Hello, friends. Happy Friday! My dad is visiting for the next few days and we are spending the bulk of our time getting the beach house in Hull ready for summer. Even though I've been spending a significant amount of time there over the past five months, I only just bought a TV for the place this week. I am so excited to watch shows and movies on something bigger than my laptop!
On that note, here are some things premiering in the next few weeks that I'm looking forward to:
- Wednesday, May 19 - Several Bravo shows returned this month and next up is the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Kyle Richards' sister, Kathy Hilton, joins this season and I can't wait to see their dynamic. We'll also witness the downfall of Erika Jayne.
- Wednesday, May 26 - The Bold Type comes back to Freeform (formerly ABC Family). It's about three best friends who work at a magazine, based on Cosmopolitan. It's smart, funny and socially conscious.
- Monday, June 7 - The Bachelorette returns to ABC with Katie Thurston as the woman seeking love. Chris Harrison is out as the host, replaced by franchise alums Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams.
- Friday, June 18 - Have you watched the Spanish high school drama Elite on Netflix? It's like Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, set in Spain. Season four is coming in mid-June, so catch up now ahead of the premiere.
I have three recommendations for you this week. Let's get into it.
1. Selena: The Series (Netflix) - On Tuesday, Netflix released the second season of Selena: The Series, starring Christian Serratos as Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Though it's a scripted series, it is based on real-life events.
When we're reunited with the Quintanilla family, Selena is heartbroken about not being allowed to date Chris, she's on the verge of releasing her first English album and she's beginning to branch out into fashion and design by opening her own boutiques.
As you likely know, Selena was murdered in 1995 by Yolanda Saldivar, the manager of her fan club. She was just 23 years old. The final episode is dedicated to her last day alive and it is very hard to watch. Let's just say I did a lot of ugly crying during those last 15 minutes.
Watching this show made me want to download all of Selena's music and honor her by continuing to keep it in rotation.
Whether you know a lot about Selena's story or nothing at all, the show is entertaining and the music will have you bopping your head from the couch.
2. Gaga: Five Foot Two (Netflix) - This documentary came out in 2017 and it had been on my watch list for ages. I finally decided to check it out last weekend.
The film follows Lady Gaga as she prepares to release her album Joanne and readies herself to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.
The cameras are allowed just about everywhere - into her home, into the recording studio, into rehearsals, into her doctor's office. You really get a sense for everything she goes through on a daily basis to maintain this level of engagement with her fans.
For me, the most moving part was Gaga playing a song for her grandmother that she wrote in honor of her late aunt, Joanne. Just like any other kid seeking approval, when the track ends, she looks into her grandmother's eyes and asks, "Did I get it right?"
If you're a Gaga fan, this movie is a treat. It will also give you even more respect for her work ethic and commitment to her craft.
3. Sexify (Netflix) - Netflix was promoting this show so hard that I finally gave in and started the first episode. It's a Netflix original series, but shot in Poland. I watched it dubbed, but you can watch it in Polish with English subtitles if you prefer not to be tweaked by the lips moving out of sync with the English.
It's about a college senior named Natalia who is on a quest to win her senior seminar's mobile app competition. At first she thinks she'll win with an app designed to help you achieve better sleep, but when her advisor comments that her focus area is a snooze (pun intended), she finds new inspiration from the other women in her dorm. She decides to develop an app to help you increase your sexual pleasure.
Natalia recruits her best friend Paulina, as well as the girl she lives next door to in her dorm, Monika, to help her with design and research. The story arc reminded me of Pitch Perfect, except with an app instead of acapella.
If you need a jolt of female empowerment, this show will do it.
There you have it! This week's picks. I'll be back next Friday with a fresh round.
*Images courtesy of Unsplash, NBC News, Netflix and Otakukart.
