Sneak Peek: "The Vampire Lestat"

oh my god, this man...I would be a groupie in a heartbeat, pun intended...

But we have to wait until 2026!

https://www.amcplus.com/

Currently watching...

..."English Teacher" on FX.

I love Brian Jordan Alvarez. I have since his early days of creating content for his Youtube channel. I thought his webseries "30s" was utterly brilliant, along, of course with his series "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo." He is a wildly talented actor and his instincts for writing comedy and drama are pitch perfect. (And I would be remiss if I did not mention his dancing, previously here.)

So when it was announced that his new project which he created and wrote would be premiering on FX, I was very excited. If anyone deserves success, it is Brian Jordan Alvarez.

And the first two episodes of "English Teacher" that just debuted delivered everything Brian Jordan Alvarez can do. He stars as Evan Marquez, an out gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas navigating not only his students who are, like most young people now, both too savvy and too clueless at the same time, but his fellow teachers. It has the makings of a classic sitcom that one would be forgiven for passing by but in Alvarez's hands, it becomes a fly-on-the wall study of life that is neither aiming to show how stupid or silly the players are (I have a dislike for shows that revel in potshots at characters we are supposed to laugh AT and not with) nor how angsty and torn their lives are. It already reminds me so much of his past work, and I am so glad to see his longtime collaborator Stephanie Koenig playing his friend and fellow teacher, Gwen Sanders (she wrote episode two, the hilarious "Powderpuff"!). The comedy is subtle, effective, and brilliantly connected to a meaningful sense of humanity and truthfulness.

I can't wait to watch every week and see where he will take us. "English Teacher" airs Monday nights on FX.

Congratulations, Brian!

https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/english-teacher

"Long Face" by Lestat de Lioncourt

If you know, you know.

(Armand told the truth.)

https://www.amc.com/shows/anne-rice-interview-with-the-vampire--1053259

Just finished binge-watching...

...Mike Flanagan's engaging, clever, satisfying Netflix drama "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Mike Flanagan wrote and directed one of the best horror stories on film, the spectacular remake of "The Haunting of Hill House" which functioned both as a horror story and as a touching, poignant, heartbreaking psychological study of a damaged family. He also wrote and directed the follow up called "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and the modern vampire/demon series "Midnight Mass," as well as directing "Dr. Sleep," the sequel to Kubrick's horror masterpiece "The Shining." So the man has some cred.

For his most recent creation, he took the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, and cleverly strung them together in a continuous, single, new narrative set in 2023 while retaining the underlying action of each story. And it is a stunning, taut exercise in storytelling with an exceptional cast. Flanagan has a sort of repertory of actors he likes to use and many of them who have been with him since "Haunting of Hill House" are here back for more, along with some expert new faces like Mark Hamill (yes, that Mark Hamill, doing a voice), and the exquisite Mary McDonald who literally can do no wrong.

The overall quality of the series is immaculate and like "Haunting of Hill House," "Usher" has a deeper meaning that goes beyond horror, addressing the issues of wealth and greed, unchecked ambition, consumption, addiction, ego, family secrets, grief, and transgression. It is as close to a perfect cinematic experience as you can get.

Recommend? Absolutely. If you're a horror fan, you will appreciate the complexity. If you're not, watch it for the story and not the gore...you won't be sorry.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81414665

Just finished watching...

...the mini-series "Pistol" by director Danny Boyle.

This entertaining look at the formation of punk's most influential and recognizable band, The Sex Pistols was directed by Boyle ("Trainspotting," 28 Days," "Slum Dog Millionaire") who lived through this period in England and can helm such a rock and roll biopic with knowledge. The series is based on The Sex Pistols' guitarist Steve Jones' 2017 autobiography LONLEY BOY: TALES FROM A SEX PISTOL and features Toby Wallace as Jones. While it is fun to see Wallace and fellow actors Anson Boon as Johnny Rotten, Jacob Slater as Paul Cook, Christian Lees as Glen Matlock, and Louis Partridge as Sid Vicious, what I found particularly delightful is seeing actors portray the people in The Pistols' orbit...we get to see Sydney Chandler as Chrissie Hynde, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Malcolm McLaren, Talulah Riley as Vivienne Westwood, Maisie Williams as Jordan. We even get to see flashes of Siouxsie Sioux, Soo Catwman, Billy Idol, and Pete Farndon. And regular readers will know that I am a fan of fashion and fashion history so of course it was a thrill to see Westwood and McLaren's shops recreated: first as Sex, then later rechristened Seditionaries, down to the correct lighting and graffiti on the walls.

If you know this part of rock and roll and cultural history, it's fun to see these references, but I will acknowledge that if you are younger and not familiar, the series does not do a great job of giving you clues as to who these peripheral people are much less delving into the social, economic, and political conditions that gave rise to a movement such as Punk. I guess that can be seen as both a flaw but also a feature in that Boyle and crew and cast simply recreated, understanding that this particular incarnation of the story of The Sex Pistols was not for a deep anthropological study. What we do get is a fast-paced romp through the early days, formation, and rise of the band, told in six episodes, each titled "Track:______" and bearing the name of one of The Sex Pistols' songs. And each actor does a wonderful and thorough job of capturing, through voice and body and facial mannerisms, exactly who each of these historical musical figures were.

Recommend? Yep, great fun. Like I said, if you know the history (or were around for it like I was), dive right in and enjoy. If not, you might want to do a little concurrent research to pick up on the events and personalities that go flying by.

https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/pistol

"Raised By Wolves Opening Title" by Ben Frost and Mariam Wallentin

I enjoyed Season One of the dark HBO/Ridley Scott sci-fi series "Raised By Wolves" and have been enjoying Season Two so far, but it is the theme song that has been absolutely haunting me. Written by Ben Frost and sung by Swedish experimental vocalist Mariam Wallentin, there is something so otherworldly and eerie about it while managing to sound like a sad, final lullaby...

The door that finally opens
With light flooding in
Spilling out on the floor

The core that never was
Now it will be
The bones of
What was there before

Every step, every beat
Every thought, every breath
Everything is longing

Pulling you from the sky
Just like love will do

Pulling you from the ground
Just like love will do

http://ethermachines.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mariam_repeatuntildeath/
https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GX0WFcAlf5r5cuAEAAADu

BEAUTY: Man For Winter--Alexandr

Beautiful hunky ginger man Alexandr (@personalkrampus) looks just like Kris Kringle from the classic 1970 stop motion animated holiday classic television special "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town!"

https://www.instagram.com/personalkrampus

BEAUTY: Man--Lee Pace

Starring in the upcoming Apple+ television series "Foundation," based on Asimov's novels, Lee Pace did some publicity for it in Esquire, modeling Gucci, Prada, and Dior Homme...and lookin' fiiiiine...

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a37706311/lee-pace-foundation-coats/

And he wore Thom Browne to this year's Met Gala!

https://www.instagram.com/leeepfrog/

Currently watching...

...and enjoying the hell out of the second season of the wonderful "Ted Lasso."

Season one of this truly charming series was something very special. And I am delighted to be able to visit these characters again and spend time with each of them. My husband and I initially resisted this show because it presents itself as a series about soccer, and we are not sports fans. In fact, I would rather chew broken glass than watch any film or series about sports. But after some cajoling from some English ex-pat friends who assured us that the show is resolutely not about soccer (football), but about personalities and a fun culture clash between English and American sensibilities, we decided to give it a try and we are so glad we did.

We were rewarded with a series not about soccer/football but a sweet comedy with a serious message at its heart: kindness. I know it may sound very Pollyanna-ish, but this is a show that holds up the value of kindness as something to strive for, something that will make us whole, something that has the power to change the world if only we let it. And it feels like there is so little kindness in the world right now, I find that my exposure to this show has acted as some kind of antidote. I find my mood actually uplifted after watching such vulnerable, caring people genuinely relating to each other and supporting each other despite apparent flaws and mistakes. There is no manufactured drama here, no irreversible trauma, just people looking out for one another...and if someone makes a mistake, they apologize and because the others know the essence of that person, they forgive.

And the attitude comes from Ted Lasso himself, masterfully played by Jason Sudeikis. Lasso is an American football coach hired by an English soccer club to move to London and lead the team. Unbeknownst to him, he is actually there at the behest of the ex-wife of the owner of the club in order to run it into the ground and destroy it in a plot of revenge. But Lasso has winning ways that are irresistible. And soon, everyone's life is the better for his presence, his wit, and his heart.

It sounds simplistic but it's actually a nuanced show with equal parts heart and true wit. Mixed in with the message of kindness, each character gets a chance to play with some screamingly funny lines and dialogue, mostly done in an understated way. And the relationships and character studies are refreshing as well: men can talk with each other in a profound way and share intimate thoughts, women can be friends without resorting to clichéd catty behaviour, and angry athletes can express great love for children.

Recommend? Yes, if you want to feel like there is some goodness in the world, please do spend some time with Coach Lasso and the team.

https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy

The Colorful Home of Emmy Raver-Lampman and Daveed Diggs

I love the Los Angeles home of Emmy Raver-Lampman (from Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy") and Daveed Diggs (from the stellar stage hit "Hamilton" for which he won a both a Grammy and a Tony!), that Raver-Lampman designed with interior designer Mandy Cheng. I appreciate it as an interior designer, but also just as a person who is visually stimulated. There is so much beauty and color and texture and life and fun in this home.

In their living room, I love the photo booth kissing series over the fireplace, Raver Lampman's lovely basket collection on the walls, and of course the hanging swing seats.

Raver-Lampman used her quarantine down-time to paint hash marks on the wall of their office which replicates the look of high end wallcoverings like Porter Teleo.

Diggs chose the humorous wallcovering in the powder room: the Bay Area Toile by Flavor Paper, featuring iconic people from the San Francisco Bay Area like legendary quarterback Joe Montana, local Channel 2 news anchor Dennis Richmond (if you are a long-time resident of the Bay Area who is of a certain age, like myself, you will certainly recognize Dennis Richmond!), rapper E-40, political activist Angela Davis, and even Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters.

They converted a never-used wine storage space under the stairs into a really cool record lounge spot!

The stair runner is super--a patchwork of smaller rugs and runners sewn together to create a kaleidoscopic effect.

Upstairs, guest rooms feature a jungle-and-monkey-themed wallcovering from venerable Enlgish wallcovering house Cole and Son, a blue watercolor wallcovering from Feather, and a master bedroom that features a light hearted art work of the Obamas sitting on sandwiches! Watch the video at the bottom of this post for a delightful walk-through of the home hosted by Emmy and Daveed themselves!

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-emmy-raver-lampman-and-daveed-diggss-colorful-southern-california-home
http://daveeddiggs.com/