The Movies, Books, Theater, Concerts, CDs I Saw/Read/Heard In 2021

 Updated as of December 31, 2021

DONE THROUGH #334 for end of year transfer to albums by artist

Done books through #49 
KEY: star rating is on the four star scale
          meaning of "/" or "\"
          *** is three stars out of four
          ***/ is three stars leaning towards  3 1/2
          ***\ is three stars leaning towards 2 1/2


BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
(Increasingly, I am sampling books, reading 10%, 20% even 40 or 50% before deciding to move on. The books below are only the ones I've read completely. That also explains what looks like generous grading -- more and more, if I sense a book is not going to be among my favorites, I stop reading. Too many books; too little time!)


1. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley ** 1/2 

2. A Portrait Of the Artist As A Young Man by James Joyce *** 1/2 

3. In the Company Of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series) by Alexander McCall Smith ** (but the charming narration by Lisette Lecat elevates it) 

4. Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner *** 

5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré **** 

6. The Outlander by Gil Adamson *** 1/2 

7. Ridgerunner by Gil Adamson ** 1/2 

8. The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness ** 1/2 

9. An Irish Country Cottage by Patrick Taylor ** (John Keating's narration raises it up 1/2 or *) 

10. An Irish Country Family by Patrick Taylor ** (John Keating's narration raises it up 1/2 or *) 

11. The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris ** 

12. Stephen King -- On Writing *** 

13. Tea Time For The Traditionally Built (2009; No. 1 Ladies #10) ** 1/2 

14. The Miracle At Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith (2008, No. 1 Ladies #9) **1/2 maybe ***

15. The Good Husband Of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith (2007, No. 1 Ladies #8) ** 1/2 
16. Blue Shoes And Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith (2006, No. 1 Ladies #7) ** 

17. The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith (2010, No. 1 Ladies #11) 

18. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King (2014) *** 

19. Later by Stephen King (2021) *** 

20. Playing The Palace by Paul Rudnick *** 

21. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King *** 

22. Poison For Breakfast by Lemony Snicket *** / 

23. The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket; illos Carson Ellis, music Nathaniel Stookey ** 1/2 

24. Swarm Of Bees by Lemony Snicket, illos by Rilla Alexander ** 

25. The Lump Of Coal by Lemony Snicket, illos by Brett Helquist *** 

26. Goldfish Ghost by Lemony Snicket, illos by Lisa Brown ** 1/2 

27. All The Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler *** 1/2 

28. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler *** 

29. The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illos by Jon Klassen *** 1/2 

30. The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket, illos by Matthew Forsythe ** 1/2 

31. The Confidence Men by Margalit Fox *** 

32. Blood Grove by Walter Mosley ** 1/2 

33. Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood *** 1/2 

34. Putting It Together by James Lapine *** 1/2 

35. Sabriel by Garth Nix ** 

36. Last Summer In The City by Gianfranco Calligarich (1973) ** 

37. Today A Woman Went Mad in The Supermarket: Stories by Hilma Wolitzer *** 1/2 

38. Storm by George R. Stewart *** 1/2 

39. Overtime by Will Stronge and Kyle Lewis ** 1/2 

40. Rule Of The Robots by Martin Ford ** 1/2 

41. Regeneration by Paul Hawken *** 

42. Swamp Sister by Robert Edmond Alter *** 1/2 

43. The Raging 2020s by Alec Ross *** 

44. The Story Of An African Farm by Olive Schreiner (1883) *** (very radical for its time) 

45. Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton (1948) **** 

46. July's People by Nadine Gordimer (1981) *** 

47. Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert (1950) *** 1/2 

48. "The Chimes" by Charles Dickens novella *  

49. "The Cricket On The Hearth" by Charles Dickens novella * 1/2 

50. An Irish Country Yuletide by Patrick Taylor (audio by John Keating elevates it) 

51. An Irish Country Welcome by Patrick Taylor ** 

52. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier *** 1/2 or *** 

CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS (A strong emphasis on the ones I like, so don't think I love everything I listen to -- I just don't bother really listening to the ones I don't )


1. Tony Rice -- Manzanita (1979) *** 

2. Steve Earle -- J.T. *** 

3. The Lickerish Quartet -- Threesome Vol. 1 (2020) *** 1/2 Vol. 2 (2021) *** 1/2 

4. Gil Scott-Heron -- I'm New Here (2010) *** 

5. New York Dolls -- New York Dolls (1973) *** 1/2 

6. Rosemary Clooney -- Sings Country Hits From The Heart (1963) ** 1/2 

7. Willie Nelson -- That's Life *** 

8. Camillo -- Mis Manos *** 

9. Chick Corea -- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968) *** 

10. Chick Corea -- Return To Forever (1972) ** 1/2 

11. Kate Bush -- The Sensual World (1989) *** 1/2 

12. Tom Petty -- Songs and Music From "She's The One" (1996) ** 1/2 

13. Tom Petty -- Echo (1999) ** 

14. Harry Connick Jr. -- Alone With My Faith * 1/2 

15. Loretta Lynn -- Still Woman Enough *** 

16. Nick Cave -and Warren Ellis - Carnage ***/ 

17. Lana Del Rey -- Chem Trails At The Country Club ** 

18. Badfinger -- No Matter What: Revisiting The Hits ** 

19. Carrie Underwood -- My Savior ** 

20. Ben Howard -- Collections From The Whiteout ** 1/2 

21. Willis Alan Ramsey -- Willis Alan Ramsey (1972) *** 1/2 

22. Neil Young -- Young Shakespeare (1971) *** 

23. Various Artists -- NOW That's What I Call Yacht Rock Vol. 2 ** 1/2 

24. Barry Gibb -- Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook ** 1/2 (but he and Alison Krauss should do an album) 

25. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas -- Watchout! (1966) ** 1/2 

26. Kate Bush -- The Red Shoes (1993) ** 

27. William Tyler -- First Cow soundtrack *** 1/2 

28. Norah Jones -- 'Til We Meet Again (Live) ** 1/2 

29. Various Artists -- NOW That's What I Call Yacht Rock Vol. 1 (2019) *** 

30. Bill Kwan -- No Ordinary Love: The Music Of Sade ** 

31. Cheap Trick -- In Another World *** 1/2 

32. Tom Jones -- Surrounded By Time *** 

33. Minari soundtrack *** 1/2 

34. The Who -- The Who Sell Out (1967) *** 1/2 

35. Nomadland soundtrack *** 

36. John Lennon -- Plastic Ono Band (1970) **** 

37. Yoko Ono -- Plastic Ono Band (1970) *** 

38. Ben Watt -- Storm Shelter ep *** 

39. Eric Church -- Soul ** 1/2 

40. Rhiannon Giddens -- They're Calling Me Home ** 1/2 

41. Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders -- Promises *** 1/2 

42. Gang Of Four -- Entertainment (1979) *** 

43. The Coral -- Coral Island *** 1/2 

44. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. -- Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons ** (but "Ticket To Ride") 

45. Teenage Fanclub -- Endless Arcade ** 

46. Marilyn Maye -- Marilyn Maye, Girl Singer (1970) ** 

47. Al Stewart -- Year Of The Cat (1976) ***  

48. Peter Case -- The Midnight Broadcast *** 

49. The Fratellis -- Half Drunk Under A Full Moon *** 

50. Irma Thomas -- After The Rain (2006) *** 1/2 

51. Madness -- One Step Beyond... (1979) *** 

52. Brockhampton -- Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine *** 

53. Frank Sinatra -- Reprise Rarities Volume 3: Very Good Years...Indeed! ** 

54. The Who -- Tommy (1969) ** 1/2 

55. Fats Domino -- Fats Is Back (1968) *** 

56. Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall -- The Marfa Tapes *** 1/2 

57. Mandy Barnett -- Every Star Above *** 

58. Ashe -- Ashlyn *** 

59. Evie Sands -- Any Way That You Want Me (1970) *** 1/2 

60. Odetta -- Sings Ballads and Blues (1957) *** 1/2 

61. Diana Ross -- diana (1980) ** 1/2 

62. Tom Petty -- The Last DJ (2002) ** 

63. Kate Bush -- Aerial (2005) **** 

64. St. Vincent -- Daddy's Home *** 1/2 

65. Morgan Wade -- Reckless ** 1/2   

66. C. Tangana -- El Madrileño *** 1/2 

67. Richard Pryor -- Richard Pryor (1968) ***

68. The Who -- Live At Leeds (1970) **** 

69. John Hiatt -- Leftover Feelings ***/ 

70. Chrissie Hynde -- Standing In The Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan ** 1/2 

71. Bob Dylan -- Bringing It All Back Home **** 

72. Bob Dylan -- Blood On The Tracks **** (but now prefer the original demos) 

73. Teddy Thompson & Jenni Muldaur -- Teddy & Jenni Do Porter & Dolly: A Tribute To... *** 1/2 

74. Tony Rice -- Cold On The Shoulder (1984) *** 

75. James Taylor -- Greatest Hits **** 

76. Bill & The Belles -- Happy Again (produced by Teddy Thompson) ** 1/2 

77. Young Gun Silver Fox -- AM Waves (2018) *** 1/2 

78. Thelonius Monk -- Monk's Music (1957) **** 

79. Solomon Burke -- Rock 'N Soul (1964) *** 1/2 

80. Lord Huron -- Long Lost *** 1/2 

81. Crowded House -- Dreamers Are Waiting ** 1/2 

82. Chris Thile -- Laysongs ** 

83. The Staves -- Good Woman ** 

84. Liz Phair -- Soberish ** 1/2 

85. The Weather Station -- Ignorance ** 

86. Burl Ives -- The Wayfaring Stranger (2008 comp) *** 1/2 

87. I Became Birds -- Home Is Where ** 

88. Celeste -- Not Your Muse *** 

89. Beta Radio -- Year of Love ** 1/2 

90. Ryan Adams -- Big Colors ** 

91. Morgan Wallen -- Dangerous: The Double Album ** 

92. Weezer -- OK Human ** 

93. Caroline Shaw -- Narrow Sea (w Dawn Upshaw) ** 1/2 

94. Brad Mehldau -- Variations On A Melancholy Theme ** 

95. Jazmine Sullivan -- Heaux Tales ***  

96. Jeremiah Fraites (of The Lumineers) -- Piano Piano *** 1/2 

97. Tammi Terrell -- Irresistible (1969) *** 

98. Mdou Moctar -- Afrique Victime ** 1/2 

99. Various Artists -- Small Axe (Music Inspired by The Original TV Series) *** 

100. Angelique Kidjo -- Mother Nature ** 1/2  

101. Tony Hillier and Ars Nova Copenhagen -- ...and... *** 

102. Shelley FKA DRAM -- Shelley FKA DRAM ** 1/2 

103. Sarah Mary Chadwick -- Me And Ennui Are Friends, Baby ** 1/2 

104. Lake Street Drive -- Obviously ** 

105. Manchester Collective -- The Centre Is Everywhere *** 

106. The Oak Ridge Boys -- Front Porch Singin ** 

107. Bully -- SUGAREGG ** 

108. The Doobie Brothers -- Minute By Minute (1978) ** 1/2 

109. Matt Carmichael -- Where Will The River Flow ** 

110. Rod Stewart -- Never A Dull Moment (1972) *** 

111. Rod Stewart -- Smiler (1974) ** 1/2 

112.  Sault -- Nine ***/ 

113. Nina Simone -- Pastel Blues (1965) *** 1/2 

114. The Shangri-Las -- Leader Of The Pack (1965) *** 

115. Jacques Brel -- Ces Gen-la aka Jef (1966) *** 

116. The Supremes -- Where Did Our Love Go (1964) *** 

117. John Grant -- Boy From Michigan ** 1/2 

118. H.E.R. -- Back Of My Mind *** 

119. Olivia Rodrigo -- Sour ** 1/2 

120. Nina Simone -- Wild Is The Wind (1966) ** 1/2 

121. The Isley Brothers -- It's Our Thing (1969) *** 1/2 

122. Judy Roderick -- Woman Blue (1965) *** 

123. Roy Orbison -- Crying (1962) *** 1/2 

124. Roy Orbison -- In Dreams (1963) *** 1/2 

125. Gal Costa -- Gal Costa (1969) *** 

126. The Flying Burrito Brothers -- The Gilded Palace Of Sin (1969) *** 1/2 

127. Allison Russell -- Outside Child *** 1/2 

128. The Impressions -- Keep On Pushing (1964) *** 1/2 

129. Van Dyke Parks -- Song Cycle (1967) ** 

130. The Four Tops -- Reach Out (1967) ** 1/2 

131. Wanda Jackson -- Rockin' With Wanda (1960) ** 

132. Jeffrey Foskett -- Cool and Gone (Gone Gone) (1997) *** 1/2 

133. Patsy Cline -- Patsy Cline (1957) *** 1/2 

134. Patsy Cline -- Showcase (1961) **** 
135. Patsy Cline -- Sentimentally Yours (1962) *** 

136. Joy Oladokun -- In Defense Of My Own Happiness ** 1/2 

137. Jeffrey Foskett -- Christmas At The Beach (1997) * 1/2 

138. Gilberto Gil -- Gilberto Gil (1968) *** 1/2 

139. Fred Neil -- Fred Neil (1966) *** 

140. Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood -- Nancy & Lee (1968) ** 

141. The Byrds -- The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968) *** 1/2 

142. Isaac Hayes -- Hot Buttered Soul (1969) *** 1/2 

143. The Flatlanders -- Treasure Of Love *** 1/2 

144. Burl Ives -- 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Burl Ives -- The Millennium Collection (2001) *** 

145. Tammy Wynette -- D-I-V-O-R-C-E (1968) *** 

146. Murray McLauchlan -- Hourglass ** 

147. Various Artists -- Tropicalia Ou Panis Et Circensis (1968) **** 

148. The Delfonics -- La La Means I Love You (1968) **1/2 

149. Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie -- Ella and Basie (1963) *** 1/2 

150. Quivers -- Golden Doubt ** 1/2 

151. Wilson Pickett -- The Exciting Wilson Pickett (1966) *** 1/2 

152. Townes Van Zandt -- Townes Van Zandt (1969) *** 1/2 

153. Lesley Gore -- I'll Cry If I Want To (1963) *** 

154. Rachel Faro -- Refugees (1974) *** 1/2 

155. Jorge Ben -- Samba Esquerra Novo (1963) *** 1/2 

156. Donovan -- Sunshine Superman (1966) ** 

157. Shirley and Dolly Collins -- Anthems In Eden (1969) *** 1/2 

158. Donovan -- Mellow Yellow (1967) *** 

159. The Sonics -- Here Are The Sonics (1965) ** 1/2 

160. Joseph Spence -- Encore: unheard Recordings Of Bahamian Guitar and Singing ** 

161. Inhaler -- It Won't Always Be Like This ** 1/2 

162. Donovan -- Donovan's Greatest Hits (1969) *** 

163. Tuscadero -- The Pink Album (1994) *** 

164. Bob Dylan -- Shadow Kingdom *** 1/2 

165. Isaac Hayes -- Black Moses (1971) **** 

166. James Booker -- Classified (1982) **** Expanded Edition *** 1/2 

167. Madness -- Absolutely (1980) *** 1/2 

168. Madness -- 7 (1981) ** 1/2 

169. Wolf Alice -- Blue Weekend *** 

170. Joe Higgs -- Life Of Contradictions (1975) *** 1/2 

171. Jackson Browne -- Downhill From Everywhere ** 

172. Black Country, New Road -- For The First Time ** 

173. Los Lobos -- Native Son ** 

174. Ric Robertson -- Carolina Child ***/ 

175. Prince -- Welcome 2 America ** 1/2 ("When She Comes" a keeper) 

176. Laura Mvula -- Pink Noise ** 1/2 

177. Clairo -- Sling ** 1/2 

178. Shirley Collins and Albion Country Band -- No Roses (1971) *** 

179. Jim Lauderdale -- Hope ** 1/2 

180. VA -- Separate Paths Together: An Anthology Of British Male Folk Singers 1965-1975 ** 

181. Colin Hay -- I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself ***/ 

182. George Harrison -- All Things Must Pass (2021 remaster) *** 1/2 

183. The Beatles -- The Beatles aka The White Album **** 

184. Ashley Hutchings -- A Midwinter Miscellany (2020) ** 1/2 

185. Shirley Collins -- Lodestar (2016) *** 1/2 

186. Burl Ives -- Return Of The Wayfaring Stranger (1960) **** Bonus Tracks ** 1/2 

187. Richard Thompson -- Serpent's Tears ep ** ("Tinker's Rhapsody" a keeper) 

188. Billie Eilish -- Happier Than Ever *** 1/2 

189. Nina Simone -- Little Girl Blue (1959) *** 1/2 

190. Scritti Politti -- Cupid & Psyche 85 ** 

191. Son Volt -- Electro Melodier ** 

192. Joe Meek -- I Hear A New World (1960) * 1/2 

193. Mickey Newbury -- Looks Like Rain (1969) **** 

194. Mickey Newbury -- Frisco Mabel Joy (1971) *** 1/2 

195. Mickey Newbury -- Heaven Help The Child (1973) ***/ 

196. Ringo Starr -- Ringo (1973) ** 1/2 

197. Ringo Starr -- Goodnight Vienna (1974) ** 

198. Ringo Starr -- Time Takes Time (1992) ** 1/2 

199. Lorde -- Solar Power ** 1/2 

200. Mickey Newbury -- An American Trilogy (2011) *** 1/2 

201. The Everly Brothers -- Two Yanks In England (1966) ***/ 

202. The Everly Brothers -- It's Everly Time (1960) *** 1/2 

203. The Everly Brothers -- Sing Great Country Hits (1963) ** 1/2 

204. Martha Wainwright -- Love Will be Reborn ** 

205. Sturgill Simpson -- The Ballad of Dood & Juanita *** 

206. The Everly Brothers -- The Everly Brothers aka They're Off And Rolling, Says Archie (1958) ** 1/2 

207. The Everly Brothers -- Christmas With The Everly Brothers (1962) no stars 

208. The Beach Boys -- Sunflower (1970) ***/ 

209. The Beach Boys -- Surf's Up (1971) ** 1/2 

210. The Beach Boys -- Holland (1973) ** 1/2 

211. Ellis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim -- Ellis & Tom (1974) **** 

212. Milton Nascimento & Lo Borges -- Clube de Esquina (1972) *** 1/2 

213. Gerry Rafferty -- Rest In Blue ** 1/2 

214. Richard Pryor -- Craps (After Hours) (1971) *** 

215. Brian Setzer -- Gotta Have The Rumble ** 1/2 (song "Drip Drop" is a keeper) 

216. Richard Pryor -- That N-----'s Crazy (1974) *** 1/2 

217. Caetano Veloso -- Transa (1972) *** 

218. Donovan Woods -- Without People (2020) ** 1/2 

219. Richard Pryor -- ...Is It Something I Said? (1975) **** 

220. John Paul Keith -- The Rhythm of the City ** 1/2 

221. Wanda Jackson -- Encore ** 1/2 

222. Joao Gilberto -- Chega de Saudade (1959) **** 

223. Lindsey Buckingham -- Lindsey Buckingham *** 1/2   

224. Richard Pryor -- Bicentennial N---r (1976) *** 1/2 

225. Rumer -- Live From Lafayette *** 

226. Cartola -- Cartola II (1976) *** 1/2 

227. Playlist -- Yacht Soul For Every Season by Lori Lakin Hutcherson *** 

228. Daniel Romano -- Cobra Poems ** 

229. Buena Vista Social Club -- Buena Vista Social Club (remastered) **** 

230. Jorge Ben Jor -- A Tabua de Esmeralda (1974) *** 1/2 

231. Randy Travis -- Storms of Life (1986) *** 1/2 

232. Raul Seixas -- Krig-Ha, Bandolo! (1973) ** 1/2 

233. Sufjan Stevens -- A Beginner's Mind ***/ 

234. Secos & Molhados -- Secos & Molhados (1974) *** 

235. Gene Clark -- No Other (1974) *** 1/2  

236. Michael Chapman -- Rainmaker (1969) ** 1/2 

237. VA -- The Great Depression: American Music in The 30s (1993) ** 1/2 

238. Supergrass -- In It For The Money (1997) *** 1/2 

239. Dave -- We're All Alone In This Together ** 1/2 

240. Esperanza Spalding -- Songwrighters Apothecary Lab ** 1/2 

241. William Shatner -- Bill ** 1/2 ("Clouds Of Guilt" the keeper) 

242. Alice Clark -- Alice Clark (1972) *** 1/2 

243. Dori Freeman -- Ten Thousand Roses *** 1/2 

244. Ronnie Milsap -- Christmas With Ronnie Milsap (1986) * 

245. Vangelis -- Juno To Jupiter ** 

246. Bela Fleck -- My Bluegrass Heart *** 

247. ABBA -- Gold **** 

248. Brandi Carlile -- In These Silent Days *** 1/2 

249. Adia Victoria -- A Southern Gothic *** 

250. Lil Nas X -- Montero *** 

251. Chico Buarque -- Construçao (1971) *** 

252. Jose Gonzalez -- Local Valley ** 

253. Angus Gill -- The Scrapbook ** 

254. Kacey Musgraves -- Star-Crossed ** 1/2 

255. Perry Como -- In Italy (1966) ** 1/2 

256. Perry Como -- Lightly Latin (1966) ** 

257. Asleep At The Wheel -- Half A Hundred Years ** 

258. Perry Como -- The Scene Changes (1965) ** 1/2 

259. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga -- Love For Sale ** 1/2 

260. Neil Young -- Carnegie Hall 1970 (Live) *** 

261. The Beatles -- Get Back (orig Let It Be, Glynis Johns) *** 1/2 

262. Perry Como -- Seattle (1969) * 

263. Norah Jones -- I Dream Of Christmas * 1/2 

264. Rob Thomas -- Something About Christmas Time * 1/2 

265. Men Without Hats -- Again Pt. 1 * 

266. Duran Duran -- Future Past ** 1/2 

267. Finneas -- Optimist ** 1/2 

268. Kelly Clarkson -- When Christmas Comes Around ** 

269. The Beatles -- Get Back (orig Let It Be 1970 version Glynis Johns) *** 1/2 

270. Jason Isbell -- Georgia Blue ** 

271. Pistol Annies -- Hell Of A Holiday ** 

272. Perry Como -- Seasons Greetings From Perry Como (1959) * 

273. Perry Como -- The Perry Como Christmas Album (1968) * 

274. Perry Como -- Sings Merry Christmas Music (1947) * 

275. Perry Como -- Around The Christmas Tree (1953) * 

276. Perry Como -- It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (2020) * 

277. Perry Como -- The Classic Christmas Album (2014) * 

278. Perry Como -- The Complete RCA Christmas Collection (2013 * 1/2 

279. Perry Como -- Look To Your Heart (1968) * 

280. Glen Campbell -- That Christmas Feeling (1968) * 

281. Billy Idol -- Happy Holidays * 

282. ABBA -- Voyage *** 

283. Steve Perry -- The Season * 

284. Brian Fallon -- Night Divine * 

285. Kristen Chenoweth -- Happiness Is...Christmas! * 1/2 

286. Brett Young -- & Friends Sing Christmas Classics * 

287. Davy Knowles -- What Happens Next ** 

288. Norman Blake -- Day By Day ** 1/2 

289. Josh Turner -- King Size Manger * 1/2 

290. Doobie Brothers -- Liberté ** 

291. Caetano Veloso -- Caetano Veloso aka Tropicalia (1968) *** 1/2 

292. The John Sally Ride -- Now Is Not A Great Time *** 1/2 

293. Aimee Mann -- Queens Of The Summer Hotel *** 1/2 

294. Adele -- 30 ***  

295. Randy Travis -- An Old Time Christmas ** 1/2 

296. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney -- Fancy Meeting You Here (1958) * 1/2 

297. Brian Wilson -- At My Piano *** 

298. Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak -- An Evening With Silk Sonic *** 

299. Anson Seabra -- A Heartfelt Holiday ep ** 1/2 

300. Bluewerks -- Vol. 5: Warm Up (holiday) * 

301. Various Artists -- An Americana Christmas ** 1/2 

302. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss -- Raise the Roof *** 1/2 

303. G Love & Special Sauce -- Coming Back Home For Christmas * 1/2 

304. Gary Barlow -- The Dream Of Christmas * 1/2 

305. America -- Holiday Harmony * 1/2 

306. Take 6 -- We Wish You A Merry Christmas ** 1/2 

307. Nancy Wilson - A Nancy Wilson Christmas ** 

308. Various Artists -- Traditional Jazz Christmas (1997) *** 

309. Merle Haggard -- Merle Haggard's Christmas aka Hag's Christmas (1973) ** ("If We Could...") 

310. Various Artists -- Verve/Unmixed Christmas (2008) ** 1/2 

311. Various Artists -- Christmas Blues: Savoy Jazz Christmas Album (1994) ** 

312. Various Artists -- A Concord Jazz Christmas (1994) * 1/2 

313. Various Artists -- Jingle Bell Swing (2002) *** 

314. Various Artists -- The Ultimate Jazz Christmas (2006) *** 

315. Various Artists -- 60's (sic) Christmas (2018) ** 1/2 

316. Various Artists -- 70's (sic) Christmas (2018) **

317. Various Artists -- Hot Jazz For A Cool Night: A Jazz Christmas (1992) ** 

318. Dean Martin -- The Dean Martin Christmas Album (1966) * 1/2 

319. Various Artists -- A Jazz Christmas! Great Mood Music Vol. 1 (2012) * 1/2 

320. Destiny's Child -- 8 Days of Christmas * 1/2 

321. Alexander O'Neal -- My Gift To You * 

322. Willie Colon, Hector LaVoe and Yomo Toro -- Asalto Navideño (1971/1973) **** 

323. Dianne Reeves -- Christmas Time Is Here ** (title track a keeper) 

324. Joe Robinson -- Christmas au chalet ** 

325. José James -- Merry Christmas From José James * 1/2 

326. Carla Morrison -- La Niña del Tambor ** 

327. Kat Edmondson -- Holiday Swingin' * 1/2 

328. Amanda Shires -- For Christmas * 1/2 

329. Ike & Tina Turner -- River Deep -- Mountain High (1966) *** (poorly produced!) 

330. Bob Seger -- Night Moves (1976) ** 1/2 

331. Michael Hurley -- The Time Of The Foxgloves ** 

332. Joe Lovano -- Garden Of Expression ** 1/2 

333. Pink Pantheress -- To Hell With It ** 1/2 

334. Carly Pearce -- 29: Written In Stone *** 1/2\ 

335. Bomba Estereo -- Deja *** 

336. Maddie Pope --Christmas From Home ep ** 

337. Self Esteem -- Prioritize Pleasure *** 1/2 

338. Robert Goulet -- This Christmas I Spend With You (1963) *** 

339. Robert Goulet -- Wonderful World Of Christmas (1968) 

340. Robert Goulet -- The Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings (2014) ** 1/2 

341. BarlowGirl -- Home For Christmas * 

342. Duke Pearson -- Merry Ole Soul ** 

343. Goat Girl -- On All Fours ** 1/2 

344. Toumani Diabate -- Kôrôlen ** 

345. Tuns -- Duly Noted *** 

346. Lady Blackbird -- Black Acid Soul ** 1/2 

347. Caroline Shaw -- Narrow Sea (w Dawn Upshaw) *** 

348. The Orange Peels -- Celebrate The Moments Of Your Life ** 1/2 

349. Balimaya Project -- Wolo So *** 

350. Judy Garland -- Judy (1958) *** 1/2 

351. Trøen Arnesen Quartet -- Tread Lightly ** 1/2 

352. Southern Culture On The Skids -- At Home With Southern Culture On The Skids *** 

353. Judy Garland -- Judy In Love (1958) **** 

354. Olivier Rocabois -- Olivier Rocabois Goes Too Far ** 1/2 

355. Daniel Herskedel -- Harbour ** 1/2 

356. Kasim Sulton -- Kasim 2021 *** 

357. Micky Dolenz -- Dolenz Sings Nesmith *** 1/2 

358. Faye Webster -- I Know I'm Funny ha ha ** 

359. Jaubi -- Nafs At Peace ** 

360. Native Soul -- Teenage Dreams ** 

361. Yasmin Williams -- Urban Driftwood *** 

362. Indigo de Souza -- Any Shape You Take ** 

363. Rubén Blades -- Salswing! ** 

364. KMRU -- Logue ** 

365. Pokey LaFarge -- In The Blossom Of Their Shade *** 1/2 

366. Petrona Martinez -- Ancestras ** 1/2 

367. Ichiko Aoba -- Windswept 

368. Vijay Iyer -- Uneasy ** 

369. Rauw Alejandro -- Vice Versa *** 

370. Grouper -- Shade ** 

371. Robert Ames -- Change Ringing *** 

372. Cha Wa -- My People *** 

373. Alvaro Diaz -- Feliciandia *** 

374. Mabe Fratti -- Sera Que Ahora Podremos Ententernos ** 

375. Susana Baca -- Palabras Urgentes *** 

376. L'rain -- Fatigue ** 

377. Natalia Lafourcade -- Un Canto por México, Vol. II *** 1/2 

378. Mon Laferte -- Seis *** 

379. Cleo Sol -- Mother ** 1/2 

380. Yebba -- Dawn *** 

381. Little Simz --- I Might Be Introvert ** 

382. Pink Siifu -- Gumbo! ** 

383. Caetano Veloso -- Meu Coco ** 1/2 

384. Kenny Garrett -- Sounds From The Ancestors *** 

385. Arushi Jain -- Under The Lilac Sky *** 

386. Arturo O'Farrill -- ...dreaming in lions... ** 

387. Spindle Ensemble -- Inkling *** 

388. Rodrigo Amarante -- Drama *** 1/2 

389. Emily D'Angelo -- Enargeia ***/ 

390. Spelling -- The Turning Wheel ** 

391. Amythist Kiah -- Wary+Strange ** 

392. Mike -- Disco! ** 

393. Field Music -- Flat White Moon ** 

394. Bill Charlap Trio -- Street Of Dreams ** 1/2 

395. Xenia Rubinos -- Una Rosa *** 

396. Helado Negro -- Far In ** 

397. Mickey Guyton -- Remember Her Name ** 1/2 

398. NRBQ -- Dragnet *** 

399. Tyler, The Creator -- Call Me If You Get Lost *** 

400. Alicia Keys -- Keys *** 1/2 

401. Cimafunk -- El Alimento ** 

402. Courtney Barnett -- Things Take Time, Take Time *** 1/2 

403. James Brandon Lewis -- Jesup Wagon *** 

404. Arooj Aftab -- Vulture Prince ***/ 

405. Blank Gloss -- Melt ** 

406. Space Afrika -- Honest Labour ** 1/2 

407. Sarah Haras -- Mirage ** 

408. Lucy Dacus -- Home Video *** 1/2 

409. Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O -- Umdali *** 

410. Charlotte Cornfield -- Highs In The Minuses ** 

411. Marissa Nadler -- The Path Of The Clouds ** 

412. Weedie Bramaih -- The Hands Of Time ** 

413. Joanna Connor -- 4801 South Indiana Avenue *** 

414. Raoul Vignal -- Years In Marble ** 1/2 

415. Birdy -- Young Heart *** 

416. Justin Bieber -- Justice *** 1/2 (but why MLK?) 

417. Jon Batiste -- We Are ** 

418. Oscar Lang -- Chew The Scenery *** 

419. Common -- A Beautiful Revolution Part 1 & 2 ** 
420. Eric Bibb -- Dear America ** 1/2 

421. Porter Robinson -- Nurture ** 

422. Various Artists -- Licorice Pizza Soundtrack ** 1/2 

423. Lucky Daye -- Table For Two ** 

424. Giveon -- When It's All Said And Done...Take Time ** 

425. Hiatus Kaiyote -- Mood Valiant ** 
426. Juanes -- Origen *** 

427. SG Lewis -- Times ** 

428. Doja Cat -- Planet Her *** 

429. Susanna Hoffs -- Bright Lights *** 

430. Carín Leon -- Inédito *** 1/2 

431. Vince Staples -- Vince Staples ** 

432. Ivonne Galaz -- Voy En Camino *** 

433. Anthony Hamilton -- Love Is The New Black ** 

434. Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeney -- Superwolves **1/2 

435. Karol G -- KG0516 ** 1/2 

436. Julien Baker -- Little Oblivions ** 

437. Black Midi -- Cavalcade ** 

438. Chloe Moriondo -- Blood Bunny ** 

439. Mustafa -- When Smoke Rises ** 

440. Mon Laferte -- 1940 Carmen *** 

441. James McMurtry -- The Horses and the Hounds *** 

442. Jeff Parker -- ForFolks ** 

443. Snail Mail -- Valentine ** 1/2 

444. Kidd G -- Down Home Boy ** 

445. Halsey -- If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power *** 

446. Willow -- Lately I Feel EVRYTHING ** 

447. Japanese Breakfast -- Jubilee ** 1/2 

448. Leon Bridges -- Gold-Digger Sound ** 

449. Sam Gendel -- Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar ** 1/2 

450. Patricia Brennan -- Maquishti ** 1/2 

451. Sting -- The Bridge ** 1/2 

452. They Might Be Giants -- Book *** 

453. Ed Maverick -- Eduardo ** 1/2 

454. Jason Aldean -- Macon ** 1/2 

455. Patricia Barber -- Clique ** 1/2 

456. Ike Reilly -- Because The Angels *** 1/2 

457. Rufus Wainwright and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta -- Live ** 1/2 

458. Willie Nelson -- The Willie Nelson Family *** 

459. My Morning Jacket -- My Morning Jacket ** 

460. Summer Walker -- Still Over It ** 1/2 

461. Jhay Cortez -- Timelezz ** 

462. Damon Albarn -- The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure Flows The Stream ** 

463. Morgan Wade -- Reckless - ** 1/2 

464. Julius Eastman -- Vol. 1: Femenine *** 

465. Bruce Springsteen -- The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concert *** 1/2 

466. Eiko Ishibashi -- Drive My Car soundtrack ** 

467. Little Freddie King -- Goin' Upstairs *** 

468. Jon Cleary -- So Swell ***/ 

469. Irma Thomas -- Love Is The Foundation *** 1/2 

470. Barbra Streisand -- Release Me 2 * 

MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES 

(Not TV movies, of course, but movies and TV -- and TV movies if it comes to that. Mostly I only list TV shows when I've tackled an entire season at once or reappraising an entire series after it's over This doesn't really capture my ongoing watching of current TV.)


1. Tomka And His Friends (1977) *** 

2. A Night At The Opera (1935) *** 

3. The Firemen's Ball (1967) *** 1/2 

4. City Lights (1931) **** 

5. Bulldog Drummond's Secret Service (1939) * 

6. Bulldog Drummond's New Bride (1939) * 

7. The Blues According To Lightnin' Hopkins doc (1968) *** 1/2 

8. Listen, Darling (1938) * 1/2 

9. Roman Holiday (1953) *** 1/2 

10. A Man Called Adam (1966) Sammy Davis Jr vehicle ** (but good songs) 

11. Four Wives (1939) ** 

12. That's Right -- You're Wrong! (1939) * 1/2 

13. The Angels Wash Their Faces (1939) ** 

14. Idiot's Delight (1939) ** 

15. Blackwell's Island (1939) * 1/2 

16. Manhatta (1921) *** 1/2 

17. Dust Be My Destiny (1939) ** (but the leads are really good together) 

18. A Poem Is A Naked Person doc (1974) *** 1/2 

19. Dear Comrades! *** 1/2 

20. Kajillionaire ** 1/2 

21. Promising Young Woman ** 

22. Corpus Christi (2020) *** 1/2 

23. About Endlessness ****  

24. The Boy From Medellin doc ** 1/2 to *** 

25. The Human Factor doc ** 1/2 

26. Summer Of '85 ** 1/2 

27.  Everybody's Hobby (1939) *

28. Two Of Us (2020) *** 

29. Bo Burnham: Inside *** 1/2 

30. Henry Gamble's Birthday Party (2015) ***/  

31. Hopscotch (1980) *** 

32. Black Widow ** 1/2 

33. F9 aka Fast and Furious 9 ** 

34. McCartney 321 (Hulu doc w Rick Rubin) *** 1/2 

35. Shadow Kingdom: The Early Songs Of Bob Dylan film * 1/2; musical performance *** 1/2 

36. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ** 1/2 (drive in) 

37. Free Guy * 1/2 (drive in) 

38. Village Detective: A Song Cycle (2021) *** (Bill Morrison doc) 

39. Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar ----- 

40. Dune ** 1/2 

41. No Time To Die ** 1/2 

42. Belfast ** 

43. Spencer ** 1/2 

44. The French Dispatch *** 1/2 

45. Encanto (at grand River drive in) *** 

46. Eternals (at Grand River Drive in) * 1/2 

47. The Beatles: Get Back **** 

48. C'mon C'mon ** 1/2 

49. West Side Story (2021) ** 

50. A Christmas Carol (1938 w Reginald Owen) ** 1/2 

51. A Christmas Carol (1939 radio play w Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge and Orson Welles) *** 

52. Spider-Man: No Way Home ** 1/2 

53. The Secret Of NIMH (1982) *** 

54. Licorice Pizza ** 

55. Going My Way (1944) *** 1/2 

56. The Bells Of St. Mary's (1945) ** 1/2 

57. Harlan County, USA (1976) *** 1/2 

58. Swing Cat's Jamboree (1938) w Louis Prima **  

59. Gunda ***/ (great cinematography) 

60. Red Rocket ** 1/2 

61. Moffie *** 

62. Drive My Car ** 1/2 

63. The Velvet Underground *** 1/2 

64. I Carry You With Me ** 1/2 (good score) 

65. The Harder They Fall *** (Regina King; prod design) 

66. Parallel Mothers ** 1/2 

67. Flee *** 1/2 

68. Bad Luck Banging, or Loony Porn ** 1/2 

69. Luca ** 1/2 

70. Raya and the Last Dragon ** 

71. Summer of Soul *** 1/2 

72. The Power Of The Dog ** 1/2 

73. The Novice *** 1/2 

74. The Mitchells Vs. The Machines ** 1/2  

75. Tick, Tick...Boom ** 

76. Rocks *** 1/2 

77. The Disciple *** 1/2 

78. CODA ** 

79. Quo Vadis, Aida? *** 

80. A Hero *** 1/2 

81. The Lost Daughter ** 1/2 

82. Macbeth (2021, Denzel Washington) *** 

83. Faya Dayi *** 1/2 

84. Zola *** 1/2 

85. King Richard *** 

THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS
(The names after the shows are the people who joined me at the performance.)


1. Ratatouille The Tik Tok Musical *** (streaming) 

2. 

Updated as of December 31, 2021

IRA How To Do a Top 100 List for Decade Genre All-Time Etc

 When doing a Top 100 Movies of All Time or Top Comedies or Top Silent Films or Top Shorts or Top Films of the 1930s: 

1. Everyone submits an unranked list of 100 films. 

2. Those movies are thrown into a big pile with each vote for each film garnering one point. We get an overall list of movies, break ties and then vote to eliminate the bottom few so we get a solid 100 films. 

3. Those movies are presented alphabetically to the group as the 100 movies that will be on the final list. 

4. Members then rank those 100 films from 100 points at the top for their favorite to 99 points for their second favorite down to 1 point for their least favorite. 

5. Those points are tallied up and we end up with a ranked list of movies. 

6. That list is then voted on by batches of ten, starting with the movies ranked at 91-100. Members rank those movies to determine their order. Then we do the same with 81-90 until the grand finale when we rank the 1-10 films on the list. 

Voila! A new list. 

The Beatles: My 50 -- make that 52! -- Favorite Songs

Here's my first impulsive list, album by album and single by single of every Beatles song that makes me immediately think, Oh I HAVE to include that!  I'm not counting, just tossing in everything that jumps out at me. 

I Saw Her Standing There 

Do You Want To Know A Secret 

She Loves You

I Want To Hold Your Hand 

A Hard Day's Night 

Can't Buy Me Love 

Eight Days A Week 

Ticket To Ride 

Help! 

I've Just Seen A Face 

Yesterday 

We Can Work It Out 

Drive My Car 

Michelle 

In My Life 

Taxman 

Yellow Submarine 

For No One* 

Got To Get You Into My Life 

Paperback Writer 

Rain 

Penny Lane 

Strawberry Fields Forever 

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 

When I'm Sixty-Four 

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) 

A Day In The Life 

All You Need Is Love 

I Am The Walrus 

Lady Madonna 

Back In The U.S.S.R. 

Blackbird 

Julia 

Birthday 

Mother Nature's Son 

Helter Skelter 

Revolution 1 

Cry Baby Cry 

Good Night 

Get Back 

The Ballad Of John & Yoko 

Something 

Come Together 

Here Comes The Sun 

Because 

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window 

Golden Slumbers 

Carry That Weight 

The End 

Her Majesty 

Two Of Us 

Across The Universe 

52!!!  I was asked to do 50 but 52 is a good number and I don't need to add or take out anything. It's roughly chronological as I went back and forth between the singles and the albums. I love all the songs NOT on this list, believe me. Yes, I will heartily sing along with Hey Jude and Let It Be. I love 'em. I just didn't feel the need to include them here. 

Yours in music,

Michael 

*my favorite of them all 

QUEER AS FOLK: FILM AND TV ESSENTIALS PLUS "A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE" VARIETY PACK

 QUEER AS FOLK: ESSENTIAL MOVIE AND TV PICKS (PLUS "A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE" VARIETY PACK) 

Here are films and TV shows I love or just need to be seen, whether they're queer or just queer adjacent. 

ESSENTIAL MOVIES 

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT 

AMMONITE 

ANOTHER COUNTRY 

APARTMENT ZERO 

AUNTIE MAME 

BEACH RATS 

BEAUTIFUL THING 

BEAU TRAVAIL 

THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VAN KANT --so, so many films by German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Toss a dart and start here. 

BOOGIE NIGHTS 

BOUND 

BOYS DON'T CRY 

THE BOYS IN THE BAND (1970) -- groundbreaking, then seen as embarrassing, then as amusing camp and now seen as groundbreaking again. Not really, but worth watching once (and certainly watch the original instead of the remake). 

BPM 

THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN 

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN  

CABARET 

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (1979) 

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME 

CARAVAGGIO 

CAROL 

CAT PEOPLE (1942) 

THE CELLULOID CLOSET 

CHRIS & DON 

CHUCK AND BUCK 

CIRCUS OF BOOKS 

CLUELESS 

COMMON THREADS: STORIES FROM THE QUILT 

CRUMB -- maybe on a double bill w Treasure Island (1950) 

DEAD POETS SOCIETY 

DEATH IN VENICE 

DESERT HEARTS 

DOG DAY AFTERNOON 

EDWARD II 

END OF THE CENTURY 

FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!

FOR A LOST SOLDIER 

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL 

FOX AND HIS FRIENDS -- so, so many films by German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Toss a dart and start here. Querelle, however, is a slog.

GODS AND MONSTERS 

GOD'S OWN COUNTRY 

GREY GARDENS 

HAIRSPRAY (1988) -- Director John Waters is always fun. He has more outrageous films worth seeing (Female Trouble et al) but none more subversive than this family friendly comedy with Divine as a housewife quoting Bob Dylan.

HAPPY TOGETHER 

HAROLD AND MAUDE 

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH 

THE HEIRESS 

THE HOURS AND TIMES 

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE 

THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE 

LAURENCE ANYWAYS -- any movie by director Xavier Dolan is worth watching, like any movie by Rainer Warner Fassbinder or Francois Ozon. This movie about a man transitioning is his masterpiece (so far), but I Killed My Mother, Mommy, Matthias & Maxime...you can't go wrong with Dolan. 

LAW OF DESIRE -- Almodovar! Start with Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown.

THE LONG DAY CLOSES -- director Terence Davies has a string of memorable films. This one is a titch more hopeful than his equally brilliant, brutal Distant Voices, Still Lives and is def where to start. 

LONGTIME COMPANION 

MAURICE 

MIDNIGHT COWBOY -- it has kind of an ugly attitude, not just towards gays. But the unspoken romantic love that Dustin Hoffman has for Jon Voight rescues this and keeps it from being just a scuzzy time capsule. 

MOONLIGHT 

MULHOLLAND DRIVE 

MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE 

MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING 

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

MYSTERIOUS SKIN 

MY SUMMER OF LOVE 

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDYS' REVENGE 

ORLANDO 

PARIAH 

PARIS IS BURNING (1991) 

PARTING GLANCES 

PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE 

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 

PINOCCHIO (1940) 

A PLACE IN THE SUN 

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE 

PORTRAIT OF JASON 

PRICK UP YOUR EARS 

PSYCHO (1960) 

PURPLE NOON 

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE 

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW -- but only if you can see it in a theater

ROPE 

SHOWGIRLS 

A SINGLE MAN 

SOME LIKE IT HOT 

A STAR IS BORN (1954) 

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN 

SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY 

SWOON 

THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY 

TANGERINE 

THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK -- definitely watch this excellent doc rather than the well-intentioned feature film Milk. Or at least watch it first. 

TOMBOY 

TOOTSIE 

TOP GUN -- watch Quentin Tarantino on the gay subtext of Top Gun, one of the funniest things he ever wrote. 

TREASURE ISLAND (1999) -- this has nothing to do with the Robert Louis Stevenson novel. 

VELVET GOLDMINE -- Todd Haynes is a queer director, whether making something explicitly gay like Swoon and Poison or gay adjacent like Far From Heaven. Start here. 

VICTIM 

VICTOR/VICTORIA 

WATER DROPS ON BURNING ROCKS

WATER LILLIES 

THE WAY HE LOOKS 

THE WEDDING BANQUET 

WEEKEND 

WHAT'S OPERA, DOC? 

WILD REEDS 

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) -- NOT the Johnny Depp

WITHNAIL AND I 

THE WIZARD OF OZ 

THE WOMEN 

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN 

WORD IS OUT: STORIES OF SOME OF OUR LIVES 

XXY 

YOSSI & JAGGER 

YOUNG TÖRLESS 

YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS 

Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN

ESSENTIAL TV SHOWS/MOVIES  -- most tv shows aren't good from start to finish. If I list a sitcom, you can always stop watching after three or four seasons, with no loss. 

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS -- not gay at all and yet very very gay. 

AN AMERICAN FAMILY -- for some reason, PBS is not streaming this groundbreaking reality series about the Loud family from the early 1970s. Lance Loud coming out on TV amidst his parents' divorce was a massive moment for the LGBTQI community. 

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER 

LOOKING 

THE L WORD 

MY SO-CALLED LIFE 

QUEER AS FOLK (1999) UK original. If you watch the first season of the American version, that's plenty. 

SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESS OF POWER 

SIX FEET UNDER 

SOAP 

STEVEN UNIVERSE 

TALES OF THE CITY 

VICIOUS -- shamelessly bitchy and cliched show starring Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi. It's like having Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh starring in Three's Company, but you can't help laughing. 

WILL & GRACE

"A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE"  

"A very special episode" is the way TV shows would tease an episode of a sitcom or drama that dealt with something controversial like alcoholism or suicide or bulimia or anything queer. They're not necessarily good but they are fascinating and fun to watch. 

THE REJECTED -- aired on San Francisco's WQED (September 11, 1961)  

CBS REPORTS: THE HOMOSEXUALS (March 7, 1967) 

THAT CERTAIN SUMMER (November 1, 1972) CHEERS -- Season 1, Episode 16 (January 27, 1983) 

AN EARLY FROST TV movie (November 11, 1985) 

thirtysomething -- Season 3, Episode 6 (November 7, 1989) 

BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 -- Season 2, Episode 3 (July 25, 1991) 

ROSEANNE -- Season 6, Episode 18 (March 1. 1994) 

THE REAL WORLD: SAN FRANCISCO -- Season 3, Episodes 1 and 19 (June 30/November 3, 1994) 

FRAISER -- Season 2, Episode 3 (October 4, 1994). 

ELLEN -- Season 4, Episodes 22 and 23 (April 30, 1997) 

DAWSON'S CREEK -- Season 3, Episode 3 (May 24, 2000) 

ONCE AND AGAIN Season 3, Assorted Episodes 8-19 (arc begins November 30, 2001)

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND -- Season 1, Episode 14 (March 7, 2016) 

BOJACK HORSEMAN -- Season 4, Episode 3 (September 8, 2017)

DERRY GIRLS -- Season 1, Episode 6 (February 8, 2018) 

ONE DAY AT A TIME (2017 reboot) -- Season 1, Episode 10 (January 6, 2017) 

FAMILY FRIENDLY: SOME GREAT MOVIES AND TV SHOWS TO WATCH WITH YOUR KIDS

FAMILY FRIENDLY FARE:

Movies and TV shows to Watch With Your Kids

Hey, a lot of great films can be watched with your kids. And you can find a mountain of "family friendly" movies. This is my list of films for families, films with kids at the heart of the action and some films that are great intros to mysteries and musicals and westerns and the like for your kids. They're just great films and TV shows you can enjoy on your own or share with your kids. 

NOTE: this all depends on your family and your kids, needless to say. I've got stuff here great for kids under 8 and stuff appropriate for teens and stuff some parents might never show to their kids at all. But hey, I meant well! 

Wondering where to find this stuff? A great resource is JUSTWATCH.COM. Go there and you'll  get a sense where a lot of this stuff is streaming or available .

MOVIES TO WATCH -- ages may vary!

ALL AGES -- really, these are great films and not JUST for little kids. Not at all. I'm not offering up time killers. These are all really great movies and tv shows that everyone should watch. Yes, Sesame Street and whatever are lovely but those are really JUST for kids. This stuff is for everyone. 

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) -- the classic adventure tale. 

ALADDIN (1992) -- a great action film. And no of course you shouldn't watch the live action version. Be a good parent! 

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES 

THE ARISTOCATS (1970) -- Actually, I don't recommend this Disney animated film. It's just a warning to make certain that if you ARE planning to show your kids The Aristocats that you do in fact show them the 1970 film The Aristocats and NOT the 2005 documentary film The Aristocrats. You're welcome. 

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS -- animated film about Santa Claus from the Brits. Great voice cast and charm to boot. Future classic. Warning: it does say that Santa is a family concern and the job is passed down from one generation to the next so proceed with caution. 

AZUR & ASMAR: THE PRINCE'S QUEST -- it's only our narrow outlook that makes us think cartoons equal Disney. This delightful French fable will enchant kids, given half a chance. 

BABE -- one of the great animal films, but be wholly prepared for your kids to announce they've gone vegetarian. That's not an agenda of the film but a little inevitable. If you're really into it (and I am), the darker sequel Babe: Pig In The City is also very good. This is an all-time classic. 

BACK TO THE FUTURE -- not the sequels. 

BAMBI -- perhaps the most beautiful animated film ever made. It's pitch perfect from start to finish but of course it DOES begin with a mom being killed by hunters and, like Babe, it might well make them think twice about eating meat.  

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) -- The Disney animated version is one of the all-time great movie musicals. Full stop. And if you're a really cool parent, you will wait a bit and then show them the 1946 version La Belle et la Bette. Just saying. 

THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIANS' (1954) -- the chaotic original, please. 

BIG (1988) -- Tom Hanks classic. 

BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE -- goofy fun plus some not terribly accurate history lessons. 

THE BLACK STALLION -- absolutely gorgeous boy-and-his-horse movie, entrancing from start to finish. Bonus: the middle 40 min or so are akin to a silent movie. Point that out to them later. 

THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN -- funny/scary entertainment. As a bonus, show them this and a little later you can spring Young Frankenstein on them and they'll laugh all the louder. 

BUSTER KEATON SHORTS -- I've got one or two movies listed here. But the shorts of Buster Keaton are the place to start. Just look for the ones viewed the most on YouTube or the most popular on whatever service you stream them. The younger the kids are, the less they'll realize they're not supposed to be watching a black and white short and the more they'll love them for life. Plus, they're short! Consider a black and white silent short or classic Looney Tunes cartoon before your feature film or TV show watching begins! When you're ready for movies, Steamboat Bill, Sherlock Jr, The General and so on. Suggested shorts to start: One Week, Cops, The Cook, Convict 13, The Haunted House. As with all the silent shorts, you can find tons of them on YouTube for starters. 

CAPTAIN'S COURAGEOUS (1937)

CHARLIE CHAPLIN SHORTS -- Chaplin has the feature length films best geared towards kids (more than Keaton et al, I think). But his shorts are amazing and you probably haven't seen most of them and they're very funny. When you're ready for movies, of course The Kid, The Circus, City Lights, The Gold Rush, Modern Times and so on. Some shorts to start with: Easy Street, The Adventurer, The Rink, One A.M. etc etc etc. See Buster Keaton shorts for my full advice on silent comedies. 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1951) -- the 1951 version with Alastair Sim, but you already knew that, of course. 

A CHRISTMAS STORY 

DISNEY/PIXAR FILMS -- I list some of them here. You know them, you love them or at least you see their usefulness in keeping the kids intelligently entertained for 100 minutes at a time. 

THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE -- a less appreciated Disney animated film, this is a great spin on those Bing Crosby-Bob Hope road movies. Follow it up with The Road To Morocco. 

E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL -- Yes, they're going to get upset and cry at one point. It's ok.  

FOR ALL MANKIND (1989) -- this doc about the exploration of space isn't well known but it's terrific. It combines footage from all sorts of missions to create a sort of idealized space flight from take off to space walk to moon landing and back to earth. Really, really absorbing. If older kids love it, you can move on to the miniseries From The Earth To The Moon and the film Apollo 13.  

GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE -- on the silly/dumb side (which is not my cup of tea) but Brendan Fraser is so appealing as George he makes up for any failings. 

GOING MY WAY -- another Christmas movie! This one has a lot of Bing and kids interacting and it's great holiday fare. Though non-Catholics may find it a bit much, it's great (as is the sequel The Bells Of St. Mary's w Ingrid Bergman as a nun!). 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS (1946) 

THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE -- a little-appreciated Disney film that's perfect for parents and kids fond of mysteries. A gateway drug to Sherlock Holmes and mysteries in general. This is the real rebirth of Disney (not quite The Fox and the Hound, which came out before, or the brilliant Little Mermaid, which came out after). 

HAIRSPRAY (1988) -- the stage musical is a lot of fun but watch the original John Waters film, not the musical version w John Travolta.  

A HARD DAY'S NIGHT -- So great, so fun, so original. It's a gateway drug to movie musicals. As a bonus, they'll be demanding to play Beatles music for weeks afterwards. See also Yellow Submarine.

THE HOBBIT (2012) -- No. Don't. Let them read the book, listen to a radio adaptation, but don't let them watch these movies. The Lord of the Rings? Yes. Not these. 

HOPE & GLORY -- the London home front during WW II from the kid's perspective. Charming. 

HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (1941) 

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE -- definitely follow or precede the film with the novel it's based on by Dianne Wynne Jones. 

THE INCREDIBLES  

I WAS BORN, BUT... (1932) -- A Japanese silent comedy/drama about two kids who think their dad is kowtowing to the boss at work too much. Really great.  

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH -- a great score from Randy Newman and one of the more offbeat offerings from Disney. A peach. (Sue me.) 

JASON & THE ARGONAUTS (1963) -- stop motion action at its best since the original King Kong

THE JUNGLE BOOK (1967) -- another great collection of songs by the Sherman Brothers make this mid-period Disney a classic. The Mowgli stories are actually more complex and better than this movie or the many live action versions, with more of an emphasis on the inherent danger of the jungle, rather than it being a playground for humans.

KOYAANISQATSI -- Kids are so visually savvy from a young age, they may get it more quickly than a lot of adults. This is an 86 min mostly wordless documentary. It's been so influential it might not wow as much as it did in 1982. But it remains a mesmerizing spectacle with much to say about the beauty of the planet. Gorgeous. Ideal for everyone from kiddies to college students. 

KUNG FU PANDA -- you can stop here or hit the sequel if you like. Great fun. Follow it up with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or some Jackie Chan when they're ready. 

LABYRINTH 

LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955)  

LASSIE COME HOME (1943) 

LAUREL AND HARDY SHORTS -- Start with: The Music Box, Busy Bodies, Brats, etc etc. Kids will love them, especially when you're watching and laughing along with them. Laurel and Hardy have some decent movies but really the shorts are where it's at. Plus, they're short! See also Buster Keaton for my advice on black and white silents. 

LIFE WITH FATHER (1947) 

THE LITTLE FUGITIVE (1953) -- great film about a seven year old boy tricked into thinking he's hurt his brother so he runs away to Coney Island. All non-actors and it shows but also a loving look at NYC in the 1950s. Avoid the remake. 

THE LITTLE MERMAID 

A LITTLE PRINCESS (1995 and then 1939) -- the Shirley Temple version is solid but this remake is even better. Then you can read the novel! 

LITTLE WOMEN -- Like many, I have major problems with the novel. The first half is delightful. The second half is the sequel Good Wives but it's long been packaged as one novel and that's where Louisa May Alcott undercut everything she accomplished with the first book. And yet, it's been turned into a string of delightful movies. Though of COURSE Jo should have married Laurie, especially when he's embodied by Christian Bale. Despite this, the movies are great, by and large. The 1933 version starring Katherine Hepburn, the terrific 1994 version with Winona Ryder and the 2019 version with Saoirse Ronan probably in that order. All delightful in various ways. 

LOONEY TUNES CARTOON SHORTS -- Hey, before you watch a movie or tv episode, toss on a cartoon or silent short! If you're not sure where to begin, you can find a thousand lists online from people naming their favorite Looney Tunes cartoons. Or go to Amazon and check out a DVD with the 50 Best Looney Tunes for a great sampler suggestion. They'll all include stuff like What's Opera, Doc, One Froggy Evening, Scaredy Cat, Duck Amuck, The Rabbit Of Seville, Rabbit Hood (after you've shown them The Adventures Of Robin Hood), Duck Amuck and a million other greats. Hard to go wrong! 

THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 

MARY POPPINS (1964) -- and no, I don't recommend the books but this has one of the great scores. 

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) -- dear god, NOT the remake

THE MUPPET MOVIE -- but then proceed to the classic TV series from the 1970s before tackling the many sequels of variable quality. 

MY BODYGUARD 

MY LIFE AS A DOG --  a little stranger than you remember but wonderful. 

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO -- another animated gem from Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. I just list this and Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, assuming anyone who loves these will seek out the rest. 

NATIONAL VELVET (1944) 

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS -- I could list a dozen great Christmas/Halloween movies. But this should be a holiday perennial. 

OCTOBER SKY -- a great family film starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a kid in a coal mining town who becomes enamored with science. Butts heads with his father. Bonus: the memoir it's based on is great too and includes a few strong sequels. 

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS (1961) -- please not the live action remake.  

PATHER PANCHALI -- the Indian classic about life for the little boy Apu and his poor family. In two minutes the kids will forget they're watching a subtitled film. 

PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE -- and then the TV show and then Pee-wee's Big Top. 

PETER PAN -- better they should read the book rather than watch the Disney cartoon or any of the awful live action versions over the years. If you must, you can show them the Mary Martin TV version but I doubt it'll pull them in. 

PINOCCHIO (1940) -- Of course I mean the 1940 Disney original, not ANY of the thousand awful to so-so remakes over the years. This is one of the most beautiful animated films of all time and the story is a thorough, complex delight. You'll like the end of Spielberg's "A.I. : Artificial Intelligence" much more if you see this first. Oh, and it's SCARY during the amusement park scene. Like many classic Disney films, this has bite.  

THE PRINCESS BRIDE -- perfectly captures the book and of course it should be seen and then read or read and then seen and then seen and then read and then read again and then seen.... 

RATATOUILLE -- then dive into the reality TV series Kids Baking Championship if they're suddenly into cooking. 

THE RED BALLOON -- a wordless French film about a little boy being followed around by a red balloon. Simplicity itself and a delight. And it's 34 min long. I am not dissing the 2007 remake with Juliette Binocche but really, you need to see this first.  

THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER (1975) 

RUDY -- the underdog of all underdog sports movies. Heart-warming and wholesome in the best possible sense. 

THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH 

SITTING PRETTY (1948) 

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS 

SOUNDER 

THE SOUND OF MUSIC -- haven't you shown them this already? What are you, a monster? 

SPIRITED AWAY -- A classic from Japan's Walt Disney, Hayao Miyazaki. He is a genius and almost everything he did is worth checking out. This is his masterpiece and it is VERY Japanese. That sense of discovering something new (rather than the latest spin on a fairy tale) is what makes it especially wonderful for Westerners. Just a delight. 

STAND BY ME -- a great coming of age tale. 

STAR WARS -- Duh. extra points if you can find a cut of the original theatrical cut for them to watch. Even more points if you stop watching after the original trilogy, at least for a while. Don't spoil their childhood so soon with the prequels and sequels. Bonus: like many movies and tv shows on here, you've got a LOT of books for them to dive into if they're loving it and want more. 

TANGLED -- this spin on Rapunzel is a top-notch Disney animated movie, ranking right up there. 

TARZAN (1999) -- only one or two Johnny Weissmuller movies can equal this Disney classic and it has no questionable portrayals of Africans to answer for. I have NO IDEA why they never made a proper sequel. 

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1974) 

THREE O'CLOCK HIGH -- a showdown with a bully, captured in nerve-racking, amusing detail. 

TIME BANDITS 

TO BE AND TO HAVE -- a French documentary about a teacher in a small rural town, where he deals with numerous ages at once in classic, one big room fashion. Kids will be engrossed seeing how their daily travails become the stuff of high drama in a film. And the teacher is so so kind and empathetic (like Mr Rogers times a thousand) you'd go back to school if you could have him as your home room teacher. 

TOY STORY 1 AND 2 AND 3 (AND 4)

TREASURE ISLAND (1950) -- and the book! And then the book Kidnapped! 

A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN -- and the book is even better. 

20, 000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954) 

UP -- It's awesome to see kids moved by the life of an elderly couple. Plus, you'll spend the next few weeks shouting out "squirrel" the way the dog in the movie does. 

WALL-E 

WARGAMES 

WE ARE THE BEST! -- pretty awesome Swedish film about 13 year old girls who want to rock out. In true punk fashion they have no clue how to play instruments but form a band anyway. The exclamation point is wholly deserved. 

WHALE RIDER 

WHITE FANG (1991) -- the Ethan Hawke version. 

WHO KILLED ROGER RABBIT 

WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) -- the Gene Wilder version only, please. i don't recommend the books. 

THE WINSLOW BOY --  this remake of a classic play is the best version. A family's honor is at stake when they defend their son and take him at his word over an incident at school. 

THE WIZARD OF OZ -- See, I'm not taking anything for granted. 

YELLOW SUBMARINE -- Yes, it has awesome, psychedelic visuals that prove the handcrafted loveliness of Disney and Miyazaki is just one way to go when it comes to animation. Yes, it has great songs and hey, it's the Beatles. What I love most is the offbeat sweetness of this affair. The Blue Meanies are defeated and kids should believe that will always happen. They'll have plenty of time later to realize it's not alway the case. 

ZOOTOPIA -- if they love it, lead them into film noir and detective films. 

OLDER KIDS/TEENS 

AIRPLANE! -- a brief glimpse of boobies and some sexual innuendo. Let this warning stand in for all movies. But you know, the same can be found in Bugs Bunny and most of it will go over their heads. 

THE BREAKFAST CLUB -- of the John Hughes films, this is the one that has aged well. (Molly Ringwald is always great but Sixteen Candles and Pretty In Pink have problems.) And yes, it really is all the fault of the parents. 

THE CLASS -- French classic about Teacher and students in a high school class. 

CLUELESS -- timeless high school comedy. 

CRIP CAMP -- a great documentary film. It begins with kids at summer camp, except they're kids with varied disabilities in the early 1970s. Eye-opening and fun, with modest discussion of making out and getting lucky tossed in there, though the focus is on the kids who go there and their lives as activists later on. 

CROUCHING TIGER,  HIDDEN DRAGON -- quite long, with slow parts a flashback that will confuse younger kids. But it's a great film akin to The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) in terms of glorious entertainment. 

DAZED AND CONFUSED -- def for teens only with drinking and drugs and sex on tap. But one of the great high school movies. 

ELECTION -- high school politics at its worst (best). Def only for older kids. Pity it didn't remain satire. 

EMPIRE OF THE SUN -- a very serious film about World War II and one of Spielberg's best, it contains a riveting performance by Christian Bale as the young boy at its center. Deeply moving but a lot of heartache on the way. 

FAME 

THE FLAMINGO KID -- 

THE 400 HUNDRED BLOWS --  French classic about disaffected youth. Their Rebel Without A Cause. 

GOODFELLAS -- Good. You're paying attention. Just checking. 

GREASE 

GREMLINS 

HOOP DREAMS -- high schoolers with a dream of going pro. Should be gripping to any kids with a love of sports. You can break it up into three parts, since it's pretty long. 

ISLE OF DOGS -- delightful Wes Anderson film though kids especially sensitive to treatment of dogs should take care. Plus The Fantastic Mr. Fox. 

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE -- pretty darn dark, by the way. 

A LITTLE ROMANCE -- an absolute charmer of a movie where an American girl befriends a french boy in Paris and they decide their first kiss simply must take place at a particular bridge in Venice. Helping in their scheme is a wonderfully hammy Laurence Olivier as a pickpocket elderly man. The debut film of Diane Lane. 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS -- Quite violent and dark, ultimately but great. Do NOT let your kids watch The Hobbit movies, not if you love them. Let them read that book, or better still read it with them. Then when they're ready, the Lord Of The Rings movies. You can also find a GREAT BBC radio adaptation that runs to 12 or so episodes. It's terrific and a great new way to enjoy these stories. 

PAPER MOON -- During the Depression, a shady Bible salesman is saddled with a little girl. In black and white but since you've been showing your kids Charlie Chaplin shorts for a while, they won't blink twice! A gem, but a little downbeat and serious at times, so really for kids ready for that. 

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE 

RED RIVER -- a great western and ideal for its unspoken (substitute) father and son dynamic. This is a way into Westerns though many others would choose Shane. 

SEVEN SAMURAI -- Perfect for older kids. You might think they'll complain about subtitles but they've probably been seeing them on various tv shows for years. A great entertainment to get them into classic cinema from around the world. Wait a little and then you can show them The Magnificent Seven. 

SEVEN UP/14 UP/21 UP -- three landmark documentary films. The first focuses on a modest cross section of kids in the UK who are of course seven years old. The second film catches up with them seven years later and the third when they're 21. Kids will love seeing themselves the unvarnished focus of a film and taken seriously. Teens will be amused by the first and engaged by the second. If they ask to see the third and fourth and so on, you've done a good job parenting or they're just very very smart!

SPIDERMAN: INTO THE SPIDERVERSE -- a lot of the Spider Man movies are quite good, from the great first two Tobey Maguires to Tom Holland's run. But this animated version is great for how it uses so many different styles of animation and captures the vibe of a comic book more than perhaps any other film to date. It's just...fun though like all Spidey movies it gets dark and heavy too. 

SUMMER 1993 -- a Spanish film about a six year old orphaned girl who goes to live with relatives. Not strictly a kids movie but it's presented quite often from her perspective. For older kids. 

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE - the grand daddy of superhero movies, this is also kind of beautifully SLOW. Like an old Bible epic. Then Superman II. Then stop. 

TAPS 

TWENTY FOUR EYES -- classic Japanese tearjerker about a beloved school teacher. As a bonus, it has a strong anti-war message.

VALLEY GIRL (1983) 

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE -- perhaps a little too intense for little kids, this imaginative film is the rare feature length film to tackle a picture book, expand it into a film and do it justice. A bold beautiful film.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN -- So, so funny. Even better, prepare them with some scary classic horror originals like Bride Of Frankenstein and the like. Not necessary to enjoy this  masterpiece from Mel Brooks. 

GREAT TV SHOWS TO WATCH WITH YOUR KIDS 

ALL AGES 

THE ADVENTURES OF PETE AND PETE 

ADVENTURE TIME -- 12 minute episodes make this perfect for diving in. 

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL (1978) -- definitely the original rather than the recent remake. The original is perfect for kids with a love of animals. Though some creatures die most cases resolve happily and the animals are messily, delightfully real. Bonus: the books are great too (and very well read by the lead actor if you're inclined to an audio book.) 

AMERICAN DREAMS -- hard to find right now, but when it reappears this is an excellent family drama w great classic music to boot. (Pity about the rushed ending to season three.) 

ANIMANIACS (1993) -- start with the original series. 

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (1985) -- I'm referring to the 1985 Canadian TV series, which surely will pop up again somewhere someday soon. Bonus: the books are great too. 

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER (2005) -- the animated series, NOT the live action movie. 

BILL NYE, THE SCIENCE GUY 

BLUE PLANET (2001) -- The quality of nature documentaries has gone through the roof in recent decades and you can credit Blue Planet for that. It's an absolute milestone and I couldn't give a toss for nature or the outdoors. Engrossing and thrilling from start to finish. Like Disney, you will be seeing some death and dying but by and large it's inspiring and hopeful. They can deal with it. 

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS -- the classic original. 

THE COSBY SHOW -- yep.  

DEXTER'S LABORATORY (1996) -- kid with secret lab he hides from his folks, though annoying sister complicates things. The gateway drug to Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2003) and Samurai Jack. 

DOCTOR WHO (1963 onward) -- If you're not a fan already, you probably won't be. But anyone with a zest for sci-fi should dive in. Especially fun with the kids and a great reminder how $5 special effects work great when you're ready to suspend disbelief. 

EERIE, INDIANA (1991) -- a Twilight Zone for kids. Gone too soon!

EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS -- a great show centered on a kid, very funny and sharp. 

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS -- irreplaceable. And dear god, not the film version with Jim Carrey. 

KIDS BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP -- very well done cooking show where kids age 10-13ish compete in a series of VERY challenging baking competitions. Fun spirit, generous hosts but kids do get very upset. If your kid is into cooking you're already watching this. 

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER -- early seasons especially are great. The pilot will open your mind to this show, for a scene where Beaver and Wally discuss how to handle their parents. Not so wholesome or dull as you'd think. 

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE -- stop after about three or four seasons, but it's saccharine good fun right up until Nellie Olsen becomes a demon child and one of the Ingalls kids goes blind. Bonus: you can get them to tackle the books. (And if you're that sort of parent, you'll follow with a discussion about HOW to read them.) 

THE MUPPET SHOW (1976) -- finally available again on Disney+ and worth the $6 a month for that alone. Old school vaudeville, this is great family entertainment in the best sense of the word.  

PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE -- sneakily progressive, but don't worry. It's mostly just silly fun. 

PINKY AND THE BRAIN -- worthy of comparison to classic Looney Tunes stuff. 'nuff said. 

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS (1998) 

THE ROCKY & BULLWINKLE SHOW (1959) -- missing in action, but awesomely fun in its absurdist and silly attitude. So keep an eye out. 

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK -- more great shorts to plug in before watching a movie or tv show. Reason enough to get Disney+ at least for a month or two. 

THE SOPRANOS -- You're STILL paying attention. Good! 

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS -- You'll probably feel SpongeBob has drained Bikini Bottom of every comic potential after the fourth or fifth season, but the series is dependably delightful and I cherish any show that has a kind rather than snarky attitude. Who better to celebrate dorkiness and optimism? Pretty irresistible. 

THE WONDER YEARS (1998) -- getting a reboot but the original is still striking for its mix of comedy and drama and taking the kids' point of view w seriousness. 

OLDER KIDS/TEENS 

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) -- a gazillion comic book-based shows are out there. If you're into that stuff, you know what to enjoy with your kids. This is a high water mark and perfect for sharing.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER -- older kids. Great way to have boys watch a girl kick ass. Monsters! High school! Sex (eventually)! 

DARIA 

FREAKS AND GEEKS -- set in high school in the early 1980s. One of the great casting jobs of all time means this is filled with amazing talent. 

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2006) -- the 2004 movie is very good too. You can just watch the first season and be done. It's nigh on perfect. Or you can skip season two. (Trust me.) Or if you love it you can watch it all and deal with the messiness. Great kids, great for sports fans (but not just for sports fans; I don't care about football in the least) and great for showing a happily married husband and wife. 

GILMORE GIRLS -- not just for girls! Great watching kids deal with parents and parents deal with THEIR parents. Great dialogue and smart and funny and sweet. 

I'LL FLY AWAY -- this classic tv drama is impossible to find right now. But once it's available, this is great and enduring television. 

I  LOVE LUCY -- especially the first few seasons. Barely a kid in sight but who cares? 

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE 

MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS -- the kids will come for the silliness and stay for the bracing absurdity of it all. 

RICK & MORTY -- they're already watching it; you should too. 

SAMURAI JACK -- awesome cartoon series that notches up the darkness in the fifth and final season. 

SQUARE PEGS 

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (2003) -- Note, this is the 2003 miniseries/movie created by Genndy Tartakovsky, NOT the 2008 series overseen by George Lucas. Needless to say, the Lucas series is more readily available. Sigh. 

VERONICA MARS (2004) -- A great detective show. Great father-daughter relationship. Never comes close to equalling season one and I would advise you to watch just that. But you'll keep watching because Kristen Bell. I remain amazed by the voice Max Greenfield used for his character in this series -- how did he come up with it? Why? 

The IRAs -- Best Picture Winners For The Past 20 Years

 The IRAs -- Best Picture Winners For The Past 20 Years

L’ Humanite (2000)
The Werckmeister Harmonies (2001)
Far From Heaven and The Son’s Room (tie) (2002)
Decasia (2003)
Kinsey (2004)
Mysterious Skin (2005)
L’Enfant (2006)
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)
The Edge Of Heaven (2008)
Hunger (2009)

A Prophet/Un Prophete (2010) 
The Tree Of Life (2011)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (2012)
Laurence Anyways (2013)
Nightcrawler (2014)
Tangerine (2015)
Moonlight (2016)
BPM (2017)
Capernaum (2018)
End Of The Century (2019)  

And the complete list of Best Picture Winners: 

IRA BEST PICTURE WINNERS

Barry Lyndon (1975)
Lipstick and The Marquise Of O (tie) (1976)
Annie Hall (1977)
Days Of Heaven (1978)
Fedora (1979)

The Big Red One (1980)
Cutter’s Way (1981)
Victor/Victoria (1982)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1983)
L’Argent and Once Upon A Time In America (tie) (1984)
Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
Eyes On The Prize (1986)
Housekeeping (1987)
Dead Ringers (1988)
Story Of Women (1989)

GoodFellas (1990)
The Man In The Moon (1991)
Raise The Red Lantern (1992)
Six Degrees Of Separation (1993)
Red (1994)
Exotica (1995)
La Ceremonie (1996)
Crash (the David Cronenberg film) and Grosse Pointe Blank (tie) (1997)
Gods And Monsters (1998)
Fight Club (1999)

L’ Humanite (2000)
The Werckmeister Harmonies (2001)
Far From Heaven and The Son’s Room (tie) (2002)
Decasia (2003)
Kinsey (2004)
Mysterious Skin (2005)
L’Enfant (2006)
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)
The Edge Of Heaven (2008)
Hunger (2009)

A Prophet/Un Prophete (2010) 
The Tree Of Life (2011)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (2012)
Laurence Anyways (2013)
Nightcrawler (2014)
Tangerine (2015)
Moonlight (2016)
BPM (2017)
Capernaum (2018)
End Of The Century (2019)  

Kajillionaire (2020)