June Roundup, '20
Amid the current American revolution, it feels silly to keep watching dumb shit on TV, but "the show must go on," as they say. And, luckily, this month offers a few choice additions to the Black Lives Matter landscape.
If you're out there marching, please stay safe. If you're still stuck at home (yeah, Covid hasn't gone anywhere, y'all), please keep doing what you can to further the fight. Donate, spread information, sign petitions, create art, fundraise; Just. Keep. Going. I've been compiling resources and information daily in my story highlights on insta, so check that out if you're looking for some direction, though you should definitely look into the black creators' whose work is highlighted as they are a much better source of information than I am.
Anyway, when you need a fix to calm your TV addiction, check out the stuff below with, as always, the real good shit in bold.
Watch This Shit:
Robot Chicken meets an actual storyline, plus a little bit of Disenchantment. The first episode is pretty much So You Think You Can Joust. It's vulgar as fuck and very funny. Give it a shot. #assholetulips
This uplifting docuseries biographizes public figures via letters written by those whom they've inspired. There is, rightfully so, a heavy emphasis on people of color and it is well-worth your time.
In this desperately important half-hour drama, the fucking outstanding Michaela Coel brilliantly tells her story of sexual assault survival. I cannot say enough good things about her and everything she creates. Watch this or you're awful. Period.
I was hoping they'd one day make this story into a documentary and, thankfully, that day has come. This six-part series looks at the hunt for the Golden State Killer through the unwavering work of Michelle McNamara who, unfortunately, did not survive to see him finally get caught. Though her legacy lives on through her posthumously released book and, now, this docuseries.
Ten comedians are locked in a room for over 5 hours and if they laugh, the lose. The last one standing wins. Rebel Wilson hosts and, yeah, you'd definitely lose.
Based on the Japanese series Documental, this is the first English-language iteration, following 2018's Mexican version.
This two-part special features Oprah in conversation with many of today's prominent black leaders regarding the current revolution in America sparked by its long-cemented systemic racism, recently displayed by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, all answering three main questions: What do we want? What matters now? What matter's next?
Padma Lakshme, immigrant and food lover, explores both those facets of American society.
What's that thing football people do? With the brackets or whatever? Y'all know what I'm talking about, right?
Anyway, I think maybe this is that? But with comedians in quarantine instead of that racist football bullshit.
Meh:
Far be it for me to not recommend anything even remotely creepy, but look... when it's Don Wildman (I absolutely refuse to believe that's his real name, by the way) talking about some damn "Vampires a really real, y'all! Swearsies!" it's fucking silly. But when it's not about that mess, it's really about the surviving folklore of various places all over the world and that's what makes this show worth watching.
I watched this one drunk. It was GREAT! But in sober hindsight, very ridiculous. Maybe too ridiculous? I don't know. Adam Scott's a cutie (as usual), and Ryan Reynolds provides some colorful commentary, so if those two mixed with teams of four doing fully insane physical challenges sounds like your cuppa, then give it a shot.
So, the floor isn't literally lava, but it's the object of the game. And, yes, it's batshit. A few people traverse through an obstacle course of insanity and... that's basically it. Watch it stoned. You'll LOVE it.
As a gay latinx guy raised in a religious household, this one hits waaay too close to home. But if you're into more shmaltzy cuteness set in the world of Love, Simon, then give it a go.
P.S. Let me know if he ends up with Benji or not, 'cause if not... I'm definitely skipping this shit. Don't feed me a fake high school experience full of false positivity and call it a good time, Disney!
A clunky crime noir set in Depression-era Los Angeles, telling the origin story of classic TV's Perry Mason. Raymond Burr was gay, though you'd never know it, so it's hard to imagine how he'd feel about big ol' fake dicks flopping around in his new namesake (not that I'm one to ever complain about a floppy dick, mind you). But whether he likes it or not, his character works to solve a child kidnapping/murder case in this miniseries revival.
Don't Watch This Shit:
It's Tournament of Laughs except with running commentary from celebrities begging you to like them more than other celebrities.
This should've ended up in the Honorable Mentions list, but I just cannot bring myself to recommend it. I love TLC way too damn much to praise a handful of singers you've never heard of auto-tuning cover versions of TLC songs to death. (Ceraadi was real cute, though.)
Thomas John: The Psychic Uber Driver. It seems just as real as any other random psychic series (as in: not real), but the problem here also is that Thomas is a little less than likeable. I mean, can we talk about the stank face he gave to the little dead black boy he claimed was in his passenger seat? Not cute. It's on CBS All Access, though, so nobody's gonna watch it anyway.
Honorable Mentions:
A documentary examining rampant sexual predation and abuse in American gymnastics.
Netflix takes Apple's Visible: Out on Television a step further and examines transgender representation in film and television and how it's affected (and continues to affect) the real lives of trans folx.
The Pose camp put out this virtual special uplifting queer voices of color in support of LGBTQ+ organizations and it's cute as fuck.
For all the cool kids who love comedy horror. (Heavy emphasis on the comedy.)
A monumentally important documentary following queer activists risking their lives in defiance of Ramzan Kadyrov's inhumane government-directed campaign to detain, torture, and execute LGBTQ+ Chechens.
Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It!
You might (as in should) know Ms. Orji from Insecure. In this, her first stand-up special, she hilariously walks us through her life as a Nigerian-American.
The Shit I Missed:
Bake-Off meets Wonderland. This one premiered back in January, but is only just now getting its US premiere on Netflix.
Robot Chicken meets Venture Bros. This premiered on Fullscreen way back when it existed in 2016 and then aired linearly on truTV in 2018. It's now re-re-airing on Syfy, which has also ordered six new half-hour episodes, so look out for those.