Vacation Vixen: 1999

Basically every New Year’s Eve since the real 1999 has felt like 1999 since. Don’t ask me to explain. Enjoy your New Year’s Eves, kittens. Party like, well, you know.

Vacation Vixen: Ayo Edebiri

You know, Ayo Edebiri had a pretty damn good year too. I fully intend to rewatch “Bottoms” this week and let that be the (non-literal, because ow) punch to the face needed for a successful start 2024.

Vacation Vixen: boygenius

These little rockstars had just the best damn year. Truly, honestly, deeply best.

Vacation Vixen: Sandra Oh

Well, I’m on vacation for real this week. I contend then the entire United States should just take the week between Christmas and New Year’s off because no work really gets done anyway (except for besieged retail, restaurant and hospitality workers – godspeed and big tips to you all). Look, if all the Right Wingers keep screaming about the importance of celebrating family and faith during the holiday season, why don’t they want to pay people to stay home to do just that? Can’t this stupid One Nation Under God thing work out for us just this once? Whatever, this is my favorite Eve anyway.

Joy to the World

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. Today, no matter what you believe, may you find some joy. Sending you all the warmest wishes this season. As the Indigo Girls say, “There’s Still Joy.” I certainly hope so, for all of us.

My Weekend Holiday Crush

Well, isn’t this lovely? Please enjoy this little seasonal lullaby. Billie Eilish is one of those artists who just keeps getting better, and no not just because she’s officially family now. But because she’s extremely talented and able to convey the most delicate to most bombastic emotions with a vulnerable magnetism. And, Billie – darling, we of course caught that, “Make the yuletide gay.” Whenever you want to drop that holiday album, we’ll be there. Have yourself a merry little whatever you celebrate this weekend, all.

What to Watch: Friends & Family Christmas

Now this is how you make your yuletide gay. Hallmark’s new lesbian rom-com “Friends & Family Christmas” is cute. Like genuinely, truly cute. Adorable even. There’s a fake dating premise. And an accidental glove swap. And a grand romantic gesture. And sweet lady kisses. Really, what more could you want from a holiday rom-com? It helps that its stars, Ali Liebert and Humberly Gonzalez, have some genuine chemistry. Plus the dads are the ones who set them up, which is a refreshing change for the genre. And the movie moves along at a pleasant pace. And, again, it’s cute. It’s a lesbian Hallmark* rom-com and it’s cute and the yuletide has never been gayer. (*Also available on Peacock.)

p.s. If you’re looking for another cute Hallmark holiday rom-com with lesbians this season (I know, teenage me would never have believed we’d have options), you should check out “Round and Round.” It’s a Jewish Hanukkah rom-com with a Groundhog Day-lite twist that is also extremely cute. And there’s a lesbian sister and her wife. Like, seriously, you clock your first lesbian less than 2 minutes into this thing. Happy holidays, indeed.

What to Watch: Annika

The first time I tried watching “Annika” I hated it. I turned it off in a couple minutes. I was in the mood for a wham-bam American crime procedural. And this British crime show about a DI Annika Strandhed who heads the new Glasgow-based Marine Homicide Unit and talks to the camera was definitely not it. But then, then I gave it another chance. And, goodness gracious, now I think this odd little show with a piercingly inquisitive lead who breaks the Fourth Wall to talk directly to us is one of my favorites.

A lot of that has to do with Nicola Walker, its star and the star of so many quality BBC shows and also of one of my other favorite British crime shows, “Unforgotten.” She has the ability to play extremely empathetic, all too human characters who feel entirely lived in.

Another unusual thing about Annika, besides all the ancient morality tales and classic literature references, is that it’s kind of a big budget affair for the BBC. There are a lot of explosions. Like, multiple. And chases. And running. And did I mention all the things that go boom? Like what is this? “CSI: Miami?” No, it’s Scotland — so even better! But while there is a lot of whizz bang, it’s still a grown-up show and you don’t have to endure a single David Caruso sunglasses one-liner.

Oh, and did I mention this is the rare crime series with a teenage child where the kid isn’t the most annoying part of the show? Morgan, Annika’s teenage daughter, is that rare TV kid who is written as a person, not as a purpose (you know, to show the male detective has a heart of the female detective is still nurturing, that shit). Sure, she can be kinda bratty. But she’s also sweet. And she’s an out lesbian (which you see more of in the first season, but remains true and realistic in the second season). And her gayness is literally never fussed over, which is also refreshing.

Truly, this show is worth donating to your local PBS station for so you can stream it on PBS Passport like I do. Or, you know, you could just live somewhere in Britain and watch it. Also an option.

What to Watch: Nyad

So in this lead-up week to the biggest holiday of the year where for some reason we only get one paid day off (if that), I thought I’d share some of my recent recommendations. Things I’ve watched and enjoyed and think you might enjoy of varying degrees of gayness to get you through these long winter nights. And the first will be the very gay, but definitely not in a hot girl-on-girl action way (unless you consider extraordinary athletic efforts between two female friends hot) is “Nyad.”

Look, you know me, I’m not usually a sportsball person (and is swimming sportsball, this is another question for another day). But this film about the limits of human determination (or lack of limits, in this case) is as fascinating and invigorating a sports movie as I can remember. It’s really more about the triumph of spirit/pigheadedness than sporting achievement. Though, *low whistle* what an insane achievement.

What makes “Nyad” such a compelling portrait is it doesn’t sugar-coat Diana Nyad’s flaws. She’s definitely not an easy person. But she certainly was singular. Annette Bening is brilliant and prickly, Jodie Foster is brilliant and so gay. Together they make us believe in a bond that would take everyone involved to the very edge of endurance and sanity.

Truly, it’s a revelation to watch Jodie let her dyke flag fly. She so inhabits Bonnie Stoll, Diana’s couch and best friend, that she oozes lesbianism. Like, between this and ALOTO the sporty queer women might finally be getting their due all these years after “Personal Best.”

Like I said over Thanksgiving, if you’re looking for an engrossing and all-ages movie to watch during the holidays, give them all an unexpected dose of lesbian excellence in “Nyad,” Or just watch it again for yourself. And Jodie’s abs. What? I’m only human, and I definitely couldn’t swim from Florida to Cuba.

Home on the Farm

Look, I knew Kate McKinnon returning to SNL for the first time to host would be good. I did not expect it would be Lesbian Tampon Farmers good. But how can you resist when it brings us Kate McEthridge (see what I did there?) together with Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Billie Eilish as fellow tampon farmers (also I see you, Paula Pell, getting in on the lesbian jokes). From the acoustic guitars to the muscle shirts, it’s a gay folk singer chef’s kiss. Kate’s SNL was also the queer female comic equivalent of those get you a gal who can do both memes. From Crunchy Granola Dyke to Marlene Dietrich stan. What can’t Kate do?

Vacation Vixen: Quinta Brunson

When is “Abbott Elementary” coming back? Make it come back. Also, Quinta is so cool. I’d watch her actually teach school.

Vacation Vixen: Margaret Cho

I would like Margaret Cho to go from being the funniest cameo in all these great shows and movies to having her own great show or movie. That is all. Also shagadellic, baby. OK, now that’s all.

Vacation Vixen: America Ferrera

I want her to win an Oscar for “Barbie” in front of all of Hollywood – the same people who thought that “Ugly Betty” was the best way to introduce her to the world. Seriously. Ugly. Idiots.

Vacation Vixen: Ali Krieger

Am I vicariously living my Lemonade Era through Ali? Maybe. But I definitely believe swimsuits are just tank tops that don’t know when to quit. And, it is a Tuesday. (Also, I am giving myself a continued Blog Break as I get through my first week. Thanks for understanding. Also, you’re welcome for the swimsuit pic.)

Music Monday: Lesley Gore

Today is the first day at my new job. So I am wishing for nothing but sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows everywhere. Also, it’s not lost on me that this wonderful little ditty is being sung by a closeted lesbian. It was always Lesley’s party. Happy Monday, kittens.

Vacation Vixen: Furiosa

Furiosa forever. Enough said. Happy weekend, all.

Vacation Vixen: Natasha Lyonne

Honestly, it’s hard to think of another actress who could pull off this cover look. But Natasha, well, she can do anything because she is Natasha freaking Lyonne. Her career has been the remarkable one where she has been able to pull herself back from the stereotypical early protégée turned cautionary tale cycle, and come back even stronger. Basically, she is the female Robert Downey Jr., except without the waking up in a strange kid’s bed extremes and also there’s nothing extraordinary about men failing upward. That’s just their normal career trajectory. Anyway, damn I love me some Natasha Lyonne.

Vacation Vixen: Dr. Yeoh

How adorably amazing does Michelle Yeoh look receiving her honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology last month? I would watch an entire fantasy series where Michelle was the headmistress of a magical school for extreme badasses – a bit like that other magical school series but without the subsequent hideous transphobia of course. Anyway, congrats Dr. Yeoh! Also, today is my last day at my old job so it’s a bit of a graduation, I guess. I’ll be off until next week, but of course I won’t leave you empty handed because I am a considerate new graduate.

Call Me by My Furiosa

See, told you’d I’d have some real posts. But then how could I not post about “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga?” We all know and adore the original “Mad Max: Fury Road.” And, yes, I’m still a tad salty they didn’t just give Furiosa her own movie, they instead had to make Furiosa younger (and cast a younger actress) to get her own movie. That said, I mean, obviously it looks cool. But, it is also obvious that Anya Taylor-Joy does not radiate the kinetic physicality of Charlize Theron. Like, Charlize is hands down my favorite and the most interesting action star working right now. Yes, no matter the gender. “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Atomic Blonde,” “The Old Guard.” Please, Tom Cruise’s last three action movies were all sequels – and one was a sequel to another sequel in the same damn franchise. Anyway, I will watch this because a) still a female action lead, and b) still Furiosa. But I certainly hope they don’t let Chris Hemsworth and his enormous prosthetic nose steal the show from our gal.

Music Monday: red Christmas

Now that December is here and cuffing season has officially begun, please enjoy this little Christmas wish from girl in red. Yeah, I know that other queer genius supergroup is getting all the press. But don’t forget about this girl and all the other girls who want someone to kiss on Christmas Day — even if only in our warmest and most welcome dreams. Happy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend (Life) Crush

Goodness, that week certainly got away from me. Really the whole month did. Hello, December! That genuinely good thing I was talking about earlier, well, it’s happening and it’s taking up a lot of my time (it’s a new job, which I start later this month while I wrap up my old job where I’ve been for more than two decades — I know, crazypants!) In the interim my postings will be somewhat sporadic, though I will try to fill your stockings with Vixens and other Crushes and actual real-live posts this busy holiday season. For now, please enjoy Cyndi as we all celebrate the season (whatever season you celebrate) together. Happy weekend, kittens.