Patreon Newsletter #8.5: Mid-May (Patreon)

Hey Riddiots! It's another mid-month newsletter to let you know what we're up to and drop some info on what's coming up here in the Patreon! Thank you for your continued love and support and if you ever have any suggestions of what you'd like to see/hear let us know in the Discord, in the comments here or email us at hrrpodcast@gmail.com! Also please let us know what YOU recommend in the comments! 

Adal (Dr.) Recommendations: 

First off. I must be late to this but Jemma sent this to me the other day and I cried laughing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-UmfqFjpl0

ok, now onto the other stuff....

TV

1. Cobra Kai - whoooo boy! I started watching this YouTube tv original thinking it would be...fine, and it's turned out to be one of my favorite shows of the year! It's a Karate Kid spinoff? continuation? that more or less follows the adult life of Johnny (Daniel's main rival in the first movie) and Daniel as they struggle with their past and current situation. It stars the original actors from the movie and is super funny, touching and well paced. I watched both seasons in 24 hours so it's a big big recommendation from me dawg. 

2. DOOM Patrol - I'm only a few episodes in but this show is pretty wild. Based on the comic book group, it's basically a bunch of misfits with fairly shitty powers trying to figure out how to fit into society and do any amount of good. I will say some of the performances are uneven but overall it takes some huge swings and I appreciate where it's heading. The score/music is 10 out of 10. Maybe my favorite opening credits of all time?

3. Dead To Me Season 2 - another series I finished in about 24 hours. Jemma and I loved the first season and we gobbled this on up as well. The PERFECT balance of comedy and drama. I'll cut my butthole off if the 2 leads don't get Emmy nominations. Highly recommend this series on Netflix. 

4. Ozark - one episode in BUT really excited about it! Uber dark (both content and how it's shot) but compelling as hell. Stoked I have 3 full seasons to burn through. 

5. Middleditch and Schwartz - it's almost utterly impossible to capture the energy of improv on film. The only thing I've seen before that does it well is 'Trust Us This Is All Made Up' the TJ & Dave documentary but this series turned out great! I think it really captures the vibe, playfulness and energy of the crowd they're feeding off of. I found the first episode to be the best with the other 2 waning slightly but definitely worth watching all 3. 

6. Kimmy Schmidt Vs. The Reverend - Interactive episode of the show a'la Black Mirror's Bandersnatch. Packed with puns, sight gags and surprise cameo's. 

7. Parks and Rec Reunion - I thought this was well done even if I didn't understand why they were calling each other (maybe I missed it?) and Chris Pratt even though he's the biggest star of the bunch seemed the most game for anything and the most excited to be there. 

Movies

1. A Secret Love - A Netflix doc about 2 eighty year old women who fell in love and kept their relationship secret for almost 70 years! Beautiful story and history to it all and obviously very emotional.

2. Rocketman -  Entertaining and informative. I think I liked Bohemian Rhapsody better in terms of the two big musical biopics but this one lead me to buy Elton John's recent biography as I'm now very interested in his wild road of a life. 

3. Refer Madness: The Musical - watched this for Musical Monday and thought it was delightful! The Romeo AND Juliet song was a highlight as well as the Jesus song/scene. Mostly watched because Jemma was in it in college and always sings the songs around the house. 

4. Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - watched this for Musical Monday as well. NOT. A. FAN. The 'oh no, not he!' song is the one saving grace, otherwise I couldn't stop watching it fast enough! Donny...put on a fucking shirt bud!

5. The Great Muppet Caper - watched this for Review Crew and hot fuck it's an A+ comedy! Never seen it before and didn't really know it existed except that Erin had mentioned it as one of her favs. Charles Grodin is in his own fucking world but otherwise a damn great movie. 

6. The Wrong Missy - new Netflix movie with David Spade and Lapkus. I watched for Lapkus and she crushes it. Very much a Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice type performance of just over the top commitment. The movie has it's issues to be certain but it's worth it just to watch Lapkus emerge as comedic force who will hopefully now be in everything. 

7. Jerry Seinfield: 23 Hours to Kill - I mean.....meh?

8. Have A Good Trip - neat Netflix movie about comedians experiences with drugs. Has a sort of Drunk History vibe at times with some killer stories about being on LSD (Rosie Perez steals the show). A fun thing to put on in the background and check in on. 

Books

1. Dream Team by Jack McCallum - watching The Last Dance made me so nostalgic for early 90's basketball and my obsession as a kid with the Dream Team that I bought this book. A really wonderful insight into the selection of the team, their dominance in the Olympics and all sorts of  behind the scenes drama and funny anecdotes. 

2. Over The Top by Jonathan Van Ness - quick read about a fascinating person. Gets very very dark but he always steers things back to positivity and acceptance. 

3. Untamed by Glennon Doyle - picked this up after Erin told me it's one of the best things she's read. I'm about a third of the way through it and very much enjoying it. Wonderfully written and thought-provoking. There's a bit too much god talk in a few chapters (for my taste) but I've been powering through those to soak up the rest. 

4. The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink - A Night Vale novel co-written by friend of the pod Jeffrey Cranor. Honestly this is the one book I recommend this year you order ASAP. You don't have to have listened to much or any of Night Vale to enjoy this as it's pretty much a stand alone story. Really reminded me of Lies of Lock Lamora/Name of the Wind type story telling (sans magic?). Sucked me in and didn't let go. Read it and let's chat about it!

Video Games: 

1. Animal Crossing -  You KNOW cha boi is still playing. Just today I sent Annalese packing if anyone wants to claim her? but I'm excited to have a day to use nook tickets and search out a new resident! Hoping for Stitches or Ribbot. I'm realizing I'm having a hellll of a time getting enough gold nuggets to make all the cool DIY's I've collected so if anyone has tips on how to get more gold please for the love of god let me know!

2. The Last Of Us - slowly but surely getting through the game! Loving the story and the gameplay except the combat seems a bit clunky? Maybe it's just me. Also I guess it is from 6  years ago so I'm just spoiled. 

Other Stuffs!

1. We just did a livestream with our favorite duo of Dan Lippert and Ryan Rosenburg of You're the Man Now Dog Podcast! We'll be releasing that here in the next couple days. 

2. tomorrow at 6pm CST Adal & Jemma will be doing a livestream!

3. Sunday night we'll be recording our May Livestream for our Review Crew tier which will come out shortly after!

4. Monday evening Erin & Adal will be doing another Musical Monday chat on the Hey Riddle Riddle Instagram account. We'll be discussing Guys and Dolls if you want to watch the movie before joining us! Watch the Discord for what time but mostly likely around 5pm. 

5. June Review Crew poll will be out this coming week!

6. Our friends Anne and Chris who run CU Adventures In Time and Space, the amazing Escape Room business where we recorded our Patreon episode (that ball-pit can burn in hell), just released a fantastic online escape room that you can play at home for $10 at cuadventures.com/at-home please check it out and support these wonderful friends!

7. HRR family member Sandy (SAAANDY?!!!) Weisz is creating some mind-boggling puzzles for internationally celebrated restaurant here in Chicago, Alinea! Follow @pzlr and @pilcrowbar on twitter for updates. Each solution can be submitted for a chance to win a prize from Alinea. 

8. We have a new Patreon exclusive shirt out on TeePublic! It's a Hey RidD&D commissioned piece by artist Igzell Vazquez! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/9875275-hey-ridd-and-d

9. Speaking of Hey RidD&D! Our incredible DM for both seasons of Hey RidD&D, Rush Howell, is the biggest board game fanatic we know and he's made 2 VERY impressive/comprehensive lists for board games you should check out while in quarantine. You can follow him on twitter @rushhowell and check out his podcast 'Here's The Situation' and follow them @TJandRush. If you have games you recommend please leave them in the comments! 

BOARD GAME QUARANTINE GUIDE: PART ONE https://docs.google.com/document/d/18ljzhooftdjeqjo2IrO6j5IiJR3sD0AceDdKFJKXHF8/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link

BOARD GAME QUARANTINE GUIDE: PART TWO https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jkg4Ynzgk2Du3jRfcVheWWxA7c4c9VnkZUZN5Qj1Y-I/edit

That's all! We're excited to put out more content for you all! Please let us know in the comments what you've been up to and/or what you recommend! 

love,

Adal, Erin & JPC