Back in February I vowed to get my YouTube algorithm re-calibrated so it was sending me more good videos. Jumping into the car-buying process kick-started that process. It might be time to swing back the other way, as I only watched a few “normal” shows in April and my YT feed is overrun with car vids.
Movies, Shows, etc
Curb Your Enthusiasm, season 11
Five foot fence!
B+
Curb Your Enthusiasm, season 12
LD pretty much stuck the landing. I wasn’t sure where the season was going early on, but it slipped into gear in the middle and finished up pretty strong.
I did not like how the finale began. We’re supposed to believe that someone who has harped on societal niceties for 35 years isn’t going to turn his phone off or fasten his seatbelt when a plane takes off? That fit into the broader point of the finale, though: Larry is a terrible person. It was great bringing Jerry Seinfeld back. Any time I see David and Seinfeld interact I think of what it would have been like to see these two bounce ideas off each other back in their writing primes. The final image was just about perfect.
A-
Conan O’Brien Must Go
As you’ll see below, a lot of Conan content this month, mostly because of this new travel show. Every episode is great, but the segment where he learns about common Irish phrases is one of the best moments of the series.
A
Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know
My brother-in-music E$ recommended this. It was indeed pretty good. In fact, it might be the perfect, modern rock doc. It was brisk, checking in at exactly an hour. It ripped through the band’s history. Four of the five original members participated. There wasn’t too much attention to the band’s most recent albums. I would have liked to have seen more details of their prime years, when I’m guessing these dudes lived AMAZING lives. I’d rather a flick like this leave me wanting more than dragging on too long, though.
B+
NBA Playoffs
I only watched the Pacers closely, but had them on almost every night there was a game.
B+
Shorts, YouTubes, etc
Tyrese Haliburton, Robbie Avila, and the Heart of Indiana Basketball
A fun piece that covers a lot of the state of basketball in Indiana these days. Notably they miss Purdue, but the Boilers were in Ohio the weekend these guys visited.
Conan O’Brien Needs a Doctor While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
This is outstanding in every way. I laughed so hard I cried multiple times.
Andy Richter Coming Up Clutch Pt. III
Andy Richter’s Best Zingers & Quips Pt. II
Hilarious.
Dave responded to Jay’s “Don’t Blame Conan”
This “commentary” by David Letterman about the Tonight Show mess was terrific.
Can Our Merino Wool T-Shirt Handle Tasmania’s Most Rugged Challenges? 72 Hours: Tasmania, Australia
I’m ok with commercials like this that are just as much travel videos as product pushers.
How the UN is Holding Back the Sahara Desert
This is both awesome and, likely, a relatively cheap project. So I’m sure there are a lot of folks in the political world who want to stop funding projects like it.
Exploring Japanese Street Food and Local Surfing Spots | DIRT Japan Part 1: Kyushu
Incredible scenes and food.
DIRT Host Josh Rosen Unpacks His Essential Gear From His Alaska Adventure
Of course he has cool gear.
Cycling Iceland – 18 Days Bikepacking Iceland’s Ring Road
This journey, and Iceland, look incredible. But I think it would be even more incredible done in a car or SUV. But I’m also almost 53 years old.
STEP BROTHERS – Bloopers
Will Ferrell, Exotic Animal Expert
Don’t Ask Will Ferrell About Professor Feathers
Will Ferrell’s SNL Audition
Will Ferrell rabbit hole.
‘Something had to change’: Larry David gets candid on Morning Joe
The Moment Curb Your Enthusiasm Went From Pretty Good To Great
Larry David Stand-Up Comedy
How Larry David ALMOST Broke Seinfeld
LD rabbit hole.
HOW the HELL Is This Apocalyptic 1979 Anthem MORE Relevant TODAY than it was THEN?-Professor of Rock
TOBTM.
Community 38 Greatest Quotes
I’m not sure about 38 greatest, but these are pretty good. The comments might be even better.
Community having world class writing for 13 minutes straight
Algorithm gonna algorithm.
Dave Franco and Alison Brie Read Thirst Tweets
Dave Franco & Alison Brie Take a Couples Quiz
They are just precious.
Steve Carell making the whole cast break: The Office Bloopers
Has to be some Office content if I’m diving into other classic, TV comedy vids.
Is the iPhone “Illegal?”
I’m no attorney, but I find the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Apple to be quite weird. There are some parts that make sense, while others seem completely illogical. MKBHD’s views largely mirror mine.
Middle Kids Live at WNXP’s Sonic Cathedral
Good stuff.
Walking 90km to work changed my life
Beau Miles bullshit.
Emperor penguin chicks jump off a 50-foot cliff in Antarctica
I love penguins. I hate heights. So I’m conflicted here.
Norm Macdonald Constant Shitting on OJ Simpson
Norm Macdonald Constant Shitting on OJ Simpson Part 2
35 minutes of Norm McDonald destroying OJ.
Car Content
Lucid Air vs BMW i5 | Battle of Electric RWD Sedans
When my buddy drove me around in his Lucid, sadly he didn’t drive like this.
How the 2025 Lucid Gravity Rethinks the SUV for an EV Age
Not in my budget now or probably ever, but still cool to see where the high end of the market is headed.
How Chinese EV Giant BYD Is Taking On Tesla
There are some advantages to the Chinese market the US can’t compete with. But a decade of roughly half of our nation running away from EVs, in terms of political/economic policy and buying choice, has put us woefully behind and now we’re resorting to threatening to ban Chinese cars. Ain’t that America?
18-Month Timeline of the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis EV ICCU Recall Revealed
Maybe they’ve figured out their electrical issues?
I Drive The Taycan Turbo GT For The First Time! Porsche Dials Up Their EV Performance To 11
Sweet Jesus!
I Drive The Porsche Macan EV For The First Time!
If you want a slightly more refined Porsche drive in an electric platform.
How To Ruin Your Electric Car’s Battery – 3 Common Mistakes
A typical YouTube title that overstates things, but some good guidelines for EV owners. I won’t follow these as strictly since I am leasing and am not trying to get the battery to last 10 years.
Podcasts
The Vergecast: The TikTok ban and the iPhone monopoly
This is in my normal podcast rotation, although I don’t always get to it. This episode was terrific for explaining what’s going on with Apple and the Department of Justice, and TikTok and the US government as a whole.
What Kind of a Superpower Is India Becoming?
We think of Russia, China, and the mess in the Middle East as the most important geo-political challenges of the moment. India is fixin’ to buck its head, though, and I found this look at where they are and where they are headed super informative.
How One Small Company Saves Retro Tech
I loved this look at Retrospekt, a company that refurbs and resells old technology products. What a great journey for the owners. Also I listened to this in podcast form, but this link is to the YouTube video.