Quarantine, week 18. How is everyone doing?
For me, the warm weather has made things slightly more bearable. I'm able to enjoy sitting on my front porch, in my backyard or on the beach, while still being able to social distance. I hope you are finding new ways to enjoy summer in our current reality. Please keep wearing your mask!
Each week I have been sharing a list of TV shows and movies to watch over the weekend. If you have missed any of the previous picks, you can find all of them on my TV recaps page.
Before we dive into this week's suggestions, I wanted to put three things on your radar that are coming up:
- Sunday, July 19 - The Last Dance, the incredible documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls is coming to Netflix. If you have cable, you can watch it on demand right now on ESPN
- Sunday, August 2 - Bravo welcomes back the fiercest ladies in Maryland, The Real Housewives of Potomac
- Friday, August 7 - Season three of Selling Sunset premieres on Netflix. If you haven't gotten into this show, now is the time! It's about a luxury real estate office in Los Angeles. Imagine The Hills meets Million Dollar Listing
Ok! Now onto our list.
1. Hamilton (Disney+) - I was very fortunate to have the chance to see Hamilton on stage in Boston in October 2019. I had never listened to any of the music, but I believed the hype. I was totally blown away and continued to think about the show for weeks.
When I heard a film version was coming out, I was excited to watch the show for a second time. I found myself getting goosebumps all over again!
In this second viewing I definitely picked up more brilliance and humor in the lyrics and noticed the reprisal of certain songs that I had missed the first time around (because I was in shock!).
I think the movie is incredible and I can't wait to watch it again. If you need even more Lin-Manuel Miranda, listen to his interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. He gives tons of behind-the-scenes scoop.
2. Mucho Mucho Amor (Netflix) - Speaking of Lin-Manuel Miranda, he also makes an appearance in this new Netflix documentary about Walter Mercado, a famous astrologist who became an icon in the Spanish-speaking world through his daily television show on Telemundo.
Walter was born in Puerto Rico and always had a flair for the dramatic. He began to give advice based on the astrological signs and viewers were immediately hooked by his glitz, warmth and signature catch phrase, "Con mucha paz y mucho, mucho amor" (with peace and much love).
The film revisits Walter's childhood, his rise to fame, his global icon status and the legal troubles that kept him off television for the final 14 years of his life. His story is fascinating.
If you watch for one reason and one reason alone, let it be to see his never-ending closet of sequin and rhinestone capes!
3. Lenox Hill (Netflix) - This reality series is, as the name suggests, about Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The cameras follow four doctors as they meet with patients, perform procedures, handle intense surgeries and make valiant attempts at having personal lives outside of work.
The first doctor we meet is Dr. Langer, who is the chair of the neurosurgery department. Throughout the series you come to understand how much he is juggling - advocating for his team with the administration, meeting with patients and families, leading difficult surgeries, and carving out time for his wife and kids.
Dr. Boockvar is also in the neurosurgery department, with a focus on glioblastoma. This kind of cancer is aggressive and because of that, most of his patient stories are heartbreaking. Through his work, I was able to understand the power of clinical trials and how the information gathered during those treatments can help save lives for years to come.
Dr. Little-Richardson is the chief resident in the OB-GYN department and we spend most of our time with her watching babies being born. Each time a baby is lifted up onto its mother's chest, Dr. Little-Richardson says, "Happy birthday!" It was very sweet. Her story line takes a turn when she reveals she is pregnant herself!
The fourth doctor featured is Dr. Macri in emergency medicine. You can imagine the wide variety of ailments one would see in a New York City ER (this was shot pre-COVID in 2019). Dr. Macri often treats patients who are hungry, homeless or abusing drugs. Despite that, she treats each and every patient with kindness and respect.
There were originally eight episodes of the show, but fans were desperate to know if their favorite Lenox Hill doctors were managing through the COVID-19 crisis, so a ninth episode was added titled, "Pandemic."
This show is a beautiful display of humanity.
4. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (Amazon) - One of the hardest parts about no new movies in the theaters this summer is no new romantic comedies. I've found myself re-watching old favorites, like this gem from 2008.
Michael Cera plays Nick and Kat Dennings plays Norah. After a chance meeting, they spend an evening bopping all over New York City together in search of a band's secret show.
5. Ocean's Eleven (Amazon) - In my opinion, Ocean's Eleven is one of the most perfect heist movies. High stakes, high reward, highly attractive lead actors.
Come along as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and friends try to pull off the impossible.
This movie is available to rent on Amazon for $3.99. Worth every penny!
6. America's Next Top Model (Amazon) - While we wait for important reality TV shows to return (cough, cough, The Bachelorette) you can watch the first 14 seasons of America's Next Top Model for free on Amazon.
Enjoy the fashion, the makeup, the cat fights and a master class from Tyra Banks on the art of the smize (smiling with your eyes).
There you have it! This week's top six. I'll be back next Friday with a fresh round.
*Images courtesy of Unsplash, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, Northwell Health, IMDB, Goliath and Amazon.
