Yesterday, I had the brilliant* idea to drink two cups of matcha tea at 4pm.
I have a little matcha set, and I enjoy the whole ritual and experience around making it. I measure out a little bit into my bowl, use my fancy whisk to mix it all up, and then savor the result.
It was so delicious, I made myself another bowl immediately after.
SMASH CUT TO MIDNIGHT.
So I’m wide the fuck awake, sitting in my game room, watching TV. I’ve been here since about 9pm, when Anne went to sleep, because she had to get up at are-you-fucking-serious-o’clock today. What I wanted to do was watch a movie, but I’ve convinced myself that committing to a movie is a bad idea, because I don’t want to be awake until 2am. I’ve watched a couple episodes of Night Gallery (on the Decades channel, which is worth the hassle and cost of a digital antenna for your TV. Seriously, if you’re GenX and want to see the stuff we loved growing up, the DTV channels are where it’s at.) I’ve watched two episodes of One Step Beyond on Hulu, and I think maybe I can convince my brain to shut the fuck up and let me go to sleep … when I see that the most recent episode of SNL features Courtney Barnett, whose music I’ve been crazy about since I first heard her on XMU about three months ago.
So I decide that I’ll just watch one of her performances and then I will go to sleep.
(This is where I spare you the Medium thinkpiece about how SNL doesn’t do the same things for me that it did when I was in my 20s, and how almost all the sketches in this episode were all derivative of the same premise that wasn’t funny when Fred Armisen — who I respect as a performer — did it in his indulgent monologue that reminded me why I find Portlandia obnoxious and unfunny).
But there were some genuinely funny moments sprinkled into the show. The digital short was great, Update had a couple of laugh our loud moments, and Courtney Barnett was fantastic. I guess it was about 1am when I realized I needed to get up in 8 hours, but my brain was all THAT TEA WAS GREAT HEY POPCORN IS GOOD GO GET SOME.
My brain made a good point, so that’s how I ended up eating microwave popcorn in the middle of the night, and nearly choking on it when I saw this sketch, Farewell Mr. Bunting.
I’m reasonably certain that a lot of you won’t be able to see that, because geolocking and bullshit, but if you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s great.
I ended up watching all the way to the end of the show, which I’d rate 1 star out of 5, but decided to curve up to 2 out of 5, because of the short and the sketch above. Also, I hope Courtney Barnett comes through Los Angeles soon, because I’d really like to see her perform live.
*for very small values of brilliant.
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Wonders will never cease, I watched it in the UK.
Wil, I loved you in Stand By Me, Star Trek the next Generation, Harry Houdini, and on The Big Bang Theory! I have been a huge fan of yours since I was 12! Yes, I also enjoy Matcha tea…
Your fan and friend always, Holly
Lorne Michaels and his SNL staff never cease to amaze me, Wil.
I had coffee with Lorne here in Memphis a few years ago.
Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel) was with us.
We had some good laughs.
Hope you’re doing great !
I am alarmed you felt you had to explain who Paul Simon is.
Most people default to the Senator from Illinois??
Wow I should try this drink! Especially when I need to handle doll making in the fucking middle of the night, the color tells me you’ve had lots and lots of fun with this thing.
And still looking forward to hearing your comments on the question about the greatest books ever! Very interesting to hear about it from you!
Matcha tastes great but it is full on with the caffeine. Don’t be fooled by its resemblance to ordinary green tea.
Wil, could you possibly describe the taste of matcha tea, i.e., is it particularly bitter?
I don’t think so, but I have particular tastes. It’s dependent on how much water you use, I think. Mostly, it’s a robust, vegetal, woody/grassy flavor for me. But, again, that probably isn’t what the average person tastes, and when I describe it like that, I don’t think I make it sound very good.
I guess it’s like a normal green tea, but more intense and brighter, if that makes sense.
That sketch was hilarious! Did not see that coming. Thanks for sharing.
That sketch was a freakin’ riot! So glad no one was in the building to hear to me shriek in laughter. I don’t watch SNL much any more unless they have guests I totally love so I miss these little gems.
Speaking of things I totally love, it is my intent to thank the performers & artists who’ve made my life a happier place over the years so…
Thank you, Wil Wheaton, for being all kinds of awesome and entertaining and putting some really cool things out in the world for everyone.
Since I started reading your blog, I find myself interested in trying table-top gaming (tho’ too shy to actually go to the open nights at the local store) and better educated about some serious shit like mental illness. My bff has had depression & anxiety for years but reading what it’s like inside when your brain is lying to you and being a dick…holy hell, I had no idea what she’s dealing with! She does have a dr & meds & therapy so she’s doing the best she can-I just wish I could help more.
Again, thank you.
Courtney put on the best set at the Beale Street Music Fest in Memphis earlier this month. Super powerful. And she was on my plane out on Monday, but I didn’t have the nerve to say anything (and I didn’t want to be that guy). I blame you for that 🙂
Okay, that’s antifreeze.
As a noted comedy expert with an online doctorate in commenting from Miami of Ohio, I hereby remark that SNL has not been amusing for at least twenty years, but that sketch was top notch. SNL has become the most abysmal corporate trash heap for enduring triple-A comedic talent shackled to triple-F writing and producing. Watching SNL is like waiting in line for turnips in Soviet era Bulgaria.
I get my Armisen fix on the vastly superior Portlandia. All of the SNL talent takes flight when they escape that gulag. I am so thankful there are now multiple pathways for comedy outside of Lorne Michael’s Bataan death march.
Why SNL when Lady Dynamite and Kimmy Schmidt are absolutely murdering it?
Channel 101 NY/LA > SNL.
At least for the past fourteen years.
I am not shitting you.
Lonely Island, Harmon, Roiland, Ellie Kemper, Kate McKinnon, Randall Park, Human Giant, and an ocean of comedic talent you know by sight, but not by name came through there. That mine is going to keep yielding gems and some day will get its due.
Shee-it. I’ll take Newgrounds or YTMND over SNL any day.
That is all.
If you like Portlandia, have you seen “Documentary Now!”? The first season is on Netflix. OMFG, I died.
Oh, snap. That looks good. How did I miss it?
First paragraph, ftw. I can’t speak beyond that, except to possibly expand the 20 years. I really hate the writing, anymore. Just. Not. Funny.
Oh man, I remember going to a tea ceremony demonstration on a trip to Japan years ago — they gave us teeny, tiny little cups of matcha and after I drank it you about had to peel me off the ceiling. Tastes like heaven, but no good if I want to sleep any time in the next couple of days. They told us it was developed by the monks to keep them awake while they were meditating. I’m sure it does the job quite well!
did you ever hear of adagio? the have all kinds of tea (black, decaf, matcha, etc.) & tea paraphernalia. they even have fandom themed blends. caffeine levels vary, so make sure scroll down to where they have that info. they have sample sizes, so you can try stuff without having to get a bunch.
I’ll have to try matcha again–I love green tea but the one time I made this it was too bitter….but it looks so good in the photos! I watch SNL every week, maybe because I’ve watched it from the beginning (I’m old)…sometimes it’s funny and sometimes not but it’s not the worst habit to have; I also watch At Midnight every night it’s on too; a good laugh is a good thing, wherever you find it!
SNL hasn’t worked for me in ages. Even the worst comedy can make ya giggle a time or 2 . But DAMN that skit caught me off guard and made me laugh! Thank you Sir!
Wow, Matcha huh? Every time I go to the co-op near my house it’s Crazytown, USA expensive. Do you have a good place to get it that doesn’t cost a clipping of soul to purchase?
I just get mine at a grocery store. I don’t recall thinking it was too expensive.
I had a sample at the Burbank mall and it was delicious (and also INCREDIBLY tiny so I had no idea what the caffeine content was)… but I was also in the middle of power-walking so, really, who knows?
Fred Armisen filled in last-moment (for Maria Bamford, I believe) at a Comedians of Comedy show in Philly years ago. He came out as Saddam Hussein: bearded, gray suit…and a guitar. Spoke in a British accent the whole time. He did his whole bit without breaking character once, including invited audience interaction. It was crazy, and it worked.
Any time I think that I may not care for what he’s doing at that moment, the way he held his own during that funny evening (on a bill with Patton Oswalt and Brian Posehn) earns him a pass.
Yeah, I respect his talent and his willingness to take risks. I just don’t find a lot of it funny.
That’s a good way to sum it up.
“Duct tape is magical and should be worshiped”
Gave me my first laugh of the day 😀
trivial pursuit: the top of board duct tape riff is snipped from Andy Weir’s sf classic “The Martian”.
Ding ding and so it is!
I need to read the book!
I’ve avoided the movie thus far – no particular reason – just when a book is turned into a movie I tend to try to read the book first.
Maybe the movie actually was meant as a comedy? There seemed to be quite the stink about it being nominated as such at the Academy Awards.
And just as an aside – love your photo!!!! That sound track has earwormed my brain and has infiltrated my dreams and I couldn’t be happier about it! 😀
Aw man, that was making me seriously glassy eyed remembering Dead Poets Society and the awesome Robin Williams. Then, yeah, nice ending! 😁
I completely lost it during that skit. I was in the middle of rapidly explaining to my teen about the concept of Dead Poets Society when it happened. Epic.
I think the taste of matcha sounds very appealing but I’m just wondering what the caffeine delivery is like. Is it generally like a cup of coffee or is it the jittery caffeination of an energy drink. Awake is good. Twitching and full of anxiety is not. Thoughts?
Caffeine, like any drug, affects everyone differently. I don’t get jittery from matcha, but I drink a LOT of coffee and tea, so my baseline is probably different than a normal person’s.
Sounds like I’ll just have to give it a try!
Go easy if you’re a matcha newbie. It has quite a kick. If you start sweating, stop drinking 😉
My poison is coffee these days. I started roasting a few years back. Any of it can sneak up on you thougb. I got carried away roasting and cupping the other night and wound up wired as a three year old on cotton candy. Binge watched the entire 19th season of Southpark in one go.. Brilliant stuff. The most edge they’ve had in years… but as for that, I’d rather have watched a few episodes and gotten some sleep … haha.
When the millennials are in their 40’s, I guarantee that you will hear them gripe about how SNL sucks now and doesn’t do it for them like it did in the 2010’s. Every generation looks at SNL through the rose colored glasses of the best-of reels featuring their favorite players from when they were in their 20’s. But I guarantee that if you manage to find an entire episode from whatever you consider to be the ‘golden age’ of SNL, you will find that it consists of one or two pretty good sketches and an hours worth of forgettable garbage, just like now.
Unfortunately, I think I have to agree with you. I’m “First Generation” (and possibly Second Generation) Not Ready For Prime Time Players, but I know there were certain sketches that ALWAYS flew, and some the really NEVER did. Plus, IMO, why ever bother having Musical Guests who may have been A or B- list but never played a song you recognized from Billboard Top 40 Radio?
Coneheads; Hamburger, Chips, Petsi, no Coke; Emily Litella (did I spell that right?), Billy Crystal as Fernando Lamas; etc…
I can only drink matcha in latte form. My favorite one has a hint of melon flavor on top of the grassy taste. Delicious. But I only drink it in the morning 😉
Ah, shades of “Sam Peckinpah’s Salad Days”! (Thank you, Monty Python!)
You made me thirsty. I’ve cut back on caffeine recently, so I haven’t had matcha for months. I miss it.
Yeah that bit was funny & all, especially the hot-potato stuff. But damn it’s such bad (overblown) mockery. I’m verrrry old-school SNL. I still remember what hooked me in the seventies — some boring news bit about an anti-porn or anti-gay rally or similar. Until they started talking about how the crowd began “throbbing” forward, “heaving”, and “moaning” or some such. Heh. I consider it jumped the shark with the coneheads. What a waste of Aykroyd’s talent.
Heh, don’t I feel stupid, there was a coneheads bit on the same show that hooked me. Transcript: http://snltranscripts.jt.org/76/76supdate.phtml