We were both traveling last weekend after the new season of ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel‘ dropped last week, and so still have a few more episodes to catch up on…aka excellent plans for this upcoming weekend! That being said, we’re already floored with the new season, loving every Amy Sherman-Palladino-created second. As always, when we each finally finish the binge, we’re sure we’ll be itching for more, so we’ve put together this list of other shows, movies, podcasts, and books that will fulfill that craving! Would love to hear if any of you have any other recommendations of female-forward, comedic-aligned, fashion-extraordinaire picks!
TV Shows:
Crashing
If your favorite parts of Maisel have been getting a behind-the-scenes look at becoming a comedienne, ‘Crashing‘ is definitely for you! Set in modern day New York, the show is semi-autobiographical and follows Pete Holmes’ journey in becoming a standup. Throw in some post-divorce humor and some famous comedian friends and it’s a recipe for some laughs, awkward moments, and reinvention.
30 Rock
A tried and true favorite, ‘30 Rock‘ probably isn’t new to you, but maybe it’s time for a revisit of some of your old favs! This fictionalized behind-the-scenes life of a sketch show, based off of Tina Fey’s own experiences working at Saturday Night Live, will have a place in our comedy-loving hearts forever.
Bunheads
Need more Sherman-Palladino-isms in your life? We think ‘Bunheads‘ is an oft overlooked ASP creation. Only a season long, it’s very binge-able, and mixes some of the fast-talking smart ladies of Maisel with more modern, familial storylines.
Gilmore Girls
Another fan favorite, we couldn’t talk about Maisel without throwing some love toward the OGs. ‘Gilmore Girls‘ was Sherman-Palladino’s longest-running creation, and one we’ve for sure watched more than a few times. Drop back into Stars Hollow for some fast-talking, coffee-drinking good times.
Movies:
Brooklyn
Set in 1950s Brooklyn, the film stars a young Irish immigrant (portrayed by the ever-enchanting Saoirse Ronan) lured by the promise of America. A departure from the Maisel world of female independence, this is a classic love story (originally a book by Colm Tóibín) that still thrives in the essence of “old New York.”
His Girl Friday
To really get yourself in the mindset of Mrs. Maisel, we love going back and watching some movies that she could have seen. ‘His Girl Friday‘ is one such, and a prime example of a romantic comedy of the time incorporating screwball comedy, overlapping and fast-paced dialogue, and a few hidden “in” jokes of the time.
Sabrina
Stars of the screen Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden captivate in this love triangle-esque Cinderella story of two wealthy brothers competing for the love of their chauffeur’s daughter. While slightly lacking in an inventive script, ‘Sabrina‘ nonetheless delivers on glittering entertainment and charm.
Thelma & Louise
The be-all, end-all of feminist movies, ‘Thelma & Louise’ is a not-to-be-missed classic. If you have yet to tune into this adventure of two best friends on a road trip, now is the time. With a similar tough love and honest truth vibe between the two starring women as we get glimpses of in Maisel, this quintessential 90’s flick will definitely get your girl power flowing.
In A World…
Another behind-the-scenes look at the world of entertainment, ‘In A World…’ delves into the movie trailer voiceover profession, and the competition (and male dominance) often surrounding it. We love the stellar women in this (Lake Bell, Tig Notaro, Alexandra Holden, Eva Longoria!) who all carry their own mixing wit and sarcasm with a loving sweetness.
Podcasts:
Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone
A pillar of comedy, Paula Poundstone is a standup and self-describes her podcast as “a comedy field guide to life.” Running along a similar vein as her books, ‘There’s Nothing In This Book That I Meant to Say‘ and ‘The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness‘, her podcast provides endless laughs, commentary on many a subject, and some surprisingly great nuggets of advice.
Stuff Mom Never Told You and Unladylike
From the producers of ‘How Stuff Works,’ ‘Stuff Mom Never Told You‘ talks all things feminism, history, and psychology in the modern era. Previously hosted by besties Cristen and Caroline, the torch was passed early in 2018 to co-hosts Bridget and Anney who have brought a more interview-heavy feel to the show. SMNTY still reruns a fair amount of their archive content annnnddd Cristen and Caroline went on to found Unladylike which is a brand with a podcast of the same name. Expanding on their work with SMNTY, ‘Unladylike‘ is bringing us even more women-centric content answering the ever present question, “how do we have it all?”
2 Dope Queens
If you’re looking to laugh A LOT but also feel way more informed about the world around you, ‘2 Dope Queens‘ is your kind of show. Hosts Jessica and Phoebe bring other comedians along for their crazy ride highlighting women, people of color, and LGBT in an effort to represent myriad different backgrounds.
We Love Lucy
Through weekly discussions of the iconic TV show, hosts Allison, Corinne, and Molly explore subjects related to feminism, television, and comedy. As they sometimes bring on guests to chat all things Lucy, the conversation is always entertaining and often tells stories of the hosts’ relationship to the show and how they’ve evolved in their understanding of it.
Books:
‘Crazy Salad: Some Things About Women’ by Nora Ephron
First published in 1975, ‘Crazy Salad‘ is deceptively short, but jam-packed with engaging and hilarious views of a period of great upheaval in America. Ephron is known for numerous works (‘When Harry Met Sally,’ ‘Heartburn,’ and ‘I Feel Bad About My Neck‘ usually top the list), but ‘Crazy Salad‘ is a sometimes-forgotten treasure of essays chronicling the women’s movement of the 70s. We know Maisel would have read it in one sitting, for sure.
‘Vintage’ by Susan Gloss
Gloss’ debut novel, ‘Vintage‘ centers around a Midwestern vintage clothing shop and a group of women who transform the store, and their lives. This is a story of friendship, intermixed with lovely details of fashion. If you drooled over Midge’s endless wardrobe of perfect dresses, you’ll swoon over the descriptions here.
‘Yes Please’ by Amy Poehler
As one of the shining examples of female comedians of our time, Amy Poehler’s book does not disappoint. Prefacing the book with an intro statement of, “I had no business agreeing to write this book,” each chapter openly and honestly delves into her life as a comedian, actress, writer, parent, divorcee and more. Sprinkled in amongst her stories are guest writer contributions, lists, old photos, and excerpts from scripts, making the entire book feel part diary and part scrapbook, while always delivering on humor.
Does anyone else have great recommendations? Let us know in the comments!
My daughter and I are both hooked~ I have been trying to space out my watching so it lasts longer. Yep and that works just about as well as trying to eat just one section of a candy bar!
*The Crown* is a must-binge. I will not admit to the number of times I’ve lived through it already.