Culture Index: MTV Movie & TV Awards, Scaachi Koul, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’
Sure, it’s peak springtime, but forecasts predict a cold and wet weekend all over the country. While you’d obviously prefer to be outside this time of year, maybe spending Saturday and Sunday indoors won’t be so bad with these suggested entertainments (including an awards show, podcast, books and more).
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Dana Schwartz’s ‘And We’re Off’
Dana Schwartz first caught our attention with her LOL Guy in Your MFA parody Twitter account – and once again, on a more serious note, when she penned an open letter to her boss at the time, Jared Kushner, about what happened after she called out his father-in-law for tweeting something many perceived to be anti-Semitic.
That same hilarious and fearless attitude shines through in Schwartz’s debut novel, And We’re Off, in which she deftly mixes humor and tenderness. The book tells the story of Nora, an artistically inclined teen whose plans for a solo trip through Europe are foiled … by her neurotic mother, who decides she’s going with her.
Described by its publisher as “13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Gilmore Girls,” this funny, whimsical tome isn’t easy to put down once you start.
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‘Godfather’ Reunion
There was a lot to learn from Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall and Talia Shire, who reunited last weekend at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival to discuss Coppola’s iconic Oscar-winning mafia films. If you weren’t lucky enough to make the it to New York City to see hear the discussion and screenings of The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), consider getting reacquainted with the Corleone family this weekend. And if you have time, maybe give the third movie, 1990’s The Godfather: Part III (featuring a young Sofia Coppola in a rare onscreen role) another shot.
Or don’t. Up to you.
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‘Yelling About Pate’ podcast
There is no shortage of great food podcasts to listen to, but you probably can’t name many (if any) that blend comedy with the cuisine talk. So say hello to Yelling About Pâté, your new favorite show, in which comedian Karl Hess and comedy-loving chef Joel Miller talk about all things food, from making it to eating it.
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MTV Movie & TV Awards
The goofy and game Adam DeVine hosts MTV’s other annual awards show, which is changing with the times. Not only will the event feature television awards to go along with movies, but producers have also scrapped the gender-specific awards – so no more best male this or best female that. It’s gender fluid, baby! Pitbull, Big Sean and Noah Cyrus will perform, and Golden Popcorn presenters include Snoop Dogg, Gal Gadot, DJ Khaled and many more. Airs lives on May 7th at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.
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Scaachi Koul’s ‘One Day We’ll All Be Dead And None Of This Will Matter’
Looking for a voice-of-their-generation type writer? No pressure or anything, but BuzzFeed writer Scaachi Koul might fit the bill. Drawing comparisons to Mindy Kaling and Roxane Gay, Koul is a voice for outsiders, children of immigrants and just about any other millennial trying to make their way in today’s perplexing world with this entertaining and thought-provoking collection of essays. And what a title, right?
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‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
The words “Baby Groot” are enough to push this sequel to the top of the box office – and potentially break new records – but Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and the rest of the cast of this Marvel Comics adaptation are one of the funniest, least exhausting posses of its kind. Fewer city buildings destroyed than The Avengers, 100 percent less Ben Affleck than Justice League and, definitely better than Suicide Squad, Guardians might be the best superhero franchise out there. Peters Travers writes: “Hanging with Quill and his mercenary space misfits is still everything you’d want in a wild summer ride.”
And read more about the soundtrack – which includes everything from Fleetwood Mac to Jay and the Americans.