Give Leslie Bibb’s ‘White Lotus’ Smile a Special Emmy Award

This week:

• I survived Meghan’s Netflix show.

• Best White Lotus moment ever?

• This could save the country.

• A perfect casting idea.

• Thinking of Dolly.

Give Her a Special Emmy Award

If you or anyone close to you is watching The White Lotus, that means that a solid 70 percent of conversations you had this week were about the dinner scene where the three rich white ladies talk about Trump. And I don’t mean 70 percent of conversations about The White Lotus. I mean all topics of discussion.

And rightfully so.

In the scene, Kate (Leslie Bibb), Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), and Laurie (Carrie Coon)—three lifelong friends reconnecting after too long apart at a wellness resort in Thailand—find their conversation turning to politics. Kate and her husband are now pillars of their community in Austin, whereas Jaclyn lives in L.A. and Laurie in NY.

Kate first stuns her friends with the revelation that she goes to church every Sunday. Moreover, she actually likes the conservative Texas community that religion has made her a part of. Once it comes out that Kate’s husband is a Republican—to Jaclyn and Laurie’s great relief, Kate swears that she’s an Independent—the obvious question has to be raised: Did Kate vote for Trump?

The smile that Bibb gives in response to the question made me shriek. You could tell me the moment lasted for a split-second or for 30 minutes, and I would believe either one. What a perfect expression of smugness, exasperation, belittlement, and irritation—plus about a dozen other emotions—all at once. “Are we really gonna talk about Trump tonight?”

Someone on social media likened the three actresses’ performances in that scene to “a best supporting actress in a drama series Emmy-off,” and I couldn’t agree more. And while I would be hard-pressed for which woman—or their co-star, Parker Posey—would deserve a trophy more, I do have to argue for a special tribute at this year’s ceremony to Bibb’s smile alone.

If the Oscars can make me sit through that interminable James Bond segment, the very least the Emmys can do is this.

The Winner (Me) Takes It All

I know God is out there looking after me, because every time the chaos of the world becomes so overwhelming, depressing, or infuriating—or, lately, a toxic combination of all three—that I want to move to a cabin in a mountain and hide away from it all forever, he throws me a little something to boost my spirits. To look forward to. To make my entire personality about for a given period of time, to the extent that my friends and family’s tolerance will be truly tested.

That happened this week with the announcement that Mamma Mia! will be returning to Broadway this summer.

There is no greater experience a human can have that seeing Mamma Mia!. I have seen productions in different U.S. cities—heck, different countries, even—and can speak as an authority on this matter. Oh, you don’t like musicals? You don’t like ABBA? NONSENSE! Mamma Mia! is immune to such lazy dismissing. Mamma Mia! appeals to all.

Pictured below: Me marching everyone I know to go see Mamma Mia! on Broadway for a 14th time.

I had a conversation with friends recently about how whenever someone starts a statement with the phrase, “Now more than ever…,” you’re about to hear them say the most absolutely cringe-inducing, annoying, and quite frankly, meaningless thing. Well, friends, now more than ever, I think what the world needs is Mamma Mia!

A Cast of Snowflakes

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong is making his feature directorial debut with a new movie starring Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef and Cory Michael Smith. Would you believe that they will play a group of billionaire friends? Shocking subject matter for the creator of Succession.

More interesting to me is that the film will shoot in Park City, Utah, aka the ski town a stone’s throw away from Salt Lake City. Jesse Armstong, if you don’t seize this opportunity to populate every scene with at least one cast member from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, you don’t have any business making this movie. Perfect entertainment is right there for you to take advantage of. It wouldn’t even be hard to get them to set. Just put a bottle of Vida tequila on the craft services table, and they’ll show up. Don’t worry.

What an Amazing Love Story

Dolly Parton’s husband of 60 years died this week. Sixty years. What a truly amazing life together. Obviously, every post Dolly has made about it has made me cry, especially this one:

What to watch this week:

The Righteous Gemstones: The final season goes out in filthy, raunchy glory. (Sun. on HBO)

Eephus: Terrible movie title; great baseball movie. (Now in theaters)

The Rule of Jenny Pen: John Lithgow terrorizes Geoffrey Rush with a sock puppet in a retirement home. Sold. (Now in theaters)

What to skip this week:

Mickey 17: Turns out that two Robert Pattinsons are not better than one. (Now in theaters)

Daredevil: Born Again: Quick thought: Maybe we should just let him die. (Now on Disney+)