Happy Friday, friends! It's week 24 of working from home. I hope you are finding ways to savor the summer. How is it already August 21?
As I have every week since mid-March, I'm sharing a new list of TV show and movie recommendations, including a few things to look forward to over the coming weeks. We could all use a little bit more giddy anticipation, am I right?
- Saturday, August 22 - Love in the Time of Corona premieres on Freeform tomorrow. There are two episodes, one Saturday and one Sunday.
- Tuesday, September 1 - Wedding Crashers hits Amazon Prime! I love this movie.
- Thursday, September 3 - Netflix is releasing a new movie starring Rachel Leigh Cook (yes, from She's All That) called Love, Guaranteed. She plays a lawyer representing a dating website that guarantees finding "the one."
- Friday, September 4 - Hillary Swank and Josh Charles co-star in a new Netflix series called Away. Swank plays an astronaut.
- Wednesday, September 9 - Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, the women behind the organizing service The Home Edit, chronicle their adventures inside celebrity homes including: Khloe Kardashian, Eva Longoria, Rachel Zoe and Neil Patrick Harris. The show will air on Netflix and is produced by Reese Witherspoon and Molly Sims. It's called Getting Organized with the Home Edit, and I cannot wait.
Ok! Now onto this week's list.
1. Amy Schumer Learns to Cook (Food Network) - Amy Schumer and her husband Chris Fischer are back on the Food Network with a second season of their at-home cooking show. They shoot in their rustic home on Martha's Vineyard, alongside their son's nanny Jane.
In the episode that aired this week, they made delicious cocktails (piña coladas and frozen hot chocolate) as well as popular snacks and junk food in a segment they called "fresh, not frozen."
I love their dynamic and I find myself wanting to make absolutely everything that they demo. You can find all of the recipes here.
The show airs at 10:00pm on Monday nights.
2. Kingdom (Netflix) - My obsession this week has been Kingdom. The show was recommended to me by a friend. It originally aired on Direct TV (which is probably why you've never heard of it). It's about the Kulina family, who owns a MMA gym on Venice Beach in Los Angeles. The dad, Alvey, was a champion fighter and now serves as the gym's head coach. His sons, Jay and Nate, are now trying to make names for themselves.
Jay is played by Jonathan Tucker, who I recognized as Bob Little on Parenthood. In this role, he is wild and untamed. His emotions run high, he's often on drugs, and he's an animal in the ring. By contrast, his younger brother (played by Nick Jonas) is quiet, shy and more of a rule follower.
Their world turns upside down when Ryan Wheeler (played by Matt Lauria of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood) returns to the gym after several years in prison. He was their most successful athlete and he wants to get back in the ring.
This show is equal parts family drama, romance and actual fights (cage fights, that is). I binged season one and I am now deep into season two. There are three seasons currently available on Netflix.
3. Seriously Single (Netflix) - When I was searching the romance genre on Netflix, this movie came up. I was surprised I hadn't heard of it, since I usually love rom-coms and watch any new ones as soon as they come out.
Seriously Single was made in South Africa and the actors speak multiple languages throughout the film. In fact, I had to turn the subtitles on.
It's the story of two best friends, Dineo and Noni. They are roommates, but they have completely different approaches to love. Dineo is a serial monogamist (who keeps getting dumped) and Noni prefers to be a free agent. Their relationship is tested when they both start to fall in love at the same time.
The best part of this movie is the fashion, especially Noni's sequin sweatsuits. I wish someone would create a website where you can find every single outfit they wore!
4. The Real Housewives of Potomac (Bravo) - I know what you are thinking. You already watch one or two of the Real Housewives' franchises - maybe New York, maybe Orange County - but you aren't interested in Potomac. Let me tell you, this show is one of the biggest jewels in the Bravo crown.
There have only been three episodes so far this season and already there's been a fight at a group dinner, someone storming out of a Sip & See, plans for a proposal, and one of the women got a pet parrot that she has on her shoulder at all times. You can't make this stuff up!
If you feel like you need a mental escape right now, this will do it.
5. Onward (Disney+) - If you are looking for something awesome to watch with kids, last weekend I saw Onward with my three cousins (ages 9, 7 and 4). It's available on Disney+ and it's an animated movie about two brothers on a quest to meet their father.
The cast of voice over actors includes: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer.
It reminded me of Toy Story, Shrek and Finding Nemo, all movies that balance just the right amount of magic for kids, with just the right amount of brilliant, subtle jokes and visual details for adults.
6. Quantico (Netflix) - Priyanka Chopra and Jake McLaughlin co-star in this drama about new recruits at the FBI training academy. There's intense drills, secret back stories and an explosion in New York City that puts the rookies to the test.
I binged season one in time to watch seasons two and three live on ABC. Every episode makes your heart pound!
All three seasons are now available to stream on Netflix.
There you have it! This week's list. I'll be back next Friday with a fresh round of picks.
*Images courtesy of Unsplash, Variety, KSDK, The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Newsweek and TV Line.
