Patsy and Loretta

This new Lifetime movie explores the tremendous friendship which grew between two icons of country music.  Their entire relationship took place over less than two years but was striking in how powerfully felt it was for both women.  The producers smartly put a good deal of focus on the music, allowing the hugely talented Megan Hilty and Jessie Mueller to use their fabulous voices to echo Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, respectively.  Megan Hilty is particularly skilled at diving into a troubled, brilliant performer.  It was easy to forget the actor under the wig and see only the star who died too young.  The music, the friendship, and the performances are admirable.  The script, however, is choppy and the timeline unclear.  Transitions are abrupt and rough.  It's as if the producers said that they they wanted to see snapshots of every important moment between the two women, so instead of natural flow you end up more with snapshots.  Nevertheless, it was an engaging two hours which left me with a significantly better understanding of this moment in history and a soft spot for the human side of two superstars.  Their daughters contributed to the development of the project, bringing needed grounding.  Worth a viewing.

"The Truths We Hold: An American Journey" by Kamala Harris

I first saw Senator Harris at the Women's March in DC.  Hearing her speak I paid attention.  It had been a lengthy day of speeches but hers stood out.  She had a clarity, a passion ... and she was smart.  Really smart.  Ever since then I have watched her career with interest, including her current run for President.  It has become defacto to release a book when you are running for President.  It is supposed to make clear to the constituency where you came from, how your beliefs formed, who you essentially "are."  In that sense this book succeeds to some degree.  The first few chapters cover Senator Harris' early life, somewhat sanitized at times but clear in that she identifies as a black woman and has tremendous family bonds.  About a third of the way in we reach the point where I became aware of her -- the 2016 march.  After that, she covers her time in the Senate, which includes a good bit of behind doors power plays.  Given her background, she was given a spot on several prestigious committees in the Senate.  This is not typical for a Freshman.  It is interesting to read what was going on behind the scenes during some of the more public events of the last few years.  The book clearly spells out what Senator Harris believes.  For this, jump to the final chapter where she sums up the core beliefs in her life.  As to the rest of the book, well ...  Senator Harris is clearly a private person.  This book could never be called a "tell-all".  But it does show off her personality fairly well.  She is hard-working and makes a point to delve deep into every issue, understanding the history as well as the current situation.  She is committed, determined to fight when she believes she is right, even if it is not popular.  She does fail, and as a rule-follower it surprised her when she didn't pass the bar the first time.  She is a boots-on, in-the-thick of things brawler.  She has a great deal of empathy and sees the big picture, using many stories not only to illustrate national concerns but to thank those of her friends and staff who pitched in on a given issue.  The problem with many of the "middle" chapters is that they read like stump speeches.  All numbers and great leaps like the discussion of big pharma and Wall Street.  The arguments are compelling but can seem impersonal.  Instead of talking in detail about the loss of her mother, she launches into a tirade about insurance.  This is typical.  The points are strong but they aren't about her, specifically.  On a weak note, many of her televised Senate hearings are recreated verbatim, which seems unnecessary.  So, no, not the most fabulous book.  But a good one if you want some insight into Senator Harris, albeit more about her work and policies than her private life.  It does make me wonder -- will we ever choose a President based on their ability to do the job, rather than whether they are someone we'd like to have a beer with?  It will be an interesting year to come.

"Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" by Maria Semple

This book wasn't at all what I thought it was.  Which is generally a good thing.  Given its popularity and the current movie I had some sense that it was either all about a mother who disappears or a tale of a woman who walks away from her marriage.  It is both.  And it isn't.  Bernadette's daughter's voice acts as an emotional anchor for the piece but there are many voices.  It is told in a unique narrative form -- through letters, emails, police reports, etc.  This kind of keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next.  It's an interesting take on suburban life which reminded me a bit of Liane Moriarty's work.  The theme of the unhappy modern housewife has been around in literature for half a century but the current takes do great justice to our contemporary ethos.  All this being said, this isn't a dark book.  It has thoughtful, even troubling themes, but it is very much a funny tale, one that had me laughing out loud.  Not too deep but nicely engaging, I read the entire thing from cover to cover during an eight-hour flight.  Relatable and worthwhile.

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

More lengthy travel allowed me to catch up on a lot of reading.  First up was an award-winning book which had been on my "to read" list for a long (long, long) time.  This fascinating nonfiction story is told in many layers.  There is the author, Rebecca Skloot, who took years to research and write this story.  There is the family of Henrietta Lacks, who were used and abused but never rewarded for the sacrifice which was made.  There is the medical establishment which cares nothing for the people affected by their work.  And there is Henrietta.  A woman, a mother, a wife, a cancer victim ... a force of nature.  Skloot does an incredible job of weaving these storylines into one another, showing how Henrietta was part of a family, how that family was impacted by her life and death, how doctors took from the family and never gave back.  Skloot's task, trying to track down the threads of this mystery and weave them into something which made sense, are also part of the tale.  It is through her impassioned eyes that we get to know the Lacks clan and the racial challenges faced by so many poor people of color.  Skloot doesn't spare anyone in showing how so many used pieces of Henrietta but none of them seemed to know her at all.  It's amazingly accessible reading considering the amount of scientific information covered.  It's mind-blowing and emotionally resonant.  It's not just a good book, it's downright important.  Though it was written nearly a decade ago, the themes it covers are still remarkably powerful today.  One of my top reads of the year.

New TV Season 2019

Bob Hearts Abishola.  It took three episodes.  Three episodes for that special something to click in.  That hard-to-define thing which makes Chuck Lorre's sitcoms a step above.  This show has caricature supporting characters but there is, excuse the pun, heart.  Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku are gentle, calm, and real with one another.  A timely tale for our troubled country, something which will make you smile, and think.

All Rise and Bluff City Law.  I review these two together because they are so similar -- and yet not.  Both are legal dramas with a noted liberal bent.  Both have delightfully, if not forced, diverse casts.  So much the same, but with with critical differences.  In a head-spinning flip, the NBC show (Bluff City Law) is formulaic and slow paced.  The CBS show (All Rise) is fresher and less predictable.  Bluff City Law focuses on the "big bad" of the week -- big pharma, corporate farming, hate speech, while All Rise focuses on the individuals -- the girl brought to court without pants, the young man trying to reconcile his friendship with someone who committed murder.  Bluff City Law seems creaky and left me checking email.  The fast-paced, clipped dialog of All Rise makes me sit up and take note.  A recent episode had me grabbing for a hanky (happy tears). Reminds me a little of ER's first season, when the freshman hospital show went up against Chicago Hope.  Both shows were good but guess which one won?

Mixedish.  Successful Blackish follows up on their third spinoff with a worthy prequel which continues to explore racism and self-identity in funny, smart way.

Emergence.  ABC's answer to Manifest isn't as good as Manifest and relies on far too many tropes (Twin Peaks flashing stoplights, anyone?) but has an intriguing cast, so I will hang in there for a bit.  We need to support Sci Fi on network TV.

Almost Family.  A strong cast and unique premise makes this a really good show.  Being on Fox, where everything has to be sexed up soap-opera style makes this not a good show.  Will have to see where this one goes.  It has real potential -- for good and bad.

Stumptown.  It's what you would expect.  Engaging Colbie Smulders plays a really messed up woman who gets beaten up a lot.  The supporting cast is also interesting so even though I'm tempted to delete it from the DVR queue, I haven't just yet.

Perfect Harmony.  Sister Act was better, and less insulting to southern types.

The Unicorn.  I like the cast and the quick dialog but am straining to find the funny in arch jokes about a widower starting up his dating life again.  It can be a little uncomfortable.  It stays.  For now.

Sunnyside.  As much as this improves over the Indian family sitcom it replaced, it wasn't much of an improvement.  I got through two and the "stupid" factor was just too much.  Give Diana Maria Riva a better vehicle and remember that those watching actually have a brain.

Carol's Second Act.  How many jokes can be made about old people or teachers?  This unoriginal sitcom seeks to answer this question and few others.  Flat lighting, broad acting and none of the grounding and strong cast which made Scrubs work.  This one, as predicted, was the first off my DVR.

Batwoman.  The CW has gotten good at putting together superhero shows.  This one is no exception.  Thoughtful world-building, creative crafting of the origin story, a strong cast and terrific fight choreography come together again to reveal a gritty, engaging tale.  This ain't no Metropolis folks.  Power to the ladies.

Nancy Drew.  I've only seen one episode so far but it calmed my fears about being "too dark" -- for now.  Nancy Drew has grown up.  Mom's dead, she's fighting with dad and sleeping with bad boy Ned Nickerson.  Okay, it's a little dark.  But the characters are dimensional and the mysteries well-crafted (with a nice early nod to the book series) so I might be able to hang in there for a bit.  But I'm watching it during the day.