Ty Watches "The Penguin"

I finished "The Penguin" a few days ago and I have some thoughts. I will not spoil anything in this piece because I think people should watch this show. I also want to say, the time for spoilers should be well past by this point, but I want to respect the wishes of people that may not watch stuff in real time, or their version of binging is like mine, where I watch a few episodes a day over a week. There, got that out of the way.

"The Penguin" caught my interest from the moment I saw him in "The Batman". He was barely onscreen, but I was intrigued. I also liked the costume and makeup that Colin Farrell wore and I wanted to see more of him in this world. They announced the show and I was stoked. Then I forgot about it until RD mentioned it to me. I started watching right away because RD usually recommends good stuff to me. I was in from the jump. I liked how dark and grimy the show was on my tv. This may have had names of people from comic books and superhero movies, but this show is not in that genre. This show is something totally different. This is a hard crime drama. It reminded me of "Goodfellas". It has all the tropes, in a good way, of classic crime stories, some of the characters just happened to be called The Penguin or Selina Kyle. I will say though, when The Penguin is called that, he is very angry and hates that name. It is bad for him. He doesn't like it at all.

The events of the show take place right after the ending of "The Batman". The story immediately picks up, but this is about the crime families within Gotham and the introduction of a new drug called bliss. From there on out we meet some new villains and new people that I've never heard of before. Colin Farrell is Oz. He is amazing in this role. He takes it on headfirst and he absolutely nails it. Cristin Milioti plays Sofia, who is totally new to me. She is fantastic. I found myself openly rooting for her even though she is as villainous as the worst people in Gotham. Milioti needs to get proper recognition for this part. And Rhenzy Feliz plays Vic. He is a down on his luck kid who Oz catches trying to steal his rims from his car. Oz spares him and takes him along on his journey to becoming the top drug guy in Gotham. Feliz is pretty great as well, acting up to the level of Farrell when they're on screen together. There are more people involved, but these are the three main actors and each one is better than the next.

I really enjoyed watching this show as it unfolded. There are a few episodes in the middle that lag for just a bit, but they're worth it in the long run. This show needs these episodes to build up the world the creators have created. I also want to say, and this is no spoiler, this is one of the saddest, most depressing endings to a tv show that I've ever seen. I sat on my couch after the finale and let it sink in and that was the biggest feeling I came away with in the end. It is so sad and probably the only way they could've ended this season. I don't know if they're going to make any more episodes. I hope they do, but it wouldn't be the worst thing if they didn't make anymore and just let this one epic season stand on its own.

I highly recommend watching this show. Don't go into it expecting a typical comic book thing because you will be disappointed. But, if you go into it expecting a hard crime drama, it will be one of the best things you'll see on tv all year. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "The Penguin"

Last week RD texted and asked if I had seen "The Penguin" yet. I told him I had not, but I wanted to. He said the first episode was pretty epic, and I trust his opinion on things like this, so I decided that I was going to watch it that day.

I'm glad RD told me about this because this show is pretty damn great. I saw "The Batman", where this version of The Penguin was first featured, but he was barely in the movie. And that is a long, long movie. So, when it was announced that they were going to do a series featuring this version of The Penguin, I was interested. I feel that, when given the proper material, Colin Farrell can do some great work. That is happening here for sure. Farrell is excellent in this show. He is also unrecognizable. The makeup people are doing a bang up job. Farrell has been transformed into what I have always envisioned this villain to like. He has messed up teeth, with some gold teeth peppered in there. His limp is due to a foot injury and him having to wear a brace. He over dresses. He tries too hard on his look. They nailed it. Farrell also makes this version sound like a true New York crime boss. He has the accent down to a T. He sounds and acts like a true New Yorker, or at least tv and movie versions of New Yorkers.

Farrell is not alone here on the show. Cristin Milioti is playing a new villain, at least to me, Sofia Falcone/Gigante. She is tough. She takes no prisoners. The episode when we see her backstory, how she got to where she is in today's version of the show, her performance should be studied in acting classes. This is a masterclass. I'd be shocked if she doesn't get award consideration for this performance alone. But, she continues to shine with each passing episode. She terrifies me. But I also cannot look away from what her character is doing on the show. I'm also enjoying Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar. His role could have been cliched. He could have been a typical kid that, due to dumb luck, found himself working for The Penguin. But he adds layers to his portrayal. He has past issues that haunt him. He has personal stuff that he hasn't fully dealt with in his life. He ended up working for Oz by pure happenstance. but what they have done so far with him has been pretty damn great. These three really bring this whole show to life.

And, if you are reading this thinking it's just another superhero show, think again. I thought that for a second, but after watching the first episode, that's not the case. I'm almost caught up on the show, and to this point, this is a crime show that happens to have characters that share names with comic book people. This is as hardcore as "The Godfather" or "Goodfellas". This is akin to gangster movies that my mom watches and that I have come around on big time since I was a kid. I never think about this as a DC show or a superhero/super villain show. The only time that comes to mind is when they flash the DC logo after each episode. This is not that. This is a hard crime drama that also happens to be incredibly violent.

"The Penguin" is a very good show that has gotten better, for me, with each passing episode. I highly recommend checking it out. It's good stuff. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Now "KAOS" is the Cancel Victim of More Dumb Reality TV

Welp, another tv show that I enjoy bites the dust. It was announced yesterday, I didn't see until today, that Netflix cancelled "KAOS". They gave that show one season. They gave it eight measly episodes. And now it has been canned, and I don't know why.

This show had potential, this show had a great cast, this show was unique and different. I loved what I saw and was excited for where they could take it in season two. The whole cast was stellar, but the reason why I started watching was Jeff Goldblum. He was magnetic as Zeus. He was childish and violent. He was mean. He was vindictive. Goldblum played this role perfectly. If his portrayal of Zeus wasn't enough to keep this show on air, I have to assume it was a longshot at best to stick around after one shortened season.

I am sitting here today trying to figure out what went wrong, why Netflix made this decision. With "That 90's Show", while I was annoyed, some reasons made sense. The audience for that show are people my age. We watched "That 70's Show", so "That 90's Show" was nostalgic for us. The problem, my generation doesn't watch too many sitcoms. We are all about documentaries or crime shows now. Me, and a few of my friends, we're the exception. We watched the hell out of "That 90's Show" and wanted more. We didn't get our way, and Netflix moved on. It is a bummer, but I get it. "KAOS" is not a sitcom. There is no studio audience. There are no corny jokes. The cast is all in, and they know what they are doing with the material. It just doesn't make sense to me that they would give up on another quality show so quickly. The way the season went, started with a bang, no real lull and excellent ending that left the show open to many more seasons, it was strong all the way through. But I guess Netflix didn't see that. All the actors on the show were giving their all, and I found myself attached to every major character's story. When one story would shift into another one, I instantly found myself heavily involved in what was going on with that person. Be it a god, a political person, a mortal or a centaur, I wanted to know everything about that person. I watched the series in two sittings. I watched four episode blocks in two different days. I couldn't get enough of it. But Netflix just axed it.

I thought maybe Netflix would get rid of a bunch of shows, but it seems like the two biggest, and most notable new shows they let go of are "That 90's Show" and "KAOS". I wish I could say the same for a show like "Love is Blind" on Netflix, but nope, they have a new season and they even have versions in other countries now. It seems like they can continue to make more and more reality tv shows, but good material that is different and exciting, like "KAOS" is kicked to the curb.

This bums me out. I wish, and want streaming networks to give these cool shows more of a shot. Unfortunately it seems like that is not the case. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

"That 90's Show" is Cancelled for More Dumb Reality Television

I read earlier today that Netflix has cancelled "That 90's Show" after two seasons. This bums me out.

I really enjoyed that show. A buddy of mine told me to watch it when it first aired and I did and I loved it. I was a big fan of "That 70's Show" when it first aired. I watched it from start to finish. I stayed even after Topher Grace left. I was all in. I was getting to that level with "That 90's Show". I could totally relate to the kids on the show because I grew up in the 90's. When I watched "That 70's Show", I watched it for the kids, but I wasn't born until 1982. Growing up in the 90's, it was so much easier for me to understand because I lived through it. I got all the goth stuff. I knew every show they were referencing. The clothes were what I wore from time to time. It was great. I also related so much more with Red and Kitty in the new version of the show. I got what got them so upset. It made total sense. I have young kids now, but I see them interacting with my parents, their grandparents. My kids' grandparents aren't as mean as Red or lively as Kitty, but they show the same kind of tough love and real love. I loved the show for that.

All of "That 90's Show" was so much more in my personal wheelhouse. I was fully in on this show. But Netflix is killing it, and I don't know why. I don't get it. I don't know what the end game is for them. If I sit back and think about it, Netflix, like so many other streaming companies, are veering more towards reality TV, and that stinks. Reality TV doesn't cost all that much, you can do a bunch of seasons and people will watch that stuff no matter what. There seems to be a reality show for everyone. Want sports, watch "Quarterback" or "Receiver". Want dating shows, there's too many to name. Want cooking competitions, the possibilities are endless. There are far too many reality TV shows out there now, and they are killing narrative shows. Writers are going to be obsolete at this rate, and it is a bummer. Comedies are going to be nonexistent, except for standup specials. Hard dramas may last a little longer, older people seem to enjoy them, but they won't be around as long as reality shows. Along with writers, directors will be few and far between. Creative people are going to get pushed out for reality TV yes men and women and there will be a certain few who remain because they know how to film reality TV, but the good, lesser known directors and writers are going to get squeezed out. As are the young up and coming actors. The kids in "That 90's Show" were great. They were funny, had good timing and seemed to have really good chemistry. But they don't have people behind them, that I know of, like Jenna Ortega has behind her. People will push so much harder for Barry Keoghan over any kid on this show. The Jonas Brothers will get more bit roles than these kids. And reality TV "personalities" are going to be everywhere.

Some streaming network or TV network needs to let these shows develop for longer than two seasons. They need to see what they have before they just move on because the numbers aren't to their liking at first glance. I did read that the people behind "That 90's Show" are shopping it out, hoping someone else takes a chance on it. I hope some network does because they have a true nostalgic hit on their hands. I want less reality TV and more original series. Networks need to stop giving up on them so easily. I want original content so much more than mind dumbing reality TV. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

"The Real Lives of Mormon Wives" is the Meat in Reality TV's Dumb Sandwich

We watch a good amount of reality tv in our house. I'd like to say I don't watch it all the time, but if I'm in the room and a reality show is on, I'll stick around and give an opinion. I wish I watched less, but these shows are a good mind suck for me, and I can tune out what is going on and goof around for the evening.

One such show that has been on my home tv now is "The Real Lives of Mormon Wives", or some nonsense like that. I'm proud to say that I have only seen about 15 total minutes of this show, and that is strictly because I like to hang out with my wife, and she is currently watching this show. But, the 15 or so minutes I have seen, this show may be one of the worst reality shows that has ever been put on tv. This show is about as mindless as it gets. There is nothing of substance in this show. These ladies have no real provocative thoughts, they offer nothing to society, they constantly gripe about the most meaningless stuff and they are privilege personified.

I asked my wife why they have a show, what is it about them that makes hulu think they can get a big viewer number, and she told me that they are "Tik Tok famous". This is a big, big problem in our world right now. People who are Tik Tok famous should not be given a tv show. That is the lowest form of entertainment. Tik Tok offers nothing other than getting "likes" and "reposts". Tik Tok is the worst. More power to the people that make money off of it, but they should not be given a tv show. That is about the laziest thing that tv and streaming execs can do. They don't have to hire writers, there's no auditioning, they don't have to get a full crew. They just put these fame hungry morons on tv and let it go from there. Sure, they have a camera person and a boom mic person, but they don't need much else. They can have a person around to stir drama, but that is about it.

Reality tv like this is killing television. I already mentioned how they don't have to hire hardly anyone that is imaginative and creative, but they are giving people who have no real insight a platform to spew ridiculous nonsense. The ladies on this show have no real problems, they have nothing to give to society, they fight about the most mundane shit and they act like they are the most important people in the world. They are not. They are about as far from important as it can get. One thing I clocked in the short time I saw this show, the reason I wanted to write this today, whenever these ladies are out about town, they almost always say, "we have to make a Tik Tok for this". That is so, so, so sad. They cannot live in the moment. They have to record everything they do. They cannot have a fun, fulfilling life. They are glued to their phones. They are constantly chasing fame. They want everyone to love them. The problem, none of that is being accomplished. They're not going to ever be famous. They are always going to be chasing clout. Most people do not like what they have to say, and in fact, they disagree with what they're saying. The funniest thing to me about this show is how stupid they all come off. They think they have some world shattering view because they are Mormon, but they swear and talk about body parts openly. Everyone does that. Just because they are Mormon that doesn't make them special.

The beginning of reality tv had a point and a good reason to be on tv. When "Real World" started, it was groundbreaking and new. Now, we have multiple reality shows about teen moms, overweight sisters, people with weird addictions and privileged white people complaining about champagne problems. Reality tv is in a very, very bad place, and this show is only furthering the problem. Don't watch this show. I will not be watching anymore of it. It is the worst of the worst in reality tv. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "The Umbrella Academy" Final Season

My wife and I just finished the fourth and final season of "Umbrella Academy". The final season kind of came and went with no real shock or people talking about it all that much. I had forgotten about it for a bit because my wife was watching "Love Island" and we watch "Umbrella Academy" together. She was into that show, I started a different show and just waited until it was time. That time came, and it went for me without much of a whimper as well.

The fourth season was fine. It was short, it was action packed and it had its moments. It was definitely better than the third season, which I thought was nearly unwatchable. But, that is not saying much in my opinion. The first season of the show was rad. I was all in. I wanted to know the story, I liked all the characters and it kept me fully interested. I couldn't wait to get more. My wife and I actually ripped through the first season very fast. When the second season aired, I was just as in. I was all about Klaus' story. He annoyed me in season 1, but they gave him some depth and he became my favorite character. I liked what they did with all the other characters. I like how the story progressed. I felt like they were going in a very good direction.

Then the pandemic hit. This may have been an unexpected blow to the show. I mean, the pandemic was rough for everyone. "Umbrella Academy" definitely suffered. The third season was not very good. You could tell it was filmed during a pandemic. It relied very heavily on CGI. They only really had one set that they shot the show, the hotel. I got a very bad sinus infection near the end of the third season, missed the last three episodes, and it didn't matter. I didn't care what happened. I will say, the third season had very few moments. We got a great Lila story in season 3. Eliot Page got some good stuff to work with to further his story. And 5 continued his run as a very good character on the show. But that was about it. Like I said, it had a pandemic feel to it, too much CGI and nothing really memorable. But, I was excited for this final season. I was curious to see how they wrapped everything up. I wanted to see how they closed out the characters.

With that being said, I had forgotten a bunch about what happened in season 3, so when they showed up as regular people in the final season, that was a surprise. From there, it was very hit and miss for me. Monkey Man was funny. Diego and Lila had become sad. Victor seemed kind of dour. Alison got more boring. 5 was still pretty cool, and the stuff with him and Lila was alright. But poor Klaus. They underutilized him a ton here. He wasn't himself. He was whiny and sour. I didn't like how they portrayed him in the final season. Even as it progressed, he never found his footing like he did in season 2. I'm also very tired of the whole "timeline" thing that superhero movies and shows do now. It is a catch all that is relied on far too much. Writers can make up anything they want and say it is due to a different timeline. And they used it way, way too much in this final season. I was also not overly thrilled with how wrapped up the characters. It felt rushed.

With all this being said, "Umbrella Academy" gave us four seasons of entertainment for free. The creators, writers and actors owe us nothing. I will say, while I did not enjoy the last two seasons, the first two seasons are great. If you want to watch this show, just watch the first two seasons, then catch up via the internet with what happens in the end. That's the best way to go about watching this show in my opinion. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "KAOS"

I recently started the Netflix show "KAOS". I kept seeing ads for it popping up on my social media and it interested me. I like when people take sci-fi/mythical stuff and put that with everyday things. I enjoy when writers take something that has been around forever and put it in the present day. Add on the cast, and this show seems to be made for me.

The first episode opened with the Dire Straits song, "Money for Nothing", and we see Zeus, played by Jeff Goldblum. He is an egomaniac. He is conducting storms above the clouds, all the while complaining about humans because they want water and air. He is whiny and wants everyone to tell him how great he is all the time. He is a child in a grown person's body. Hera, Zeus' wife and sister, is played by Janet McTeer. She is manipulative. She is constantly talking Zeus down. She wants him to be a better ruler. She is always telling him to calm down. She is also horrible to her stepson, Dionysus. Nabhaan Rizwan plays Dionysus, and he is my favorite character up to this point. He is funny, fun and wants his dad to recognize him. He wants to do something to help his personal legacy. But, he is still childlike and doesn't really have any common sense. He partners up with Orpheus, Killian Scott. These two are on a mission to get someone back that Orpheus loves. Oh, and Orpheus is the world's biggest rock star. His partner, Riddy, Aurora Perrineau, has some stuff she has to work out on her own. But she is on a mission that she may not be fully aware of just yet. In later episodes we meet Poseidon, Cliff Curtis, Hades, David Thewlis, Persephone, Rakie Ayola and Medusa, Debi Mazar. They're all pretty wonderful, especially Poseidon. We also get to know Ari, Leila Farzad, and Caeneus, Misia Butler. They are going to, at some point, team up with Riddy to try and get some stuff done.

What I think I have liked most about the show is how they portray the gods. They are stupid and crazy and egotistic. They act like kids. They think they can't get hurt or be overthrown. They are petulant little kids, with a tremendous amount of power. Goldblum is amazing in this show. I am such a big fan of his, and to see him take on a role like this, as a villain, is a sight to behold. And he is nailing it. Outside Dionysus, whenever Goldblum's Zeus is on screen, I am excited to see how horribly he is going to act next. I should mention, Stephen Dillane plays Prometheus the whole time. He is the narrator and Zeus' only "friend". I am very much enjoying Dillane in this role. I only know him as Stannis Baratheon from "Game of Thrones". That role was kind of bland and boring, for me, on that show. Here, in "KAOS", Dillane is magnetic and fun. He is the funniest person on the show. He also is the only god that seems to be a rational thinker. He does some bad stuff, but he is repenting and wants what is right.

I am so glad that I started this show the other day. I am fully in after three episodes. I'm really curious to see where it goes from here. There's only eight episodes in the first season, so I got five left and I cannot wait to see how they wrap it up. I highly recommend this show. It is pretty cool. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Chimp Crazy"

Last night my wife and I finished the short docuseries "Chimp Crazy". We actually watched the first three episodes over the weekend, and then finished it off with the finale last night. Let’s discuss.

This is some pretty interesting stuff going on here. I am not going to spoil anything, which will be tough, but here we go. The long and short of this docu series is about people who buy and sell and own monkeys. These people are pretty terrible that are at the forefront of this series. The guy who created and directs is Cam Goode. This is the same guy that made "Tiger King". "Tiger King" came at the exact right time. We were on lockdown and we all needed something to take our minds off what was happening. Everyone watched it, everyone had an opinion, RD and I did a podcast about the show and then it was kind of gone. I know some people who cringe now whenever "Tiger King" comes up. It is almost upsetting how much we all consumed and talked about the show. "Chimp Crazy" feels different. Yes, the people are trashy, they are lowlifes and they have zero common sense. But what happens here is, in its own way, worse than "Tiger King" Every person that Goode has talked about in his two main shows are pretty awful people. They do horrible stuff to animals that don't deserve it one bit. The animals are their toys. They own them so they can make friends and find some minimal form of fame. "Chimp Crazy" tells that story better than "Tiger King". We get a real good look at how absurd and ridiculous the world of owning exoctic animals can truly be. Monkeys and camels and sheep and goats should be able to live free. If they are unfortunate enough to end up in a zoo, at least they are getting the correct food and care they need. The people in "Chimp Crazy" leave monkeys in cages when they get older. They feed them McDonald's and have them drink full sugar Powerade. They barely interact with the monkeys when they get too big. And when they do interact with a grown monkey, bad things happen. That should be expected, but these people continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Friends will be attacked, the monkeys will get taken away, or worse, and then they will get another monkey. No lessons are ever learned from people who think they can domesticate wild animals. It is incredibly frustrating. It is also entertaining for someone like me. I found myself so intrigued by what was going on from episode to episode. When big things happened, I couldn't wait to watch more. I wanted to see what would happen next. I wanted to see how the story would unfold. I was so curious and just wanted to watch more and more. I was happy with the mini series. I was invested from the jump and found the ending to be satisfying for what the material was giving me.

I definitely recommend watching this series. It is intriguing and funny and sad and nuts. It is worth your time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Sign Stealer"

I was on the fence about watching the new Netflix doc, "Sign Stealer". I am, as you all know, a super fan of Michigan football. They're the only sports team that I truly love. I care deeply about the outcome of each game. It is a problem, I've been working on it for a long time and have gotten better, but I still care. Some would say too much. So, the idea of a doc that focuses on Michigan's "scandal" from their title winning season seemed like a bad idea. But I read some reviews of it from people that I like, and they said it wasn't all that bad. I am also a big fan of the whole "Untold" series that Netflix does. It is a nice mix of true crime and sports. I like to watch stories about both those things. So, probably against my better wishes, I tuned in to "Sign Stealer" yesterday.

As I sat down to watch I tried to have an open mind. I wanted to hear everyone's side of the story. I wanted to hear from Connor Stalions himself. This is the first time he has spoken about the whole thing since the story broke. But, it was hard for me to tamp down my love for Michigan football while I watched. Look, the whole idea of "Untold" on Netflix is to reveal hard hitting, real life journalistic stuff. The next "Untold" I'm going to watch is about the murder of Steve McNair. I've also seen them take on the Manti Teo catfishing incident, a crime boss buying his son a hockey team, these are real criminal acts.

The whole thing behind "Sign Stealer" is about a low level employee deciphering signals from other teams, a custom that most high level division 1 football teams do. This is not a crime. This is not even fully illegal. It is a gray area, but still, not illegal. The only illegal thing being done, according to the dumbass NCAA bylaws, is advanced in person scouting. What the hell does that even mean? Can low level coaches go to college football games just as a fan? Can they invite friends and family? Can they just be regular fans? I guess not, according to this one rule. I agree that what Stalions did was shady, but he was not the reason that Michigan got better at football. It was nice to see Mike Barrett talk about this on the record. He was there. He put in the work. He made himself a better player and a better leader. So to hear his side of the story was enlightening. Then you have this new person in this that I truly hate, Brohio, talking about how "shady" and "upsetting" this whole situation became for him as a fan and a message board moron. The fact that he calls himself that, that he would lend his "intelligence" on this matter and expect people to take him seriously is the funniest thing to come from this doc. In the end, what I read prior to watching the doc said that if you're a hater or a fan, there is nothing in this that will change your mind. Fans of other schools are going to claim that this lays it all out there and the sanctions should be coming. Michigan fans are going to say it is no big deal, because it is no big deal. For Netflix and "Untold" to take this low level issue and make it akin to true crime docs was unnecessary. But, they need to strike while the iron is hot on this topic, before it fizzles into nothing.

What we watched in "Sign Stealer" will not change the outcome of last season, and the last three years of Michigan football. They are the reigning champs. They've beaten the university of Ohio State fair and square three years in a row. Teams had a chance to beat Michigan after Stalions was let go, and they still couldn't do it. Michigan will keep their trophy, keep their titles and keep all their wins over the past three years. I guess you can watch this doc if you want, but there is nothing in here that will change your mind either way. Go Blue. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "The Boys" Season 4

The other night my wife and I finished season 4 of "The Boys". This is a show my wife and I started during the pandemic. RD suggested it to us in fact. We loved it from the start. This show is violent and fast and intriguing and funny and fascinating to watch. To take on superheroes in this fashion, making some of them very, very bad people, is a great hook. It does things other shows don't even think about doing. Some of the stuff they have gotten away with, it is amazing that they are even able to show it to the public.

I was stoked for season 4 after season 3 ended so upsetting. We start off pretty much where we left off, but this season proceeded to be one of the most depressing seasons of television I've ever watched. I had to remind myself multiple times that this show is not real. None of this is based on a true story. Some of the things that are being done on the show cannot possibly happen in real life. That is how damn sad this fourth season of the show is.

"The Boys" takes on what is happening in the real world right now. You have the alt right versus the progressive left. We see the rich superheroes, and their friends and supporters, as the alt right. They say things this season that have been said to me about being a liberal. I squirmed at times hearing Homelander or Firecracker talk to people who don't side with them. I would have to take a good long break after some episodes because they perfectly portrayed the alt right as I see them. The progressive left is highlighted by the titular Boys. They are all back and they are fighting the alt right. They have also added Starlight. She and Hughie are a couple and they are fighting together. Starlight is the face because she is a superhero. She is the leader of the left. She gets scoured by the alt right. It was all too real to watch. Again, seeing the way she was treated all season made me sick because it felt so real. The way the right in this show does their news, leaks their news, has their rallies, it all looks like Fox News and what the alt right follows and listens to nowadays. The progressives are left to hide and fight with whatever little means they can find. Some want to run, others are willing to die for what they believe in. All of this is way, way too real. It is a nearly perfect parallel to what is happening right now. And not one side can change the other side's mind.

It is shocking how realistic this show about lab created superheroes was this entire season. I would sigh and think how poignant it is in today's political climate. I love this show, but this season was such a downer. I was depressed after every single episode. It made me sad. Seeing how these characters have grown or changed this season was shockingly upsetting. I would find myself ruminating on episodes days after watching them. After watching the finale I sat in my bed and was terrified at the outcome, because something similar could really, truly happen in America.

I will always and forever recommend "The Boys", but this season is a tough watch. This season will make you feel all sorts of ways. I'm curious to see how they close it all out in their fifth and final season, coming sometime soon I believe. I'll watch for sure. But season 4 is a season I will most likely never watch again. It really bummed me out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches 'House of the Dragon" Season 2 Finale

"House of the Dragon" closed out the second season last night. Let’s discuss.

I have been on board all season with this show. If you go back and read a past blog of mine, I wrote how I was waiting with such anticipation for the big battle they've been building towards all season long. I hoped it was coming. It felt like it was coming. They had a scene in an earlier episode that was akin to foreplay, in which we saw the bad side of battle and saw what the dragons are capable of doing. All of this had me so pumped to what I assumed was going to be one of the most epic battle scenes in television history. As my wife and I sat down to watch, we were both on the edge of our seats. With each passing minute we both felt that we were getting closer and closer to this tremendous battle. The armies were finished forming. People on both sides pledged their allegiance. We had big dinners the night before. We saw some dragons flying. We even got a glimpse into the future, with White Walkers and Danerys mind you, and it felt like it was time.

Sorry for the spoilers by the way.

After the meetup between Rhaeynera and Allicient, I figured it was going to be just a matter of time. I looked down at my watch and realized that we had less than ten minutes left in the finale. I figured, well, this is going to be a quick war scene. Maybe they would come in with a bang, have some epic stuff happen, close with a big kill, and then it would be on to the next two years before season 3.

That, unfortunately, didn't happen. After the meeting between the two queens, we see all the people that have some kind of importance traveling. The armies are on the move with their flags. The dragons are circling around waiting to get shit done. The king is being quietly moved to his new home. Some people are showing the prince regent that they don't trust his move. Allicient's dad is still in jail. One of Rhaeynera's step kids has found her dragon. The new riders are being fit with armor. It is a bunch of slow shots of people traveling to fight a war. And it went black while watching all of this.

I sat there confused. I, along with almost every other viewer, had been waiting for a war. This is what the whole season has been building to. This is what it is supposed to all come down to to close out the second season. We were supposed to see war. But we saw, as we have all season, people prepping for battle, people getting themselves lathered up for a fight. I am of the belief that tv shows owe us nothing, and I'm still at the point today. But come on dude. The fans have waited all season long for a war. At least on "Game of Thrones" we would get a bunch of battles during the season. That show was always building towards the biggest battle, but we got something like an appetizer from time to time. We saw fights, we saw bloodshed, we saw people dealing with their own reckoning. "House of the Dragon" season 2 was a tease. We got none of that. We saw people prepping for eight straight episodes. I still think this show is amazing, and it kept my attention. But, throw us a bone. Give us a taste. Let us see one of the main things we come to see when we watch this show.

I'll still definitely watch season 3, but this finale left an unappetizing taste in my mouth. There was a ton of pomp, but no circumstance. I was bummed, and now we have to wait for 2 more years to hopefully see this battle. That is a drag. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Thoughts on Food Network's Celebrity Chefs

I have mentioned on the site and the podcast before that we watch a bunch of cooking shows in my house. We all love different aspects of the shows. My son likes the competition stuff. My daughter likes the baking shows. My wife and I both like to get ideas for dishes and other stuff to try and make at home. We all get something out of them, and that is what keeps us coming back for more.

We have been watching a good amount of "Beat Bobby Flay" most recently. My son loves this show and it is his turn to pick what we watch while we eat dinner. I know, we shouldn't have our television on while we eat, but we like it, so we keep it on. Last night we were watching an episode and Ted Allen was one of the guests picking someone to try and beat Flay. As we were watching, I said to my wife that there are only two Food Network personalities that I truly enjoy. One is Ted Allen, and the other is the incomparable Ina Garten. Ina Garten is a national treasure and I will not take it when people say anything bad about her. She is the best.

Anyway, this one statement started a conversation with my wife and I. After I said who I like, she went on and talked about some people she enjoys on Food Network. She mentioned Ina as well, but she also had some surprises for me. She likes Bobby Flay. I was stunned. I do not like him. He seems a little too smug and arrogant. And his shows are all about showing up other chefs. He challenges them to make dishes that they have worked on for years and years, and says he can make them better. He also tried to show up Morimoto, and that was a bridge too far for me. I find him to be a dickhead, but my wife and son both like him. To each their own I suppose. She mentioned some other names, but none of them held the same weight with me as Flay.

I then started to think of other chefs that Food Network highlights, and I found myself not really liking any of them, other than Ted Allen and Ina. Anne Burrell is too mean and too loud. I would not like to work with her or for her. Scott Conant is a fake ass wannabe Italian. He is from Maine. He has the feel of being born into money and he is very off putting. Rachel Ray isn't a real chef. Michael Symon is kind of okay, but can also be very loud and very annoying. Guy Fieri started this whole "rock star chef" trend that I truly loathe. He also hangs out with shady people. Alex Guarnaschelli is mean and vindictive and conniving. Geoffrey Zakarian seems like the type of dude who would constantly correct you at a party while he complains about the caviar he is eating. Jeff Muaro doesn't seem to have any real it factor and he tries way, way too hard. Katie Lee is dull. Duff Goldman isn’t as fun as he thinks he is. And Ree Drummond's family has said some problematic stuff in the past on her own show. I just find it really hard to root for these other people on that channel. Food Network has also shifted into highlighting these chefs that I don't care for by making every damn show a competition show.

If I want dish ideas I have to watch the Cooking Channel or look online for them. Food Network doesn't do that enough anymore. They are too busy giving an asshole like Bobby Flay seemingly ten different tv shows in the past year, each one trying to make him the star. I will still tune in to watch Ina, and if Ted Allen is a guest host on something, I'll check it out. Otherwise, these other chefs are not my cup of tea. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "The Bear" Season 3

I just finished season 3 of "The Bear" the other night. Let’s discuss.

I started off super strong, watching three episodes in a row the night it was released. But then I made a decision to slow down and take my time. Recently I have found myself not binging tv shows that much anymore. I like the anticipation and waiting. I remember having to wait a week for a new episode of a show I watched. That was cool. I had all these theories of what could happen. I vividly remember talking with friends and neighbors about who we all shot Mr Burns after that famous "Simpsons" episode. I just like the feeling of watching shows a little bit spread out now. That is why it took me a little longer to finish this season.

I do want to say, I read headlines and heard other people say that they thought this season was weak. I have been trying to figure out why they were saying all of this. After finishing the season I sat there and thought about what I just watched and I have to say, I thought it was damn good.

"The Bear" has all but cemented its place as a great tv show. There are no truly bad episodes. Each new show gives me more and more to think about. With each passing season I grow more and more attached to the characters on the show. I have grown to love the episodes when they tell us a single story about one of the characters. The episode solely based on Tina this year was wonderful. This show owes the viewers nothing. It is one of the heavier hitters to come out in a long, long time. Sure, there are some flaws here and there, but every show has that. The simple fact that "The Bear" has a hit rate of over 90 percent, that is pretty amazing.

I feel like wanting to be counter culture, or be a nonconformist or just try to have a "hot take" has really taken over the internet. People always want it to be the best thing that they have ever seen. The problem with that, we all have different takes on what we view. Most hated the series finale of "Game of Thrones". I thought it was fine. I don't care who became the overseer of everything or that the white walker's death wasn't as intense as some hoped. I was able to seperate the sheer fact that "Game of Thrones" is a fantasy world. Dragons and zombies and all that wild sci fi stuff is not real. It is pure fantasy. So whoever "wins" in the end, cool. I'm not going to get up in arms about it all. I know some hated the series finale of "Lost". Again, I didn't mind it. I don't care that they were all in a sort of, spoiler alert for a decades old show, "purgatory". Take the show as a whole, and it was dope as hell. I hear all these nerds talk about how "The Simpsons" was only good for a ten year run, between seasons 2-13. I still love that show and find something I adore in every episode, new or old. It is still one of the best written shows that has ever been on tv. I think, no matter how good and well beloved something is, there is going to be a small group of people that say it is bad. Unfortunately, the people doing that now work for major internet sites and publications. They put their opinion out there and the viewers just run with it and tell everyone that they feel the same. It is a true bummer because no one can ever just like a thing that most others do. Some people are just here to be a contrarian. I am glad that it is not me.

Back to the topic on hand, "The Bear" was as intense, as poignant and funnier than it has been to date. I'm very interested to see how they handle the ending of season 3 in season 4. I want to see Natalie and how she and her husband are handling life as new parents. I want to know what Sydney decided. I'm curious to see where Marcus and Tina are with the restaurant and their place there. I want to know if Carmy and Richie are cool again. I want to know what Unc decided to do after taking The Computer's advice. I'm just as engaged and curious as I was after seasons 1 and 2.

I recommend season 3 wholeheartedly and don't read into what the internet says and what your friends or family may regurgitate what they read on the internet. "The Bear" is still easily one of the best shows on tv, with season 3 only further cementing its place. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "The Bear" Season 3 Premiere

The third season of "The Bear" was just released. I got to it last night. My wife was working late, so I watched the first three episodes. Let’s discuss.

This show is wonderful. It is one of the better things that tv has to offer right now. I'm all in again, as I expected I would be. Today, I want to talk about the season three premiere. After my wife retired to her home office to take a meeting, I sent my kids to their rooms and I went to mine to watch the show. I wanted to fully focus on only the show. As I turned on the first episode, I was blown away at how good, cool and unique it was. The whole premiere is done like a flashback, or a montage. We get to see Carmy going through his entire cooking journey, which led him to where he is today. We get to see conversations he had with his family members. We get to see who he trained with when he started in the restaurant industry. We see him at his highest highs as a chef, and his lowest lows. We watched him work with Daniel Baluad, one of the world's most renowned chefs. We watch him work at a farm to table restaurant, which was literally built at a farm. We see him back with his asshole of a boss played by Joel McHale. We see the chef from the excellent episode of season two, "Spoons". We see her send him to Copenhagen. We see him leave for New York to start his journey. We get to watch flashbacks with his brother who passed. We see him miss the call about said brother passing away. All of this is in the premiere in a montage. And the montage is underscored by Trent Reznor. The music is at times both sweet and haunting. You get the sense of what he was going for with the score when we see what is happening scene to scene.

I was moved by a lot of this episode, but it was the farm to table stuff that really got me. I have always thought of that idea as hackey. It felt like true schtick to me. But watching the premiere of season 3 last night, I got a new perspective on why that way of cooking seems so important to some chefs. Getting to grow, then use your own ingredients, that has got to feel truly amazing when/if you become a chef. Carmy seemed at his most content while working there on the show. I really liked the way that was all filmed and acted and it turned me from a skeptic into a less cynical skeptic. Even the tough moments, the things that make this show sad from time to time, it was necessary to understand why Carmy is back home, and why he is so determined to run this restaurant and work together with Sydney. He wants something bigger and better, and he wants Sydney to have better things as a chef.

All in all, watching an episode with a runtime of about 40 minutes all through montage should not work. But, "The Bear" not only made it work, they made it work perfectly. You get a much better understanding of the main character in this show and why he is where he is as of now. I cannot recommend this show enough. I know a bunch of people are already watching, but if you are somehow not, remedy that right now and watch "The Bear". This show rules and is so unique. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Give "House of the Dragon" Some Time

"House of the Dragon" is two episodes into season 2 now. The first season was incredible, and my wife and I were both ready for this second season. So far, it has not disappointed us. The two episodes are a slow burn, but it is a wonderful slow burn. They are building towards a heavy duty war. You get that sense very early on. After the events that closed out season 1, a war was inevitable. This was coming.

The leadup to the fighting so far has been the most wonderful kind of tease. They are slowly building to what seems to be an epic battle. The things that have happened so far in season 2, including two primary-ish season 1 characters, spoiler alert, dying off in the last episode. That fight scene was awesome and tragic at the same time. It had a lot going for it at the time. I have grown to hate one of the guards now too. I didn't like him much in season 1, but after his exploits in the first two episodes, that dude can kick rocks for all I care. He is a coward and only looking out for himself. Most people on this show are out for themselves, so when I can grow to point out his exploits, that means this dude is a real piece of work. Matt Smith is even slimier than in season 1. He has some real issues and he cannot handle the fact that he may never be king. The two queens are clearly trying to keep their houses in order, but they have so many other things going on that it is nearly impossible for them to focus on one thing at a time. They have so much on their tables. The kids are getting much more involved in season 2. The king is a little prick. He is also so stupid. But, I found myself feeling bad for him at moments in the last episode. Rhaynera's kids are clearly working through the death of one of their brothers, and they are finding it very hard to move on. Daemon Targereyan was almost assassinated, but found refuge in a brothel. That dude is a bad, bad person, but he is also clearly gearing up to go to war, and he may be the best fighter on his side. The hand is out of a job and looking to move on, but he is going to need his daughter's help. She is too focused on hooking up with the punkass guard, so I really have no idea where they are going to go with his story. And, for a very bad guy, I felt awful for him at the conclusion of the last episode. I actually found myself rooting for him to beat up the king. And the dragons are creeping up here and there in the first two episodes. We've seen them flying a bit. They are coming out of their dungeons and looking to breathe some fire. They are mean and ready for war as well. I also saw some dragon eggs in a trailer for an upcoming episode, and if we get even more dragons, that would be a thing of beauty.

"House of the Dragon" took a long time off, but the work is showing in the series so far. I am so amped to see where it goes from here. And the battle that is incoming is going to be brutal, bloody and amazing to watch. Sunday's cannot come fast enough. I am itching to see more and more of this show. It is one of the best on tv right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Clipped"

I started to watch the hulu miniseries "Clipped" the other day. I have been looking forward to this since I listened to the podcast miniseries, "The Sterling Affairs", that it is based on. I followed along with the casting, the writers they hired and when it would be released. Then I went on vacation and forgot about it. That is until my cousin messaged me to ask if I had seen any of it yet. That jogged my memory and I fired it up the other day.

Now I truly cannot decide if I like it or not. This is a wild, widl story. For people who may not know, "Clipped" is centered around Donald Sterling, the former owner of the Clippers, and his relationship with his assistant V Stiviano. He said some horribly deplorable things about other races, Stiviano taped it all, and when she felt like she was being pushed out of his life, she released the tapes for all to hear. I have never listened to the tapes, but from what I have read about them, they are abhorrent. Sterling is a racist through and through. He also seems like a real crummy person to be around. He is an awful person who deserves all the hate he is rightfully getting right now. Ed O'Neil plays him in this show, and I have to give him credit because he is creepy as ever. Everytime he is onscreen portraying this monster my skin crawls. I cannot stand this person and O'Neil hammers that feeling home for me. Stiviano is played by Cleopatra Coleman, and she does a very good job of portraying someone that is just out to be famous. She doesn't seem to care how she gathers said fame, she just wants to be famous. Jacki Weaver plays Shelly Sterling, and she is delivering as she always does. The final main character of this story is Doc Rivers, played by Laurence Fishburne. He is, far and away, the best actor in this whole thing. He has totally embodied Rivers. He sounds, moves and reacts just like Rivers. It is uncanny.

So, with this main cast being a bunch of homerun hitters, and this story being juicy as hell, that should make for an easy 1-2 punch to make this whole show sing. But, it seems very different and odd at times while watching. I told my wife that I don't know if these people are really this shallow, or that was the direction the actors were given. At times the show seems very much like a melodramatic soap opera that "Talk Soup" would have made fun of in its heyday. Other times they try to be very serious, but it feels like they go over the top with it. When I was watching the second episode the other day it felt very much like a Spanish telenovela. I don't know if that is the vibe this show is going for, but that was the feeling I took away the other day. And the casting team did no favors to the actors they got to play the players. None of these actors resemble any former Clipper. During a basketball scene when they are playing the Warriors, the guy they got to play Steph Curry is the bottom of the bargain barrel version of Curry. But, with all these criticisms I may have, I find myself going back for more. It is like a trainwreck that I simply cannot look away from. I will laugh hysterically at something that I have to assume they were going for drama and not comedy. There are other times that I will exclaim, to no one in the room, "WHAT!!!!????!!!". I cringe consistently at some of the basketball stuff they do. There is a scene where they do the roll call song, and it made me squirm on my couch.

All in all, this show is inconsistent, and at times very dumb. But, I want more. I think because I was so interested and I devoured the podcast miniseries, I will finish this. But, I'd be wrong if I said it was actually good. It is a soap opera and that is how I will watch it going forward. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

An Ode to the Greatness of Will Forte

I listened to a podcast recently where they talked about the movie "Nebraska". I remember liking this movie. I enjoyed what I saw. During the episode they mentioned how good Will Forte is in the movie. I then remembered that they were correct. Forte really shines in this role. He plays the drama really well, and when needed, he is a comedic genius.

This got me thinking about his other performances and how great an actor he has always been. I became aware of Forte from "SNL". I instantly liked what I saw. He was absurd and silly. He did sketches that I hadn't seen before on the show. He was doing some wild stuff, especially for "SNL", and I was in from that point on. I decided a long time ago that I was going to be a Will Forte fan. I followed his work after "SNL" to one of my favorite shows ever, "Clone High". He voiced Abe Lincoln, and I found it absolutely hilarious. He was one of the main characters, and he did some excellent voice acting. I then watched "The Brothers Solomon". When I first watched it, I did not enjoy the movie. It was almost a little too absurd and bizarre. The writers seemed to take the jokes too far. But I watched it again, older, and I found myself enjoying it a bit more. The movie is wild, but the jokes hit a little better the older I got. Some of the stuff I didn't get landed with me this time. He was barely in the movie "Beerfest", but he was memorable. He did some more voice work, and a few more movies with friends, some of which I saw, others I skipped.

Then "MacGruber" came out.

I have loved this movie since the day I first saw it. It is absurdist humor at its absolute best, and Will Forte crushes as the lead character. This is such a perfect role for him. He can go as big as he wants, and fans like me will love every second of it. I have watched "MacGruber" a bunch since, and each time I find something else that makes me laugh even harder. "MacGruber" is a stone cold classic.

Forte then had an excellent run on "30 Rock". He was great in that show. We have the aforementioned "Nebraska", in which he proves his acting chops. He appeared on the "CBB" television show a few times, each appearance funnier than the last. He did some work on "Kroll Show", an underrated gem. He did a few things with The Lonely Island, all of which he is amazing in his small roles.

Then we got "Last Man on Earth".

This is one of my favorite shows of all time. I think it was funny as could be, but it also had a bunch of dramatic moments, where Forte crushes it. When he finds out his brother is still alive, Jason Sudekis. The things between the two of them are touching as hell. I buy that they were brothers. When Sudekis leaves, presumably to go die, I was in tears. And the way Forte and Kristin Schaal work off one another on the three seasons of that show is a thing of magic. "Last Man on Earth" is a gem as well.

I really enjoy his work in "A Futile and Stupid Gesture". He does some good work in "Good Boys" and "Booksmart". During the pandemic he did some solid work. Peacock did a "MacGruber" show. It was funny, but not as funny as the movie. He has a recurring role on "Bob's Burgers". He's in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story". He's done three episodes of "The Simpsons". He is endlessly memorable and quotable on "I Think You Should Leave". And now he has a new Netflix series called "Bodkin", which I will almost certainly watch very soon.

Will Forte is a true pro. He is endlessly reliable. He is hilarious and has proven he can do drama. Will Forte is awesome and I just wanted to give him some love today. Forte is great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "The Contestant"

Last night I finished the new Hulu documentary "The Contestant". I clocked this movie solely based on a picture. I was scrolling through Hulu one day and saw this picture of a gentleman sitting down with wild hair and a bushy goatee. It was at that moment that I thought, what is this, and I need to find out asap. I did a little research and found out it was a doc about the first "reality show". I watched one trailer and that was all I needed to watch. I started it the other day, but my son got home from school, and he was not interested. That is why it took me two days to finish.

I really liked what I saw. This is an eye opening doc. There are so many things in here that made me gasp and audibly say things to no one besides my dog. I could not believe what I was seeing. The movie is about a young actor in Japan, nicknamed Nasubi. That is the Japanese word for eggplant. He is called this because he has a very long face. He was bullied as a child because of this, but found out that if he made people laugh, he would not get picked on. After growing up and not enjoying the day to day office life, he decided to become an actor and comedian. He was amongst a group of other no known actors to participate in a new show. His ticket was picked and he was off to do a show, of which he had no idea what it was going to be. He is taken to a room, stripped of all of his clothes, has the essential things to survive, and is told that he can only leave the room when he earns 1,000,000 yen by mailing in postcards from popular magazines. This all takes place in the late 90's. So, Nasubi knows he is being filmed, but doesn't think it is ever going to see the light of day. He is also totally alone and the only way to get food, clothes and whatever else he may need, is to play these mail in postcard games from magazines.

The doc starts off goofy and funny, but it quickly turns dark, and kind of sad. You can see the struggles Nasubi is going through. You can see him starving. At one point, after he eats all of his rice, he is left to eat dog food. I was so sad for him at that point. Seeing him slowly lose his mind was hard to watch. He didn't deserve this, but he was there everyday, everything being filmed and watched and he kept plugging away at these postcards. The producers and creators of this show kept pushing. People kept tuning in, so they just kept it going. They moved him and gave him new tasks. He had to figure things out all over again. And he did. And he was eventually done with this, but it still felt like bullying, the way he was treated afterward. He became a caricature. I felt really bad for him because you could tell he was still really struggling with everyday life. He eventually used his newfound fame to help others. He did what he could for the horrific tsunamis and earthquakes in his hometown. He climbed Mt Everest to make money for another earthquake in Delphi. He did things to help others. Instead of trying to take his fame and become an actor or comedian known worldwide, he did things to make sure others were taken care of. Nasubi is a good dude who did not deserve to go through the horrific 15 months he did for content. I am so glad he came out of the other end a better person.

I recommend this doc wholeheartedly. It is a glimpse inside the awful world of "reality tv", and how it kind of got its start. And Nasubi is so much better than the people who used him for 15 months. "The Contestant" is a very good doc and you should watch it right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

I Did Not Grow Up Watching the Shows of My Generation

While on a walk this morning I was listening to the podcast "This Is Important". I enjoy listening to the "Workaholics" guys shoot the shit weekly. It is relaxing and fun for me. Today they brought up the cartoon "Talespin" and they totally sidetracked what they were talking about to talk about their memories of this classic kids cartoon from the 90's. I thought back and remembered seeing commercials for this show. I saw the toys in the store growing up. But, I do not remember watching it ever. I guess it just passed me by.

This got me thinking. My wife brings up old shows she watched while growing up and they usually go over my head. I am a day older than her, so it is not like we are from different generations. And when I get together with friends from childhood, the few I still see, they will bring up classic shows and it flies over my head then as well. I guess I didn't watch the shows that most people my age watched growing up. Besides "Talespin", my wife will bring up "Ren and Stimpy" a ton. I have only seen one full episode of "Ren and Stimpy". I thought it was gross as a kid, so I tuned out. My wife also loved "Pinky and the Brain", which was a sideshow involved with "Animaniacs". I know all the classic lines from "Pinky and the Brain", but I can't pull out the stuff my wife comes up with on a regular basis. I would float in and out on "Rugrats" constantly. I would watch it very closely for a season, then totally tune out. I've never seen a second of "Dexter's Laboratory" or "AAH! Real Monsters". I've only seen a handful of "Doug" and maybe an episode or two of "Rocko's Modern Life". "Johnny Bravo" is a complete mystery to me. As is "Gargoyles", which my wife adores. I know people are totally stoked on "X-Men 97" right now. I haven't even started it because I never watched the original "X-Men" cartoon. I did watch "Beavis and Butthead", as well as "Daria". But a show like "Recess" or "Batman; The Animated Series", never watched a second of them. I kind of wished I checked these out when I was younger.

I feel like I chose to watch stuff like "Sportscenter" or "American Gladiators" instead when I was younger and home on summer break. I have seen the entirety of "Good Times", which was a classic. But that was live action. I go in and out of "South Park", but can recite about 90 percent of "Seinfeld". I guess, growing up, my folks didn't really leave cartoons on tv. I know "Ghostbusters" had a cartoon, but I watched the movies. The same can be said for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". I craved sports and live action as a kid. I enjoy animation much more as an adult. Maybe I should go back and check some of this stuff out, but I don't know where to even start. And there is so much current stuff that I want to see as well.

I guess I am asking some people around my age who watched these things, other than my wife, what I should check out? What is worth using my free time to binge? I can only watch the same shows over and over again, so I want something classic to check out. Let me know what is best and I will have a follow up to what I picked and how much I liked it. Be nice in the comments. And give me those suggestions. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Fallout"

Recently my wife and I started to watch "Fallout" due to RD giving it some rave reviews. I didn't know much about the show, but I did hear Johnny Pemberton talk about it on a recent episode of the podcast "Doughboys". I have been a Johnny Pemberton fan ever since I first saw him on "Superstore". He was hilarious on that show, and that gave me the push to watch his standup and his other movie and tv appearances. I was an instant fan. Then, after listening to "Doughboys", RD and I were recording a podcast of our own, and he kept asking me if I had seen "Fallout", or if I was going to check it out. I mentioned the Johnny Pemberton stuff, and with the push from RD, that was all I needed to check it out. I told my wife I was going to start it, but she asked me to wait. She wanted to watch it as well. It was a wonderful surprise.

So, over the weekend, we started, and three episodes in, I'm all in. This is a good show. It is gory. It is violent. It is profane. It is bleak. It is hilarious. And it is doing some cool, interesting things for a newish tv show. I have never played the videogame that it is based on. I don't think RD has either. I know my wife hasn't either. But, I don't think you need to to watch this show. The characters look like what I have looked up on the internet from the game, but that is where it seems to end. This is a whole story outside the game from what I gather. This is new and unique to the show. And it works. I have been so excited to watch with each passing night. I'm doing a thing where I don't want to binge watch shows. That means one show a night. It makes for a much more fun experience watching a show. It reminds me of how I used to watch tv as a kid. It also helps build suspense. I am so ready to focus on the episode when we turn it on. I am fully locked in on what is happening on the screen. No phone, no Nintendo Switch. It is just me, my wife and "Fallout". I love it that way.

Outside Pemberton, who plays an army brat, the cast is pretty great. Ella Purnell is the lead. She is really awesome as a vault dweller. Her naivate is great to watch on screen. Kyle MacLachian plays her dad, and he has only been in the first episode so far, but it is clear there is more of him to come. Moises Arias plays her brother, and while he seems meek, his arc looks like it is going to take a cool turn. Leslie Uggams and Zach Cherry are on the vault board, and they are in over their heads. Aaron Moten plays Maximus, another Army brat, who is out doing his own thing in this wild post apocalyptic world.

And then we have Walton Goggins.

Walton Goggins may be the coolest person on Earth. He is so, so wonderful here as "The Ghoul". I have a whole piece coming up strictly dedicated to his acting career. That is for another day. But in "Fallout", Goggins continues to be so incredible. He makes a show instantly watchable when he is on screen. He is the absolute best.

Outside the acting, the scenery is rad. The world they created is dark and bleak and arid. It is a good look at a crazy possible outcome of a bomb. And even in the dark times the show has created, there is still humor peppered in and out of each episode. I find myself laughing a few times each episode.

I'm very glad this show is in my life now. I highly recommend people watch it if you have Prime. "Fallout" is very, very well made. Check it out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.