The "Turning Sharply Colder" Edition
Dear Readers,
This just in: e-commerce businesses designed to work only on the web and in mobile work really well. Brick & Mortar businesses that started with physical stores and have tried and tried to have a web business stink. Saks.com, I’m looking at you and your too many emails but not enough information; your strange assortment of boxes that arrive with a Saks label or sometimes some other vendor or sometimes some other brown box that looks like it’s hiding a sex toy in “plain brown wrapping.” I delighted in your completely different (I didn’t order them) items that were delivered quickly. I wondered if I could return them for the price marked instead of the cheaper thing I had actually bought but, silly me, I spent 40 minutes on the phone with customer service to straighten it out. And the dresses and shoes I ordered a month ago, for the wedding last weekend? I was delighted to find them delivered upon my return. From the wedding. They fit and looked great! And they fit and looked great back in the box to Somewheresville, USA for return and refund. Sheesh.
In other news: A short long weekend media guide:
In honor of the Oscar noms: let’s start with CODA (Apple TV+). Oscar loves Boston! And I love a coming of age/imperfect family/first love story. This is a tight, crisp take on the overcoming-something-specific genre (CODA = Children Of Deaf Adults) that everyone can relate to. Emilia Jones is the star — what’s more impressive, English actor with a specific American accent, or learning ASL and to sing for the role? Marlee Matlin continues to astound as a gifted actor, surrounded by a fabulous cast, hearing and not. I think it really might win Best Picture! Go Sundance!
The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window — loved it! I like neither crime nor thriller as a genre per se, but I do like parody/satire, the plot of which is a murder mystery. Kristen Bell is the quintessential actress for this traditional-ish feeling TV show but which somehow would never get made on Network TV or even Cable. Ignore the uneven tone between broad laughs and dead serious twists. Instead, concentrate on the updated Desperate Housewives suburban wink and all of the emotional appeal. Look for very. funny little props and things every so often, in the frame. (Netflix)
Speaking of traditional TV — if you can get past the commercials (on Hulu, this is an ABC show—remember “networks”?), most definitely watch Abbott Elementary. Quinta Brunson who created it and stars, is both hi-larious and heartfelt. She makes the cast around her even funnier and more heartfelt. You are confronted by but not bludgeoned by the realities of class, race, and friendships/workplace there-in. I loll’ed. So good. Like really so good.
“Somebody, Somewhere” (HBOMax) is a Duplass-ian, mid-Western coming of middle-age delight. I just searched it to see who the genius creator(s) and star(s) are and now this article pretty much says it all. Kansas, sisters, gay choir practice. I’m in!
Ben Stiller’s Severance — Episode 1: Intriguing! Loving Patricia Arquette, John Turturro—I have missed you! Plus other stellar cast and Ben’s droll direction of Adam Scott. (Apple TV+). Gives a new meaning to work/life balance. I’ll leave it at that.
With all that watching, hopefully you have some time to peruse this robust, diverse curation of the week’s news. Politics, Pop Culture and everything in between— the essential list of the the week’s most important content about women.
If you subscribe, every Sunday morning The LZ Sunday Paper will show up in your inbox.
Also, you can follow me for some fun and / or important things in between Sundays, mostly on (click here:) Instagram.
If you have a story you think I may have missed, email me at (click here:) LZSundayPaper@gmail.com.
And if you’d like to tell a friend about the Paper, please do:
Happy President’s Day weekend. I wish it weren’t so, Martha Washington. Onwards.
Lauren Z.
The Pic(k) of the Week:
The One-Woman Glories Of Monobob, The Olympics’ Newest Sport via The New Yorker
HEALTH AND WELLNESS:
The Texas Abortion Ban Is Having Its Intended Effect via The Cut
Poorly Delsigned PPE A Global Problem For Women Health Workers via JAMA
The Case Of The Creepy Algorithim That ‘Predicted’ Teen Pregnancy via Wired
Black Women Can Be Diagnosed With ADHD, Too via The Cut
Moms Are Finally Airing Out Their Anger, But Experts Say It’s Not Enough via Today
THE ARTS & POP CULTURE:
Hollywood Discovers The Middle-Aged Woman via The Atlantic
Female Directors Of Color Are Still Under-Represented In Film via The Los Angeles Times
’The Worst Woman In The World’ Has One Of The Best Movie Heroines In Ages via The Los Angeles Times
Rebecca Carroll Is Still ‘Surviving The White Gaze’ via Shondaland
Laurie Simmons Would Love To Live In A New York Department Store via Curbed
SPORTS & ADVENTURE:
Hope To Never See A Figure Skating Event Like That Again Slate
British Officer Breaks Barrier With Solo Trip To The South Pole via The New York Times
OBITUARY:
Sigal Barsade, 56, Dies; Argued That It’s OK To Show Emotions At Work via The New York Times
JUST PLAIN WOW!:
‘I’m Really Just High On LIfe and Beauty:’ The Woman Who Can See 100 Million Colors via The Guardian
AND WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT…?:
After 600 Years, Swiss City At Last Has A Woman On Night Watch via The New York Times
