From a creepy office psychodrama to the creepiness of the inauguration, plus Mormon reality shows and a dubious return on "Saturday Night Live," we've got plenty of options for your viewing pleasure, or annoyance.
Office spaced
"Severance" is back, baby, and season two of the mesmerizing dystopian thriller portends to be creepier than ever.
Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in "work-life balance" is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work... and of himself.
In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.
Season 2 reunites the series' original ensemble, including those beloved gay characters Burt and Irving, while welcoming new talent, like bisexual actress Alia Shawkat. The cast of stars includes Emmy Award nominee Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, Academy Award winner Christopher Walken and Academy and Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette, and welcomes new series regular Sarah Bock; on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
Cold reception
The big TV extravaganza this week was supposed to be Donald Trump's second Inauguration. But Trump decided it was too cold to be outdoors. Not since 1985 has an Inauguration been held indoors, when Ronald Reagan — then the oldest president in U.S. history — decided it was too cold to be outside.
One way for Trump to get around diminished crowd size was to shift venues. Barack Obama held his 2009 Inauguration outside despite the frigid weather, but Trump decided to move his inside to the Capitol rotunda with just his billionaire oligarch donors, select electeds, and VIPs from other countries.
At least his new press secretary didn't have to go on live TV and claim the crowd was the largest in history like Sean Spicer was forced to do in 2016. Trump also scuttled the traditional walk from the Capitol to the White House. Probably Melania didn't have that in her new contract.
One of our close friends said it would have been fitting if the Capitol had been prepped to look like it did on January 6, replete with flung feces. What can one say to that?
Trump sent out 200,000 invitations to his Inauguration. The MAGAs who couldn't afford eggs yet traveled to D.C. for the event that wasn't got to watch on TV from their pricey hotel suites. What a huge eff you from Trump to the folks who put him back in office. Talk about FAFO. Seeing so many dejected red hats being interviewed one almost felt sorry for them.
Almost. And the price tag on the Inaugural balls was $15,000 per ticket, so no Snoop Dog or Carrie Underwood for those folks, either. Sad.
SN(eh)L
"Saturday Night Live" decided the best host for their opening show of 2025 was noted comedian, homophobe and transphobe Dave Chappelle. It was a bold choice to usher in the new season of "SNL 50," and definitely in keeping with the Joe Rogan-courting bro turn the show has taken of late.
But in his 17-minute monologue, the longest in "SNL" history, Chappelle kept his anti-LGBTQ comments minimal as he focused on the Los Angeles fires, being famous and its repercussions, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Donald Trump.
In talking about the fires, Chappelle referenced all the conspiracy theories surrounding them and said, "If you were a rational, thinking person, you have to at least consider the possibility that God hates these people. Sodomites. That's not true because, West Hollywood was unscathed. Because how can you burn what is already flaming?"
That was Chappelle's one questionable queer reference. Smoking a cigarette throughout, Chappelle ended with a plea to Trump.
"Remember, whether people voted for you or not, they're all counting on you. Whether they like you or not, they're all counting on you. The whole world is counting on you," said Chappelle, who has hosted the show three other times. "I mean this when I say this — good luck. Please do better next time. Please, all of us do better next time. Do not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they're in the Palisades or Palestine."
Pithy ladies
As the fresh hell of the new administration of the billionaire oligarchy begins, watching queer TV feels like a subversive act. Who could be more subversive than RuPaul Charles?
In "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 17, 14 new queens are on the stage to compete for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $200,000 for the winner. In the premiere episode, the new cast of queens compete in "Drag Queens Got Talent" and there's so much more. You love to see it. Streaming on MTV.
"Lady Like" is the story of "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 14 runner-up Lady Camden. This is a tale of trauma and resilience. Powerful, poignant, pithy and so engaging, British-born Rex Wheeler reveals how their Lady Camden persona grounded them and propelled them forward. Narrated by fellow "Drag Race" star Nina West, it's on VOD.
Faith, fell
Who doesn't love an exposé? In "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," the scandalous world of a group of Mormon mom influencers implodes when they get caught in the midst of a swinging sex scandal that makes international headlines.
Now, their sisterhood is shaken to its core. Faith, friendships, and reputations are all on the line. Will #MomTok be able to survive and continue to give the rulebook a run for its money, or will this group fall from grace?
This is a whole different Real Housewives and it is juicy, with Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jennifer Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Mathews and Whitney Leavitt. It airs on ABC January 27 following the premiere of "The Bachelor" and streaming on Hulu, which recently renewed "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" for a second season of 20 episodes, which will premiere in Spring 2025.
Scam, scam, scam, scam
We have been battling cancer for some months now and it has been pure hell. So, we are very interested to see how ABC handles "Scamanda," the docuseries about California native Amanda Riley, a young wife, mother and devout Christian whose life suddenly takes a terrible turn when she is diagnosed with Stage 3 blood cancer.
Amanda begins documenting her battle online, captivating thousands. But her story changes from inspiration to suspicion when someone sends an anonymous tip to investigative producer Nancy Mosciatello, who then embarks on a five-year-long investigation into Amanda. Soon, Amanda's own words may prove to be her downfall. "Scamanda" premieres January 30 on ABC.
So, for all the sound and fury signifying who-knows-what fresh hell from our new billionaire oligarch overlords, you know you really must stay tuned.
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