🍃 i think it's time that i should leave

Here we are once again with some shows, albums, comics, and movies. Oh my. Can you believe it.

Shrinking is back and because of when this is finally getting published I can say, despite a shitty review from IndieWire, I'm once again digging the show after the first two episodes of this season. To me, Bill Lawrence shows are about hanging out with the characters. JD in Scrubs, Ted in Ted Lasso, Yancy in Bad Monkey, and Jimmy in Shrinking. No need to overthink it, have fun with the quips. Not every show needs to be Breaking Bad or The Wire.

Music is a bit meh this week, but comics are coming out swinging with new Where Monsters Lie and a Waid/Samnee Year One story.

But the main event this week has to be the Palme d'Or winner, Anora, from Sean Baker finally hitting theaters. I also think this is more evidence that NEON is what A24 fans think A24 is, especially as A24 is starting to get into franchises and kids movies. I give Matt Belloni a lot of shit when he criticizes A24 fans for falling for the finance bros venture, but in the end, he might be right as it comes down to making a buck for them and NEON is right there, continuing to put out stellar stuff. I mean, Parasite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Pig, Anatomy of a Fall, and now Anora, after Sean Baker released his last few films with A24. They might not have the same merch game as A24, but when it comes to movies, their track record is superb.

📺 New Shows

💊 Shrinking S2 (Apple) — 15 Oct

When one Bill Lawrence show wraps up (Bad Monkey) another is here to take it's place. Jason Segal and Harrison Ford are back in this feel good, character comedy that will make for some good, easy watching.

🛌 The Edge of Sleep S1 (Amazon) 18 Oct

The QCODE podcast is coming to TV with the actor who starred in the podcast and YouTuber behind Markiplier, Mark Fischbach. Really interested to see how this translates, especially since a lot of the same people are involved. QCODE has always rubbed me the wrong way. I've listened to a few of their podcasts (but I admit, it's been awhile) and actually enjoyed them. But as a company, they always seemed more intent on selling IP to Hollywood than finishing podcasts and telling satisfying stories.

🤪 Hysteria S1 (Peacock) 18 Oct

Bruce Campbell is returning to TV in this horror-lite (maybe campy) murder mystery thriller just in time for Halloween.

Monday

• English Teacher (FX) 1:8

Wednesday

• Only Murder in the Building (Hulu) 4:8
• Agatha: House of Harkness (Disney) 1:6
• Shrinking (Apple) 2:1-2
• The Edge of Sleep (Amazon) S1

Thursday

• Teacup (Peacock) 1:3-4
• Sweetpea (Sky) 1:2

Friday

• Rick and Morty: The Anime (Adult Swim) 1:10
• The Old Man (Hulu) 2:7
• Disclaimer (Apple) 1:3-4
• Hysteria (Peacock) S1

Sunday

• From (MGM) 3:5
• The Penguin (HBO) 1:5
• Uzumaki (Adult Swim) 1:4
• The Franchise (HBO) 1:3

💽 Releases of the Week

I was disappointed with a few records that I was actually excited for... mainly the new SWMRS record, BECKER, but there were also a few albums that came out of nowhere. I don't have the mental energy during moving week to talk about them, so you'll have to give 'em a listen yourself.

The cool thing is, and you may not think it's cool, these three albums do a pretty good job at showing the three sides of my musical taste. First, the easy breezy solo artist with lots of hip hop inspiration, then the female led heavy alt-punk record, followed by the indie alt album that shows hints of folksy, Lumineer vibes.

🌞 SUNSHINE by JW Francis

👠 Stiletto by Gut Health

🍟 Small Fry by Great Gable

🦸 No. 1's

👹 Where Monsters Lie: Cull-De-Sac (Dark Horse)

Well well well!!! I had no idea Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski had a follow up series for one of the best mini-series of 2023. If you haven't read that one, go do it now! I promise it'll be fun and weird.

🦇 Batman and Robin: Year One (DC)

Oh boy! Adding "Year One" to anything puts a target on the comic that they really need to deliver on. And there aren't many creative teams that I would look at and say "yeah, they've got this," but Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are one of them. All of their work together is fantastic and getting to see Samnee draw Batman and Robin is extremely exciting.

🔵 Mystique (Marvel)

I feel like I've been talking about Declan Shalvey a lot lately, and here we are again and he writes and draws this Mystique mini-series. It sounds like he is really leaning into the elevated, super-powered, spy stuff he did in Old Dog here as well, so I'm excited to see how he pulls it off.

🌕 Batman: Full Moon (DC)

Another book I had no idea about. Rodney Barnes is a writer that's been on my periphery, but I haven't checked out much of his comic work (although his TV work is another story). A werewolf Batman comic with artist Stevan Subic feels right up his alley though.

🪐 Jupiter's Legacy: Finale (Dark Horse)

I've given up on most Mark Millar books, but I have to admit, I'm interested to see how he wraps up Jupiter's Legacy.

📝 Other Notable Releases

• Black Cloak (Image) #9
• The Department of Truth (Image) #26
• The Domain (Image) #4
• Epitaphs From the Abyss (Oni) #4
• Fielder (Drawn and Quarterly) #3
• Barfly [Minor Threats] (Dark Horse) #3
• Grim (Boom) #20
• House of Slaughter (Boom) #26
• Local Man (Image) #25
• Ultramega (Image) #6

• Nightwing (DC) #118
• Titans (DC) #16
• Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel) #10

🎥 New Movies

💃 Anora

The Palme d'Or winner from Cannes is hitting theaters so I guess that means it's officially awards season. Written and directed by Sean Baker, who stormed onto the scene with Tangerine, which was shot on an iPhone and followed that up with The Florida Project and then Red Rocket. Anora stars Mikey Madison (Better Things) as a stripper who marries a Russian Oligarch and conflict ensues.

🗣️ Rumours

World Leaders at a G7 meeting get lost in the woods and surreal, crazy shit happens with bog bodies and giant brains? Starring Cate Blanchett. What a world we live in.

🎨 Exhibiting Forgiveness

And finally, Andre Holland stars in this drama about family and parenting. Looks like a lot of pretty specatacular performances all around in this one.

📝 What Else?

• Goodrich
• The Line
• Smile 2

Yeah, yeah, late again. Shut up and buy some comics. Seriously. If you don't read comics, but made it this far, hit reply and ask me for some recs. You deserve it.

Be kind and stay sane,

—kevin humdrum

foofaraw s4 playlist