by Shelley Bennett
This summer is shaping up as the one where I don’t have to do much. I am back in the director’s chair for the Miss Lassen County Scholarship competition, but besides that there are very few commitments on my calendar.
I am totally fine with that.
My days have been filled with watching documentaries and afternoon naps. So far I have watched:
Brats – directed by Andrew McCarthy of Pretty in Pink fame. This takes a look at teen movies of the 80s and the actors, known at “The Brat Pack” who starred in them.
I found this very intriguing because movies like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and St. Elmo’s Fire had an impact on me as a teen. My friends and I were always at the movies. Friday nights, Saturday nights, Tightwad Tuesdays or renting videos if there wasn’t something new playing.
We could quote entire sections of whatever film we were obsessed with. We bought all the soundtracks and listened to them on repeat. I even have Apple Music playlists full of some of my favorites.
Movie characters inspired our fashion choices and even our tastes in guys. I kept looking for my own Jake Ryan in the halls of Lassen High! (It took awhile, but I found him. He didn’t have a Porsche.)
I don’t remember having any knowledge of the article referenced in the film, but it’s clear that it had some negative effect on the some of the actors and their careers.
My favorite part is when McCarthy interviews Rob Lowe. Lowe talks about the way those movies changed the entertainment industry. I hadn’t thought about it like that, but it is true.
Until then, most TV show focused on adults like Archie Bunker, MASH, Sanford in Son, and others. We wouldn’t have Friends, 90210, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer without the Brat Pack’s work in the 80s.
Definitely worth the watch if you’re Gen X.
Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini – If you were living in Susanville or Northern CA in November 2016, chances are you saw a poster or heard something in the news or on social media about the missing young mother from Redding.
This short series focuses on the story of Sherri Papini, from before she met husband Keith, through her faked kidnapping, how law enforcement uncovered the truth about of her disappearance, to where she is now.
Every episode peels away another layer of the lies she built and I couldn’t stop watching. The Shasta Co deputy and FBI agent are SO GOOD when they call her back in around 2022 to discuss what the DNA evidence reveals. It’s like a master class in interviewing a suspect.
And it is absolutely painful to watch Keith Papini’s reactions to the recorded footage. It feels like an invasion of privacy.
If you love True Crime docs and are interested in a local story, this one’s for you! You might even peep a former, well-known Lassen High School athlete in the couple’s wedding photos!
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders – From tryouts to post season, this series follows the famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as they learn new choreo, get fitted for their specially made cowboy boots, and perform before an audience of millions.
It’s not all sparkles and pom poms for these young women though. They also battle anxiety, eating disorders, homesickness, and a misconception that because they are attractive young women, they are also weak or unskilled.
The tryout process is grueling. After making a first cut 45 young women dance for their chance to make the final performing team of 36. Every day they are faced with hours of practicing, constant criticism, and their own self-doubt.
I was drawn to Victoria, a so-called legacy because her mom was a cheerleader in the 80s. Through a series of several ‘confessionals’ we learn that Victoria doesn’t always feel seen or appreciated by her coaches and teammates.
I empathized with her because I could see how she went above and beyond outside of their practices and performances. I was impressed by her visiting their bus driver in the hospital as he recovered from a stroke. She talked to him like he was a real person, almost a family member.
In another scene, she started a conversation with Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys. Again, she was genuine with a true interest in his answer to her question.
A must see if you’ve always been interested in this iconic dance team. And did I mention their performance with Dolly Parton?! 10/10
So that’s it so far. That’s my summer. It’s already getting more eventful. I have a coffee date penciled in for Wednesday and trip to watch the Manteca Youth Focus Scholarship Competition on Friday. Let’s go!
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
