In our new monthly feature, Vehr team members share the things they’re loving — from apps to playlists, games to movies and more. This month, Senior Account Executive Karen Bells shares the show, podcast and concert series that she just can’t refuse:
“The Offer”: If there’s a more delicious movie quote than “Leave the gun; take the cannoli” — delivered after a pivotal hit in “The Godfather” — I sure can’t think of it. I’m enough of a sucker for a great gangster show, I’ve been known to consider someone’s stance on my beloved “Goodfellas” before agreeing to go on a date with them.
The new scripted 10-episode series “The Offer,” streaming on Paramount+, is chock full of behind-the-scenes revelations and stories about the formidable task of bringing “The Godfather” to the screen. Based on producer Albert S. Ruddy’s incredible — and previously untold — experience of making the seminal movie, “The Offer” tells the tale of battling egos, studio tyrants, budget constraints, real-life mobsters and more hurdles than you can shake a horse’s head at. In honor of recently deceased actor James Caan — Sonny Corleone himself — check out this “Offer” you definitely shouldn’t refuse.
“Fly on the Wall”: Superfans of “Saturday Night Live” would love this new podcast, which began airing in January, but I’m drawn in by the sheer force of personality and hilarity of co-hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade. Honestly, whatever topics the two of them decided to delve into — insurance regulations, time shares, paint-drying — the conversation would probably be engaging and endlessly listenable.
As it is, “Fly on the Wall” primarily focuses on “SNL” — the comedians, writers, controversies, musical guests, cultural influence and much, much more. As two of the show’s best-known and most successful alumni, Carvey and Spade have the pull to land a who’s who of folks from the SNL universe as guests, from Tom Hanks to Tina Fey, Chris Rock to Laraine Newman. Jump in and hang on for the ride as they take you through crazy stories, classic impersonations, effortless one-liners and sometimes surprisingly poignant perspectives.
Tiny Desk Concerts: This is the gift that seemingly will never stop giving. There are just so many good, great or flipping amazing live performances in the Tiny Desk arsenal. For the uninitiated, this is a video series of live concerts performed in the tiny, cramped office of NPR’s Bob Boilen for NPR Music. Musicians — sometimes really big deal, legendary ones like Patti LaBelle or Robert Plant — manage to squeeze huge performances into small shows of maybe a half-dozen songs in a, well, tiny little space.
There have been more than 800 Tiny Desk Concerts since the series debuted in 2008. You’re guaranteed to find musicians you’ve never heard of, and to hear performances you couldn’t have predicted from your favorites. The series features artists of every imaginable genre, background, age range and ethnicity. It’s nearly impossible to name “best” or “favorite” performances, but a few of mine came from Brittany Howard, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Mac Miller, Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Adele, T-Pain and on and on — again, the gift that keeps giving.