I’m not going to lie: I’m still thinking about the story Celebitchy covered last month about David Cross telling Conan about his and Amber Tamblyn’s couple’s colonic, and how that was a bad idea. I was confused when I read the story, and I remain confused as to why that seemed like a good idea for any amount of time.

If, like me, you want to forget that particular story, here’s another one about Amber: In April, she tweeted that she is Olay’s “Creative Director for an important project about self care.” She’s also published three books of poetry, so perhaps it’s no surprise that she’s penned “The Braveness of Being: Olay’s Manifesto for Self Care”, which Us Weekly exclusively shared:

See the boldness of your dare,
the dawning of you, rising to its power,
radiating into the world, your journey’s brightness.

As you move into the next languages of your story,
celebrate all that has been conjured and conquered to get here,
and all that must be cherished and nurtured
to keep going.

See your body’s protection as the gift
you were given, and give,
for the past and future armors of your skin:

Be delicate to the touch,
soothing in a world of severity,
resilient against the odds.

As you move into the next intentions of your trajectory,
be a crescendo of kindness and courage to that which you live in:
Your skin.

Sing the song of self care
not just for yourself
but for those who are still unsung.

Stand in solidarity with your sisters,
in our collective safety,
not just one woman at a time,
but for all of womankind.

As you enter into the braveness of being,
always remember to pass on
the wisdom of your worn womanhood:
your skin’s legacy,
to the next generation
of the wise.

[From US Weekly]

Contrary to the language in the article that indicates that the poem is directed toward “all those who identify as women,” it also quotes Amber as saying,“‘I wanted the piece to feel personal and intimate when speaking to the next generation of women and non-binary voices who are our future.’”

I have side-eyed some of Amber’s past comments, particularly those that she’s made in defense of her husband’s racism. I appreciated some of her comments in this article when discussing her self-care routine: “Self-care is often a privilege and in some cases, a luxury. But not all self-care has to be… It is deeply personal and different for different people.” I recently ran across an article headline that pointed out that self-care is a privilege. Not everyone has the time for it or the means and access to it, so I think that it’s important that Amber pointed that out. It helps her avoid coming across here as ignorant of her privilege when talking about this work. (This might have been the article.)

I’m someone who loves poetry; if I could spend a good chunk of my day, reading it, I would. (I’m currently rereading one of my favorite collections, Claudia Emerson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Late Wife.) I skimmed Amber’s books on Amazon (what I could, thanks to the previews), and read the poem on Us‘s site. She writes in a very straight-forward style that I think probably makes her work accessible to lots of people. (I liked parts of poems in Dark Sparkler). Her newest poem is similar. It’s a bit too on-the-nose for me, but the style makes sense, as it’s being written in concert with the work that she’s doing for Olay. And, if it means that more people might start reading poetry thanks to her, that’s a good thing.

So excited to announce I’m teaming up with @OlaySkin as the Creative Director for an important project about self care. Something that celebrates and protects our individual uniqueness as women and non-binary voices in this world. #OlayPartner

For more:https://t.co/eE1YtHcxhD pic.twitter.com/NUbqRdjLuo

— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) April 27, 2019

Photos credit: WENN

I absolutely loved the Netflix show Russian Doll, co-created by and starring Natasha Lyonne. I didn’t love it at first but once I crossed the threshold of the foundation episodes, man, I couldn’t stop telling people how much I loved it. I thought the story was so well mapped out and the fact that the layers made it richer without making it too confusing. I watched the closing scene five times trying to catch all the details (I still don’t think I have).

So you would think that when Netflix announced yesterday that they’d picked up Russian Doll for a second season, I would be thrilled. But I don’t know that I am. Season one was so good, but it also felt complete. The ending, even though it left so many doors open, was kind of perfect – magical almost. And I just don’t know that they can extend that magic into another season. But they’re going to try, at least.

Russian Doll is headed on another loop.

The dark comedy from star Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland is getting a second season at Netflix. Following the format of season one, Russian Doll will return with eight episodes. A release date has yet to be announced.

The second season renewal was revealed by Lyonne and Netflix vp originals Cindy Holland during their joint appearance Tuesday at Recode’s Code Conference in Arizona. “Same show, just weirder,” said Lyonne. “The character is a coder, so it would be appropriate to have this be the time and place to say, yes. So very much yes, I would love to do [a second season].”

[From The Hollywood Reporter via Jezebel]

It’s the “same show” part that worries me. The uniqueness of the show was a large part of its appeal. Like when Mike Schur made the surprising announcement that The Good Place would be ending after its fourth season, I was really happy to see a creator respect the work and viewers enough to make that decision. However, that said, I also was positive The Good Place didn’t have a viable story after season one and enjoyed both two and three very much, primarily for going in directions I never anticipated. So it is very possible that Russian Doll II will impress me as well. The coding aspect does allow it to go everywhere. It could also work to feature a secondary character’s story and the lead. The show was pitched as a three-season series so they’ve obviously got the story mapped out. Given how important it was not to see what was coming in season one, I’m sure the lack of information on season two’s story is to protect the viewer’s enjoyment. Not to mention, I’m thrilled to support a show that’s female-centric both in front and behind the camera.

Photo credit: Netflix

Nicole Kidman has a new interview with You Magazine, a British site/publication, all to promote her role in Big Little Lies 2. She’s basically the only one in BLL2 worth a damn, but I guess that’s something – making a second series about these often unlikeable characters who happen to be women and moms. That’s the whole point – women are different and they behave differently and sometimes appallingly. Male characters are allowed to show that kind of unlikeability, so why not women? That being said, I wish Laura Dern’s character would fall off a cliff, and if I never see Shailene Woodley & her bangs trauma dance in the surf while listening to Sufjan Stevens again, it will be too soon. But Nicole is killing it, as always, playing Celeste as a ball of neurosis, guilt, trauma, grief and recovery. You can read Nicole’s full interview here, and stay until the end where she reveals some fun stuff about her cats.

Her earliest memories are of eating: ‘It was of my parents throwing snowballs at each other in Washington and I must have been about two. I remember bending down with my mittens going, “I shouldn’t be doing this,” and eating the snow…. I used to eat ants as well, but ants don’t taste good. Just sort of off. Just acidic-y. Kind of weird. And I’ll eat anything. I’ve eaten almost anything. Witchetty grubs, worms and insects…I’ll immediately get prickly if someone says, “You have to do this.” I’m like, “Mmm. Not sure I have to do anything.”’

She has no vanity: ‘When it comes to performance I have no vanity at all. Couldn’t care less.’
She says her 79-year-old mother Janelle is always on at her to ‘make an effort… My mum is like, “Do your hair, put on some make-up, stay in shape!” You know, she’s old school. My mum won’t FaceTime me without her make-up and her hair being done and I’m like, “Oh, come on!”’

Her miracle pregnancy at 40: ‘A miracle… I was like, “Your only job, Keith, is to get me the epidural if I scream for it.” And I screamed for it. I was doing OK and then I went, “Oh boy!”’

Faith got her through her grief for her father: ‘[I was] down on my knees [with grief]. It was unbearable.’ It was her faith, she says, that got her through. ‘I was raised Catholic. Very Catholic. I have a strong belief in God and when I’ve experienced enormous loss is when it comes in powerfully…. I wrestle with things. I’m not just like, “Oh, everything is perfect.” I wrestle and question and that’s just the nature of probably digging in and delving into things as well.’

Whether people are still interested in her marriage to Tom Cruise: ‘I’m not sure if they are. I mean, I get asked about it but it’s one of a hundred questions and now I’ve just gone, “It’s done. That was two decades ago, so there’s nothing more to be said.” It’s disrespectful to my husband now. It’s disrespectful to my ex-husband. I’ve always said: you don’t sit at a dinner party and discuss all your exes with your new partner there, who is then privy to all of it. It’s inappropriate.’

Her Nashville menagerie includes alpacas & cats: ‘[The alpacas are] a little fierce. They make noises, they spit and they can bite. We have chickens as well. Alpacas, ten fish and two cats called Ginger and Snow… I really am a cat person. I’ve just got one of those carriers. Have you seen those? Those backpacks that you can put them in? Yeah, a cat carrier that’s a backpack and it has a window that they can peek out of and it’s got air and everything and they love it.’ Is she saying that she takes them on hikes? ‘Yeah. I was actually going to post a picture of it and then I thought, “Oh, I don’t want to do that.” But I may still because it is really cute. They hop in. They can’t wait to get in.’

[From You UK]

Cat protection agencies are already climbing up Nicole’s butt about putting her cats in a backpack-carrier and going hiking with them. I would say that it really depends on the cat – some cats are little ragdolls who love to be carried around and wouldn’t mind riding in a backpack on a hike. Other cats would rather die than do something that uncool. Much like the women of Monterey, cats have all kinds of different personalities. But I truly got a kick out of the image of Nicole happily packing up her cats – GINGER and SNOW – to go on a hike with mom.

OH MY GOD I FOUND VIDEOS OF NICOLE TALKING TO HER FLUFFY CATS.

View this post on Instagram

Happy #LoveYourPetDay!

A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman) on Feb 20, 2019 at 8:57am PST

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Celebrating #NationalPetDay with these two beautiful sisters, Ginger & Snow ???

A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman) on Apr 11, 2019 at 12:48pm PDT

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

I know this news would have make my former co-worker Corey very happy: The Spice Girl are back, baby! Well, mostly back. As Emma Bunton, Mel B, Mel C and Geri Halliwell – wrap up their big world tour, it was just announced that we’ll be getting a follow-up to Spice World. And Vicky B will finally join them! A full Spice Rack – yay!

All five members of the iconic ’90s group are on board as the studio reveals new release dates.

Paramount Animation president Mireille Soria is bringing girl power to the unit — literally. The studio, which boasts a mostly female senior staff, is in early development on a Spice Girls movie among a slate eyeing two releases a year, starting in 2020.

All five members of the iconic ’90s group — Melanie Brown (Scary), Emma Bunton (Baby), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty), Geri Halliwell (Ginger) and Victoria Beckham (Posh) are on board, with Simon Fuller producing and Karen McCullah and Kiwi Smith writing the screenplay. The animated feature will include Spice Girls classics as well as new songs. The Spice Girls “had an idea that we’ve been developing,” Soria tells The Hollywood Reporter. “They are very involved.”

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

Okay, so it’s only their voices and their animated likenesses, but that’s close enough. I might even go a step further and say it’s almost a better option because animation will allow the story to go anywhere and they can do anything. Yellow Submarine (which I recognize was not the actual Beatles’ voices) was the perfect solution for a band that had already splintered into their own projects. I, tragically, have never seen Spice World but I am hazarding a guess that there’s a reason none of these ladies pursued a proper acting career. Animation will do the heavy lifting there as well. Honestly, I think this sounds really fun and I’m excited there will be new music included. The part of the story being pushed out front is that Victoria Beckham is returning to join them for the movie. The supposition is that animosity kept her from the doing the tour, but I honestly don’t think that was it. I think that Victoria recognizes that she can’t sing well and barely dances and didn’t want to spend the next few months having the media rip her apart for it. She’s got her fashion line and carved out a little corner of comfort there, I think she made the right choice.

People noted that, “details about the film’s plot are not yet available.” I thought getting all five back together was the plot. I guess if they need more ideas, I can muster a few. How about Bedtime Stories with Mel B and Geri. Or How to Contain Your Soccer Balls by Vicky B. Or maybe, The Best Way to Brush with Emma B. Okay, no – honest submission: they are former MI6 agents who specialized in fashion crimes. Decades after they retired, someone steals Posh’s Fall Line and they have to reunite to track it down. The finale is all five performing at a Spice themed Met Gala.

Photo credit: WENN Photos

Do you think the word “truth” is starting to lose its meaning because a generation of assholes has overused the expression “my truth”? It has power, for sure, when used judiciously, in the right context. It loses its power when, you know, it’s posted on Instagram stories about the other baby mother …

Do you think the word “truth” is starting to lose its meaning because a generation of assholes has overused the expression “my truth”? It has power, for sure, when used judiciously, in the right context. It loses its power when, you know, it’s posted on Instagram stories about the other baby mother …

Do you think the word “truth” is starting to lose its meaning because a generation of assholes has overused the expression “my truth”? It has power, for sure, when used judiciously, in the right context. It loses its power when, you know, it’s posted on Instagram stories about the other baby mother …

Do you think the word “truth” is starting to lose its meaning because a generation of assholes has overused the expression “my truth”? It has power, for sure, when used judiciously, in the right context. It loses its power when, you know, it’s posted on Instagram stories about the other baby mother …

Do you think the word “truth” is starting to lose its meaning because a generation of assholes has overused the expression “my truth”? It has power, for sure, when used judiciously, in the right context. It loses its power when, you know, it’s posted on Instagram stories about the other baby mother …

We have to talk about the Lee Daniels interview in Vulture because it’s as full of incredible details as previous Vulture interviews (like Quincy Jones and Anjelica Huston). Journalist Andrew Goldman (who also interviewed Anjelica) comes prepared with details and he’s masterful at the follow-up. Lik…