Let’s go ahead and declare “super-ness” as the theme of the week.
Two of this week’s new releases have Super Bowl halftime show connections, and Rhimes is definitely one of the most valuable players in Hollywood.
The latter was a massive success for Netflix, and now Rhimes has a new project coming to the streaming giant that I am so excited for that it leads off this edition of Pop Life Chronicles.
Three things to watch
‘Inventing Anna’
The case of Anna Sorokin, aka Anna Delvey, is one that has fascinated me since I read the New York magazine article about her in 2018.
Rhimes has a good eye for a story and even more skill at storytelling so naturally there are high hopes for “Inventing Anna,” which started streaming on Netflix Friday.
‘Marry Me’
Remember I mentioned those connections to the Super Bowl?
So, what does she do? Marry a guy in the concert audience played by Owen Wilson, of course.
And as a bonus, the soundtrack is prime J. Lo.
“Marry Me” hit theaters and streaming service Peacock on Friday.
‘Love Is Blind’ Season 2
Is there such a thing as love not at first sight?
On this reality show, contestants have to get to know each other without being able to see one another. The true test comes once they meet.
We shall see if Netflix can produce lightning in a bottle (or, in this case, the pod that the contestants are in when they have conversation) a second time. The new season started streaming Friday.
Bonus watch!
Two things to listen to
The Queen of R&B Soul is back!
Mary J. Blige has been focused on acting these past few years (she’s most recently been playing a mom who’s also a tough crime boss on the Starz series “Power Book II: Ghost”), but she has also been making music.
She’s dropping “Good Morning Gorgeous” on Friday. The album includes collaborations with Usher, Anderson .Paak and DJ Khaled.
Oh, and she’s performing this little thing called the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday.
Eddie Vedder’s third solo album has some seriously heavy hitters on it.
“Earthling” features collaborations with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Ringo Starr. Perhaps that starpower is not that shocking, given how well respected the Pearl Jam frontman is in the industry, but Vedder says Wonder did keep him and producer Andrew Watt waiting six hours before he showed up to the studio for his session.
Way to make use of the time, sir.
“Earthling” dropped Friday.
One thing to talk about
If, like me, you are not a huge football fan, don’t forget that there is always the Puppy Bowl.
Discovery offers us all the cuteness of puppies “playing” a game as not only an adorable distraction, but also a way to promote animal adoption from shelters and rescue groups.
It’s made even better because it will be hosted once again by the most doggiest dog of them all, Snoop Dogg, and his BFF Martha Stewart.
You can root for Team Ruff or Team Fluff during Puppy Bowl XVIII on Discovery+ Sunday.
Something to sip on
There’s a meme going around that basically states that some of the Gen Z kids “are about to find out who their parents really are as soon as the beat drops at the Super Bowl halftime show.”
I know that’s right.
Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar are going to BRING IT. Though I can’t help but wonder how many people they will have working the bleeper button because some of those rap lyrics are definitely raw.
Or will they just change the words? How will it all work?
The music in its unedited form isn’t exactly family-friendly, but the beats are banging and somebody’s mama — and probably daddy, too — is sure to be twerking on Sunday.
