Your dissection of Tina Fey’s ‘least funny’ moment is cultural criticism at its finest: equal parts forensic and empathetic. You nail why that joke’s failure still matters—not as cancellation fodder, but as proof that even our sharpest satirists can’t outrun time’s revisions. A masterclass in analyzing comedy’s tightrope between edge and ethics.
My comfort reads are Irish fiction, particularly Maeve Binchy, something I can sink into for a week and now that at the end everything resolves in a real-world way.
My comfort watch is Grace and Frankie (I’ve watched it twice); I love everything - the writing, the acting, the visually beautiful location and even the music that plays throughout the show.
I’ve taken to watching ‘The Incredible Dr. Pol’. It’s about a rural clinic & all the animals that are cared for by this seasoned veterinarian & his team.
I have yet to watch All Creatures Great and Small, but I’m reading the book right now and highly recommend it. Short, light, happy chapters. There’s always time for at least one before bed to make me laugh and calm me down.
How refreshing to hear a celebrity pumping up regular old goodness. And to have Tina Fey’s fingerprints on your purse. Put that puppy behind glass, stat!
I love Pat Battle & Produce Pete! I was a devout NBC 4 watcher for years when I used to have a tv in my room. They are the best! (Also, love Tina Fey, of course!)
This is lovely in general but the way that you just casually dropped in that you were having an actual conversation with Paul Rudd (and his wife) made me literally laugh out loud. I could never, as someone who has loved him since Clueless!
I feel like the local news tends to stress me out, although maybe I need to be looking specifically for the local weekend news. I just watched the "Secrets of the Octopus" show with one of my kids, and it was very calming and, coincidentally, narrated by Paul Rudd.
This is definitely a favorite topic everywhere right now. My one
book for fun and comfort is " Let's Pretend This Never Happened," humorous personal essays, by Jenny Lawson. My show is "Doc Martin." I have two movies: " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and " The Full Monty." Thank you
When DVDs were a thing I only bought 3 for fun at home: D.R.S, " Uncle Buck," and What About Bob?" Introduced my great- niece when she was 7. Her fave t.v.show at the time was "Seinfeld."
My comfort book is Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent. Whenever the world feels out of control, like now, I reread it. I like to know that grace is still alive in this world.
The feeling at intermission of a really good play is one of my happy places: everybody buzzing, alive with art, anticipating act two. I love it SO much.
Yes!! I don’t go to shows often but I happen to be going to one in NY tomorrow - will pay attention to that feeling. It’s always positive and creative and joyful!
My real-life happy place was the town I went to college in and then lived in for the 3 years after I graduated. It's where I had my first apartment where I lived alone. My first job. So many fond memories of becoming myself there. I miss it every day (even though it had brutal winters!)
My comfort watch is Gilmore Girls mainly, but Friends when I am particularly in the mood for a laugh.
My comfort read is probably Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I never read books more than once, except for that book. It's special.
Cassie, I love that your college town is your real-life happy place! I hope you get back to visit occasionally! Gilmore Girls and Friends are two all-time comfort shows, for sure!
Your dissection of Tina Fey’s ‘least funny’ moment is cultural criticism at its finest: equal parts forensic and empathetic. You nail why that joke’s failure still matters—not as cancellation fodder, but as proof that even our sharpest satirists can’t outrun time’s revisions. A masterclass in analyzing comedy’s tightrope between edge and ethics.
🙏
Tina's local news segment sounds like a dream! Books and a guide to which produce is in season sounds like my kind of show.
Crossing to Safety sounds wonderful!! 😍 Adding it to my TBR. Thank you, Amelia!
My comfort reads are Irish fiction, particularly Maeve Binchy, something I can sink into for a week and now that at the end everything resolves in a real-world way.
My comfort watch is Grace and Frankie (I’ve watched it twice); I love everything - the writing, the acting, the visually beautiful location and even the music that plays throughout the show.
PS a friend told me I’m a Grace and that’s what made me first watch it. He was right 🥰 I think you may be a Grace too!
now I MUST watch it! can’t wait to see if I’m a “Grace!”
Oh gosh, I just saw I wrote now instead of know. My enneagram 1 self won’t let me leave it alone 🙈🫢
I feel the exact same way about comfort reads! And I’ve never watched Grace and Frankie, and will add it to my list - thank you for the rec!
I’ve taken to watching ‘The Incredible Dr. Pol’. It’s about a rural clinic & all the animals that are cared for by this seasoned veterinarian & his team.
It delights me.
There's something about rural shows featuring animals that's very calming!
I have yet to watch All Creatures Great and Small, but I’m reading the book right now and highly recommend it. Short, light, happy chapters. There’s always time for at least one before bed to make me laugh and calm me down.
Yes! The book is lovely too!
How refreshing to hear a celebrity pumping up regular old goodness. And to have Tina Fey’s fingerprints on your purse. Put that puppy behind glass, stat!
Omg, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I should frame that purse with Tina Fey’s fingerprints on it! 🤣
I love Pat Battle & Produce Pete! I was a devout NBC 4 watcher for years when I used to have a tv in my room. They are the best! (Also, love Tina Fey, of course!)
I am watching right now! Produce Pete did spring flowers today! ❤️🪻🌷
This is lovely in general but the way that you just casually dropped in that you were having an actual conversation with Paul Rudd (and his wife) made me literally laugh out loud. I could never, as someone who has loved him since Clueless!
I had to work very hard to control my mouth and face 🤣🤣
Thank you Emma!
I feel like the local news tends to stress me out, although maybe I need to be looking specifically for the local weekend news. I just watched the "Secrets of the Octopus" show with one of my kids, and it was very calming and, coincidentally, narrated by Paul Rudd.
This is definitely a favorite topic everywhere right now. My one
book for fun and comfort is " Let's Pretend This Never Happened," humorous personal essays, by Jenny Lawson. My show is "Doc Martin." I have two movies: " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and " The Full Monty." Thank you
Doc Martin is the best balm
I've never seen it! Thanks for the rec, Amy!
Oh wow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a good one - reminds me of Austin Powers, another one that's fun!
When DVDs were a thing I only bought 3 for fun at home: D.R.S, " Uncle Buck," and What About Bob?" Introduced my great- niece when she was 7. Her fave t.v.show at the time was "Seinfeld."
Seinfeld was one of my go-to's for years! Love these recs!
My comfort book is Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent. Whenever the world feels out of control, like now, I reread it. I like to know that grace is still alive in this world.
I have never read Dinner with Edward - it sounds lovely! I’ll add it to my list!
I have read it six times and I always find something new and interesting
The feeling at intermission of a really good play is one of my happy places: everybody buzzing, alive with art, anticipating act two. I love it SO much.
Yes!! I don’t go to shows often but I happen to be going to one in NY tomorrow - will pay attention to that feeling. It’s always positive and creative and joyful!
I hope it’s a wonderful show!!
What a story! Also: Paul Rudd is one of my favorites!
He definitely does not know who I am 😉
😆
Oh, I love this!
My real-life happy place was the town I went to college in and then lived in for the 3 years after I graduated. It's where I had my first apartment where I lived alone. My first job. So many fond memories of becoming myself there. I miss it every day (even though it had brutal winters!)
My comfort watch is Gilmore Girls mainly, but Friends when I am particularly in the mood for a laugh.
My comfort read is probably Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I never read books more than once, except for that book. It's special.
Cassie, I love that your college town is your real-life happy place! I hope you get back to visit occasionally! Gilmore Girls and Friends are two all-time comfort shows, for sure!
I know this is Tina Fey-focused, but chatting with Paul Rudd?? Was he as awesome as he appears on interviews and TV?
Yes! He is a very normal, very nice, very funny guy! And he 100% has no idea who I am!
Maybe he's a Happy on Purpose reader. A girl can dream!
Omg! Newsletter goals!