In my continuing quest to find a venue to watch my seminal costume drama, Jennie, I made a detour and found Lillie, about Lillie Langtry.
I must have seen this in my early teens and forgotten it, because it was full of references I have carried with me for life.
- They take license and have Whistler make a first run at the Peacock room in Lillie Langtry’s house. We saw the Peacock room when we visited D.C. in the ’80s, I think. Read the link above if you aren’t familiar with it. It’s like the most dramatic episode of Trading Spaces ever, or the most dramatic example of someone going off brand.
- There were at least three references to my favorite insult, “impudent puppy.” Once, just “puppy,” the other the more standard “impudent young puppy.”
- Oddly, the Prince of Wales is trim for most of it. I think of him every time I can’t button my bottom button.
- In one episode a boorish reporter for the now-defunct Saint Louis Globe-Democrat provoked a duel because, evidently, “We don’t like immorality in Saint Louis.” Never like the Globe-Democrat.
Additionally, if I ever doubted that Amazon is listening to my every move, that doubt is gone now. The commercials on the streaming service FreeVee were terrifyingly targeted.
- Butterfingers candy bars. Check.
- Pharmaceuticals. Check.
- Gatorade Fit fitness drink. Miss.
- Documentary about a Museum Bug Heist. Check, and, Alexa, do you see me? Are you behind me?
- Advertisement for a specific episode of some Canadian show I cannot watch in the US called Corner Gas — specifically an episode guest starring Steven Page-formerly-of-Barenaked-Ladies. I am not kidding. Evidently Amazon is reading the blog. Check and shudder.