Harry Styles is back
Hi All,
I don’t even know where to start this because this week has been packed. There have been some incredible pop culture moments (more on that soon), but it has also been a bit of a roller coaster for me personally.
On Sunday night, like many of you, I went to an Oscars party. Overall a wild night. Really I just want to direct your attention to this TikTok of Timothée Chalamet because frankly that is the highlight for me. Obviously, there was the “smack.” I will not be diving into it.
Unfortunately for me, and unknown to them, someone at that party had covid. So on Tuesday morning when they had a routine test and tested positive, I got a text, and because of where I work, I was immediately put on a 10-day isolation with PCR testing, etc. I’m negative, which is great — but definitely caused a bit of chaos. I’m currently up at my uncle’s cottage isolating from the world, trying to continue to be negative so I can go back to work… and trying to live my best life as a Coastal Grandmother.
Thankfully, I have new Harry Styles music to listen to.
I want to talk about that more, so let’s get into it.
This week on the blog:
I’ve finally updated my blog!!! It’s been a long time, but I’ve got a list of everything I’ve watched in February and March 2022. It feels really good to hit publish on a new blog post. It’s been wayyy too long.
Read my full list and mini-reviews here.
Things to watch this week:
Tonight, you have to check out Danis Goulet’s debut feature film, Night Raiders. Set after a war across North America, children are taken from their families by the military. Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers stars as Niska, “a Cree mother desperate to protect her daughter Waseese (Brooklyn Letexier-Hart), but events force mother and daughter to separate, leading Niska to join a group of Cree vigilantes to get her daughter back.” It sounds ridiculously intense and I’m here for it. It’s nominated for 11 Canadian Screen Awards and executive produced by Taika Waititi. You can watch it on Crave today, in English, French, and Cree. Check out the trailer here.
On Netflix today, there is a new interactive daily TV show called Trivia Quest. It’s giving me Kahoot Trivia Extravaganza vibes… (it’s a show we produce every day at work). Netflix is trying to get into gaming and it’s smart. They know a lot of people watch the shows on their phones, so why not make that show clickable? It looks a bit cheesy (is it for kids? I’m unsure), but I think the idea is strong. Watch the trailer here.
Also on Netflix today, we’ve got season two of Get Organized with The Home Edit. TBH I wasn’t super into the first season, it felt like one massive ad for their specific brand of clear boxes, but I’m curious if this season will feel more authentic after the feedback. TBD. We shall see. Check out the trailer here.
On Sunday night, you can watch the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. They’re produced by Ben Winston, and I have high hopes. Winston’s team did a great job the last few years and I think this one will be worth watching. Hosted by Trevor Noah, tune in at 8:00 p.m. on CityTV to see if Jon Batiste goes 11 for 11.
On Monday, Crave has the new HBO documentary series The Invisible Pilot. Double lives, political scandals, and airplanes. What more do you want? Check out the trailer here.
On Wednesday, the Love is Blind spin-off, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, premieres. Basically a bunch of couples “split up” and try new partnerships before they Marry or Move On. Looks ridiculously trashy and I will be watching. New episodes come out weekly on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.
On Thursday on Netflix, the team behind Oscar Winning Free Solo, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, have a new doc called Return to Space. It follows the quest to get Americans to space on American-made rockets (basically expect a lot of Elon Musk…). They are wonderful filmmakers, so this is going to be good, but I really can’t get behind idolizing Musk. If you end up watching this, give me a heads up how much of him I’ll have to deal with. Check out the trailer here.
Also on Thursday on Netflix, another documentary is dropping — Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star. This one is a five-part documentary series that goes into the murder of South African soccer star Senzo Meyiwa. It looks good. Watch the trailer here.
Lastly, on Thursday on Crave we’ve got a crime drama series (so not a doc) called Tokyo Vice. Starring Ansel Elgort, this eight-episode series was filmed on location in Tokyo and is about an American journalist’s “daily descent into the neon-soaked underbelly of Tokyo in the late ’90s, where nothing and no one is truly what or who they seem.” It looks fun. You’ll get three episodes on Thursday and then new episodes weekly. Check out the trailer here.
Other things to check out:
🎶 So as I said, Harry Styles is back with new music. Last night he debuted his lead single off Harry’s House, a song called “As It Was.” It’s a vibe. It took me a few listens to really get into it and now it’s on repeat. Fun fact about the voice at the start, it’s Harry’s goddaughter, aka Ben Winton’s kid, and apparently, it’s from a voicemail she left him when Harry didn’t call one night. I love it. Watch the video, again, here.
Unfortunately (for him) Shawn Mendes also released new music last night. A note to Shawn — you really need a better team because WHY would you go up again Harry?! That just feels stupid. Anyways the song is fine, but it’s really not doing it for me. I’m saying this with love, but it sounds like Canadian pop… you know what I mean. It has that 00s pop-rock vibe. We’re in his breakup era now and I’m already over it.
Are you playing Heardle? I really could care less about Wordle, but Heardle is my JAM. Highly recommend if you like playing Name That Tune. Check it out here.
Maggie Rogers just announced her new album is coming out on July 29th. Best birthday gift. I’m on single watch now.
🎬 The trailer for Top Gun: Maverick dropped today. I know a specific group of newsletter readers will love this one. I’m less into the Top Gun franchise, but I am here for Glen Powell and Miles Teller. Watch it here.
Alright. Here is a roundup of TikToks that I found recently that I find myself watching on repeat.
Joe Jonas singing along with Katie Lynne Sharbaugh.
Hank Green showing us his tabs. I can relate. I have way too many tabs open.
Jimmy Award Winner Reneé Rapp is gearing up to release her own music and her little songwriting moments are gold. (If you don’t know what a Jimmy Award is, lmk and I’ll send you what you need to know :) )
Hasan Minhaj is STUNNING on Jimmy Fallon and he wanted you to let him know he’s breathtaking. Read the comments.
This man did a spot-on “if Ricky Gervais hosted the Oscars in 2023 impression.”
Finally Sheep Harmonies.
Have a great weekend,
-Paula
📝📝📝 This newsletter was graciously edited by Emma Sakamoto 📝📝📝
Editor’s Pick:
Do the words witchy feminist YA spark your interest? If yes, I highly recommend The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith. It’s set at a magic school in Queens in 1911. At first it seems like this magic school is meant to empower the girls and women who attend it, but it becomes more and more obvious that the school faculty are just another oppressive force in a time when women had very little power, and people with intersectional identities had even less. And if that doesn’t convince you, Casey McQuiston blurbed it.
This newsletter was written by me — Paula Sanderson — a freelance Television Producer and current MBA student based in Toronto. After years of recommending the best shows to my friends, I decided to start a newsletter so everyone could get the recommendations. If you want to learn more about what I do professionally or follow me on the various social channels click here.