The Manti Te'o Doc, Never Have I Ever, Olivia Wilde Wildin', & Tay's New Album
What I'm Watching, Reading, & Listening To This Week!
[For the two of you who like Game of Thrones content, I intend to have a House of the Dragon Episode 2 Power Ranking dropping in your inboxes later this week!]
Hi friends! Coming at you a day late because this weekend Ben and I thought we were youthful, energetic, neck-pain-free 15-year-olds — but it turns out not! [Reader, we are 34!]
We attended a Harry Styles concert—where I screamed and cried like the 15-year-old I’m not—and then flew to Cleveland on four hours of sleep for a baby shower. It was a lovely time with family, despite the fact that I somehow announced to an entire table of sweet Ohio grandmothers: “I’m on that good birth control!!” [Reader, a full eight hours of sleep is important!]
Anyhoo, since his One Direction days, Harry Styles has been one of my top artists to see in concert. For me, it’s Beyoncé, BTS, Taylor Swift, and the beloved Harry Styles. Also, Ben has sworn that if I die before him, he will put “1D 4 Life” on my gravestone. [Obvi it’s a double entendre, y’all!]
Now it’s your turn to share! Who are your drop-everything-I’m-doing-when-the-tickets-go-on-sale Artists?
No such thing as an embarrassing answer!! When my sister and I were teenagers, Dad gifted us each a “cultural event” of our choosing — Sarah chose A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an outdoor Shakespeare theater in Canada, and I chose a Josh Groban concert in rural Indiana!!! I have never regretted it! #JoshGroban4Life
[My first AIM screen name was “YouRaiseMeUp15.” Haters gonna hate!]
In the News
^ The Don’t Worry Darling press tour is in absolute shambles!
I probably need to do a video explainer to capture the insanity that is this Olivia Wilde/Shia LaBeouf/Harry Styles/FloPugh web of TOXICITY. Short Version: Olivia Wilde was in a Variety cover story talking about how she fired Shia LaBeouf before hiring Harry in his stead. [FYI Shia is being sued by his ex for terrible abuse.]
EXCEPT… Turns out there’s video evidence that Wilde BEGGED LaBeouf to stay even though she KNEW he was a problem!?! And this explains why Florence Pugh has been giving the movie the SILENT treatment like the queen she is! Good for her!!
Harry, break up with Olivia. Larry Stylinson 4 Life.
In other FloPugh news…
…Did you hear she is no longer dating Aging Early Aughts Actor and current owner of this Serial Killer Cowboy Apartment Zach Braff? But she will have you know it is None Of Our Damn Business! And she’s right! None of our business!
What are the odds of FloPugh and Pete Davidson getting together?? One can dream!
Nicole Kidman's Perfect Magazine Cover.
According to PopSugar, this “Is Not an Invitation to Talk About Her Body.” Sorry to be regressive, but: Yes! It! Is!
If this was me and nobody talked about my biceps, I would be enraged! Cancel me!
The VMAs + Taylor Swift Announcing a Brand-New Album (!!)
The MTV Video Music Awards were last night. The VMAs are one of those awards you might not think you know about, but you do because it’s always making headlines: Gaga’s meat dress, Kanye interrupting Taylor, Britney’s snake, Beyonce announcing her first pregnancy, Kanye announcing his presidential run, etc.
It was tamer this year, but here are a couple things that happened:
1. The Red Carpet was sponsored by mesh, boob tape, and potpourri!
10/10 I WOULD wear Dylan O’Brien’s suit!
2. A Johnny Depp hologram appeared?
That’s gonna be a massive no from me! He is not allowed back yet.
3. Ms. Taylor Swift—never to be upstaged at the VMAs again—announced a BRAND NEW ALBUM called “Midnights” coming October 21st!
Wanna know what other albums of hers were released in late October? Oh, just her BEST ONES!!!
Speak Now: October 25. 2010
Red: October 22, 2012
1989: October 27, 2014
Move over Rory Gilmore, AUTUMN QUEEN TAYLOR SWIFT IS BACK!!!!
Watching (Sad Category) - The Manti Te’o Documentary
Text from my cousin Collette:
“Mom was visiting and we finished the documentary and like got ready for the day and loaded up in the car and were running errands and it had been like 2 hours since we watched and she turned to me and went, I’m still not OK. lol.”
THAT ABOUT SUMS THIS UP. This story is so crazy and so sad all around, and we all owe Manti an apology for how we treated him during the catfishing debacle of 2012!! You might’ve thought you knew this story [I definitely did] but you don’t. I love stories that make us rethink our snap judgments, that make us realize that *everyone* in a story is more human than we thought.
Also: Manti Te’o Then and Now is another ringing endorsement for the “proof that you’re not ugly, you’re just poor” meme.
Watching (Happy Category) - Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever — the show about high school for people who are too chicken to watch Euphoria! Less drugs, more dorks! Less sex, more heartfelt messages about family, trust, and respect! I realize I’m not 15 and cool anymore — I’m 34 and sometimes worry about booty shorts on teens!
Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, the show’s two co-creators, adorably said they love Euphoria but could never have written it because, in Fisher’s words, “Mindy and I were goody-goodies who were dorks and maybe each had like half a boyfriend.”
As someone who had approximately 0.0035 high-school boyfriends, I, too, am team “strivers, and dorks, and people who are underestimated.” [Until I discovered hair gel and then it was boys boys boys!]
If you haven’t watched any of this show, I highly, highly recommend it. All three seasons are out on Netflix.
Reading/Looking At - W Magazine’s TV Portfolio
Since I’m one of those hellish people you hear about who starts celebrating Fall before the temperature drops below 75 degrees, you KNOW I’m already thinking about Halloween! [I hate to align with Walmart here, but we only have so much time to celebrate Christmas, and you have to get the ball ROLLING!!]
So, imagine my delight when I saw the annual W Magazine TV Portfolio — where TV stars dress up as their favorite TV characters! It’s confusing and delightful!
The highlight for me: Cousin Greg from Succession dressed up as Friday Night Lights’ Tim Riggins — with greasy hair, model face, et al!!
The lowlight for me: Chrishell from Selling Sunset giving absolutely zero effort as Dexter. Mackenzie Davis is out here in full wig and brows, and Chrishell is just herself with a little bit of fake blood?? Get out of here!!!
OBVIOUSLY this got me wondering: Which character would you do? I think I would go for Elaine from Seinfeld, although Sadie Sink/Max from Stranger Things did it so well here.
Love ALL this: "We attended a Harry Styles concert—where I screamed and cried like the 15-year-old I’m not—and then flew to Cleveland on four hours of sleep for a baby shower. It was a lovely time with family, despite the fact that I somehow announced to an entire table of sweet Ohio grandmothers: “I’m on that good birth control!!” [Reader, a full eight hours of sleep is important!]"
Gosh, I love you!
I'd go to a Bruno Mars concert or Michael Buble, but if David Cassidy dressed up like his 1970s self and promised to sing I Think I Love You, NO QUESTION. And guess what? You're the first person I ever heard say the words "Michael Buble."
I feel so lighthearted after reading this! 😁
You know I can't wait for some more HOTD content!