Junie B. Media Recs!
This is a joke for the real ones. Also - I switched to Substack!
Hello friends!
You may have noticed in your emails, but I decided to bring my newsletter over to Substack! There has been a lot of learning as I’ve redeveloped this blog in the post-Tumblr era (RIP to a real one). Despite the cons of Substack, it has a more ‘social-friendly’ sharing interface. As more and more people look to carve out their section of the internet sky, I want to be able to plug my pals and become more discoverable. Also, to put an end to the dreaded spam filter — I get your messages, and appreciate your vigilance.
I am going to be real with you all (my hallmark) — I got back from vacation May 24th, today is May 30th, and I have written no words until this moment. Don’t you love being let into the creative process? LET’S GO!
SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW FOR JUNE 2026!
Television
Really getting to show off the two sides of my personality this month! Bombshell by day, undead rocker by night.
New:
Love Island Season 8 -June 2nd on Peacock
We are SO back. Sure, it doesn’t have the truly rich array of accents as the UK version, but nothing says summertime like aspiring influencers running around in bikinis in Fiji. My real complaint about the American version is that it’s not enough episodes. I just think Casa Amour could do even more damage if the relationships are given more time to lock in! The show hasn’t even aired and already someone has been kicked off for racial slurs, there are two possible Trump supporters, and a rookie cop has pissed off his municipal taxpayers! Anyway, can’t wait to find out who I will love/hate/hire for brand deals!
The Vampire Lestat - June 7th on AMC
I’ve already gone on and on about my love of these Anne Rice novel adaptations. The first two seasons covered Interview With a Vampire, and now that we’ve made it to book two, the show title has similarly evolved. And yes, in the novels Lestat does become a rock’n roll icon, which the series is really going for. Sam Reid is even doing an in-character concert one night only in New York!! All of my 14 year old dreams are coming true!
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders - June 16th on Netflix
Okay, back to girls in bikinis. This is season 3 of the Netflix docuseries following the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Do I care about the Cowboys? No. The state of Texas? Also no. But my DCCs???? No one I love more. These gals can do a jump split and fight for pay equality, all while maintaining a perfect blowout. THUN-DER!
The Bear (Final Season) - June 25th on FX
I went back and forth on whether to include this…
Pro: TV doesn’t get better than the first few seasons of The Bear
Con: Last season was bad
Pro: But we like all the actors!
Con: The stunt casting is getting a little out of control
Pro: It’s a planned ending
Con: Do we still trust the plan?
Old
Difficult People (2015) — Hulu
One of my favorite comedies of all time, starring Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner as NYC-dwelling malcontents. She: a reality tv blogger, he: an aspiring actor, they: complain about everything, I: love it. With a star-studded guest cast, pre-#metoo takedown quips, and an endless battery of grievances, Julie and Billy are the terrible best friends I always never wanted. If you like judging Broadway audiences and the phrase Cole Escola as a ‘demon twink’ excite you, then welcome home.
Movies
It’s blockbuster season, baby! We got Spielberg going back to aliens, and Toy Story taking on screentime (and maybe Taylor Swift…?). We love it!
New
Disclosure Day - June 12th
To quote the tagline…we deserve to know …. If this is going to be good! I want nothing more than for this to be excellent, but sometimes Stevey’s tone…concerns me. Regardless, my close friend and confidant Josh O’Connor is blameless.
Leviticus - June 19th
Horror is really having a moment. Maybe because escaping to a theater to watch people in extremely stressful and dark scenarios is actually a relief from existing in them IRL. Who’s to say! Anyway, this Austrailian indie follows two boys in love who are torn apart by conversion therapy and perhaps a demon who takes their form! Romantic! Sad! Scary!
Maddie’s Secret - June 19th
Our favorite unhinged friend, John Early has made his directorial debut by adapting a 1980’s made for TV movie about a housewife with bulimia, and ofc, he’s taking the title role. This looks so stupid (complimentary), I can’t wait.
Jackass Best and Last - June 26th
Okay speaking of stupid… MTV in the early 2000s was a truly lawless and beautiful place. Not to be generational, but some of those shows would dissolve a Gen Z. Jackass was a shining, shit-covered star, one of the funniest and grossest shows ever made. I could write an essay about Jackass, and how true positive masculinity is flattening your penis into a ping pong paddle with your best friends. Johnny Knoxville forever!
Old
Trainspotting — 30 year anniversary
Speaking of shining, shit-covered stars (we’re escalating)! I think anyone reading this could assume I had the iconique Trainspotting ‘Choose Life’ poster throughout high school and college — and you would be right. Honestly, if you are here reading this, chances are high you did too. It’s the… *deep inhale* 30th anniversary of this fine film. I alert you to this depressing fact ONLY because you may have an opportunity to see it in theaters. Revisit your teen psyche, choose life, choose Trainspotting.
Books
New
Sublimation by Isabel Kim — June 2nd
While we wait ten years for Severance season 3, Isabel Kim has an updated take on the other self. When immigrating from another country, the border line cuts, literally. After she leaves Korea, a young woman creates a literal ‘other self’ who exists in her home country. We love dopplegangers and metaphors ya’ll!
The Open Era by Edward Schmit — June 2nd
Okay it’s summer and we all need a good beach read, how about this debut romance novel about gay rival tennis players turned lovers??? A Challengers for the Heated Rivalry era!!!
Old
Night Film by Marisha Pessl (2013)
One of my favorite page turners for summer! Night Film is a multimedia pastiche, a hardboiled detective novel, and a love letter to New York and cinema. When the daughter of a mysterious, legendary horror -filmmaker turns up dead, a detective seeks out the truth behind her death, while mining her father’s oeuvre for clues. The book hops through message boards, film posters, and letters, in what one cranky LA Book Review critic breathlessly described as “the death of the novel”. Orna also has a copy of this on her bookshelf, if that sways you.
Speed Round
Jackass the television show was actually not possible to watch in full anywhere, due to edits made for…social propriety? and music rights issues. But thanks to the diligent efforts of silver fox Johnny Knox, the show has been fully restored to its former disgusting glory. You can relive the magic for the first time since 2002 on Paramount Plus!
The James Bond casting talks are back in the spotlight after the announcement that UK uber-casting director Nina Gold has signed on to pin down an under-30 hottie to helm the new series. The names floating around like Callum Turner, Aaron T-J, and god forbid, Jacob Elordi…are not doing it for me. Do ya’ll have a better idea? Or should we hope Nina G finds a true up and comer?
Did you all watch COUPLES THERAPY?? Pls text or comment to discuss. My biggest takeaway over the seasons is that all couples really have one problem: communication, and you can draw a STRAIGHT line from people’s past trauma to their grown-up actions.
Orna forever — she also just did a Las Culturista’s episode HERE with some interesting insights from this season!
I got swept up into the zeitgeist and went to see Backrooms against my better judgement — and it scared me!!
See you next month kittens
XO MD
Wowww I need to get on these book recs
P.s none of these jabronis is Bond !!!