Podcast: ‘Gilmore Friends’
They say once you’ve been indoctrinated into “Gilmore Girls” fandom, there’s little chance of escape. And so, if you’re one of the thirsty viewers on an endless quest for new content tied to the long-finished TV drama, consider “Gilmore Friends.” The recently launched podcast pairs an obsessed fan Chemda Khalili (former co-host of pioneering comedy podcast “Keith and the Girl”) with longtime friend New York comic Carrie Gravenson, who had never seen the series. Together, they embark on a breezy and sometimes goofy rewatch of each episode that’s less a deep critical analysis than it is two buddies enjoying their time together while plowing through a show with an appeal not everyone understands. — David Friend
TV: ‘Steal’
Sophisticated armed bandits hold up an investment firm and divert £4 billion in pension funds to shady offshore accounts, pulling off the biggest heist in British history. Immediately the cops suspect an inside job, and seeing the regretful employees that were indeed involved sweating bullets is part of the fun of this six-episode series on Prime. Not to mention the screw-tightening tension and shocking bursts of violence. Sophie Turner, of “Game of Thrones” fame, stars as a mid-level staffer in way over head. — Doug Brod
Movie: ‘Peter Hujar’s Day’
Sick of bloated three-hour Oscar bait? Tired of CGI-explosion-filled slop? ”Peter Hujar’s Day” (on the Criterion Channel) might just be the perfect salve. Clocking in at a tight 76 minutes, this biopic is about … people talking. That’s it. The film shows a single real-time conversation between queer artist Peter Hujar (Ben Whishaw) and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall) as they chatter on about life in the vibrant art milieu of ’80s New York City. Hujar didn’t live to see his widespread acclaim as one of our most talented photographers (he died of AIDS at just 53), but this film is an absorbing ode to a charismatic creator and a dazzling period in history. — Briony Smith
Song: Obongjayar, “Not in Surrender”
By the time mid-February rolls around each year, I’m desperately seeking anything that will distract me from the slushy winter mess I’m slopping around in — and that feeling is doubly true in 2026. Thankfully, I’ve had “Not in Surrender,” a buzzing three minutes of dance-funk escapism with a killer bass line and captivating vocal by London-based Nigerian singer Obongjayar. The little-heard track was my favourite song of 2025 and its swirling, twirling joy will carry me through to the thaw, guaranteed. — David Friend
