Each post contains a brief plot summary. You can turn them off if you're worried about spoilers. Just click this: Hide Post Descriptions.
Try out the beta test of a new FanFare front page. More details in this MetaTalk post.
December 12
Book: The Lost Man, by Jane Harper
"The three Bright brothers are the overseers of 3,500 square kilometers of land in Queensland, with hours between each of their homes. It’s a vast, unforgiving environment, and no one ever goes far without a full complement of supplies. When 40-year-old Cameron sets out on his own, ostensibly to fix a repeater mast, he never comes home. His body is eventually spotted, via helicopter, curled up by the stockman’s grave, the source of plentiful, and persistent, local ghost stories. Cam’s older brother, Nathan, and their baby brother, Bub, are as perplexed as the cop who’s come all the way from Brisbane to investigate. What was Cam doing by the grave, and what was his Land Cruiser doing nine kilometers away, still fully stocked with supplies, with the keys left neatly on the front seat?" - Kirkus Review
Project Runway: Blast Off! Season 18, Episode 1
In the premiere of Project Runway, the competition begins with some twists right out of the airport gate. With luggage still in tow, the designers are greeted at the iconic TWA Hotel at JFK airport ready to take flight with their first challenge: to create an innovative look inspired by humanity’s continued push into space exploration. In a Runway first, these unfamiliar designers have to pair up and collaborate to make cohesive pieces that blow away the judges or they are out. Fans will also get a chance to own a piece of the designer creations when they vote on the outfits they like best. [more inside]
December 11
Silicon Valley: Exit Event Season 6, Episode 7
Series finale. Ahead of a career-defining moment, Richard makes a startling discovery that sends the entire Pied Piper team racing to pull off a spectacular feat on the day of a big launch. [more inside]
Movie: Blast from the Past
A naive man comes out into the world after spending 35 years in a nuclear fallout shelter. [more inside]
Podcast: Rude Tales of Magic: Dial E for Elf
When a rich, protestant elf gets epsteined (murdered) at the posh Lindseyngham Manor, our heroes must become the crack investigators they were always meant to be. Listen as they ruthlessly interrogate witnesses, brilliantly analyze evidence, and work as a team to explore all the potential angles in this well-structured whodunit!
December 10
Six Feet Under: Static Season 5, Episode 11
A 22-year-old army vet who has lost both legs and one of his arms commits suicide in a VA hospital using a hypodermic brought to him by his sister. Six weeks after Nate's death, Ruth and George are still caring for Maya, and Billy is staying at Brenda's house. Maggie packs up and leaves town. David continues to struggle with his PTSD, to Keith's dismay and the boys' distress. A drunken Claire gets fired, is verbally abusive towards the deceased army vet's mother and sister, alienates Ted, and totals her car. Rico, who is attempting to run Fisher & Diaz by himself, calls Vanessa in to help out. Brenda conflicts with Ruth over the custody of Maya, and then goes into premature labour. [more inside]
The Flash: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three Season 6, Episode 9
Pariah enlists Black Lightning to help stop the Anti-Monitor after Flash-90 shares what he learned from his battle in 'Elseworlds.' With the help of Black Lightning, Barry, Cisco and Killer Frost come up with a plan that could save them all. Meanwhile, Iris has a heart-to-heart with Ryan Choi, while Diggle, Constantine, and Mia return to an old familiar stomping ground. [more inside]
Book: White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo
"White people in North America live in a social environment that protects and insulates them from race-based stress. This insulated environment of racial protection builds white expectations for racial comfort while at the same time lowering the ability to tolerate racial stress. Although white racial insulation is somewhat mediated by social class (with poor and working class urban whites being generally less racially insulated than suburban or rural whites), the larger social environment insulates and protects whites as a group through institutions, cultural representations, media, school textbooks, movies, advertising, and dominant discourses. Racial stress results from an interruption to what is racially familiar. In turn, whites are often at a loss for how to respond in constructive ways., as we have not had to build the cognitive or affective skills or develop the stamina that that would allow for constructive engagement across racial divides. leading to what I refer to as White Fragility. White Fragility is a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium. This book explicates the dynamics of White Fragility and how we might build our capacity in the on-going work towards racial justice." [more inside]
Critical Role: Politics and Punishment Season 2, Episode 87
Running on fumes, the Mighty Nein face down the new form of their old threat, but it is diplomacy that proves to be an even greater challenge...
Leverage: The Wedding Job Rewatch Season 1, Episode 3
The team poses as wedding planners to get close to a Mafia boss and must pull off a wedding while pulling off the heist. [more inside]
Movie: Love Affair (1994)
A romantic drama film and a remake of the 1939 film of the same name. Starring Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Katharine Hepburn in her final film role.
Screenplay by Robert Towne and Beatty. Music by Ennio Morricone. [more inside]
Rick and Morty: Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim's Morty Season 4, Episode 4
Special Ricktims Morty Morty gets a dragon (Liam Cunningham) in this one broh. It's a wild ride broh. And there's a talking cat (Matthew Broderick) who just wants to relax and have fun with Jerry, no questions asked. [more inside]
Work in Progress: 180 Almonds Season 1, Episode 1
"Abby is a 45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. Chicago improv mainstay Abby McEnany co-created and stars in this uniquely human comedy series."
The L Word: Generation Q: Let's Do It Again Season 1, Episode 1
The iconic lesbian soap is back. [more inside]
Book: Fleishman Is in Trouble
Toby Fleishman thought he knew what to expect when he and his wife of almost fifteen years separated: weekends and every other holiday with the kids, some residual bitterness, the occasional moment of tension in their co-parenting negotiations. He could not have predicted that one day, in the middle of his summer of sexual emancipation, Rachel would just drop their two children off at his place and simply not return. He had been working so hard to find equilibrium in his single life. The winds of his optimism, long dormant, had finally begun to pick up. Now this.
Taffy Brodesser-Akner's first novel. [more inside]
December 9
Black Lightning: The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Earth Crisis Season 3, Episode 9
The Pierce family is scared for Jennifer's life. [more inside]
Into the Dark: A Nasty Piece of Work Season 2, Episode 3
Two coworkers are invited to a private dinner where they vie for a coveted promotion, but their hosts have some brutal ways of testing them. [more inside]
Batwoman: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two Season 1, Episode 9
The group uses Ray's invention to track new recruits to help save the universe. Meanwhile, the Monitor sends Iris, Clark, and Lois in search of a mysterious Kryptonian, while Kate and Kara head out to find Bruce Wayne. [more inside]
Mr. Robot: 410 Gone Season 4, Episode 10
we stan domlene [more inside]
Steven Universe: Volleyball Season 6, Episode 4
A visitor from Homeworld comes by... Pink Pearl, to see if Steven can heal her damaged face. His attempts take him, Pink Pearl and regular Pearl to the source of Pearls out in space, and new facts about Pink Diamond come to light.
Steven Universe: Rose Buds Season 6, Episode 3
The Space Station comes by for a visit, and among them are three new, old acquaintances, that make everything super weird.
Steven Universe: Guidance Season 6, Episode 2
"Professor" Amethyst has settled into her role as teacher at the School, and has even gotten gems jobs around Beach City! But Steven thinks she's just telling them to perform the roles they were made for.
Steven Universe: Little Homeschool Season 6, Episode 1
Steven uncorrupts a gem, Cherry Quartz, and introduces her to the School of Little Homeworld, where gems come to learn to be Earthlings and discover how to make their own decisions! But there is one uncorrupted gem who refuses to attend classes....
[Note: Steven Universe Future, the follow-up show to Steven Universe that picks up after The Movie and a two year time skip, appears to have been posted on IMDB as season 6 of Steven Universe, so I guess that's how we're classifying it here.]
Podcast: My Brother, My Brother And Me: MBMBaM 489: The Clean Saloon
Well, it finally happened. We got bit by the Broadway bug. Time to raise our anchors and set sail toward the warm, inviting waters of professional musical theater. Don't try and change our minds — we have become Daddy Warbucks, and Daddy Warbucks don't podcast. Suggested talking points: Broadway Babies, Drinking Horn, Laserking, Fakin' It, Pocket Watch Counterweight, Hats off to Christmas, A Good 9 and a Half, Peanuts on the Floor
Podcast: The Dream: S2 E1: What’s Your Frequency?
Jean Marie and Dann Gallucci bring season two of The Dream to your podcast feed. This covers the $5 trillion dollar "wellness" industry, including essential oils, crystals, and those cures that doctors just won't tell you about. [more inside]
His Dark Materials: The Daemon-Cages Show Only Season 1, Episode 6
Lyra discovers the horrific truth behind the Gobbler’s activities in the North. She must use all her wits to help free those around her and avoid suffering a terrible fate.
Podcast: Rude Tales of Magic: Mother Knows Best
It's a family reunion...of sorts, when our heroes are introduced to their mysterious host in the heart of The Nest. Who or what is She? What dark trials must our heroes best? What will be the horrible price of their freedom? If sweat is the pee of the skin, is spit the pee of the mouth? ALL WILL BE ANSWERED in... Mother Knows Best!
Movie: The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
A proud strip club owner is forced to come to terms with himself as a man, when his gambling addiction gets him in hot water with the mob, who offer him only one alternative. [more inside]
Seven Worlds, One Planet: Africa Season 1, Episode 7
Home to the greatest wildlife gatherings on Earth, but even in this land of plenty, wildlife faces huge challenges.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: I ACCUSE MY PARENTS Rewatch Season 5, Episode 7
Jimmy is a high-school student who writes essays about how great his family is, but in fact his home life is terrible. So, he goes right out and gets in trouble with the mob. Remember parents, if you don't throw your kid a birthday party they'll go out and crime it up, and lie about literally every. thing. Fortunately hamburgers dispensed by kindly diner owners are the cure for all moral lapses. Thank you cows, for being our huge lowing Jesuses! Previously Next week is the last episode in our poll tour. See inside for more information on MST Club.
December 8
Star Trek: Enterprise: The Forgotten Rewatch Season 3, Episode 20
Trip tries to write a letter. [more inside]
Watchmen: A God Walks Into A Bar Books Included Season 1, Episode 8
Angela's mysterious past in Vietnam is at last revealed.
His Dark Materials: The Daemon-Cages Books Included Season 1, Episode 6
Lyra discovers the horrific truth behind the Gobbler’s activities in the North. She must use all her wits to help free those around her and avoid suffering a terrible fate.
Supergirl: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One Season 5, Episode 9
The Monitor sends Harbinger to gather the worlds' greatest heroes - Supergirl, The Flash, Green Arrow, Batwoman, White Canary, The Atom and Superman - in preparation for the impending Crisis. With their worlds in imminent danger, the superheroes suit up for battle while J'onn and Alex recruit Lena to help them find a way to save the people of Earth-38. [more inside]
Podcast: Harmontown: Cliffhanger!
Harmontown's final curtain call.
Featuring Dan Harmon, Jeff Bryan Davis, Spencer Crittenden, Brandon Johnson, Rob Schrab, Open Mike Eagle, Steve Levy and Nick Rutherford.
Drive fast and take chances!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Book: Her Body and Other Parties
Finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction “[These stories] vibrate with originality, queerness, sensuality and the strange.”―Roxane Gay “In these formally brilliant and emotionally charged tales, Machado gives literal shape to women’s memories and hunger and desire. I couldn’t put it down.”―Karen Russell In Her Body and Other Parties, Carmen Maria Machado blithely demolishes the arbitrary borders between psychological realism and science fiction, comedy and horror, fantasy and...
Saturday Night Live: Jennifer Lopez / DaBaby Season 45, Episode 8
Jennifer Lopez' fourth appearance, her first without being the musical guest. [more inside]
December 7
Movie: Neruda
"Neruda... isn’t what you’d call a biopic in any conventional sense; it’s not even entirely clear to what extent it’s really about Pablo Neruda himself. Let’s say the film is about an idea of Neruda, and about the way that ideas about poets and political figures take root in people’s minds—not just in the minds of their admirers, but of their enemies too." [more inside]
Podcast: Rude Tales of Magic: Down for the Count
Metaphorically at-sea and literally in-woods, our heroes struggle to survive encounters with the natives and wildlife of the Teenage Forest. Thirsty provincial royalty, swarms of altered beasts, secret societies, ancient mad scientists, and more await our heroes in the dark hollows of the great woods on this night. But will they all live to see the dawn?
Seven Worlds, One Planet: North America Season 1, Episode 6
No continent experiences seasonal change as extreme as North America. From tornados that roar across the prairies, to Arctic air sweeping through the humid, southern swamps - this is a land where pioneering animals thrive.
December 6
Movie: The Turin Horse
A rural farmer is forced to confront the mortality of his faithful horse. The final film by Hungarian director Béla Tarr, 155 minutes in length but composed of only 30 shots.
Six Feet Under: All Alone Season 5, Episode 10
The Fishers grieve over Nate's death, and proceed with his funeral and burial. Keith discovers Roger Pasquese secretly taped their out of court settlement of Roger's lawsuit. Brenda asks Ruth to take care of Maya for the time being. [more inside]
Movie: A Man Called Ove
Ove, an ill-tempered, isolated retiree who spends his days enforcing block association rules and visiting his wife's grave, has finally given up on life just as an unlikely friendship develops with his boisterous new neighbors.
Home for Christmas: Season 1 - all episodes Season 1 (Full Season)
After lying to her nosy family about having a boyfriend, Johanne sets out to find the real thing in time to introduce him at Christmas. (Netflix Original, Norwegian production, 6x30mins) [more inside]
Podcast: Friends at the Table: The Road to PARTIZAN 09: Microscope Pt. 1 and 2
For the most recent two episodes the friends built out the recent history of the galaxy, explaining the rise of the Divine Principality, some real shenanigans around Apostalos, and the fall of the partially synthetic Equiaxed in the Columnar Tabulary. The stage is now set for the season to begin. [more inside]
Book: The Revenge of Analog
A funny thing happened on the way to the digital utopia. We've begun to fall back in love with the very analog goods and ideas the tech gurus insisted that we no longer needed. Businesses that once looked outdated, from film photography to brick-and-mortar retail, are now springing with new life. Notebooks, records, and stationery have become cool again. Behold the Revenge of Analog. [more inside]
Book: Little Weirds, by Jenny Slate
"Slate’s voice never loses its capacity for strangeness, for finding it in the littlest, weirdest corners of its own psyche. It’s this mix of sweet and sadness, real stakes and dreamy prose, that gives this book its soft, sharp, and altogether overwhelming power. Like René Magritte crossed with Lana Del Rey, with strong notes of Patricia Lockwood. Like a carnival ride caught in a tornado, candy-colored shards of metal sparkling in the sky." - Teen Vogue
Book: Slow Horses, by Mick Herron
London, England: Slough House is where the washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what's left of their failed careers. The "slow horses," as they’re called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated here. Maybe they messed up an op badly and can't be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. Maybe they just got too dependent on the bottle—not unusual in this line of work. One thing they all have in common, though, is they all want to be back in the action. And most of them would do anything to get there─even if it means having to collaborate with one another. [more inside]
Book: Dear Girls, by Ali Wong
"I wanted to leave something for you girls [her daughters] for when I die, besides a collection of oversized glasses for you to sell on eBay. These letters explore a lot of the topics I wish my father I had discussed (and some I'm glad we didn't tbh). Then I figured, well, I should probably make some money off them if I'm going to spend all this time writing them. I didn't want to leave you with just my stand-up specials that feature me, pregnant with you, shouting all of my opinions and grodie stories at strangers."
Book: The Whale
From his childhood fascination with the gigantic Natural History Museum model of a blue whale, to his abiding love of Moby-Dick, to his adult encounters with the living animals in the Atlantic Ocean, the acclaimed writer Philip Hoare has been obsessed with whales. The Whale is his unforgettable and moving attempt to explain why these strange and beautiful animals exert such a powerful hold on our imagination.
Book: The Witches Are Coming, by Lindy West
A collection of essays on Trump, misogyny, segregated public schools, Joan Rivers, South Park, and how to moderate an audio-gear-swap Facebook page, among many other topics.
The Morning Show: Lonely at the Top Season 1, Episode 8
The people of TMS celebrate the birthday of one of their own as the country struggles with a tragic event.
For All Mankind: Rupture Season 1, Episode 8
[the episode synopsis arguably spoils the previous episode's cliffhanger so I put it after the break.] [more inside]
The Mandalorian: Chapter 5 Season 1, Episode 5
The Mandalorian helps a rookie bounty hunter who is in over his head.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 3 - All Episodes Season 3 (Full Season)
Midge and Susie discover that life on tour with Shy is glamorous but humbling, and they learn a lesson about show business they’ll never forget. Joel struggles to support Midge while pursuing his own dreams. Abe embraces a new mission and Rose learns she has talents of her own.
December 5
Supernatural: Last Call Season 15, Episode 7
Dean goes off on his own to take on a case; and Castiel has an idea on how he can help Sam track down God. [more inside]
Making It: Season 2 Season 2 (Full Season)
Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman are back with 10 new crafters for season 2 of Making It. But you’d better hurry, because they’re showing the whole season in 2 weeks! [more inside]
V-Wars: Down with the Sickness Season 1, Episode 1
Following an urgent trip to the Arctic, a scientist and his friend are quarantined with an illness that soon escalates to something sinister. (Netflix Original) [more inside]
Podcast: Rude Tales of Magic: Class Dismissed
The beginning! What a fine place to start. We meet our nascent heroes in the throes of the beginning of the sunset of their scholastic salad days. Demon possessions, ominous warnings, and threats from Hell itself auger ill and trouble. Can they matriculate from danger to destiny? Can they graduate magna cum...adventure? [more inside]
Mystery Science Theater 3000: THIS ISLAND EARTH Rewatch Season 7, Episode 7
Carl is a Serious Scientist who's been sent a parts catalog in the mail, but the parts are crazy-pants, and further the catalog describes how to build an "Interociter." which apparently can perform housework? and display video communications? Rather than returning that thing right back to Archie McPhee Carl decides to order the parts and build it. Amazingly, rather than being a hilarious practical joke at his expense, it presents the smiling face of Exeter, who invites him to join with other Human Scientists at their Laboratory. From there, let's just say the dominos have been set in motion, and a trip to space and a confrontation with Scrotor is inevitable. In the history of the show, this episode actually isn't the show, but MST: The Movie. It's been written up on Fanfare before, here. [more inside]
Dark Mode Is On
Recently Added TV Shows
Recently Added Movies
