Just Some Stuff for Sunday: Too Much, Trixie Belden, and Fast Times
Stuff I liked the week of August 25, 2025
Good morning, Sunday Stuffers! It’s time for me to share the stuff I read, listened to, or watched this week that brought me a little joy or comfort.
I spent a lot of time in my youth watching and reading Roger Ebert. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that I watched Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel on Sneak Previews on PBS before they made it big with At the Movies in 1982. I’m glad to see I had good taste even then. I found this Roger Ebert quote this week that resonated with me.
So let’s get to it:
Too Much on Netflix. Lena Dunham created Too Much, a new Netflix comedy series starring Megan Stalter (Hacks) and Will Sharpe. If you enjoyed Lena’s previous work on Girls, this new series offers a similar take on modern romance and self-discovery. It’s quirky, awkward, funny, touching, and, yes, too much at times. Lots of outrageous characters, fun London locales, messy relationship stuff, and Megan and Will are both very charming as two young people trying to overcome past relationship and family trauma. This might be a love it or hate it show, but it grew on me mostly because I like Megan Stalter so much.
President Obama’s Summer Reads. It’s that time of year! Obama has incredible taste in books. I’ve read a couple on this year’s list (outstanding). I REALLY want to read Ron Chernow’s Mark Twain, but that baby is 1,200 pages. That might best be saved for the dark winter months.
Trixie Belden book series by Julie Campbell Tatham and various authors. I read a post recently where someone was getting all nostalgic over the Trixie Belden girl detective books series, and I’m here to report I was also a huge fan. Julie Campbell Tatham wrote the first six books, and in-house authors wrote the remaining 33 titles. I didn’t read all 39 books, but I certainly put a dent in the series back in grade school. I’m half tempted to reread the first few books to see if I’m still as enchanted with Crabapple Farm.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High in my DVD collection. I still have a few DVDs that I never parted with, and Fast Times is one of them. It came out in August 1982, and the movie still holds up quite well. Better than most ‘80s teen movies. I mean, didn’t we all know a Jeff Spicoli? “Learning about Cuba, and having some food.” Also, bring back the name Jeff!
Here’s yet another installment in my effort to revisit songs, bands, or music videos from the ‘80s and early ‘90s that merit a closer look. I think it goes without saying that Fast Times had a superior movie soundtrack given Cameron Crowe’s involvement. I would just like to include my personal favorite scene from Fast Times, which includes the song “Raised on the Radio” by The Ravyns, a Baltimore-based power pop band. An underrated song for sure, and Brad washing his car to the tune is so delightful. And at the end of the scene when he tells his sister, Stacy, “I take out the garbage”? Well, anyone raised with an older brother will appreciate this exchange.
