Friday Five, Volume 63 is here, and it is a big one. Two of our most anticipated shows of 2022 arrived in the same week, and that's not all! Whether you're looking for comedy, sports, horror, or some great folk music to get you through the week, we've got it all!
Drive to Survive Season 4
Cancel your plans and fire up Netflix, because today marks the return of Drive to Survive. The Formula 1 docuseries releases its 4th season ahead of the first race of the new year this weekend, just in time to refresh everyone’s memories. Last year ended with a dramatic, controversial, and hotly contested Max Verstappen victory over Lewis Hamilton in the final race. Immediately, fans were clamoring for the Drive to Survive footage from the events, and now we get it. There’s as much drama in the docuseries as any reality show on television, but of course, this is actually real. It has helped lead to a boom in popularity in F1, which has been great for the sport in the US. If you’re hesitant about waking up early for the races, give the show a watch – it might just change your mind. Drive to Survive builds characters really well, and it’s super interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes, from the technical achievements to strategy to the drama between the drivers. We’ve had this date circled on our calendars for a while, and it’s finally time to enjoy a return to F1.
Winning Time
If the Drive to Survive return wasn’t enough, this week also marked the debut of one of our most highly anticipated shows in a long time. The Adam McKay-executive produced Winning Time finally dropped on HBO, and we can’t wait to see more. There’s an absolutely loaded cast on hand for Max Borenstein's adaptation of Jeff Pearlman’s Showtime, which chronicled the rise and fall of the Showtime-Era Los Angeles Lakers. Breakout star Quincy Isaiah is perfectly cast as Magic Johnson, but he’s not the only one crushing it. John C. Reilly is stunning in his turn as Jerry Buss, serving as our (very funny) eyes and ears in the story. We do have to warn you, there’s a LOT of info in the pilot – so if you’re unfamiliar with this era of the NBA, it might help to have Wikipedia open. But we really can’t wait to see the show pick up the pace and introduce actual NBA action, along with a huge list of other big-time actors that have yet to appear. McKay and Co. made some really cool production choices, from the soundtrack to the way the show was shot, which all help take you back in time to the era of the show. It’s existing a bit in its own, unique lane on TV right now, and we can’t wait to tune in every Sunday night to see how Winning Time tells its story.
Fresh
It was a busy week in the Adam McKay universe. On top of Winning Time, the McKay-produced Fresh released on Hulu. The horror-comedy is written by McKay’s former assistant Lauryn Kahn, who wanted to make something all viewers could enjoy – not just horror fans. The movie is definitely intense, though, and not for the faint of heart. Sebastian Stan’s huge year keeps on rolling as he stars in this truly twisted take on a rom-com, along with Daisy Edgar-Jones. Quick, heart-racing comedy/horror/thriller movies are still some of the most reliable genre films out there, and Fresh keeps that going, as it is a nice change-of-pace from some of the more traditional studio content. It’s a fun weekend movie, you just might want to start it a little earlier in the evening, just to have a little time to cleanse your palate. But maybe wait until after dinner, because Stan’s character, to borrow a term from the logline, has some “unusual appetites.”
Taylor Tomlinson: Look At You
If you’re looking for that palate cleanser, or would rather just stick to comedy in the first place, Netflix has you covered with a new special from breakout comedian Taylor Tomlinson. Tomlinson’s first special dropped two years ago, as COVID hit, and her star has only blown up since then. She does some great jokes on relatable topics, from struggles in your twenties to typical family drama, and her delivery style makes it all feel fresh and new. We’re always on the lookout for new comedians to follow, so we were really excited when Tomlinson burst on the scene. And if you haven’t seen her first special, Quarter-Life Crisis, or her set on The Stand-Ups, you’ve got a lot of brand new comedy to check out this weekend. Live comedy can still be a little hit or miss these days, so it’s great to get a new hour right in our living room. Your watch schedules are probably as packed as ours, but we definitely recommend finding an hour to sit back and enjoy some laughs with Look At You.
The Ghost of Paul Revere - Field Notes, Vol. 3
We know we jumped ahead and got into some of our warm weather, day-drinking music this week, but that doesn’t mean we are done with winter albums quite yet. The Ghost Of Paul Revere is a really cool indie folk/rock band that we’ve been digging lately, and their recent album Field Notes, Vol. 3 helped propel us through the work week. They’ve got a great gritty sound, with some really fun instrumentation mixed in, as expected in the genre. Most of the album is a little bit slower, so it’s great to have it in the background while working or having a drink to unwind at the end of the day. The last two tracks, “Travel On” and “Suspicious Minds” are really fun and more upbeat, so those might have you getting out of your seat (or at least tapping your feet.) “Travel On” especially has some awesome horns, and is just a great groove. And if you enjoy their Elvis cover, you should definitely go check out their rendition of “Baba O’Riley” to get your fill. The album is quick, which means you can either leave it looping on repeat, or use it to cover a nice 30-minute work sprint. Whether you’ve got a lot of cold weather left on the horizon, or just some long work days to get through, The Ghost of Paul Revere can help you keep on trucking.
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