Ariana's "ascension" with Love Island USA, what left me gobsmacked, Fassbender's well-timed "break", Brooke Shields on hold, Jon Hamm's best, Reservation Dogs and the Emmys, and some LG nostalgia
I've been following LG and the Fug gals from the beginning, so I was walking down memory lane with you -- "Smutty Tingles" made me giggle to think about. I like the evolution LG has made, and that you consistently recognize and take responsibility for being a little snarky back in the day -- the entire culture was so snarky in the 'aughts. While I wouldn't want to go back to those meaner days of the early web, I have to admit I miss Ted Casablanca's blind items (Ted could have told Taylor that she and Toothy Tile would never last) and Television Without Pity's hilarious recaps.
And Jon Hamm! My favorite role of his, post Mad Men is definitely Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne in The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; such a goofy role, and he totally commits. He's also great -- so menacing! -- in the latest season of Fargo. Never get tired of watching Jon Hamm. (I think too often about those photos where he was possibly going commando.)
I miss TWoP so much! I was a poor broke college gal with no cable and kept up with my shows by reading their recaps. They were hilarious and detailed and probing and I feel like we've lost something about the way we consume media without sites like them.
I loved TWOP, those Dawson’s Creek recaps were my first favorites- I’ve really been enjoying Again with This podcast as they’re discussing Dawson again and hearing Tara Ariano and Sarah D. Bunting talk about how they feel now. And my first introduction to Heather Cocks’ writing was the end of Dawson’s Creek recaps on TWOP. It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been reading the writing of so many of these bloggers for 20 years! I was in high school when blogging became big.
TWoP was my favorite website in college and I'm still so angry that you just...can't access most of those recaps anymore! Those forums were the only place I could talk about Veronica Mars because basically nobody in my real life watched it.
Has a site ever made a faster change for the worse than TWOP after Bravo bought it and the new mods when ban crazy? TWOP Bayliss and Pemberton almost made me hate Homicide LOTS with their bullshit bans and warnings. The message boards managed fine without them for years but corporate oversight ruins everything. Fametracker on the other hand….Harrison Ford will always be the sun.
Michael K!!!! I miss him so much. DListed and LaineyGossip have been my go to gossip sites forever. When he shut down DListed, I may have actually cried. No wait, I did cry. For real. Wherever he is, I hope he is doing well and knows how much he was and is loved.
I did, too! OG Lainey and Dlisted reader here too. My mom referred to Lainey last week as “your friend, Lainey!” That’s how long I have been talking about/sharing stories from the site and now our chats. 😂
My boyfriend also says your friend Sarah, because I keep pushing him movie recs (without fail he ignores me and i end up going to the cinema on my own, it drives me crazy 🤪)
I am not a Substack expert, but I do belong to a few and was struck after reading the latest Mailbag: the Squawk is at the top of the heap. Content, value, engagement, community, management, structure - showing my appreciation for the work of the Squawk!
Juno made me totally forget that she was Kelye from Ted Lasso. I really loved the character arc that she and Jennifer Jason Leigh went through. Such a great season.
Thanks Lainey and Sarah for the Jon Hamm appreciation ❤️ Also Juno is fantastic in Fargo, the whole season is different from the others (which were variations of the same theme).
Also, I enjoyed Ted Casablancas' blind items ... a lot 😅 but nobody in my real life was "online" like I was at the time, so yeah, so glad to have found the Squawk.
I have not watched Love Island in any form, but maybe I should? I really came here to say that I adore the Peacock streamer and don't understand why it's so low-tier. All the Law & Order reruns! Dateline reruns! Brooklyn 99! I watch it in some form probably every night, if I'm watching anything at all. I feel like maybe I'm on an island all alone with this, but I love it. And now, time to check out Love Island.
We are golf sickos so we have peacock for all the golf content. I will say the interface / UI is so shitty. I wish they’d spend all that comcast coin on making a really clean platform and making it easier to search and find what you are looking for!
FWIW I have never watched reality TV, can barely get myself to watch TV in general, and am OBSESSED with Love Island and participating in this weird cultural moment that it’s created. It’s so ridiculous but it’s also perfect everything is terrible and I need to turn my brain off content.
What else is like the icing on the cake at the end of the day. I appreciated always how you disagree with the fug girls sometimes as fashion criticism is a little-appreciated talent of LG
Each time I think about how Lily, Malcolm X and to some extent Ali were passed over it felt like the Academy didn't want to admit the work was relevant as a mirror or history of the real prejudice. The groups of the Emmys voting body not wanting to acknowledge the work because of their feeling a way about looking at the consequences of the actions makes sense. Maybe they should have a Golden Globes recalibration and time out?? They really only have space for feeling bad about things happening terribly to people in other places.
I truly can’t believe the long tail of Scandoval; the lawsuit situation this week is just another giant WTF for all of us and L for Tom Sandoval. I would put forward the assertion that reality TV has never struck gold with a cast in the same way they did with Vanderpump Rules—they are still entertaining us with their foibles and fuck ups, albeit different varieties of them, after all this time.
Two things I find interesting in the Ariana x Love Island pairing: 1) her as a host is perfect in a meta-reality-TV sense because she’s an embodiment of what the contestants want, perhaps sans the scandal, but they all can only dream of the success she’s built on her reality TV foundations, and 2) there is a discussion to be had about “story lines” pushed by producers in VPR as well as Love Island and how they generally pursue forgiveness arcs for men in both shows, and whether audiences are buying into these tropes still
I don't do reality shows. I've never watched a single episode of any version of The Bachelor or the Kardashians. I have no idea what a Vanderpump is. Would I like Love Island? Do I dare watch? You make me want to watch it but I hate watching idiots do stupid things. (Also why I never watched The Office.)
Watch it!!! I mention this in an above comment, but I have never watched reality TV, and have somehow been sucked into the Love Island universe. If anything, I would just watch the first episode because the whole premise and way it’s shot is so over the top that it’s a true experience.
It's interesting seeing the Love Island love-in from a British perspective when the show has well and truly peaked over here. There have been three deaths by suicide associated with the show, domestic abuse charities highlighting gaslighting and abusive behaviour from male contestants, plus racism, ageism and a backlash over people just being in it for the sponsorship deals. It generates very little conversation now. I think they do a winter and summer series now and it's overkill.
I haven’t fucked with a reality show since The Hills and Laguna Beach . No other reality shows are as ICONIC as those, but ngl documentaries and talk shows are more my jam. I’m so boring like that lol. I can get lost in a true crime documentary or a health doc any day of the week
MichaelK replied to both emails I sent to him back in the day. I always felt like I was being seen by an angelic being. We love you Michael K, wherever you are.
I've been following LG and the Fug gals from the beginning, so I was walking down memory lane with you -- "Smutty Tingles" made me giggle to think about. I like the evolution LG has made, and that you consistently recognize and take responsibility for being a little snarky back in the day -- the entire culture was so snarky in the 'aughts. While I wouldn't want to go back to those meaner days of the early web, I have to admit I miss Ted Casablanca's blind items (Ted could have told Taylor that she and Toothy Tile would never last) and Television Without Pity's hilarious recaps.
And Jon Hamm! My favorite role of his, post Mad Men is definitely Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne in The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; such a goofy role, and he totally commits. He's also great -- so menacing! -- in the latest season of Fargo. Never get tired of watching Jon Hamm. (I think too often about those photos where he was possibly going commando.)
I miss TWoP so much! I was a poor broke college gal with no cable and kept up with my shows by reading their recaps. They were hilarious and detailed and probing and I feel like we've lost something about the way we consume media without sites like them.
I loved TWOP, those Dawson’s Creek recaps were my first favorites- I’ve really been enjoying Again with This podcast as they’re discussing Dawson again and hearing Tara Ariano and Sarah D. Bunting talk about how they feel now. And my first introduction to Heather Cocks’ writing was the end of Dawson’s Creek recaps on TWOP. It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been reading the writing of so many of these bloggers for 20 years! I was in high school when blogging became big.
TWoP was my favorite website in college and I'm still so angry that you just...can't access most of those recaps anymore! Those forums were the only place I could talk about Veronica Mars because basically nobody in my real life watched it.
Has a site ever made a faster change for the worse than TWOP after Bravo bought it and the new mods when ban crazy? TWOP Bayliss and Pemberton almost made me hate Homicide LOTS with their bullshit bans and warnings. The message boards managed fine without them for years but corporate oversight ruins everything. Fametracker on the other hand….Harrison Ford will always be the sun.
Was it ever confirmed that Jakey G was Toothy Tile?!
I was trying to remember WHY I new that name! Toothy Tile! Haahahaaha.
Going back down memory lane….!! Love this
Hahahha I used to live for those Ted C blinds!! I also wonder if Lainey will ever confirm the presumed Matt Damon/George Clooney blinds?!!
Oh lord which ones were those?! I do remember toothy tile though 🤣
It’s not on the site anymore but you can google it! CUBA & CHOCOLATE 👀
I love Jon Hamm’s voice work! He has voiced both a fancy toilet and an anthropomorphic human (cloud) heart
Michael K!!!! I miss him so much. DListed and LaineyGossip have been my go to gossip sites forever. When he shut down DListed, I may have actually cried. No wait, I did cry. For real. Wherever he is, I hope he is doing well and knows how much he was and is loved.
I did, too! OG Lainey and Dlisted reader here too. My mom referred to Lainey last week as “your friend, Lainey!” That’s how long I have been talking about/sharing stories from the site and now our chats. 😂
My boyfriend also says your friend Sarah, because I keep pushing him movie recs (without fail he ignores me and i end up going to the cinema on my own, it drives me crazy 🤪)
Same! When something/ someone is cool, I call it/then HSOTD 😉😄
I am not a Substack expert, but I do belong to a few and was struck after reading the latest Mailbag: the Squawk is at the top of the heap. Content, value, engagement, community, management, structure - showing my appreciation for the work of the Squawk!
Jon Hamm's character on Fargo was absolutely terrifying.
He played it so well! Very well deserved Emmy nomination. Juno was phenomenal, too.
I absolutely believed that tiny woman could physically take down those huge men!
Juno made me totally forget that she was Kelye from Ted Lasso. I really loved the character arc that she and Jennifer Jason Leigh went through. Such a great season.
Thanks Lainey and Sarah for the Jon Hamm appreciation ❤️ Also Juno is fantastic in Fargo, the whole season is different from the others (which were variations of the same theme).
Also, I enjoyed Ted Casablancas' blind items ... a lot 😅 but nobody in my real life was "online" like I was at the time, so yeah, so glad to have found the Squawk.
I have not watched Love Island in any form, but maybe I should? I really came here to say that I adore the Peacock streamer and don't understand why it's so low-tier. All the Law & Order reruns! Dateline reruns! Brooklyn 99! I watch it in some form probably every night, if I'm watching anything at all. I feel like maybe I'm on an island all alone with this, but I love it. And now, time to check out Love Island.
We are golf sickos so we have peacock for all the golf content. I will say the interface / UI is so shitty. I wish they’d spend all that comcast coin on making a really clean platform and making it easier to search and find what you are looking for!
I'm mostly a streaming account moocher but I do pay for Peacock! Premium!
FWIW I have never watched reality TV, can barely get myself to watch TV in general, and am OBSESSED with Love Island and participating in this weird cultural moment that it’s created. It’s so ridiculous but it’s also perfect everything is terrible and I need to turn my brain off content.
What else is like the icing on the cake at the end of the day. I appreciated always how you disagree with the fug girls sometimes as fashion criticism is a little-appreciated talent of LG
Each time I think about how Lily, Malcolm X and to some extent Ali were passed over it felt like the Academy didn't want to admit the work was relevant as a mirror or history of the real prejudice. The groups of the Emmys voting body not wanting to acknowledge the work because of their feeling a way about looking at the consequences of the actions makes sense. Maybe they should have a Golden Globes recalibration and time out?? They really only have space for feeling bad about things happening terribly to people in other places.
Ah! The photo of Quannah in the mailbag reminded me I wanted to share this interview where she discusses the meaning behind her jewelry and chin tattoo! Gift link. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/13/style/quannah-chasinghorses-mother-of-pearl-septum-tusk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8U0.oHUw.viGVVjOivcMD&smid=url-share
I truly can’t believe the long tail of Scandoval; the lawsuit situation this week is just another giant WTF for all of us and L for Tom Sandoval. I would put forward the assertion that reality TV has never struck gold with a cast in the same way they did with Vanderpump Rules—they are still entertaining us with their foibles and fuck ups, albeit different varieties of them, after all this time.
Two things I find interesting in the Ariana x Love Island pairing: 1) her as a host is perfect in a meta-reality-TV sense because she’s an embodiment of what the contestants want, perhaps sans the scandal, but they all can only dream of the success she’s built on her reality TV foundations, and 2) there is a discussion to be had about “story lines” pushed by producers in VPR as well as Love Island and how they generally pursue forgiveness arcs for men in both shows, and whether audiences are buying into these tropes still
I don't do reality shows. I've never watched a single episode of any version of The Bachelor or the Kardashians. I have no idea what a Vanderpump is. Would I like Love Island? Do I dare watch? You make me want to watch it but I hate watching idiots do stupid things. (Also why I never watched The Office.)
I don’t tune in for reality tv. It all has an air of Dr Phil to it, manipulative and boorish.
Watch it!!! I mention this in an above comment, but I have never watched reality TV, and have somehow been sucked into the Love Island universe. If anything, I would just watch the first episode because the whole premise and way it’s shot is so over the top that it’s a true experience.
Well, if The Great British Baking show kids edition counts, then I do watch some lol, but no adults on an island ever.
It's interesting seeing the Love Island love-in from a British perspective when the show has well and truly peaked over here. There have been three deaths by suicide associated with the show, domestic abuse charities highlighting gaslighting and abusive behaviour from male contestants, plus racism, ageism and a backlash over people just being in it for the sponsorship deals. It generates very little conversation now. I think they do a winter and summer series now and it's overkill.
I haven’t fucked with a reality show since The Hills and Laguna Beach . No other reality shows are as ICONIC as those, but ngl documentaries and talk shows are more my jam. I’m so boring like that lol. I can get lost in a true crime documentary or a health doc any day of the week
God YES, Smutty Tingles. Oh that just took me back. Love the LG team!
Michael Fassbender also starred in 2017’s The Snowman. If I had a Time Machine, I would unsee that movie. Give me those hours of my 20s back
MichaelK replied to both emails I sent to him back in the day. I always felt like I was being seen by an angelic being. We love you Michael K, wherever you are.
Michael K foreva!!! I wish he was still writing funny shit on some platform, but understand why he doesn’t. Or maybe it’s just kept under wraps?
I think Blakely Thorton is the closest we have to his smart, snarky celeb commentary, in video form.
Blakely is snarky, but not cruel. Roll credits!
Yes! I love his humor, and the credits songs are always perfect.
I need to give Good Omens another try. I should like it but I couldn’t get into it.