Don't call it a comeback
(call it a temporary pause in the workload)
Hi! I took the weekend off, and I had time to take a lunch break, which is why you’re getting A Proper Newsletter, With Like Writing And Stuff. (At least, you are at the time of starting this. I’m keeping half an eye firmly on my inbox.)
Update: You are! But it’s going out early today. Just in case. I’m not paranoid, YOU’RE paranoid.
I have been converted to the virtues of a proper night of sleep (including a dream that I was flat-sharing with Rihanna, because who knows where my brain is at) as well as to spending a lot of time vegging out in front of insubstantial television.
I also had a text read out on Greg James’s show this morning, successfully completing the Radio 1/2/6 Breakfast Show text-in trifecta. Thank you to the quiz contestant for referring to her “current husband” and thank you to Greg for not picking up on it at the time.
We didn’t talk about the Radio 2 one at the time because 1) it was several months ago, and 2) I was in the process of applying for a job with Not My Employer and referenced that in the text. Luckily no one I know listens to Radio 2 in the 6.30 half hour…
Anyway, now I just need to write a sonata for Radio 3, develop a rap career for 1Xtra, and become the Health Secretary for Radio 4. (I got an unexpected retweet off Harpz Kaur at the Asian Network a couple of weeks ago, we’ll call that one done.)
A quick run-through of what I’ve been watching this weekend (spoiler: it’s Michael Sheen heavy).
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: I caught up with the last four episodes of this current season, available on (ugh) All4. Speaking of which:
I remain amazed that a show in its seventh season can be such a consistent delight with no sign of flagging. I particularly enjoyed the out-of-sequence Halloween Heist episode this series - always a highlight, but the way it was handled this year was a particularly fun twist. I will say that it was weird watching it in the context of the last few weeks - there’s one action sequence in the 12th episode which reads very differently compared to how it would have done six months ago, and not in a good way - and I think it does show how little of the show is actually based on them doing police work. Which, of course, is part of the problem in terms of “the police are always the protagonists, aren’t they fun and lovable”. I’ve heard the suggestions about just making them all work for the post office next season - I’m not quite sure how that would work, but I’m up for trying. They can start by investigating why the package I’m expecting hasn’t arrived.
Also, as ever, excellent GIF material.
Staged: This is a series of fifteen minute chunks on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with David Tennant and Michael Sheen attempting to rehearse a play over Zoom while slowly going mad in lockdown. Their chemistry kept Good Omens afloat, and it’s a delight to spend more time in their company, even if the show isn’t awfully substantial. (That said, 15 minute Zoom sitcoms and 19 minute B99 episodes are calibrated for my exact attention span - well done, everyone. Oh look, a squirrel.)
The Queen: The 2006 movie with Helen Mirren as The Queen, struggling to deal with the public reaction to the death of Diana, and Michael Sheen (him again) as Tony Blair. In its last few days of availability on Amazon Prime. I enjoyed this, but it’s low key. It also serves as a Downton Abbey for a certain type of differently posh actor. When you need a Cherie Blair, of course you call Helen McCrory QC from Quiz With Michael Sheen, and when the Queen needs a private secretary, of course you call Roger Allam from The Thick Of It Without Michael Sheen. (And also Radio 4’s Cabin Pressure, which I’m going to finish eventually, I promise.)
Ahem. Anyway. Helen Mirren is so good in this that you basically forget she’s even there, which is really hard in a role like that.
Let’s get to the tweets.
Tweet of the day:
It’s here! There’s a trailer! Ahem. I mean, play it cool, Luke, don’t embarrass yourself AAARGH THERE’S A TRAILER IT’S SO EXCITING
Anyway, if you want to join my Hamilton watchalong with a pre-show of High School Musical (which I have unaccountably never seen, you know where to @ me).
Yes, that’s pretty much it:
(It’s great, but I’m stuck several episodes in because it’s killing me.)
Not good enough. Meet me round the back for a fight.
Are we sure this isn’t Michael Sheen, though?
In the land of the blind, the man with the monocle is king, but only if he can get permission from his parents (let’s be real, it’s definitely a he):
How did they get this footage of me?
Yes, yes, I very much would:
How I make my boss conduct my performance reviews:
Me, seeing the title: This can’t be that big of a deal.
Me, after watching the video: no, actually, that’s quite an ear flick.
Happy Father’s Day!
I do highly recommend the Twitter account “cakes with threatening auras” as a prime piece of internet weirdness.
For example, threatening auras these have.
Desk soundtrack:
I enjoyed this HAIM tiny desk concert (not that anyone is allowed near the Tiny Desk at the moment, so it’s happening in the artists’ homes).
More on Wednesday. May the force of the threatening cakes be with you.