I spend an unhealthy amount of time consuming, well, everything. I tell myself it’s research for work (I make TV) but the truth is I’ve always been like this. I put in my Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours by the time I turned 13. So, consider me your personal content filter - I watch/read/listen/buy it all so you don't have to.
Here's all the stuff that's actually worth your time this weekend.
📰 BIG NEWS
A woman got arrested for Cyber Farting
It’s Super Bowl Weekend. Here are the commercials including a Harry Met Sally reunion, the Fantastic Four trailer and lots of Uber Eats.
💸 It's the Golden Age of Scams
Last month brought us the story of ai Brad Pitt conning a woman out of 855k
This week, the doc treatment of the giant podcast SCAMANDA arrived on Hulu. Amanda, a sweet, bubbly, churchgoing Mom scams her church and community pretending to have cancer.
Netflix gave us APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, a drama based on Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer and scammer. There’s an Apple TV doc about her called BAD INFLUENCER: THE GREAT INSTA CON.
There’s MADOFF: THE MONSTER OF WALL STREET and another scam podcast turned doc called SWEET BOBBY on Netflix. You’ll never believe who the catfish is.
CAROLINE CALLOWAY, one of the first influencer scammers, has re-emerged after refusing to evacuate for Hurricane Milton with a new book aptly named SCAMMER. It’s a pre-order so buyer beware. Given her history, there’s a real chance you’ll pay for it but never get it.
One of the biggest Scam podcasters, SCAM GODDESS, has a new show on Hulu.
And there’s a new podcast series about a young woman scamming birth dulas called THE CON: KAITLYN’S BABY. This is interesting so far because it's not about money. Is it for attention? A fetish?
♥️ If you like those you’ll love:
ANATOMY OF LIES on Peacock was one of my favorite unscripted shows of 2024. A (bad) writer fakes cancer and scams her way into writing on Grey’s Anatomy. And that’s just the beginning.
WHO THE HELL IS HAMISH Australian scammers have verve
QUEEN OF THE CON California girls and “reverse shopping”
SCAMFLUENCERS Because sometimes you need to hear about people who are making worse decisions than you.
FED UP This time an influencer takes down the scam
THE DREAM What it’s like to join a scam
CHAMELEON: HOLLYWOOD CON QUEEN podcast which became the HOLLYWOOD CON QUEEN doc
🏛️ Core Curriculum: Canon of the Scam Genre
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Based on a true story and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This man could really scam with style.
WOLF OF WALL STREET Another one based on a true story starring Leo.
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY Incredibly fashionable identity theft
GONE GIRL Which one is the real fraud though?
THE BIG SHORT The ultimate financial scam movie.
BOILER ROOM More Ben Affleck and stock market scams inspired by real events
THE GRIFTERS Anjelica Huston, John Cuscak, and Annette Benning Noir-style con artistry and deception.
THE STING Robert Redford and Paul Newman. One of the greatest con artist films of all time.
CATFISH, the movie. The one that started it all and where the term came from
INVENTING ANNA The infamous Anna Delvey story: a fake socialite scams New York’s elite
📺 Other Shows I Can't Shut Up About
PARADISE Secret Service drama meets ‘WTF happened?!’ Hooked in 1 episode.
COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS a cute Australian comedy with charming people and a dog on wheels. The second season is now up on Paramount+
TRAITORS Season 3 is "Survivor" meets "Knives Out" but with reality stars and Alan Cumming and therefore better. The backstabbing has backstabbing. Bob the Drag Queen and Boston Rob show why they’re 2 of the best reality stars ever.
📺 TV That Feels Like Old School TV In The Best Way
THE PITT Every episode is one hour of a shift at a Pittsburg hospital emergency room. It’s the first day for 3 student doctors and Noah Wylie is the boss. It’s only noon at The Pitt so far. You have time to catch up.
📺 If You Can Only Watch One
SEVERANCE Season 2 Or wait until the season is done in a few weeks, sign up and get the 7 day free trial, and watch both seasons in a week.
📚 Books Worth Reading
GOD OF THE WOODS An unsolved murder, a summer camp, an escaped convict, a missing girl, and family trauma
MY HUSBAND A dark, funny, quick read about a woman obsessed with her husband.
I WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN MEN Heard about this on TikTok. A group of women is locked in a cage underground. They don’t know why they’re there or how they got there. Then one day something happens and they get free.
LET THEM Actually useful advice.
📱 Internet Rabbit Holes Worth Falling Into
THIS PROPUBLICA PIECE about a regular dude who infiltrated a militia (not for work, just vibes) reads like a Coen Brothers meets Peter Berg movie but it's somehow real life.
CRUEL KIDS TABLE Brock Colyer attending the Inauguration parties of the new powerful young conservatives is worth a read but the NY magazine union is on strike so maybe wait it out. The gist is that the women are beautiful but only 20% of the crowd, smoking is back despite MAHA, and almost everyone interviewed said they’re “normal” and just want to be able to say whatever they want.
🎧 Pods Worth Listening To
Speaking of normal, NORMAL GOSSIP. Other people's drama. Scratches the itch without having to be involved.
THE MEL ROBBINS PODCAST if you don’t want to read the book
💰 Things Worth Your Money
THE GAP introduced GapVintage, a curated selection of archival Gap pieces. I definitely owned the Black ‘00s Women’s Dress.
FASHION ICON IRIS APFEL’S ESTATE is up for auction at Christies. The orange Dior cape is beautiful. Unfortunately, I’ve been diagnosed as a “soft summer” otherwise I would bid on it. It hasn't stopped me from bidding on the dog paintings though.
THE PERFECT SHOE SHAPE For the past few years shoes have largely been long and pointy or squared toed, neither of which is particularly flattering on me. So, I’ve been on the hunt for a classic, timeless flat shoe that I can wear forever with a flattering toe and whatever you call the opening where your foot goes. I propose this soft almond shape to be the platonic ideal. Amazon Dupe, and another good option
🥨 Food Worth Eating
The Superbowl is one of my favorite food holidays because I love dips, snacks and novelty foods. This Superbowl month brings us: “Dipping Burritos” at Taco Bell, Golden Sriracha Doritos & Cheesy Jalapeno Cheez-its
💭 And Finally, The Only Piece Of Financial Advice You’ll Ever Need
🤔 Before You Go
Who’s your favorite scammer? What’s your favorite superbowl food?
Next week, I'll be back with more recommendations to save you time and a round up of the Valentine's Day offerings that are worth it.
Plus, once a week I’ll do a deep dive on a self help book or podcast. We’re going to start with Let Them since I recommended it this week.
If you have any recommendations or requests let me know.
Until then, Nicolle
P.S. If you found this useful, consider it a sign from the universe that you should subscribe and forward to your group chat.
I can’t wait to get into I Who Have Never Known Men but I keep worrying this is going to feed into the dismal vibes? Also dying to read the Caroline book - it got good reviews. Then again, from her writer friends at Vanity Fair so who’s to say (the same friend who called her our Eve Babitz).