Mid April Newsletter #7.5!

Hello friends! We typically do newsletters just on the first of each month but we did one mid March and thought to uphold the trend in April since we're consuming content at an ALARMING rate! We wanted to share with you all and hopefully you'll find a new thing to binge and enjoy! In the comments please let us know what YOU'VE BEEN consuming! We're always looking for new stuff and we trust the taste of anyone who supports this Patreon. Also let us know how you think Brisket looks in the picture above! He's serving up chicken wing kippy realness! 

Adal's Recommendations: 

I think everyone knows at this point but Jemma and I got engaged! So that's been an insanely wonderful and positive thing that's happened! I proposed in a silly manner literally said in a Borat voice 'My Wiiiife' which Jemma awhile back said I had better do if I ever proposed, so....everybody wins? We've been binging all the tv, playing a certain game and spending quality time with the kippies. We're excited to do some more livestreams soon and hope everyone is doing as well as possible!! Here's what I've been taking in!

Movies: 

1. Well we watched CATS and I'm not sure what to say. It wasn't like...enjoyable bad. It was just....bonkers. I don't see how a room of executives/movie business big wigs saw this and said, yes, this is good. I mean, I don't know what to say. It's indescribable. It's Ineffable. It's the Jellicle Choice. 

2. Whale Rider - watched this for the first time as it's one of Jemma's favorite movies and she insisted I see it. Beautiful movie about Maori culture and a truly beautiful performance by Keisha Castle-Hughes. 

3. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping - watched this with Jemma cause she had never seen it. I think it's brilliant and along with Hot Rod is one of the most underrated comedies out there. The song 'Finest Girl' never fails to make me laugh. 

4. Oh hey, are you looking for something to watch? Annihilation is on HULU and it's one of my favorite movies of the last 10 years. I don't think many folks saw it but it's a super ambitious, creepy, fucked up film with a haunting score and the ending shook me to my core and didn't leave my brain for weeks. Check it out if you're looking for something! ALSO you've probably seen it already but Netflix has Spider-man Into The Spider-verse which is the BEST superhero movie ever made. If you haven't seen it...you must. If you've seen it already, watch it again. I might do a Netflix Party viewing of it just so I can see it a 5th time. 

TV: 

1. Harley Quinn - I mentioned this on my last livestream but WHAT. THE. FUCK? This show is spectacular. I'm blown away by how funny and original and surprising this series is. Hot fuck is it my exact humor and the voice acting is just *chef kiss*. Please watch this if you can. It's the first non-Jemma thing to make me laugh out loud during the pandemic. Watch. Watch. Watch. 

2. Cheer - an interesting look inside competitive cheer-leading and surprisingly emotional ending. Great series on Netflix if you haven't seen yet. 

3. Flight of the Concords - Jemma and I had never seen all of this so we started watching from the beginning and it's such a bizarre delight. Murray remains a favorite but it's all delightful. Excited to start season 2. 

4. Schitts Creek Season 6 finale - equally parts hilarious and moving. Catherine O'Hara should get an Emmy for this season but we'll see what shakes out. 

5. The Circle: France - better than the US version, not as good as the Brazil version. Worth watching for sure if only for the two 70+ women catfishing as a 20 year old. Excited to see what other versions we get of this show!

6. DEVS - continues to impress. The last 2 episodes have been absurdly fucked up and fascination. I haven't watched the finale yet which came out today but I'm excited to see how it ends. Alex Garland is making some of the most interesting content out there along with the best, Noah Hawley. 

7. Killing Eve season 3 - off to a shaky start but excited to see Jodie Comer put on an acting clinic. 

8. RuPaul's Drag Race season 4 - my sister has talked about how good Drag Race is for awhile so J and I finally started with season 4 (which we heard is the best place to start) and now we're obsessed. We flew through this season and loved every dramatic second. Very very good content AND for context the picture above is Jemma making Brisket look 'fishy' for a text to Stuart Wellington (FlopHouse) during a discussion of this phenomenal reality show. Seasons 1 through 6 are on HULU. Watch along with us please or else Sashay Away....

9. Shaq Life - started watching this show about Shaquille O'Neil hustling to make the most of life during his offseason as a correspondent for TNT. It's dumb but I really enjoy watching him do his thing and it turns out he's very generous with his time and money. Empty calories for sure but worth checking out. 

10. Derren Brown: The Push - ..............................Whatever...........it...........takes...............

Video Games: 

1. Undertale - finally finished this and HOT FUCK it's one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had. It only takes about 4 hours to play and it's a game I couldn't wait to play again the second it was over. Please play this. Please love it. Please let me know your favorite character. Mine are Mettaton and Napstablook! OH! And HEY! This game might have the best ending of any video game of all time! So....fucking play it! And then message me! and let's geek out! PLEASE PLAY THIS GAME. Seriously. Play it today. I'll wait.....

2. Animal Crossing - Thank GOD Bunny Day is dead. Jemma and I are still playing a ton but I've slowed down slightly. Still trying to build a tiki bar and collecting animated wallpaper/flooring. 

Plugs:

1. I was the guest on a recent episode of a podcast called The Smallwood Sessions if you'd like to check it out!

2. Listen to friend of the podcast Zach Reino doing a song about Animal Crossing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P8XCMerx8Q

Upcoming:

1. I'm excited to see the stage version of Fleabag which is on Amazon for $5 through April I believe. This is the stage show that lead to the brilliant tv show. I believe proceeds go to health care workers and creative freelancer. 

2. The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - never read it and enough people have shaked their heads at me saying that, that I decided to buy it and finally read it. 

3. NEW FIONA APPLE OUT RIGHT NOW!!! It literally released about an hour ago and I'm listening as I type this up! I cannot WAIT to dig in. 

4. Just got FF7 in the mail so I'll be tackling that asap! Also picked up Devil May Cry 5, which I heard was great, and the Bioshock triology to replay as it's one of my faves. 

5. A few days ago I learned that Louis Sachar just released a 4th Wayside School book!!! What the fuck?! That rules! I bought it and am re-reading the first 3 so I can have momentum going into it! It's called Wayside School: Beneath The Cloud of Doom if you'd like to check it out and loved this series as much as I did as a lil Adal!

Oh hey! I asked my sister Sadieh to submit some of her recent recs! Here's what she sent! (you can follow her on Instagram @srifai10):

High maintenance on HBO About a weed dealer and the people of New York that he encounters. Funny and beautiful and weird.  

Better things on Hulu Brilliant acting and the series only gets better as it goes on.  

What we do in the Shadows. Watch season one so that you’re ready for season two coming out this week. It’s hilarious!  

Trick Mirror book given to me by Adal and Jemma. It’s funny and dark and doesn’t let anyone off the hook.  

Ru Paul- listening to his music Watching his show and learning from his MasterClass. I can’t get enough!

Erin's Recommendations: 

Hey! So This is an email I sent to my friends who hadn’t listened to Fiona Apple before to get them ready!  

She releases a new Album very tomorrow and if you are not familiar with her work this might help!  

She’s my favorite singer to listen to when I feel ANGRY! Or too powerful for my body! She makes you want to bang on a piano and scream in the best way!  

First of all- she creates magical music videos. Hear are three of my favorites-  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BK30r_SIZ-g 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u09s0uz0tEU 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VG1VVFfOnYQ 

Here is a playlist I made of her best songs according to me. I don’t like her first album very much. My favorite is her most recent album from 2012(yes I’ve waited 8 years for a new album) Put this playlist on shuffle and feel your feelings baby!  

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Tx6vl0BUUC5DP4yft05X1?si=icXkF09LQieswaqTxGAxiw 

If you only listen to three songs have them be  

1.) Paperbag 2.) hot knife 3.) Extraordinary machine  

Finally this is my favorite Fiona Apple quote. I laughed out loud when I read this. Really sums up men I think. https://twitter.com/stereogum/status/1239562059123171332 

Also I am about to finish Glennon Doyle’s new book “Untamed.” I know everyone and their mom is reading this book but it’s for a reason. The coverage around it can be a little eye-rolly but you should read it anyways!  

I  have been a big fan of Glennon for a long time and I call her Instagram videos she makes everyday my church.  Watch this one I think it’s a good introduction to her!  

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-9oIP1Dlnl/?igshid=qn3o4a6ybnmp 

Her new book is short stories about her life and self help and I have SOBBED my way through it. I recommend reading it slowly. I try to read one chapter at a time and journal after. I think because we are stuck inside, now is a good time to reintroduce yourself to the voice inside your head. This book will get you there.  

Please feel free to message me about this book! I love talking about it so much!!!

HRR Updates/News

The winner of the poll for the May Review Crew is 'The Great Muppet Caper'! Look for coming in May!

If you didn't know already, JPC streams Monday through Friday on Twitch! Right now he's replaying his favorite game, Witcher 3. Please SMAASSSH that nasty subscribe button and check out his streams every weekday! https://www.twitch.tv/sharkbarkman

Monday was the final episode of our newest Hey RidD&D Campaign! We hope you enjoyed it! We have some merch coming soon that we're very excited about!

We can't for the life of us seem to figure out how to play Jackbox Games with us all in separate locations and still allow for folks to watch us without having video/audio access. We'll try to figure it out but it's not looking easy! We WILL have exclusive content just for our $8 Review Crew tier this month but we just need to figure out what will work best. Updates coming soon!

Speaking of, we'll be doing more livestreams and what not in the coming weeks! We'll send out weekly updates with scheduled content but as of now we have the following planned: 

- Saturday April 18th @ 6pm CST: Adal and Jemma will be doing a Netflix Party viewing of Shrek for $8 tier patrons only! 

- Sunday April 19th at 1pm CST we'll be doing another Instagram Livestream with our friends Ryan Rosenburg and Dan Lippert from You're The Man Now Dog Pod/Teachers Lounge

- Tuesday April 21st at 7pm CST: Adal and Jemma will be doing a livestream for $5 and $8 tier Patrons!

- Wednesday April 22nd at 5pm CST: Erin and Adal will be doing a livestream review of the new Fiona Apple album! 

- Friday April 24th at 7pm CST: Adal and Jemma will be doing a livestream and it mayyyy be inspired by RuPaul's Drag Race???! This is for $5 and $8 tier Patrons. 

Love you all!

Adal, Erin & JPC