Weekly Roundup: “You’re a Winner, Gracie Wei,” “The Friday Afternoon Club,” and Messy Moms

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is the first in a new kids' chapter book series. It's called You're a Winner, Gracie Wei, and the author is Kristen Mei Chase. This is another fun case of "Hey, I know that writer!"Terri's random recommendation is also a book, another in her series of Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent memoirs: The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. This one's more about Dunne's early life and family, vs. his acting career, but it was still worth a listen.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 about how messy moms are good moms (that's our story and we're sticking to it).Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet," on Tuesday, March 24Lost S5 E6, "316," on Wednesday, March 25Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 26Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben is still busy assembling his group of island departees, and Sun has to choose between her kid and her is-he-dead-or-alive husband. On the island, that husband is having a pretty bad day, and Charlotte learns the hard way that she should've listened to her mother.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "316." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This is sometimes a happy fun show and sometimes a sad scary one, and this one tipped the balance a little too far toward sad (at least at the end). However, Candice Bergen knows our podcast motto, so we appreciate that.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a novel that had many blurbs that appealed to her, so she wants to check it out: Like Family by Erin O. White. She also has a follow-up to last week's history of Victorian parenting. It's Hot Victorians: Meet Your Dream Man From the Past by Aaron Radford-Wattley (inspired by an Instagram account of the same name). Mentioned: True Biz by Sara Novic.Terri's random recommendation is Duolingo, where you can learn not just languages used in the real world, but those from the past (Latin) and fictitious worlds (Klingon, High Valyrian). Mentioned: Duolingo French podcast and a Game of Thrones scene that demonstrates the power of knowing your enemy's language: Part 1, part 2.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on the warning labels we need as parents. Mentioned: AIM away messages.Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E7, "I Will Be Grape," on Tuesday, March 17Lost S5 E5, "This Place Is Death," on Wednesday, March 18Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 19Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben continues his manipulative efforts to return the gang to the island. On the island, time jumps plague the Sawyer/Locke/Juliet team, and guess who wasn't killed in the freighter explosion? Mentioned: Tom Irwin, who plays Ben's lawyer and also Angela's dad on My So-Called Life.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "This Place Is Death." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Be reassured that no Dereks die in this episode, thankfully. And both parents and kids step up when it matters, but we've got just enough worrying moments to keep us concerned about what's to come.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E7, "I Will Be Grape." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a book of nonfiction that may sound like a parenting book, but doesn't, in fact, contain useful advice for the modern parent. It's Ungovernable: The Victorian Parent's Guide to Raising Flawless Children by Therese ONeill.Terri's random recommendation is a pair of documentaries that are helping her justify her streaming subscriptions: Still, on Michael J. Fox and his life with Parkinson's disease, and BRATS, a look at the Brat Pack from one of its... aggrieved members. Mentioned: "Murder Show" on SNL.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on parenting mantras.Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E6, "Dereks Don't Die," on Tuesday, March 10Lost S5 E4, "The Little Prince," on Wednesday, March 11Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 12Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six took a back seat in this episode, so we could follow the island residents as they jumped through time, and Desmond as he walked directly into the path of Charles Widmore. Mentioned: Klingon vs. Ubbi Dubbi on The Big Bang Theory, the '70s kids' show Zoom. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 4, "The Little Prince." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This season is supposed to be about moving on, but our characters are really moving in a one-step-forward, two-steps-back manner. Mentioned: Jason Segel singing "Nightswimming," the Les Mis car karaoke scene from this episode, an earlier rendition of the song by Jason Segel and his How I Met Your Mother castmate Neil Patrick Harris, and the apropos songs "Letting Go" (about making mistakes) and "Bad Decisions."Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E6, "Dereks Don't Die." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a book by Caroline Dooner with a title that appeals: The F**k-It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy. Terri might be skeptical of the advice, but she salutes anyone who's figured out how to make money with their writing.Terri's random recommendation is our old pal Zoom, which allows us to record together from different time zones and even helps us with transcripts.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on one-star reviews of parenting experiences.Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E5, "Hold Your Horsies," on Tuesday, March 3Lost S5 E3, "Jughead," on Wednesday, March 4Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 5Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.