Giving Thanks for 'The Pitt,' 'Schitt's Creek,' and the Olympics

Plus: a class on Pop Culture vs. Authoritarianism, my moment with Jason Alexander, and a 'Parks and Rec' Goodreads giveaway.

Like many people, I’ve been watching the new season of The Pitt, which drops weekly on HBO Max. In between, I’m binge-rewatching Schitt’s Creek, also on HBO Max. Though they are tonally opposite—one an action-drama in an ER, the other a heartwarming small-town tale—I find them to be a nice, and even fitting, combination. In the end, both of them are about humans striving to do their best for other humans; they are about living in community, about, as The Good Place put it, “what we owe each other.”

This was the message of the joyous Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show, and the message of the Minnesotans who banded together to protest ICE off of their streets. The Olympics, too, have been a balm to me and so many others, I think because, while they are technically a competition, they show us humans striving to be their best, and, often, they also show us the tight-knit communities that form in these often-niche sports, across national borders.

I hope you’ve been finding some rays of light yourself this winter.

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Some other news from my world …

Pop Culture v. Authoritarianism

Over at Ministry of Pop Culture, we’re planning a series of online classes and in-depth group chats titled “Pop Culture v. Authoritarianism.” On four Sunday evenings this later this year—which we’ll schedule based on input from those participating—we’ll meet on Zoom for some historical lessons, discussion about the present and future, and suggested group actions. Guided by our ministers—who are pop culture historians and professional storytellers, as well as experienced teachers and political activists—we’ll tackle music, satire, fantasy, and organizing. Each lesson will include a syllabus with suggested viewing, listening and reading, as well as concrete ideas for activism.

Hit reply here or email us at ministryofpopculture24@gmail.com to let us know if you’re interested.

George Costanza and Me

I didn’t get to interview Jason Alexander for my book Seinfeldia—his people said he wouldn’t do it unless Jerry was participating, and it was a different time when no one really did books on TV shows yet. But ten years later, he invited me on his podcast! You can watch the interview here. It was a blast!

‘Parks and Rec’ Giveaway!

We’ve got a Goodreads giveaway going right now for my book Parks and Rec. You can enter here.