More Joyful Things...including 'Wicked!'
It seems like my recent "Some Joyful Things" post was just what a lot of you needed so...here's more!
As we get ready to dive into the long Thanksgiving weekend, let’s leave the world behind and focus on enjoying time with family, friends, or keeping it low key and chill if you’re venturing into this holiday solo. And if you’re like me and living in a country where Thanksgiving is not a holiday, you have the freedom to make the holiday whatever you want it to be. I vote for whatever makes you feel some joy! Here’s a sampling of more joyful things that I hope starts you on the right path.
If you’re not watching Somebody Somewhere on Max, you are missing out on one of the funniest and touching comedies on TV today. Bridget Everett is both hilarious and heartbreaking as Sam alongside a cast that is just full of great performances from Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Murray Hill and Tim Bagley.
The third and final season is airing now so if it’s not on your watchlist, add it now. Here is a clip from season 1 where Sam (Everett) is tailing her brother-in-law, who she has grown very suspicious of lately due to his strange behavior. She may have had better luck with someone other than her bestie Joel (Hiller) at the wheel but I just love any scene with Everett and Hiller — thankfully there are a lot of them in this excellent series since their friendship is its backbone. (WARNING - NSFW since there is some salty language in the clip).
It’s hard to believe that Olivia Newton-John has been gone over two years (she passed away on August 8, 2022 at the age of 73) and while she’s remembered for so much memorable music and other acting roles, it’s 1978’s Grease that always comes to my mind first when thinking about her. Here’s one of the best numbers from the film with Newton-John and John Travolta singing about their “Summer Nights.”
Try not to laugh from this Saturday Night Live clip from earlier this year when Ryan Gosling hosted. I can’t not laugh whenever I watch this.
There’s a reason The Mary Tyler Moore Show is still revered as one of the best workplace sitcoms ever and the “Chuckles Bites the Dust” episode shows why. The set-up is easy - a beloved children’s show character on WJM is killed in a parade accident that is so outrageous that it has everyone laughing except Mary (Moore), who is horrified at the callous joking. But at Chuckles’ funeral, it’s Mary who can’t help but start to let her emotions get the best of her.
The clip here has the early part of the episode in the WJM newsroom and then (at 5:05) jumps to the funeral itself. Enjoy!
I could post something Wicked-centric since the long-awaited film version of the Broadway musical smash opened this past week but I have never been able to get star Cynthia Erivo’s performance of Dionne Warwick’s classic song “Alfie” at the Kennedy Center Honors late last year out of my mind. It’s just flawless, as is Erivo in everything she does. Yes, including Elphaba.
For the first time in years, I’ve been rewatching NBC’s The Office and I’ve been reminded with every episode just how hilarious the show is, especially how Jim (John Kraskinski) loves to prank Dwight (Rainn Wilson) over and over and over. Thankfully, I found a video with nearly 10 minutes of the best.
And the guys from BTS never fail to entertain and here is one my favorite videos from when they sang their hit “Permission to Dance” at the U.N. in 2021. Pop music perfection!
…and now that I’ve seen the Wicked movie (and will be going again very soon), I just had to include something from it so here’s one of my favorite songs from the musical, which Ariana Grande nails.
That’s all for now….enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend — I recommend going to the movies! - and I’ll see you in December!