SUNDAY BRUNCH: A Few Laughs
We need some comic relief
As the economy tanks and Americans take to the streets, now might be a good time to stop to enjoy a few laughs. We need it.
Here are a few of my favorites from the past few weeks.
But first… “Hacks” returns for a 4th delicious season on April 10 on HBO/Max. Put it on your calendar or tell Alexa to remind you. Deborah takes on late night and Ava and fireworks are bound to explode.
A Burr under your ass
If you like standup comedy, I highly recommend Bill Burr’s new special (“Drop Dead Years”) on Hulu. He throws some sharp elbows, but he’s also smart and insightful. Currently appearing on Broadway, it looks like Burr might be doing more acting (did you ever see him as a thug for hire on “Breaking Bad”?). I would love to see how far he can go with that. When he is focused, it’s hard to take your eyes off him.
He also did a hilarious/puzzling/frustrating interview with Terry Gross on “Fresh Air” and talked about his struggles to “evolve,” at the age of 56. And as an older father, he appreciates his family and loves his kids. Filmed at the Moore theater in downtown Seattle.
*There’s a tragic story behind the dedication at the end of the film. If you aren’t up for any more bad news, just skip it.
Not girls, but golden
The creators of “Will and Grace” have re-created the classic sitcom “The Golden Girls,” only this time, the girls are gay men with a spicy mother named Sylvia rather than Sophia (Estelle Getty). Matt Bomer plays the slightly naive and always cheerful Jerry, a flight attendant with a kind heart and a rocky history with the Mormon church. He is the Rose Nyland (Betty White) of the group.
The always-funny Nathan Lane plays Bunny, the owner of the fabulous Midcentury Modern home in Palms Springs that they all share. Since his mother is also on the premises, I guess that makes him the Dorothy (Bea Arthur) and the legendary Linda Lavin plays Sylvia. Nathan Lee Graham offers eye-popping fashion sense as Arthur, a former Vogue editor who does not suffer fools. Honestly, I think he works better as Bea Arthur, but I’m guessing he’s the Blanche (Rue McClanahan).
“Midcentury Modern” gets off to a rocky start as the characters and their relationships try to find their feet. As the season moves on, the writing gets better and the cast seems to relax along with terrific guest stars like Richard Kind, Judd Hirsch, Jesse Ferguson, and Rhea Perlman. There’s a particularly good episode when the boys spend a weekend on Fire Island with unexpected result.
Sadly, the world lost the great Linda Lavin by the time the 7th episode was completed and the show pays a beautiful homage to the character of Sylvia. Lavin was quite a force on the show and in real life and The New York Times told the story of how the show, the actors, and the story coped with her loss. It is very touching. (Free gift article)
On a personal note, Lavin was an inspiration to me during COVID as she staged mini cabaret sessions in her apartment, singing whatever the hell she wanted. I loved her energy and her talent, which was still burning bright when the producers called to offer her the role. They wanted a grey-haired bespectacled Iris Apfel-type, but Linda told them they might change their minds when they see how “fabulous” she looked. I love that story so much. She worked up until the end of her life. And yes, she was fabulous.
A rare bird in a gilded White House
I can’t think of an entertainment return on investment any more successful than the one Netflix made in Shonda Rhimes. Back in 2017, they paid her over $100 million and she paid off with their most-watched series “Bridgerton” followed by “Queen Charlotte” and now the quirky, funny, and interesting series “The Residence.”
Let me just say: this show had me at Uzo Aduba. She created some of the most memorable moments in the series “Orange is the New Black” and I fell completely in love with her in the HBO/Max series “In Treatment.” In “The Residence,” she plays a quirky investigator who is part Miss Marple and part Monk.
Aduba is trying to solve a murder but she also also loves birding, travel, and her nephew. My favorite part of the show is the behind-the-scenes stuff at the President’s residence including the protocol, the traditions, and the staff. The producer, Paul William Davies, became obsessed with the daily life at the White House which inspired the show.
If you love “Only Murders in the Building,” you will love “The Residence.” And the ratings show that Rhimes has hit another grand slam for Netflix.
And when you are done laughing with “The Residence,” check out “In Treatment.” It is a re-boot of a previous series starring Gabriel Byrne, which was based on an Israeli TV series. It is intense, unpredictable, and very well done.
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