and emotional. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something new to watch.
Garth Merangi’s Darkplace - hot damn. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve heard about this for years but just never got around to watching it. I laughed so fucking hard throughout each episode. Can’t wait to rewatch soon.
Taskmaster - only watched one episode so far but can’t wait to check out more. The brits absolutely crush the game show/panel show format. Everyone is just so effortlessly funny over there.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ms. Marvel
Stranger Things Season 4
We Own This City - David Simon can do no wrong in my book. Jon Bernthal is incredible. The only annoying part is I JUST got over doing a Baltimore accent around the house because of Mare of Eastown and now it’s back. Time to pour a glass of wooter.
Love On The Spectrum: US
The Kids In The Hall: 2022 - way funnier than it has any right to be. There’s a sketch in episode one that goes literal balls out and I choked on my dinner watching it.
Somebody Feed Phil Season 5 - I just love this show. Gets me excited to travel.
Ru-Paul’s All Stars Drag Race Season 7 - Team Jinkx!
Hacks Season 2
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction Season 4
The World According to Jeff Goldblum Season 2
Travel Man
Great Performances: Keeping Company With Sondheim
The Hall
That’s My Time

Movies:

Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers
George Carlin: American Dream
Everything Everywhere All At Once - went back and saw it again high! A+ experience
Too Funny To Fail: The Life and Death of The Dana Carvey Show
Senior Year
Happy Gilmore
Top Gun
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 original movie)
David Spade: Nothing Personal (stand-up)

Other Stuffs:

I’m doing another online podcasting workshop through Charlotte’s Queen City Comedy Theater if anyone is interested: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/podcasting-workshop-with-adal-rifai-tickets-336070444747
Started reading Chuck Klosterman’s new book The Nineties
Jemma insisted I play her in Mario Party for 4 hours
Hey Riddle Riddle is in LA this Sunday for 2 live shows at Dynasty Typewriter (which also include a livestream option if you can’t be there in person!) The 7:30pm will be an hour of HRR and then 30 minutes of a new Fun-Shot with a certain pair of twins and the 9pm will be an hour of HRR and 30 minutes of America’s favorite new game ‘Small, Medium or Large!’. We also have a live show in Chicago on July 3rd! You can find all info and tickets here: https://www.heyriddleriddle.com/live

Please let me know what you’ve been enjoying so I can check it out!

Love and Don’t Die

Adal

7:17pm