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Modern Musings

Takes on what’s happening both big and small

The Intro
Well hello there! It’s been a long time since I’ve written exclusively about things I think about, care about, and can’t stop noticing so I’m especially grateful you're here. I’ve always thought that TV, film, and art are windows into what our society and culture values, fears and hopes for in any given moment. Even when a show or film isn’t trying to make a statement about the state of the world, it always does because it came into the world at a particular point in time. And we’re definitely living in a particular point in time. Some of the most resonant works of art have come into the world during periods of upheaval: Sinners (this current recession), The Dark Knight (2008 financial crisis), Training Day (post-9/11), UPN’s Black Renaissance (Y2K anxiety). The list goes on. What I’m setting out to do here is equal parts light & fun and thought-provoking & insightful. So is TV the cure to *gestures broadly*? Art has a way of unlocking new perspectives, optimism and hope at the exact time when those things are hardest to reach. I like to think that matters. While you think about that, I’ll be in your inbox monthly (and sometimes a little more during awards season). 

Tech Bros Run Hollywood
Once upon a time, the people who ran Hollywood actually liked TV and film. What a concept! We’re in an era where a show’s survival is decided by how many people watch it in its first 12 hours. Cultural impact rarely moves on that timeline. Some of the most iconic series didn’t find their footing, their voice or their audience until Season 3 or 4. When originality is treated as a financial risk, we end up in our current situation. Layer on a new media monopoly (Netflix acquiring Warner Brothers) and AI threatening to replace creative jobs first, it’s hard not to worry about where all this is headed. What I do know is this: you can’t go wrong by choosing the side of the people. The people who write and fight for original stories anyway. The people who understand that humans and the quiet, mundane moments of being human remain the heartbeat of great TV, not tech tools. The people who’ll buy out the entire last row of a theater to see Wicked For Good in 4DX (lol okay now I’m talking about my people but you get the point). Whether it feels like it or not, TV’s enduring influence has always belonged to the audience. When in doubt, choose the side of the people.

Consider This for Comfort

From an idea that lived in my head for way too long to THREE SEASONS, Consider This for Comfort is my podcast where I break down why our favorite comfort shows are our favorite comfort shows and what cultural insights they offer us about society. Equal parts TV and lifestyle commentary. Season 4 premieres in late January/early February and I’m thinking through a new hotline segment. You call in with a real-life dilemma and I’ll respond with the TV show you should be watching for some perspective. Dating again? Job searching? Spiraling because the sun sets at 1pm? I got you!

If you want to be a part of this new segment next season, if you want to be a guest, if you want to share a show I should break down or if you just want to show some love, reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you! Follow the podcast here & here and officially available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Eteng Recommends

Film/TV

• How The Grinch Stole Christmas. 25 years ago, my favorite Christmas movie was born. My brother and I can still quote it word for word. Vulture’s oral history of the iconic classic is a must-read and proves Jim Carrey should’ve gotten an Oscar for it. (Spoiler alert: a lot of this newsletter will be me in a one-sided beef with The Academy.)

• Mad Men on HBO. (I refuse to acknowledge the “Max”. I’ve never known a “Max”). As much of a TV person I am, there are still many classics I haven’t seen, especially 2010s prestige TV. (Let’s just say I was particularly outside during that decade). As a brand and cultural strategist who started her career in the agency world, it’s wild how little the industry has changed: new business pitches, creative brainstorms and clients who change their mind at the last second for no reason at all. Also, John Hamm is distractingly handsome to both me and his coworkers.

• The Chair Company. Unlike “Max”, Tim (Robinson) is someone I know but never really paid attention to until now. This show has an unpredictable style of humor that will have you laughing at the most random things, takes you through twists and turns that you’ll have no choice but to stick around for and is just straight up weird. If you’ve ever wondered “why does Eteng really hate reboots?”, turn this one on ASAP. Long live original stories!

Lifestyle

• Coupe glasses. It was the year of the coupe and the forecast is looking the same for 2026. Some of my favorite places with my favorite glassware: King Tai, Weather Up, Fresh Kills, Kissa Kissa.

• The discourse around your Spotify Age. I’m a proud Spotify 21 who isn’t bound by genre. My favorite Gen Z artists this year: Khalid, Sabrina & FLO.

• Vinyl listening rooms. Think slinky, dim-lit cocktail bars with incredible acoustics. I only ever want to be in ambient spaces and these haven’t missed yet. My current fav is Mr. Melo. 

• The Infatuation. In the same way I only want to be in ambient spaces, I only ever want to eat good food. Their guides are so specific for any and every niche dining situation I’ve found myself in.

• This Snuggie sweatshirt. Thank me later. I’ve got it in red and blue. 

Things I’m Manifesting For Us in 2026

• 2026 is the BREAKOUT year. More speaking engagements, more opportunities, and more guest spots (I’ll be on Wow If True’s first episode of the new year!)

• Mexico City. Am I the last Millennial that still hasn’t been there?

• More Consider This For Comfort. Obviously. 

• Finally pressing play on that buzzy show you’ve been “meaning to watch”. January and February are STACKED. The Pitt (January 8), Industry (January 11), Paradise (February 23). Your family and friends will bear the brunt of this for better or for worse.  

• Side quests. Whenever I need a reminder that I do have some control over my life, I embark on a side quest. That random thing you feel compelled to do for no reason? I hereby grant you permission to do it. Catch me finally riding the mechanical bull at Desert 5 Spot.

• Sinners sweeping awards season. More on this in the new year. For now, of everything I’ve seen promoting this movie, Ryan Coogler breaking down different film strips is still my favorite. 

Sincerely,

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