Modeled after the Goddess TV Super Star herself, this post is on my favorite things…on YouTube.  So sorry, unlike with Oprah you don’t get a car.  

It all started with Issa Rae’s webseries “Awkward Black Girl” but its become so so so much more.  Instead of eagerly tuning into ABC, I damn near obsessively log onto YouTube biweekly (sometimes more frequently) awaiting updates from my favorite up and coming producers and actors.  I mean Andre Fuller, damn! First LA Complex now RoomieLoverFriend. Get out of my head! - or dont. 

Are you a fan of black or female centric quirky “oh no they didn’t” pop-culture-referencing sarcastic humor with a cringe worthy romantic entanglement?  Do you just love independently produced film!? Then indulge me and your funny bone because this my list.

1.  Awkward Black Girl 

- Don’t roll your eyes and be all like “girl, duh”! Because I was dying with laughter before she started all kinds of blowing up and you jumped on the bandwagon.  Oooh, now what?! 

The following is probably one of my favorite episodes.  The lyrical stylings of Jay, White Jay, and random boy crush #2 are not to be missed. 

2.  12 Steps to Recovery

- They say the best way to get over someone is to find someone new. Others say love will find you when you stop looking.  Love yourself first, and the rest will follow.  Advice that most people find singular come intertwined in this gem.  The timely paced comedic relief in the 21 episode first season will not disappoint.  The show follows a newly single broken hearted actor/jingle writer as his friends put him on to date after date. You simply cannot imagine the hilarious stupid shit that happens in each episode, from the tranny pre-op to the ex-con who can “break down showers”, a best friend secretly in love, the ex’s new lover - “they didn’t call me the jack rabbit at Yale for nothing”, and a gig as the new look for Colt 45,  you have to watch!

3.  RoomieLoverFriends

- I’ve only had one male roommate in my plight to find peace living with another until God blessed me with an apt. for one. Ah, bliss…but I digress.  This show is why I chose to specifically live with a male I knew I wouldn’t be attracted to (no offense homie).  I mean really!?  Andre Fuller plays the male opposite the lead, and he is…well, hot! You can guess what happens with a single female as the roomate and landlord.  Comedy and spice, nice.

4. The Unwritten Rules

- Now I’ve not had all of the stereotypical experiences most black women are forced to drudge through just for the sake of reaching milestones of middle class living.  Really, the shit society, our peers, the academic institution, the metermaid, boys and your stuck up cat give us is just ridiculous. In this series “Racey”, the main character navigates racial insensitivities and the complexity of workplace social dynamics like a pro.  While I haven’t had all these experiences (although more than I would care for) I find a lot of myself in the main character who is an individual, intellectual, creative and grounded.  Ok well minus the last one I can identify with her.  The show may not be for everyone but I appreciate the tongue in cheek and drama-fied examination of race in the work place.

5. Tie: The Couple, Lenox Avenue and The Number

- The rest of the world knows we Americans are obsessed with relationships and romantic love.  Pretty much all of popular media is focused on straight and gay relationship dynamics.  So pardon me if I’m not into shows purely, and I mean purely dedicated to the nuances of coupledom.  Yes, I love romantic comedy as seen from the list, but sometimes The Couple feels claustrophobic.  Nonetheless its funny, and the actors are lovely to watch.  So it makes the list.  Lenox Avenue, only one episode in and its a little on the BrownSugar/The Brothers side of things.  But it has enough originality that I found it fun to watch.  I’m a little curious how one walks into a eye glass shop and gets broken off a little somethin’ somethin’ by the clerk, but hey…thats Harlem for ya!  I’ll be watching to see where this goes.  And last but not least is The Number.  You know that really bitchy girl you’re friendemies with who always seems to try to one up you? Yea, her, well now she’s in engaged.  Say what!? Who would marry that bitch?  This guy! Aw but he’s so nice!…What? Yea, so basically you have a hilarious trainwreck of a relationship to watch.  The whole time you’re thinking, when is he going realize this is a bad idea?  Tune in and see :)  

Please let me know if I missed out on any other great new media content.  But don’t be a trick about it. 

Cheers, 

Vesper

(Source: youtube)

pennykitchen:

This is a blast. Easy to make and effing delicious. Really good ricotta cheese is sooooo good, you just don’t think it can get any better!- Then you add in sauteed artichokes, shallots and eggplant and you are all like-“DAMN. OH MY GOD. SHIT, YOU ARE KILLING ME. WAIT- THAT HURTS! STOP IT!!- YOU ARE SO DELICIOUS! AAAAAHHHHH! MMMMM YOU ARE SO GOOD, YUMMY!!!” -It’s just like hooking up in the back of a borrowed Honda Accord in the parking garage after a wedding reception with your dress up around your head and your feet against the window, I mean, it is like, awesome, ( so I hear.) But what if you took it to the next level…..make this dish and you tell me.   LYLAS gurlfriends! LOLzies! TTYL8ers! STFU! JK! FU! JK!

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So I just read this awesome article from Baggage Reclaim —> http://www.baggagereclaim.co.uk/why-we-shouldnt-make-it-the-guys-job-to-do-all-the-calling-and-making-of-plans/

I’ve dated a lot and well, I’ve had a chance to get to know some pretty amazing guys…probably ones that would have even committed had I had the courage to admit my feelings.  But one thing I def. didn’t realize was a habit, was that I almost never moved out of the mode of being pursued.  Thus, dating/relationships almost always ended after 2-3 months.  What I thought kept me from being vunerable (another bad thought) kept me from moving things to a deeper level and I was keeping the other party in the dark…unknowingly.  

Lets not make the same mistakes twice.