Ty Watches "Sly Lives"

I'm currently finishing the new Hulu documentary, "Sly Lives". Let’s discuss.

I am a Sly and the Family Stone fan. I was introduced to their music a long time ago by my dad. I'm sure at the time of him playing it for me I got nothing out of it. I bet I just figured that my dad was showing me "old" music he liked. But, as I got older, and more into music, I heard more and more artists I liked talking about their music or covering songs at shows. I was intrigued. I asked my dad about it and I'm sure he informed me that he had played his music for me in the past. But, since other artists I liked were now talking about it to me, I wanted more. I started to dive deeper and deeper. I knew "Everyday People", "Thankyoufalettinmebemiceelf" and "Dance to the Music". But as I searched more and more into their catalog, I found more stuff I liked. Songs like "Family Affair", "If You Want Me to Stay", "Hot Fun in the Summertime", and so on and so forth. I dug the music because it was funky and I could bop my head along to it. I never really paid full attention to the music until I got even older. I would then, and still do now, listen to the lyrics and realize that Sly Stone had something important to say. He used his talent to talk about what was going on in the world. I realized that he had this vision for the world and I agreed with his vision. It also helped that his band was made up of black and white people and boys and girls. He wanted input from everyone. Sly didn't see color, he saw music. I love that.

The documentary tells you about all of this and tells it great. They have some very influential and important people talking about his genius. Questlove directed the movie, and with this and his last doc, "Summer of Soul", I feel like he has cornered the market on docs about funk and soul music from the 60's and 70's. He knows the topic and knows it well and he puts that out there on full blast. I love it. He was able to secure interviews with former band members, D'Angelo, Andre 3000, Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan and Q-Tip, to name a few. To hear these heavy hitters talk about Sly Stone was amazing. Of course they talk about the music, but they also talk about so much more. I didn't realize how deep and connected people are to Sly Stone. I had no idea he was a producer and DJ before he was a renowned musician. I was floored when I realized he produced "Somebody to Love". I didn't know he came up in the church and later used that in his music. His family, when he was a child, was very important to his development as an artist. I didn't realize the drug issue stuff. I knew a bit about it, but didn't know how rough it truly was. The performance from Woodstock was eye opening. Questlove was able to get these videos of performances and interviews that were amazing for a fan like me to see for the first time.

I love this movie. If you know any little thing about Sly and the Family Stone, if you know one song, this movie is required viewing. I cannot recommend "Sly Lives" enough. It is instantly on my shortlist for best movies of 2025 already. "Sly Lives" is incredible. 

Ty

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

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We Need To Talk More About the Great "Brooklyn 99"

We like to watch tv in our bed as we fall asleep in my home. My wife and I don't let our kids do it yet, but I'm sure it will happen sometime in the near future. My wife and I switch after we finish whichever show we picked. It was my turn to pick recently and I chose "Brooklyn 99".

This is, what seems like, our hundredth time watching this show. We both like it and it is good to fall asleep to. It lulls me into a near sleep space and I can just drift off. But, I have noticed one thing since the rewatch started a week ago. I have started to stay awake a little longer than normal watching it. I want to see each episode again, and may I remind you, I've seen this series many, many times. I want to see if I missed something. I want to relive jokes. I want to see if some stuff comes together better than it did before.

What has really made me stay up longer, this is one of the best shows in the history of television, and I feel like it doesn't get the love it truly deserves.  It has its true fans. There is an online presence, that much is for sure. But when websites make their best of all time tv lists, or talk about the best tv from the 21st century, "Brooklyn 99" never seems to come up. You get the usual suspects, "Breaking Bad", "The Wire", "Lost" and "Parks and Rec", all of which are wonderful tv shows. But "Brooklyn 99" even gets passed up when they narrow the list to best comedies. I don't get it. This show was so well written. It is joke after joke after joke. I find myself cracking up constantly. The delivery is too perfect. And each actor knows how to perform as their characters. Andy Samberg gets to play himself, and he nails it. He is so funny and so witty. He has some of the best jokes on the show. Stephanie Beatriz gets to play someone totally different, and she crushes it. She is brash and harsh, but she also has a soft side. I love how tough she can be, and when she really leans into the joke, it is wonderful. Melissa Fumero shines as the dorky one in the precinct. She's a nerd and she knows it and owns it. She is too funny. Joe Lo Truglio is sweet and naive and he's great. I feel like this show let his best comedic ways shine. He gets to have fun and it shows on screen. Chelesa Peretti made the most of her time while she was there. She was rude and crude and had some of the best one liners. But the one that goes above and beyond, and made the show as awesome as it was, Andre Braugher. He is the straight man on the show and he is perfect. His delivery, his tone, the robotic jokes that happen nearly every episode, it is masterful. When Jake calls him dad for the first time, the way Braugher plays into it, it is one of the best comedic performances in television history.

Mike Schur has this way with comedic tv. He knows how to write it, he hires the best staff, he gives unknown writers their first real shot and he lets his staff do the brunt of the work. And it always comes out smelling like roses. From "The Office" to "Parks and Rec", "The Good Place" and his time at "SNL", the guy knows how to make comedy work on tv and he truly shines when he is the head writer and in charge in the room. But I have come away even more impressed with the work he and his staff did on "Brooklyn 99". I truly believe it is the best work he has done to this day. The show works, it is endlessly watchable and it is so damn funny. I wanted to give it a shout out because I feel like it deserves even more love and recognition. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Cunk on Life"

A week or so back I wrote about the character Philomena Cunk, played by Diane Morgan. I adore this character. I loved "Cunk on Earth". It is one of the funnier series I've watched on Netflix. I wanted more Cunk material, and Netflix recently released "Cunk on Life", a 70 minute long documentary that is very similar, if not the same, as "Cunk on Earth".

This time around it was one long extended episode masquerading as a movie. It started the same and had the same vibe to it. But, after 22 minutes, the documentary just kept going, and I loved it. This is one of the best short movies to come out in 2025. Like I said, it has all the elements of the show that I like, it's just an extended version. They still did chapters, but with each new chapter the movie kept going. Cunk was there asking her questions, as straightforward as possible, and the experts were trying to answer them to the best of their ability. And these questions were riotous. When she talks to the sex expert, and the faces she makes and the stuff she says about her ex, I was howling. When she is looking at paintings and talking about how much she dislikes them, and then asking a question to the expert, who we don't know is on screen until they're spoken to, genius. When she goes on and on calling DNA d and a, and the expert has to constantly correct her, that was a dynamite bit. And some of the scenes that she had actors come on and shoot that seemingly lasted forever, I'm thinking of Thomas Hubble and his wife being intimate, it was the best kind of squirming in my chair humor. All along though, and the thing I adore about Cunk, she kept a straight face. She never broke. She has to know that what she is saying ois outrageous, but she just plows ahead, and it is all the better for it.

I really loved this movie. My only true gripe is that I wanted it to be longer, but that isn't the British way when it comes to content. I feel like they just want to give you a tiny little taste, and then have you begging for more. And I like that. I don't always need my appetite to be sated by shows and movies. I can sit and think about all the hilarious stuff Philomena Cunk can do in the future. And Diane Morgan may very well be done with this character. Maybe this was the last we will see of Philomena. And if that's the case, what a way to go. I mean, she has cornered the market on cringe interviews. She has surpassed Ali G. She is better than anyone at "The Daily Show", which is a show I also adore. She does this better than anyone in the game. I do hope this doesn't pigeonhole her, but there are much worse outcomes for someone who works in television and movies.

"Cunk on Life" is brilliant and a must watch for fans of her work. I was late to Morgan's stuff as Cunk, but I'm glad I found it and was told by friends and family to watch. Watch this movie, but also watch her other work. Morgan is one of the better minds working in comedy tv and movies right now, and "Cunk on Earth" and "Cunk on Life" more than prove that. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Severance"

I fully understand that I'm late to all of this, but "Severance" is one hell of a tv show. I just started to watch the first season this week, and I have already seen all of season 1. I have watched half of the first episode of season 2, and I'm all in.

"Severance" isn't the freshest idea in the sci-fi world, but damned if it isn't one of the best written and acted shows. I find myself endlessly floored at the performances that the actors give. This is a whole new world for Adam Scott and he is absolutely nailing it. I always find it fascinating when an actor who is so entrenched in one genre, I'd say comedy for Scott, does something totally different. It shouldn't be a surprise, Adam Scott is a professional actor. But, going from a very joke heavy show like "Parks and Rec", to doing hard sci-fi like "Severance", this is an accomplishment from him. He does such a wonderful job. Britt Lower matches him punch for punch. She is rebellious and knows this whole world that this show has created is not good. She does a fantastic job, and the big twist with her at the end of season 1 makes her role that much more impressive. John Tutturo is in this show and he shows us all why he is one of the better actors working right now. The two versions of himself in the show couldn't be more different, but I find myself rooting for each one. There are scenes with him and Christopher Walken, another powerhouse performance, that are sweet and heartbreaking in one shot. The work the two of them do together is beautifully done, and Tutturo steals the show for me. Zach Cherry is the "comic relief", but he also does some heavy stuff here. I have always liked Cherry's work, but he is on another level in "Severance". I cannot wait to see what his character does in season 2. Outside the four main actors, Trammel Tillman is so menacing and nice and singularly focused on the task at hand. He has quickly become my favorite character in the show. Jen Tullock, as Scott's sister, and Michael Chernus, as Scott's brother in law, bring a realness and a grounding to this show that is a nice break. And Patricia Arquette is on a whole other level here. I realized watching this show that I had not seen much of her work. She is magnetic and outstanding in this show.

The writing takes this show to a different level as well. For a sci-fi series, the things that happen are easy enough to follow. The show isn't weird just for the sake of being weird. From what I've seen to this point, whenever something odd happens, it has a nice payoff. I like that questions get answered. When the actors deliver the written lines, I believe what they're saying is coming from their character's perspective. This show is so good on every single level. Even the way it is shot, it is cool to look at on my screen. Oh, and the opening credits sequence to season 1 is one of the coolest openings in tv history. I usually skip through the intro of a show, but not here. The music and the animation is so rad.

Look, "Severance" is a critically acclaimed show. It has been nominated I assume. I'm not telling you all anything new if you already watch the show. But if you don't, and you may be on the fence, watch it. It is so well done and so interesting and cool. 

Ty

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

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Thoughts on One More Season of "The Righteous Gemstones"

It was just announced that the fourth season of "The Righteous Gemstones" would be its last. This makes me happy and sad. Let’s discuss.

I'm happy because we get another season of this great show. "The Righteous Gemstones" is one of the funniest shows currently on tv. It always amazes me how funny and excellent the show can be with each new episode and each new season. I don't know why I would ever doubt it either. When David Gordon and Danny McBride work together, especially on an HBO show, they seem to hit every single time. "Eastbound and Down" is a true classic. That show will stand the test of time. I would not doubt my son watching it when he's older. "Vice Principals" is criminally underrated. This is a dark comedy that succeeds at every level. I wish more people knew of this show. It is amazing. And now, with "The Righteous Gemstones" they've found the perfect vehicle to skewer these mega churches and their tv shows and obnoxiously big churches. McBride is allowed to be his true self in these shows and he goes for it. It is a thing of beauty to watch. McBride is a gifted comedic actor, and when he can go a bit dark, man is it fun.

These two have also created some excellent side characters. Stevie is a gem. I mean, that actor shined in this role and I loved watching him get weirder and weirder. Walton Goggins as McBride's foil in "Vice Principals" is a work of art. He is so foul and mean and hilarious. This was my first experience seeing Goggins act and I became an instant fan. And now we have the Gemstone family and Keif. These guys know how to write these characters and how to make them shine. Judy Gemstone is one of my all time favorite tv characters. I adore BJ in this show. John Goodman truly shines as the father of the family. I mean, it is damn near perfect. Seeing these two do their thing is such a fun time for me. I have also thoroughly enjoyed every season of the three shows they've created for HBO. They are shows I go back to quite frequently, and I'm sure that will continue to be the case for years to come.

The news that they've decided to stop making more after this season, that bums me out. This is my only quibble with Green and McBride creations. They end shows after four or five seasons. They get in and get out. I get it, they don't want to wear out their welcome. But, even a show like the American version of "The Office" gave us nine seasons. "Brooklyn 99" gave us seven. "30 Rock" was also seven, I believe. These Green and McBride shows seem to never go any further than four seasons. I want to see more and more of the Gemstone family and all their issues. I'd love to have seen what Goggins and McBride did once they got the principal job. I thought the idea of Kenny Powers being on a tv sports talk show was perfect. They can do more and more with these characters, but maybe they get sick and tired after four full seasons of writing. I'm sure it can be frustrating for them because I assume they're perfectionists. And I just want to watch more and more because I tend to allow myself to get attached to these fictional people. I understand that this is the way of tv in this era. I'm sure creators want to get in and out and go to the next project. But, I'd like to get to know everyone a little better. I miss when shows would go eight or nine seasons. I know it can get stale, but sometimes shows can really crush it in the later years.

With all this being said, at least we get one more season of "The Righteous Gemstones", and I'm happy as can be for that. That show is great and I'm interested to see how it all ends up. 

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

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Ty Watches "Cunk on Earth"

Over the past week I watched the show "Cunk on Earth". I loved it. It was that dry British humor that I really enjoy when done right. Let’s discuss.

I like the whole idea of making a serious talk show, then flipping it on its head. This is akin to a prank show. Philomena Cunk is there to ask some of the dumbest questions one could hear on subjects like the renaissance or religion or social media to experts. She does all of this with a very straight face too. That makes it even funnier. But I'm not here to talk about the show today. As I said, I think the show is great and everyone should watch it. If it didn't have swear words I'd recommend they show it in schools. It's very informative. What I want to talk about today is the character of Philomena Cunk.

The actor that portrays Cunk is named Diane Morgan. I don't know of anything else she has ever done. This character is the first thing I've seen her perform in. But this is one of the most memorable and funny characters I've ever seen on tv. Philomena Cunk wants to be an expert in certain fields. She has all the questions one could want the answer to, if one was a child. She goes out there and asks some of the dumbest questions I've ever heard, but the way she phrases them, and how straight of a face she can keep, it is a true work of art. She is stoned faced the entire time. She never, ever breaks character. There was a moment in an episode I watched yesterday where she made the expert and the crew laugh, but the whole time she kept asking why everyone was laughing and this was a serious thing. She kept that going for a full minute before they went to the next shot. She kept it going so much that I felt that the expert felt bad for laughing. And this is what she does in every episode. She was talking with a gentleman that was playing music out of a phonograph, and the questions that followed were uproarious. She asked a line of questions that were all about sending a message to the singer of the song coming out of the phonograph. The gentleman seemed so frustrated and confused. But Cunk kept at it. She wouldn't let up. It was great. I like when she asked about Lincoln continuing to be president after he was shot at Forbes Theater. The expert there seemed annoyed, but she never let up. Stuff like that cracks me up. Another thing she did in every episode was make some kind of joke when they were doing shots of her "thinking". She would look at her phone from time to time, only to rush to put it away when she realized the camera was on her. She would read a book and complain about how boring it is. She would make up an entire scenario and act it all out, which was fantastic to see. But I think the thing that made me like this character so much was how hard Morgan commits. She never lets up. She seems destined to have this be what she's remembered for in her career. I don't think she cares about being pigeonholed. I believe she has created something unique and damn near perfect.

If you're contemplating watching the show, do it, simply for Morgan's transformation into Philomena Cunk. It is a sight to behold. 

Ty

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

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Bob Uecker Made My World a Better Place

Bob Uecker, the iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and one of America’s most cherished entertainers, passed away today at the age of 90. Affectionately known as “Mr. Baseball,” Uecker was far more than a sports figure—he was a cultural icon whose humor, wit, and charm transcended the game. 

We already knew all of that.

Outside of Bob’s less than mediocre professional baseball career, his longtime duties as the voice of the Brewers, and his movie/television career, Mr. Baseball was someone who impacted my life in a very positive way. I already miss him dearly.

Bob Uecker has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. His Miller Light ads in the early 1980s were everywhere, and while I was far too young to drink the product, Bob made me laugh. “I must be in the front row” is something I always say when I go to sporting events. His role as Harry Doyle in “Major League” and its sequel delighted me as a kid, and now my own son quotes him. My son says “juuust a bit outside” on any bad pitch. After a particularly bad Reds outing this season, I said to my wife “two goddamn hits, hell no one’s listening”. I did not really watch Mr. Belvedere, but I had a close childhood friend reach out today and say that Bob Uecker on that show is the dad he always wanted. Later in life I discovered Bob’s legendary visits on Johnny Carson, and I love to tell the story of Uecker and Bob Gibson holding hands in the Cardinals team photo. Bob was a Gen X/Millennial comic legend.

I was lucky enough to meet Bob Uecker one time. Back in 2005 I was working in Milwaukee. I was at an event where Bob was the guest speaker. He took time to talk to each person and he was as funny as he always was. When I had my time with him I mentioned that I was from St. Louis. He asked my age and I told him I was young enough to not be around for his playing days but old enough to appreciate his after baseball work. He then said to me that I looked old enough to drink Miller Light but young enough to strike him out. I laughed and said thanks for the compliment. Immediately after my remark, Bob turned around and said it was no compliment to me but the truth of his abysmal hitting. His comic timing was perfect, and Bob Uecker gave me a memory for a lifetime.

I loved Bob Uecker. I already miss him. The world was a much better place with Mr. Baseball bringing us joy. Bob’s last call ever, a Brewer’s playoff loss to the Mets, the legend said at the end of the game “I’m telling you. That one (pause) had some sting on it”. Bob Uecker always knew what to say.

Thank you for a life well lived, thank you for the memories, and thank you for decades of entertaining this boy from St. Louis, but today (pause) has some sting on it.

RD

RD is the creator and Head Editor of SeedSing. He also does a bunch of podcasts. Find them here.

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Squid Game Once Again Makes Us Care for Doomed Characters

I'm four episodes into season 2 of "Squid Game" at the moment. So far I'm enjoying what I'm seeing. Let’s discuss.

This show is good, it knows what it is and everyone has completely bought in. I have liked the direction of this season as well. I didn't know how they'd do it, but what I've seen in four episodes has kept my attention as well as season 1. But there's one thing that has really stuck out to me watching this new season. And I found myself feeling the same way when I saw the first season.

What "Squid Game" does so well, I'd go so far as to say better than almost any other show, they make me, the viewer, care about characters that I am certain will not make it to the next season. For people that may not know, there's only one winner in "Squid Game". Everyone else is "eliminated", or murdered. It's tough for those people. This is a fictional show too, for anyone that may still be confused. But what the writers do so well in the show is give the main and side characters reasons to root for them. Even the people I may not like, they have some kind of redeeming quality or moment that has me wanting them to make it. In season 1 there was the "couple" that constantly yelled at one another. At first I found them to be annoying and rude. I thought they belonged in the Squid Game arena. But then the woman showed her good side and I found myself rooting for her. And when she, spoiler alert for season 1, grabbed her ex and held him while they both fell to their death, I thought she had a great sendoff. The same can be said for some of the other contestants when they played the marble game. That was a tough episode to watch, and some fan favorites were killed off, but I still was hoping that somehow, some way, they would miraculously make it out. And when they got to the final three in season 1, I didn't really know who I wanted to win. I had an idea who was going to win, but I still found myself rooting for the others. But none of them made it except for one.

I was going into this season trying to figure out if the writers could pull this off once again, and I'm today to say that they've achieved that goal once again. After watching an episode last night, that ends on a cliffhanger, I found myself saying to my wife, man I hope so and so makes it out. And then I'd say, oh this person is bad, but I am waiting for their redemptive moment when I will unexpectedly stand up and cheer. After watching season 1, you know the outcome, you know how brutal it's going to be, you know 99.9 percent of the contestants are not going to make it. But, I still find myself getting involved. I want to know their background. I want to know what led them to this game. I want to see what they plan on doing with the money if they make it. But in the reality of the world the show has created, only one can win and the rest will be "terminated".

It really impresses me when a group of writers are so good at their jobs that they make me have visceral feelings for fictional characters. I tip my hat to those people and I am excited to see where the show goes from here, and what ends up happening to each character episode to episode. 

Ty

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

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Thoughts on the "Abbott Elementary" "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Crossover

My wife and I just got caught up on the newest episodes of "Abbott Elementary". That means we saw the crossover episode they did with "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". Let’s discuss.

I adore both of these shows, but each for very different reasons. "Abbott Elementary" is wholesome and sweet and also happens to be incredibly funny. The show is so well written and well acted and it's one of the best on all of tv. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is also hilarious, but it's also dark. I like that show. They take chances and they're allowed to take chances because of the network they're on. FX lets these shows do their thing, and "IASIP" is dark and bleak and laugh out loud funny. So, when this crossover was announced, I was a little skeptical. I didn't know how they would pull it all off. I assumed it was going to be on ABC because there's no way they could do this on FX. "Abbot Elementary" is too sweet of a show to be on FX. So, with that being confirmed, I didn't know how they'd pull off the usual tone of each of the main characters from "Always Sunny".

Well, after watching the episode, they nailed it. I was cracking up the entire time and I want them to do more and more of these episodes. The common thread in the show is that both take place in Philadelphia. But pretty much everything else is opposite of each other. As the episode started, the teachers from Abbot talked about the volunteers coming in to help out. This was a simple way to introduce the "Always Sunny" characters. When they showed up it was on from there. Charlie had a storyline where Melissa, Jacob and Barbara teach him to read. It was funny and nice. When Charlie was asked what he liked he mentioned beer, milksteak and bird law. Those are some classics from him. We also got to see Barbara teach like the pro she has shown us she can be. Jacob was the first to notice this problem. And Melissa, not only did she help with the reading, but she also stated that she had been to Paddy's Pub in the past, and I fully believe her character would have gone there before. Dee ended up working with Janine as her teacher's assistant. At first she loves the help and loves Dee, but then Dee meets Gregory. This changes their whole dynamic. Dee is constantly hitting on Gregory, and we see a little jealousy coming from Janine. I loved seeing all this play out. It was great. Frank goes to work with Mr Johnson and Gregory in the school garden. The back and forth between Mr Johnson and Frank is amazing. They're clearly at odds with one another from the jump. I heard from my mom, and then read online, that they cut a storyline where Frank and Mr Johnson had dated the same woman in the past. That would've been epic. Dennis made sure he was off camera the whole time, which he explains by saying he knows all about filming. He has that one line, but nothing else is needed from him. All of us that watch "Always Sunny" know exactly what he's talking about. And Mac is doing all he can with Ava so they can get their time card filled out for their community service. He is willing to do anything and everything to get this job done so he can move on to his next venture that he's interested in. It's pretty perfect. 

I think what made this work so well is they let the "Always Sunny" gang be themselves. They didn't curse or go way overboard like they do on FX, but they were still criminals and they still had bad intentions from time to time. They didn't muzzle them or make them out to be more than what they created on their own show. And that was probably the only way to make this work. It's clear that the "Abbott" crew knows and probably watches "Always Sunny". They knew how to write these characters on their show and it came out pretty wonderfully.

If you watch either of these shows I definitely recommend checking out the crossover episode. Like I said, I was on the fence but I love how it turned out. I think you'll feel the same way if you tune in. This was good stuff. It gives me hope for big network TV. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma"

During the holiday break my family, all of my family that is, went to stay at a nice cabin in a local town to celebrate. During the down times I'd sit and watch tv with my dad. One show we came across was "Enigma" on Netflix. This is the three part documentary series about Aaron Rodgers. It tells the story of his time in the NFL, his injuries, recovery and how he spends his free time.

I've made no bones about my feelings for Rodgers. I despise him. I loathed him when he was the QB for the Packers, was bummed when they drafted him and the whole deal with him now makes me sick to my stomach. This show does the job of showing that side of him, but they glorify him. From moment one I was angry watching this. There's a ton to make you gruffled and angry, but his whole attitude and demeanor is enough to make people dislike him. The way he speaks, how he talks about himself and the people around him is gross. He is always calling himself a "perfectionist". He calls football a "craft". When he goes on his ayahuasca retreat, more on that in a minute, it is the most cliche nonsense you will ever hear in your life.

Now, full disclosure, I only watched one and a half episodes. I had to call it midway through the second one because it was making me visibly angry to my family. I went and played pickleball to wash the taste of this terrible show out of my mouth. But, what I did see, what I gathered from almost two hours of tv, Aaron Rodgers is a prick. I think my dad said it best when he said, "Aaron Rodgers is going to die an angry, sad and lonely person". That is the best way to put it. When he talks on this show it is all about him and all about his wants and needs. He backtalks trainers. He explains away why he can't have any romantic partners. He makes mentions to his family in the past tense. He "thanks" them for treating him like he was soft when he was a kid. When he has people over to watch games with him, we never see them and it is never any of his teammates or people he works alongside with. During the ayahuasca retreat, he is there solo. No one wants to come with him. When they're in a big drum circle, he seems like he is lonely. When they go into the tent to sweat out their toxins, explaining that they're using nature's medicine, which is nonsense, I go run outside to sweat out a cold, he doesn't interact with anyone outside of the tent. He doesn't let people in because he seems to know that he will push them away. There was a scene where he went to a doctor and he basically ran the show. Everyone around was telling him that he wasn't going to play that year, but he kept insisting. His insistence looked like such a heavy weight that one of the people he was with just sighed and kind of gave in. They didn't want to fight anymore. That is how some people deal with toddlers, but Rodgers is a fully grown adult. I found him to be miserable and boring. When he and RFK went on a hike together and talked politics it was one of the dumbest conversations to ever be recorded. RFK and Aaron Rodgers are two of the dumbest, wannabe smart guys around. When that moment happened, that was a telling sign to me that I wouldn't be finishing this show. I found it abhorrent and thought it was glorifying this mean and gross person.

I don't know what Rodgers goal was with this show because all it did was make me angry. My dad said it best and I couldn't agree more with his sentiment. Rodgers is a miserable person who will have no one to yell at or tell what to do when he is out of the limelight. I do not recommend this show. Not at all. 

Ty

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

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2024 Year in Review: Best Television Shows

Welcome to day three of my best of 2024 lists. Today I come to you with my top five tv shows of 2024. TV is in a good spot where we sit right now. There’s tons of content. Too much of you ask me. But, a good amount of tv shows out there are critically acclaimed and fun to watch. A few shows I watch but didn’t make my list are, the final season of “What We Do in the Shadows” and season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building”. I adore both these shows, but for varying reasons, they didn’t make my list. Oh also don’t watch a ton of the super critical darling shows. I’ve never seen “Succession”. I have zero interest in “Industry”. Those shows aren’t for me. But, I do have a top five for 2024, and I’m very much in on all five of these shows.

Coming in at number 5 I have “KAOS”. I read all the reviews, I saw that critics kind of panned the show, but I was still intrigued. I am a fan of shows that take mythological people and put them in real life situations. Those shows speak to me. And “KAOS” excelled in this for me. Jeff Goldblum is magnetic as Zeus. I couldn’t get enough of him. But it was everyone around him really doing a good job. The writers of this show took on these Greek characters and really made an interesting eight episode arc for all of them. I don’t usually binge stuff, but I finished this show in three days. An episode would end and I wanted more. I’m bummed it got cancelled. They could’ve taken this concept in many other direction. Go seek out this show. It’s very well made.

At number 4 I have season 3 of “The Bear”. “The Bear” continues to be one of the best written and best acted shows on all of tv. It’s endlessly rewatchable. I really enjoyed the whole arc of this season. Seeing them open the restaurant and all the stress that comes from that was great. This season was funnier than the first two. John Cena showing up had me cracking up. Ayo Edibiri is continuing to shine and getting more work, which is much deserved. Jeremy Allen White is rightfully award nominated again. I could say the same with Ebon Moss Bacharach. But Abby Elliot truly shined this season. She did some amazing work. I know some people were down on this season, I was not. I will continue to watch and I’m sure it will continue to be great.

At number 3 I have “Fallout”. I knew nothing of this show when it was first on Amazon. It wasn’t until RD told me to check it out that it popped on my radar. I also didn’t know until a few episodes in that it was based on a video game. None of that mattered when I started to watch. This show is really good. It’s bleak and depressing, but in the correct ways. It’s not very uplifting, but when it is, it hits. Ella Purnell is exceptional as the lead. Walton Goggins plays The Ghoul, who is now one of my all time favorite characters. Kyle McLachlan and Johnny Pemberton excel. Everyone is wonderful. I also like the world that the show has used from the game. It feels like a likely outcome if this happened to the world. And the finale has me super hyped for season 2. I’m glad RD told me about this show because I don’t think I would have watched otherwise. This show is awesome.

At number 2 I have “The Penguin”. This is another one that RD asked about and I started watching after his take. I trust RD’s recommendations. “The Penguin” is brutal. There’s no respite. There may be minor moments here and there that take a small break, but this show is bleak. Collin Ferrell is Oz. He is unrecognizable. His accent is spot on. He walks like an actual penguin. I’m very impressed with his performance here. Cristin Milioti is even better. She is ruthless, but I’m on her side. I get why she’s doing what she’s doing. And she is absolutely dynamic here. This show is a masterclass from these two actors. And if you have any issues with superhero or MCU/DCU fatigue, this is not a show that’s superhero focused. This is a gritty crime drama. It’s a mafia story, and a well done mafia story. It’s disturbing and upsetting, but it’s also damn good.

Finally, at number 1 I have the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. I mean, what else would I pick? “Curb” may be the greatest comedy tv show ever, and they went out on top. Larry David heard all the criticism for the “Seinfeld” finale, and he redid it and redid it better. This season was leading up to a finale that was going to end up with David in jail, and it did, but he did so much more with it on the way there. The hair dye episode is a classic. The fame that Maria Sofia has gained was tremendous. The Aunty Ray stuff made me smile. The episode with the guy from “District 9” and “Chappie” should be studied by do day writers looking to make cringe comedy. Anytime David interacted with Ted Danson or Susie, it was as funny as ever. “Curb” is an achievement in comedy writing and I’m going to sorely miss it. But this final season was perfect and will go down as one of the best final tv seasons of all time. It’s a gem.

That’s it for 2024 tv. Come back tomorrow for my top five sports moments of the year.

Ty

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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