Content I needed to consume to consume content about it

One of the perks of running a branding and content studio is the content. Living my full Felicity fantasy (working at an NYU-adjacent coffee shop that Scott Speedman himself frequented) some years ago, my manager warned that I’d someday tire of the cookies we sold.

Hear me when I tell you: I never got sick of the cookies. Nor, will I tire of the content.

So here it is: A Roundup of May 2024’s recap-worthy + relatable content

Content I needed to consume to consume content about it: Challengers

You get it; there are shows, movies, articles, books, and podcasts you have to experience to fully enter the discourse around them. This spring, that content was Zendaya and articles like Vulture’s breakdown of *that* ending.

Best TV shows of May in my home: The Jinx, Under the Bridge, Abbott Elementary

“Baaaaah-b” will forever be a greeting between me.

Under the Bridge made me want to better understand the real-life pasts and presents of all involved and watch everything all actors in it have ever done or will do. (Side note: I’ve never entered The Good Wife universe but now pray at the alter of Archie Panjabi, so in I go?)

Abbott is rare in that it’s not only the best palette-cleansing TV show to cuddle up with after others stress you out, it’s just one of the best shows period. I pretty much know the characters IRL and am fully invested in their success and happiness. It’s also one of few comedies with actual LOLs per ep, which I sorely miss and appreciate. While verrrrry happy with the ending of this season (semi-spoiler) my thoughts and prayers to Josh Segarra, who I hope to see back on our screens swiftly.

Best Vintage content consumed: RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 5

While I was there for Season 1, not to brag, I’m working my way through Drag Race from the beginning — shout out Willam singing “this is the beginning,” shout out Logo, shout out this season’s clunky social media integrations, shout out Jinkx Monsoon, whose merch I owned before I witnessed her first crowning.

As someone raised by television generally, then ushered into young adulthood by reality television specifically, I love a rewatch of content time capsules that transport us back-back-back again. Early seasons of Drag Race are familiar and fascinating as they imperfectly navigate gender expression, grappling with the show’s own binaries. The reads are mean and the library stays open. There’s more sewing! Ru has an ease and familiarity with contestants that becomes more polished and boundaried with each season. Yet, we watch him and the early queens create the mold and start conversations that show us how far we’ve come, and how far we haven’t.

Best Background shows at least partially consumed: Extraordinary and Loot

You know ‘em, you like ‘em: shows you can easily half-watch, 3/4-listen to while you spruce up spreadsheets or fold laundry. This month, my busy work-muzak of choice was all of Extraordinary and Season 2 of Loot, both perfectly fine shows that should inspire more lols based on their better-than-fine casts. (Speaking of better-than-fine, honorable mention to my content crush, Extraordinary’s Bilal Hasna.)

best movie i didn’t fall asleep watching: The Idea of You

The joy of recommending content will never hit quite like the first time I told every woman I know to read at least a chapter of 50 Shades of Grey, but texting ppl “Have u seen The Idea of You yet?” is close. I smiled, I teared up, I purred, I vaguely remembered reading the book and appreciated the updates made in the film adaptation.

best movie I didn’t like but my in-laws absolutely LOVED: The Fall Guy

I looooove my in-laws and their taste in movies. As they (and J.Lo :( wait for Ben Affleck to finish shooting The Accountant 2, they’re watching TFG on repeat, and why shouldn’t they?

best podcast I discovered and devoured: The Prestige TV Podcast

When not watching TV, reading about it or listening to people discuss it will do. I don’t love everything The Ringer produces, but this podcast is a fun one to scroll through and download all the eps you want of shows you love. I came in for the Mad Men finale ep and plan on sticking around.

Must-read Article, I swear I read: New York Magazine’s cover story inside Columbia’s protests

Pulitzer vibes much?? This collaboration with the Columbia Daily Spectator was what I needed in my coverage of the protests: student perspectives. Bravo to the student journalists, student protestors, and staff who stuck by them. 

Best brands I fell in love with bc that is also my job and content-adjacent: Bar Cecil, Big Bud Press Desert Shop, Boss Dog & Friends

On an anniversary weekend in Palm Springs (aw) these cuties caught my eye for bites and shops. While weirdly impossible to snag a reservation, I recommend walking up to Bar Cecil with a good attitude and the sweet staff will welcome you in. I got this tee from BDF because it reminded me of my dog and wish I had gotten this tee that also reminds me of my dog, and these leopard pants from BBD.

Before we go, there are two important awards to give out every month. Throughout my long-ass career from the aughts to now, I’ve witnessed lots of content creation for the purpose of consumption. A metaphor I used to make when grappling with what people would click on or watch: sometimes we prepare a nutrient-rich, farm-fresh kale salad with heirloom tomatoes, but what folks are craving in that moment is cheese puffs. And sometimes, to get them to eat that salad you grew from a lil seedling, you have to crush up cheese puffs and sprinkle them on top.

Thus, we’ll share monthly Kale Salad and Cheese Puff Crumbs Selections, both delectable and equally worthy of devouring.

May’s Kale Salad: Baby Reindeer 

A close contender for “Content I needed to consume to consume content about it,” bbR was the first show in a long time that I small batch-binged to the point my sleep was effed for a week.

May’s Cheese Puff Crumbs: Lovers & Liars (fka FGirl Island)

Absolutely delicious, but infuriating that no one called out Camille for having been on and FIRED FROM Below Deck. Surely some of the women are Bravo fans, or at least watched a season on the flight to FGirl Island.

Last, but not least:

Best show I started watching and fell asleep on, but because of exhaustion not disinterest: Shogun

I’m committed to making it happen next month. Stay tuned.