Couch Potato Files Vol. 13

I’ve had a Vol 12 doc sitting in my Google Drive folder for awhile. Someday I will get back to it and my usual fun recommendations for TV shows and movies. For now though, I have a special entry that I need to write as I sit in a hospital room with my ma for the fourth time in just under one month.

We’ve visited three ERs and hospitals since January 16th in both California and Arizona. Neither of us set out to make 2025 a big year of change but it’s turned into that, for better or worse. It felt like for the better until the last few days and this most recent hospital stay. 

For over thirty years, my ma hasn’t seen a doctor’s office or hospital for her own care and now is making up for lost time. She sadly didn’t keep up with regular check-ups and her health has taken a big decline in recent years. I have pleaded with her to see doctors and even have gone as far as to make appointments, only for her to stubbornly make me cancel them. In hindsight I should have not taken no for an answer but I really wanted her to care to seek help as much as I wanted her to receive it.

She spoke regularly of not wanting to be a burden only for me to then tell her she was being a huge burden by not taking care of herself and not letting me help her.

So here we are now, at Chandler Regional, for the toughest days she’s experienced so far.

She’s suffering from Chronic Leukemia, Congestive Heart Failure, some crazy painful wounds that a primary care doc was finally able to tell us what they were called and why they even happened and now a side fracture and head-to-toe sore body and pain from a scooter fall earlier this week. 

The hardest part is watching her decline in the last few days since she was pretty hopeful as of just last Thursday when she was discharged from a Colton, CA hospital and we drove home to Arizona, a move I’d been wanting her to make for over twenty years, after my pop passed away from throat cancer in 2003. That hospital had helped us with everything but the scooter fall and we were on a path to better days. Days that included her living with us and then hopefully by us with some assisted care, seeing her granddaughter graduate from high school in May and other fun family things that got her active again. She’d spent the better part of two years at home alone, not facing any of her increasingly evident medical problems. 

Ironically her recent scooter fall unearthed more problems than even the fall, underlying problems that she had been downplaying quite a bit and the heart failure has intensified too.

As much as I love my ma I am filled with anger and sadness for what has happened. Most of her medical problems are self inflicted or at the very least could have been more preventable or maintained and I can’t for the life of me understand why she was ok with suffering for literal years and not seeking any help. Her stubbornness and independence to live life on her own terms and not “burden anyone” turned out to be the worst route to take. And, I really don’t know if she’s even accepted that reality or is just angry with me for finally taking her down what she likely thinks is this unwanted hospital ridden path of pain. 

What I do know is that some therapist is really going to enjoy taking some of my hard-earned dollars very soon. I used to see a therapist when my pop passed away so it’s been awhile and it’s time to saddle up again.

As hopeless as right now feels while writing this, I do still hold out some hope that my ma’s health improves and she’s able to move on from this current hospital to a skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center. I’m really hopeful she hasn’t given up because I haven’t given up on her.

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 11

Buckle up for a ride down my Memory Lane! Sounds like a good time, right?!

As I’d mentioned in my last post, I’ve really been enjoying listening to Tom Selleck’s memoir. AND, fun fact: he’ll be 80 on January 29, a day after my birthday! What a career and life he’s lived and keeps trucking with even more awesomeness. Such a legendary actor – I just love him.

Hearing him tell his story has brought back so many memories. At an early age, (no joke, I’m talking 3 – 5 years old), I became a HUGE Magnum P.I. fan. My ma always likes to tell the story that I would hear the intro music of an episode from across the house and make a mad-dash to our den to watch it. I mainly wanted to make sure to not miss his signature eyebrow raise at the end of the opening credits. There’s no way I really understood what was all going on in each episode – how could I?! But, I loved him and the cast. I even had a TV tray with his big photo on it that would allow me to eat in front of the TV, hanging on his every word…along with TC’s, Rick’s and Higgins’s too. And those dogs! My uncle had a doberman pinscher too and they always scared me, even though they were super sweet, because of Higgins and his guard dogs.

I honestly don’t know if the shows would hold up now and still be as fun as they were back in the 80s but I’m going to watch some. It’s been a long time since I’ve rewatched any of them but after hearing all the behind-the-scenes stories from Tom, I need to give him a solid and dedicate some time to rewatching a few and see where I get. There were seven seasons so I might not make it through all of them, given my usual dilemma of too many god damn shows and movies to watch, but I’ll try to watch what I can.

He of course has shared more than Magnum stories and most recently shared the story behind the making of the movie High Road to China which he starred in and was the leading man. I couldn’t wait to see this flick in the theater. It came out in 1983 and I was the ripe ol’ age of 5 and I remember my ma taking me to the big movie theater at one of two malls in San Bernardino, CA, where I was born and lived until moving to Bishop when I was going to start the third grade. So about 7-8 years old.

We usually frequented a twin theater in another part of town that was less busy and easier to get to and where they showed double features of all the Disney animated movies, along with a live action movie that was more family-friendly. We sometimes didn’t stick around for the second live action movie because 1) it was a long time being at the theater and 2) sometimes they were movies that seemed a little on the scary side and I would tell my ma, let’s go. One I remember for sure we left as the opening credits rolled was Legend with Tom Cruise. It looked pretty intense and at my young age, it seemed like the stuff of nightmares.

The little twin theater didn’t really ever play other types of movies or even big blockbusters like Star Wars or Goonies. So we had to venture downtown to the theater at the big mall to see them. At the time, San Bernardino was getting rougher and rougher with crime and that was the reason why we ultimately moved north to Bishop, so it was a pretty big deal to go downtown to see a movie. AND, since this was a long time ago, most movies only had showtimes at night, with the matinees on the weekends. It wasn’t like today where you have a huge list of showtimes all day to choose from along with multiple screens playing the flick you want to see too. If that doesn’t make me old, then checking for movie times in the newspaper really does. It was my favorite thing to do all growing up, aside from looking at the comics and the ads, especially on Sundays.

I have a vivid memory of seeing High Road to China on the big screen and then as soon as it came out on VHS, and our family got a shiny new VCR, I remember renting it over and over again. A few years later, it would then play on Showtime, which we had a subscription for, and I watched it as often as it showed up on the channel. It’s a ton of fun and all that mattered was that Magnum was in it.

I decided to rewatch it the other night and found that it was free to rent on Prime Video. I couldn’t tell you the last time I watched it but it’s been literally decades and likely since I left home for college so yeah, a long time. My hubby had never seen it and complained of course at the quality of the film, since it has never been remastered in HD but he enjoyed the story and seeing Tom very young and funny. It’s an epic adventure movie and has been compared to Raiders of the Lost Ark, which if you know any Tom trivia, you know that he was originally cast to star in it and not Harrison Ford. Pretty wild sliding doors sort of Hollywood lore. He talks about that at length in his book. Just bad timing when he was cast and in contract for Magnum. But, that Spielberg and Lucas both wanted him to star in the movie was a badge of honor he’s carried with him his entire career. I honestly can’t think of anyone else playing Indy other than Harrison but I’m sure I would have come around to it just fine if Tom had played him instead.

If you’re a fan of Tom and haven’t seen the movie or even if you have, give it a watch! It’s free and soooo nostalgic! Cheers to reliving the past for it brings you joy in the present. That should be a bumper sticker, if it’s not already! Or a motivational poster. Or a fortune cookie you despise for not really being a fortune when you crack it open. Alright, that’s all I’ve got for now. Until next time, Happy January, my birth month and the Monday of all months!   

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 10

Happy New Year! We made it and the holidays just blew by. Now that I’m not feeling the guilt of having to watch as many of my favorite Christmas flicks as I was able to pack in during the shortest holiday season I experienced in a long time, I can get back to my always-growing list of shows and movies that I desperately need to catch up on. It’s a literal snowball effect, as more new shiny objects are dropping daily but I have to power through and finish all the others. 

The Golden Globes are this Sunday and I sadly have only seen four of the nominated movies…out of eighteen total! Many years ago I attempted to watch all of them prior to the awards but that hasn’t happened since. I am more up to speed on the nominated TV shows, having seen many of them and so excited for the nominees. I fill out my own ballot and play along and even better, I make my hubby cast his vote too. He despises it, rolls his eyes when he sees me coming with the print-out every time but begrudgingly humors me and fills it out. What he doesn’t do is any research on the movies and shows that are getting the most hype OR remembers how they performed at the other award shows since that sometimes dictates how the next group shakes out, with the occasional surprise. Like the cool kids say, it’s my pop culture flex that I typically score better than he does.  But, enough about all that. If you’re in need of some new shows to kick off the new year right, here’s some recos.

Virgin River– Season 6 dropped on Netflix right before Christmas so I was only able to squeeze a couple episodes in. When we got back from Cali on the 30th, I promptly binge watched all the rest of the season. This show is very Hallmark, crossed with Gilmore Girls and some Northern Exposure too. I love it and it’s already been greenlit for Season 7 with a couple of big cliffhangers at the end of Season 6. They love to do that.

Shrinking – I also managed to finish Season 2 just this week and man, get a box of tissues. This show has all the feels and Harrison Ford. That’s about all that’s needed for an excellent show, IMHO.

The Sticky – This show is loosely based on some true events and has a couple of my favorite ladies in it. It’s got a Fargo vibe that’s quirky, fun and mysterious. Only six episodes total and what I’ve seen so far has been great.

Black Doves – Netflix dropped this show in December since it does show some Christmas merriment but the show is far from that. Ton of great action and spy intrigue. Keira Knightley needs her own John Wick movie now – that’s how badass she is. 

No Good Deed – Lots of hype around this show because the cast is stacked and I dig what I’ve seen so far. Don’t believe some of the haterade that’s out there about it. It’s really fun and a solid Netflix show.

Also, aside from all the TV and movies I consume, I do love to read BUT don’t carve out the necessary time any more to really make a dent in my reading list. Instead, I signed up for Audible and have been listening to books while I drive. The best part is that in many cases celebs read the books, especially their own. I listened to Josh Brolin share his book and am more than halfway through hearing Tom Selleck share his. It’s awesome. I’m really loving it and I have Reese’s Book Club to thank for it. They promote audiobooks to experience their monthly book selections, knowing that many folks struggle with finding time to read and that there’s many ways to “read”. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a podcast fan and feel like you’ve abandoned books. If you can listen to podcasts, you can listen to books too. Cheers to 2025 and fingers crossed it’s not a total dumpster fire!

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 9

Here we are! Closing in on Christmas and still so much to do. BUT, I had to take time out to write a little ditty about a favorite show that just ended…yes? No? Maybe? Yellowstone or as my hubby and I like to call it, Jellystone. IYKYK for any Hanna-Barbera Gen X kids reading this.

I’m not on Reddit much but my hubby is and apparently people are boiling about the ending of Season 5 and the last half of the season. It’s still not entirely certain the show is over-over but a spinoff is coming with two of the main characters (Beth & Rip), along with other spinoffs in the world of Yellowstone. AND, Taylor Sheridan continues to conquer the Paramount world and laughs all the way to the bank. Lucky bastard.

I’m not going to spoil anything for anyone that still needs to see the last episodes but I will say that Kevin Costner’s departure from the show didn’t do it any good, no matter how popular it is.

As a whole, I enjoyed the series, A LOT, but he was really, REALLY the show’s backbone so the last half of the long-awaited Season 5 was just meh. They did their best to honor him and write him out but it was just ok. I still love many of the other characters/actors but the earlier seasons are far superior. 

I recognize it was a tough situation for Paramount to be in but I think they fucked up by not working around Costner’s schedule to make sure he could finish the show. There’s plenty of rumors,  articles and interviews with him that say he was ready to finish but they wouldn’t work around his movie schedule – the passion project western series he’s been creating. 

I feel like when a studio and/or showrunner has someone like Costner as their lead star, it requires them to make every possible accommodation, even if he’s maybe more difficult than others to work with – there’s plenty out there that says he can be. He was quite literally the show in this case though and not just any show – a critically-acclaimed fan-favorite. 

Maybe Sheridan is getting a little too cocky on his Paramount pedestal but all us fans, and apparently the angry Reddit mob, would have liked to have seen things play out as planned. And, maybe there’s more to it than the press has been able to dig up. Isn’t there always?  But oh well – Hollywood likes to do whatever they want and sometimes it doesn’t align with the fans’ vision or even close to what should have happened to arguably one of the best shows in recent history. Some article I read this week said it’s the best show but nah, a top one for sure but not the very best. I think The Sopranos and more excellent shows would fight that writer on that. 

I will say shows tend to be judged by the end though – enter The Sopranos. If the finale doesn’t measure up, people are pissed for life. (For the record, I loved The Sopranos’ finale.) Same is true of Yellowstone and what the angry mob is sounding off about. I was just more bummed at the last half of the season’s episodes in general and not seeing the beloved John Dutton ride off into the cowboy sunset with his family after he fucked more shit up. I’ve always said it’s basically The Sopranos of the West. The Montana Mob if you will.

Alright, now I’m just spirling and procrastinating to get out of the big to-do list that’s staring at me. That’s all I really needed to get off my chest about Yellowstone so I appreciate the three of you that read my posts regularly for indulging me. Despite the left turn Season 5 took, it is a fantastic show and if you haven’t watched it yet, it’s worth a holiday binge. I’m actually always jealous of anyone who discovers new-to-them shows and gets to binge them, especially when you have some time off to do so. It’s an excellent way to spend the holidays!

In 2025, I plan to finally watch 1883 and 1923 and maybe even 1923 in time for Season 2 that comes out in February, I think. As a fan, it’s a big void in my pop culture Grinchy heart that needs to be filled…AND, I’m tired of having my hubby bitch at me that he can’t believe I still haven’t watched them. I’m just not a huge fan of traditional Western shows and movies – some more than others but I’ve been all-in with the Sheridan Universe so I might as well pull the trigger, pun intended.

With that, I’m signing off until the new year – seriously too much to do and focus on so this will be a wrap on my 2024 writing. Enjoy the holidays as much as possible and cheers to more great TV (and movies) in 2025!

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 8

How is Christmas less than two weeks away? Sure did sneak up on us fast! And no, I’m not ready and no, I’m not done with Christmas shopping – is anyone?! Wrapping is my most-unfavorite task too so I always procrastinate but whoever invented the gift bag hopefully retired early and is living on an island somewhere. The best way to wrap, always! Our house is all decorated inside and out with a lot of help from my hubby and daughter so we did manage to conquer that!

Since we’re closing in on the big day, here are some of my favorite flicks and they aren’t the typical traditional movies. I watch all the usual suspects like Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, The Grinch, etc too but always try to squeeze these in. Pretty much any streaming service you use has a special “Holiday” category so these likely are there…or you can pop in the DVDs old school style like I do with a few of them too.

Die Hard – No matter what Bruce says or anyone else for that matter, it sure as shit is a Christmas movie and one of my favorites! I love it and this year I’m saving it until December 24 to watch since it takes place on Christmas Eve. Also, isn’t it crazy that they had their company Christmas party on Christmas Eve?! This movie is so nostalgic for me. My pop and I always watched it and the many sequels too but the original is just priceless. So many excellent lines and that Bruce runs around the entire movie barefoot is legendary in itself. The great Alan Rickman was also hands down the best villain. He’s so missed! What an actor. Fun Fact: I have a Die Hard Christmas tree. That’s how big a fan I am and how certain I am that is is a Christmas movie!

Daddy’s Home 2 – I was ecstatic when our nearly-18-year-old daughter agreed to watch some Christmas movies with us on Sunday night and she picked this awesome flick. Even though it’s a sequel, I think it rivals the original. The cast is fantastic. So much great comedy and craziness. It’s excellent! 

Just Friends – I, like millions of others, am a huge Ryan Reynolds fan. This movie is a ton of fun and seeing Ryan in a fat suit likely has to be as memorable for him as it is for fans watching this movie. Hilarious!

A Bad Moms Christmas – Another sequel that I feel rivals the original. Man, the cast is so great!! Love all the ladies and it’s hilarious from start to finish. Can Kathryn Hahn just be in any and everything?!

Four Christmases – Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon together and trying to avoid their families for Christmas is pretty excellent. Their families are all full of amazing actors. It’s just a great, great comedy! 

Surviving Christmas – Ben Affleck buys a family for Christmas so he’s not alone – it’s just FANTASTIC. The legendary James Gandolfini and Catherine O’Hara star too…and Christina Applegate! Love it so much. Ridiculous but awesome concept and a cast that can’t be missed.

Scrooged – Bill Murray. Period. Just watch. It’s epic. The best take on A Christmas Carol ever.

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 7

Happy December. I’m still dreaming of Thanksgiving. How about you?! We feasted on The Keg’s take-home meal and didn’t have to do anything except serve it up on the festive plates we picked up at our local Safeway. We did have some additional sides that I couldn’t live without, like the jelly roll cranberry. It wouldn’t be Turkey Day without it sliding out of that Ocean Spray can in its glorious gelatinous form. And, I’ve been eating green bean casserole my entire life so I made that like my ma always made for us too…not even exclusively for Thanksgiving. Since we were big fans, we ate it as a side dish for many dinners. Who doesn’t dig a nice can of Cream of Mushroom soup to make many dishes tasty?! And those French’s crispy onion strings throughout?! YUMMY CITY! 

Alright, enough about my Thanksgiving meal. Here’s some snacks of a different kind to appease your pop culture appetite. As always, if you want more, give me a follow on the Gram. AND, a bunch of cool kids are over on BlueSky too so join in the fun. I know, I KNOW, yet another social platform but trust me, it’s like the old days of Twitter but even better. Give it a try. I also created a Letterboxd account since it will expand on any of the movies I write about here so give that a follow too, if you’re interested. 

Favorite TV Shows

Based on a True Story – Now in its second season, this Peacock show is so fun. I literally laugh out loud at some of Kaley Cuoco’s lines. Her character is hilarious, as most of her roles usually are. Speaking of which, if you haven’t watched The Flight Attendant on Max it’s a must-see. It’s two seasons of awesomeness, based on a best-selling book. There are definite similarities with her new show to that especially with the writing and just on-screen mayhem that occurs. She’s such a fantastic physical comedian too.

Cruel Intentions – The 1999 movie is pretty legendary and one of those flicks that maybe you don’t mess with a good thing and try to replicate it BUT I will say this new Prime Video show is pretty fun. It follows a similar premise and storyline of the movie but adjusts to current times since it has been (GULP!) almost 26 years. 

Favorite Movies

Red One – I finally saw this with my fam over the holiday weekend. Really fun! Dug it and it was much more action-packed than the trailers showed.  I think The Rock and Chris Evans should do more movies together. The whole buddy comedy vibe works well for them. 

Hallmark Countdown to Christmas – New flicks are happening all the time and my ma and I watched quite a few. They’re always just silly fun but so festive. Like I said before, they’re perfect drinking game material too. 

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 6

Have you seen Wicked yet?! OMG – what a movie! It was an experience and everyone in our theater was too busy smiling from ear to ear and crying tears of joy to sing along, abiding by the MANY notices across the web to not ruin the wonderful singing on screen with any singing in the shower type antics. I have heard there will be sing-along showings for anyone who’s interested so check your local theaters. 

As a huge fan of the Broadway show, this movie checked off all the fandom’s boxes. Take your family and friends and see it this holiday season. It’s just fantastic. Now, the long wait until November 2025 to see Part 2! 

Quick related story: my bestie and I saw Idina Menzel on her tour a few years back and she was excellent. BUT, there were a group of teenagers who belted out every and I mean EVERY song she sang, especially all her Wicked and Frozen hits. As a fan of singing at concerts, I get it BUT maybe tone it down just a smidge. They were so loud it overpowered even her singing from the stage. So yeah, PSA to everyone seeing Wicked, be kind to your fellow movie goers and keep the karaoking for the car. The soundtrack is awesome so you’re gonna wanna fire it up!   

Alrighty then, typed in a very Ace Ventura-worthy tone – here goes with some other recos. Remember, if you want more, give me a follow on the Gram. 

Favorite TV Shows

Landman – A new Taylor Sheridan show debuted last weekend and Billy Bob Thornton stars. It’s all about the oil business which is as cut-throat and crazy as you can imagine with Texas as a backdrop. The first couple episodes are now on Paramount+ and they sometimes show up on the Paramount Network channel, if you have that within your cable or satellite package. I think his shows are on Peacock too occasionally. Anyway, find it STAT and watch – it’s fun. If you’re a fan of Billy, check out Goliath on Prime Video too. Four seasons of great, GREAT TV. He definitely knows how to lead a show.  

Cobra Kai – It’s back for part two of its sixth and final season and ready for you to binge all five episodes. Of everything I watch, this show is by far the most nostalgic. For any Gen Xers who watched The Karate Kid over and over like I did, man, seeing this crew back again has been a real treat. AND, I loved that so many others like me dug it too, allowing it to run for six whole seasons. Gold star for Netflix too for stretching out this final season into three parts. The final five episodes will drop sometime in 2025. Fun Fact: Ralph Macchio turned 63 on November 4! How’s that for making you feel really old?! AND, he just got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 20, the 2,796th! There are sooo many! Daniel LaRusso sure has come a long way. Such a solid and genuinely nice dude!

The Day of the Jackal – In the late 90s, there was a great movie with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere called The Jackal. That’s basically what now lives on Peacock in the form of a new 10-episode show but reimagined…and starring Eddie Redmayne. It’s got a very James Bond feel about it, right from the opening credits. It’s fantastic. There are quite a few episodes already and more to come into December. I like to picture Eddie telling his agent that he’s done playing characters like his role in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or no more Stephen Hawking-type roles either and that he wanted to play a real badass. Throw all the other scripts out! Yes, yes, I know, I know I’ve been typecast as all those characters but they need to see the real me. And fun fact: he nails this badass role! Enjoy and hot off the presses – the show was just greenlit for Season 2! Really glad everyone is loving it as much as I am. 

Finding Mr. Christmas – As a big Hallmark Channel fan, I recently subscribed to the new Hallmark+ and it includes special programming not always available on the regular Hallmark Channel like this fun reality show. I don’t watch a lot of reality TV because I watch so many other shows but because this involved the Hallmark folks, I had to give it a shot. It’s been really fun and lots of good eye candy too! And, the winner gets to star in a Hallmark movie! Only six episodes total, all but the final episode able to be binged now.

Favorite Movies

I had a double-feature of two of Netflix’s new Hallmark-esque holiday flicks and the best part, I made my hubby watch them with me. He’s a good sport and half-watches while he’s busy playing computer games. ‘Tis the season for cheesy holiday movies and I say the more the merrier! Love it all sooooo much! P.S. If you haven’t experienced the Hallmark Christmas Movie Drinking Game, you need to stop reading this and Google it. There are different variations but the point is, it gets you in the spirit while the spirits are flowing! My bestie and I really just play it as an excuse to drink…but we really don’t need an excuse! To date, I haven’t fallen into my Christmas tree BUT there’s always this year! Squad goals. 

Hot Frosty – Lacey Chabert, Gretchen from Mean Girls and the star of many, MANY Hallmark Christmas movies, stars in this super-cute flick where the magic of the season brings a snowman to life. Lots of fun Easter eggs throughout for pop culture fanatics too.

The Merry Gentlemen – An all-male Christmas revue performs with the goal to save a small town theater from closing down. Chad Michael Murray still looks good.

With Thanksgiving in a couple days, our tradition is to watch a few movies and TV shows to mark the holiday. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is always on the watch list BUT my very favorite and most underrated Thanksgiving flick is Home for the Holidays. Miss Jodie Foster directed it and Holly Hunter stars, along with Robert Downey Jr. and so many other great cast members. It’s a five-star drama-dy!

In recent years, after my daughter became as big of a Friends fan as me, we started watching all the Thanksgiving episodes. Every season but one has an episode for a total of nine. You can watch them in any order but here’s a list. Lots of laughs!

Last on our list is always A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. There’s not a holiday celebrated at our house without watching a Peanuts special. This one is really cute and makes you realize that as long as you’re all together, it doesn’t really matter what you’re eating for the Thanksgiving feast!

Hope y’all gobble ‘til you wobble! Cheers to the holidays!

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 5

How is it nearly Thanksgiving?! 2024 ran away but can you blame it?! 

I’m ecstatic that our Arizona weather finally cooled off and it really feels like the holiday season. And, gold star for me because I started my Christmas shopping, too! The countdown is on. 

Alright, let’s get to it – here’s some good stuff for y’all. As always, if you want more, follow me on the Gram. 

Favorite Movies

Civil War – This movie came out in April but it’s as relevant as ever. It’s a PSA for everyone and a movie that even though it’s not classified as a horror, because it’s just a little too “real” to how our society feels and acts, is scary AF. It’s so good and so disturbing. Also, anything from the A24 studio is usually worth your time. You can likely find this across different streaming services and watch it with a drink or two. And, don’t forget to breathe. 

Wicked – Coming *very* soon (this week!) and I’m SO EXCITED for it. My daughter is a huge Ariana Grande fan so we’ve been planning our theater visit for A LONG time. She even dressed up as Glinda for Halloween. The Broadway show is one of my favorite productions so they have big shoes to fill but I predict the movie will be every bit as grand. How could it not?! There’s also something feel-good about the movie holiday season. Studios launch big blockbusters like during the summer where movie-goers are excited to be at the theater and experiencing some epic tales with a big group of fans…or is that just me? It’s really tough to top a movie on the big screen and music that rocks you sometimes out of your seat. Have I sold you on going to the movies this holiday season? I hope so. If not, thanks for coming to my TED Talk. 

Favorite TV Shows

Lioness – If you’re a fan of anything that Taylor Sheridan creates, this show is a must-watch. I think it’s actually my favorite of all his shows because of how accurate and raw it is. Zoe Saldana stars and there’s a whole host of other familiar and legendary cast members. It’s currently in its second season and worth signing up for Paramount+ to watch every week. It sometimes shows up on Paramount Network too if you have a cable plan and sometimes I see it show up on Peacock too. Really, really excellent.

Shrinking – A feel good show with a great cast and equally great writing. I’m old enough to know and remember that in the not-too-distant past big stars like Harrison Ford would have never joined the cast of a TV show. They just didn’t do that but now they’re all on the small screen and I’m here for it. This show is worth having an Apple TV subscription and fun fact, there’s hours AND hours of excellent shows on that platform. Some of the best shows available right now, period. 

Favorite Follows 

@erica_coffelt – Her videos are legendary, especially for a nostalgic fool like me. I discovered her from NKOTB and haven’t missed a video since.

Favorite Events

Las Noches de las Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden – This is by-far my favorite annual holiday event. The garden comes to life after dark with awesome musical acts. The new Light Bloom art you’ll find throughout the garden is also an excellent bonus. The whole event is a great way to get a holiday pick-me-up and really get in the spirit. The on-site restaurant, Gertrude’s, is also so good! We typically enjoy dinner and then go right into the garden for the event as our annual tradition.

Holiday Pop-Up Bars – I love all the seasonal pop-up bars and there’s some really fun ones I’m looking forward to checking out.

36 Below is an awesome speakeasy that goes all out for the holidays. I went to their Halloween pop-up and it was fantastic. The posts I’ve seen so far for their Winter Wonderland look great too. 

50 Shades of Rose is another really fun bar with great food too. If their Bad Santa pop-up is anything like their Disney Tragic Kingdom Halloween pop-up, it’s going to be awesome. 

Floor 13 Rooftop Bar puts on a festive pop-up too in Downtown Phoenix as part of the national Miracle Bar group. Enjoy great views of the city, eats and drinks. 

Bitter and Twisted has a holiday tiki theme that’s a ton of fun. Their drinks are great and the decor is always awesome.

Be sure to make reservations at any of the above. Cheers!

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Couch Potato Files Vol. 4

Fuck me – what a week. If you’re like me, you’ve had enough with reading about why the election turned out like it did and all the speculation and theories. Through all the doom scrolling, I remember seeing some posts about how artists need to lean into their craft during tougher times, providing not only an escape but also hope. Hope for better and brighter. Hope to not let the darkness consume you. 

So I’m no “artist” but I do like to write and provide my Cruise Director and pop culture recommendations and don’t do it nearly enough. That will be my artistic contribution. If nothing else, if you’re reading this and I’m writing this, it keeps us both from doom scrolling, even if for a bit.

Favorite TV Shows 

Teacup – Peacock launched this spooky series in October but if you’re like me and dig horror shows year round, give it a go. It’s got some familiar faces and only 8 episodes, making it very bing-worthy. Not yet greenlit for Season 2.

Hysteria! – As you can imagine, my watch-list is long so I haven’t actually finished this Peacock series yet but what I’ve seen so far is fantastic. Campy 80s horror and humor with Bruce Campbell leading the cast. Another 8 episodes that I’ll soon wrap up. Not yet greenlit for Season 2.

Yellowstone – The VERY long awaited second half of Season 5 is finally back today on Paramount. Six glorious episodes left and Kevin Costner’s last stand…and the show’s too. There are plenty of stories about more spinoffs and shows happening soon so the Yellowstone universe will continue but man, the original show will always be my favorite. 

The Penguin – The limited series finale is tonight and if you’re a fan of DC Comics, this show is made for you. It still blows my mind every time I watch that it’s Colin Farrell. I really need to do some research about how Matt Reeves and the creators decided he would be the best to put on that fat suit. The transformation is uncanny. As of now, it’s a limited series so sadly the 8 episodes may be it…and there’s rumors that Farrell is tired of playing the villain too. Fingers crossed maybe he changes his mind and they decide to create more.

Favorite Movies

Brothers – When I saw the trailer, I couldn’t wait to see this movie on Prime. All-star cast and a hilarious ride. And yes, that’s really Glenn Close.

Caddo Lake – A spooky and mysterious movie on Max that requires you to pay attention so you don’t lose track of what’s really going on. It’s great. Really dug it.

Favorite Shopping 

Ivy and Sage – ‘Tis the holiday season and my very-favorite store to check out all year long but especially for the holidays is Ivy and Sage. They outdo themselves with the decor and it’s an experience unlike any others. Shop local and check them out. It’ll 100% lift your spirits.

Highland Yard Vintage –  Another favorite that has special monthly markets and they too go all out with the decor and merriment. It’s a ton of fun. A great opportunity to support local and enjoy!

Favorite Follows

@mrprofessor318 – My bestie and I are big yacht rock fans and this fantastic fellow uses AI to make some of your very favorite rock tunes sound like yacht rock, among other music fun. His videos are so entertaining and he even put out a full album on Spotify and other music platforms. Ton of fun!

@effinbirds – These birds get me on a regular basis. The artist is so clever and hilarious.

That’s all she wrote, folks. Follow me on the Gram for more – I post A LOT in my stories. Some doom scrolling tidbits but mostly recos for tv, movies, events, bars, restaurants, shopping and more. Keep your chin up and enjoy the season and if you’re in AZ our awesome weather! 

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For the Love of the Foo

Cal Jam October 2017 on the left – Innings Fest February 2022 on the right

This past Friday was spent as part of our Spring Break days with my family and BFF. We happened to be at the house for what started as a super-sized Hallmark Drinking Game night but it changed slightly to include some badminton fun in our neighborhood park, re-watching Studio 666, the Foo Fighters recent campy horror movie, and then some Hallmark Christmas flicks…and lots of wine.

We made it through most of the night with lots of laughs. It wasn’t until I looked at my phone and scrolled Instagram to see the news that Taylor Hawkins, the Foos’ beloved drummer, had passed away. I had to look at the post over and over again before saying anything because I literally couldn’t believe the statement that I was reading. How could that be possible?! They were on tour and we just saw them a month before at Innings Fest in Tempe. I then told everyone and my BFF and I doomscrolled to see all the news unfold online. Fans as devastated as we were with non-stop posts. No news of what happened. Just the statement from the Foo Fighters that he was gone and at a very-young-age of 50.

Where do you go after 26 years of music? After being one of the biggest bands in the world and you lose your drummer, and in Dave’s case, your best friend? For starters, they’ve canceled the rest of their tour. And I bet they don’t play again for a long time or if ever again. It’s not about finding someone else to beat the drums. Taylor was a crucial piece of the amazing puzzle and rock giant that is the Foo Fighters.

My BFF and I have reminisced since Friday about how fortunate we’ve been to have seen the Foo Fighters perform many times and as crazy as the recent Innings Fest was on February 26, we’re so glad we were there. We literally battled the masses because of our love of the Foo! Taylor sang an awesome Queen cover that was unforgetable with Dave at the drums. It was an awesome set and we were there among the thousands of crazy drunkards. My favorite time seeing them though was at Cal Jam in October 2017. The Foo resurrected this big music fest and it was awesome. We had the best time and discovered so many cool bands and experienced old favorites, too.

I’ve been sad about other musicians passing. Prince and George Michael both got me. Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell, too. But with Taylor’s passing, it’s a different level of sadness. For more than a decade, the Foo Fighters have been my favorite band. I’ve had many favorites over the years but they filled that role for me most recently. And, accepting the fact that even if they do come back to perform again, it will never be the same and that’s tough. Tougher though is being in their shoes and Taylor’s family’s shoes, too. What a terrible, terrible loss.

I was listening to the Lithium channel on SiriusXM earlier this week and caught their Taylor Tribute. Fans were calling in and saying how much they were kicking themselves for passing on seeing them live. “We’ll see them on the next tour.” As I told my BFF, we’ll never be in that category. We saw them, over and over, and will continue to show up for them and other bands we love because you never know what tomorrow will bring. The Cruise Director life for me, always. Don’t wait. Just go and experience live music and see your favorites. There’s nothing like it.

RIP Taylor and thank you for all the years of rock and roll. May your family, bandmates, friends and fans hold on to all the awesome memories you’ve made for them forever. You will always be My Hero.

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