The Bear – Season 3 (Hulu)
I know this is the second time I have reviewed this outstanding series, but if you haven’t yet caught on, do it! The third season takes a deep dive into how the characters in the show became members of the titular restaurant’s staff. Some of the episodes are frenetic, and others are more relaxed. Regardless, I can’t wait for season four.
Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
Based on a book by Scott Thurow, this miniseries will keep you wanting more. Can the hero of the story really be the guy who cheated on his wife and stalked his lover? Jake Gyllenhaal is outstanding as Rusty Sabich.
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup (Lifetime)
I have always been fascinated by this unbelievable story of a mother who could so horribly treat her daughter, making her live as if she had a myriad of diseases. Clearly the mother, DeeDee, suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This miniseries shows how the daughter, Gypsy-Rose, attempts to live a normal life, following her release from prison after being convicted of orchestrating her mother’s murder with a boyfriend. It is as soapy as you would expect from Lifetime but interesting.
What a Fool Believes: A Memoir by Michael McDonald
This autobiography of McDonald, a long time member of the Doobie Brothers and solo performer, starts in North St. Louis with his dad taking him along to local taverns. Not the way most careers begin, but this behind-the-scenes look is a great read for anyone interested in McDonald’s long career.
Consent by Jill Ciment
Ciment takes a second look back at the love affair she had with a student when she was a painting teacher. Her first book Half a Life portrays a much different point of view of this relationship, but time has provided perspective, and her views become much more muddied.