The Bean's List

Trying a potential new weekly segment with very general thoughts on some things I watched, listened to, or tried throughout the week prior. This will cover anything from movies to shows to sports to music to podcasts to food -- you name it. Rather than getting in depth/talking spoilers for what I watch, I wanted to introduce a segment where it's more of a recommendation than a review, hence the Bean's List was born. Check the "Bean Score" after each for how highly I recommend/rate each out of 10 Beans.

NBA Playoffs - SGA an Unethical Hooper?

Sports

Last night I watched the first truly good game of the OKC/Minnesota series, which saw the Thunder win 128-126 and take a 3-1 lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nearly had a 40-point triple double -- but he needed 30 shots and 14 Free Throw's to get there. Twitter goes nuts every game talking about his foul-baiting, and I wonder if there will be an effort to minimize those calls should the Thunder make the Finals.

Knicks vs Pacers tonight (writing this at 5:30 pm Tuesday) and this series has been banger after banger, so will 100% be tuned in tonight.

(Wednesday morning, definitely was the least exciting of the 4 games thus far, but still an excellent game that was neck and neck the whole way. Excited for Game 5).

Thunder/Wolves -- 6/10 Beans

Knicks/Pacers -- 9.9/10 Beans

NHL Playoffs - Every Game's a Blowout

Sports

For a fanbase that loves chirping the NBA when there's big blowouts, boy have they been quiet lately. Not one single game has been decided by fewer than 3 goals through 8 games in the Conf. Finals. The Panthers pummeled the Canes for 3 straight games, then get dusted 3-0 in Game 4. I think Oilers vs Stars will be a better game tonight -- (Future Luke here, it wasn't. Oilers won 4-1). But zero of these games have been competitive which is shitty for the viewing experience.

4/10 Beans

The Studio - Apple TV's Best Comedy

TV Show - Apple TV+

This was a hell of a week for comedies in the TV/movies space -- at least in my world. I watched the season finale of The Studio last night, and it was a great close to one of the more surprising and unique comedies I've seen in years. Seth Rogen, Katherine Hahn, Bryan Cranston, Zoe Kravitz, Dave Franco, Catherine O'Hara, Ike Barinholtz -- and that's just the big names from the finale. There's dozens of cameos from A-list actors, it's a hilarious show with tons of outlandish moments, and it's shot in a very creative way. Highly recommend, and renewed for Season 2:

8/10 Beans

Friendship - New Tim Robinson/Paul Rudd Movie

Movie - in theaters

Went to a movie on Sunday Morning on a whim to see the comedy movie everyone's raving about. If you've seen I Think You Should Leave on Netflix, you know Tim Robinson. And if you haven't seen, I recommend giving it a watch and seeing if it's your type of humor, but it's right up my alley. But even I had some doubts about how it would translate to a full movie.

But those doubts quickly went away. Friendship was the funniest movie I've seen in a theater in 10+ years, probably since The Other Guys or Bridesmaids. I went and saw it solo, but wound up making friends with the guys next to me by how hard we were laughing together. Think Tim's character in ITYSL dropped into a dramedy. The most impressive part of the movie is that it's genuinely smart, while keeping the slapstick, outlandish nature of what Robinson's known for. There's a ton of accuracy in how male loneliness and friendship is displayed -- it's just done in the most wacky ways possible. Paul Rudd and Kate Mara are great supporting characters next to Robinson.

9.2/10 Beans

The Rehearsal - Nathan Fielder: Equal Parts Genius and Terrifying

TV Show - Max

I haven't wrote about this show yet because I think it's pretty niche. I haven't heard from one other person watching it, so figured this is the best place to give my recommendation.

Nathan Fielder, if you don't know him, is an interesting guy (to say the least). He's unorthodox to the highest degree, basically in every aspect of his life. He created this show with the goal of finding out how far humans are willing to go to "reduce the uncertainties of everyday life." He goes about this by planning hugely elaborate "rehearsals" of these uncertainties. In the first season, the uncertainty he tackles most is parenthood, and in the second season, it's flying (specifically, plane crashes and how to prevent them).

There's no real way to explain the plot of the show, but if you're someone who enjoys seeing real people in cringe-worthy situations, or seeing the BAT SHIT CRAZY actions of very real people, this show is for you. Won't be for everyone, but is a hilarious cringe-watch that doesn't take much time (12 total eps in 2 seasons).

7.8/10 Beans

New Morgan Wallen Album - Bean's Songs of the Week

Music

I'm not the biggest music guy in the world -- my playlist mainly consists of country music, 2016 rap songs, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Lil Dicky -- but I've been trying to expand my repertoire. Morgan Wallen released a new (and lengthy) album recently, and with 37 songs I could use another run-through, but my favorites were:

Just In Case (was released prior but is the best song on the album)

Where'd That Girl Go

Dark Til Daylight

Superman (Not sure I'd say Morgan is Superman even without the alcohol problems he details in this one, but a catchy chorus nonetheless)

Album Overall -- 6.4/10 Beans

And figured I'd throw in a few more songs I've been hyper-fixated on lately, not exactly new songs but ones I've either recently discovered or recently got back into, and recommend:

life is funny - ROLE MODEL

Baggage - Kelsea Ballerini

Call on Me (Radio Mix) - Eric Prydz (stuck in my head since seeing Warfare movie)

Small Town Girls - Thomas Rhett, Tucker Wetmore

Going Gray - Lil Dicky

And that's all she wrote -- if you have any ideas for things you'd like to see in future Bean's Lists, please let me know!

Will definitely do some podcasts, MLB, food/restaurants in future ones, but any suggestions for what you want to see are welcome!