Reviews:TV & Music Sept-Oct 2025

DENISE K. JAMES ON NEW FILMS AND MUSIC

Leanne
Netflix
Starring Leanne Morgan and Kristen Johnston

As soon as the first few minutes of Netflix’s lighthearted new sitcom “Leanne” came on my screen, I gasped in surprise. Was the layout somehow familiar? I’d seen that kitchen window placement, back stairwell and living room before, right? Somewhere in the depths of a 1990s memory? (Sadly, after consulting the internet, nothing confirmed my suspicion that the set was the same one from my old favorite,“Step by Step.”)

But perhaps that’s not the point. As I powered through the generous first season of 16 episodes about a woman whose husband steps out on their marriage, I realized “Leanne” satisfied a deep craving I hadn’t even known I had—similar to when you get a great meal that hits the spot out of nowhere. Starring Leanne Morgan as the eponymous main character and Kristen Johnston as her wisecracking sister, Carol, this straightforward, nostalgic plot of a family coming to terms with a marriage split is both healing and hilarious.

As the show begins, Leanne is attempting to take the high road—staying out of her soon-to-be ex-husband’s way and eschewing drunkenness or mania. But comedic situations ensue, of course, and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times at Carol’s comments, the ridiculous reactions of their parents, Margaret (Celia Weston) and John (Blake Clark), and the audacity of husband Bill. This show delighted my true sense of humor—which is not crude, dark or dry (like much of our current content) but honest, relatable and silly. In my opinion, we’re starved for that. And I seem to be right: “Leanne” scored a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing and reached the streaming giant’s No. 2 spot.

Did the traditional sitcom die with cable television? Some sources say yes. While it’s obvious fewer of them exist, I would love to see more shows like this one—and a season two. I can put on an episode of “Leanne”  while I’m washing dishes or making supper, and it’s low stakes with easy laughs. Who among us couldn’t benefit from that in our dark, troubled world?

Margo Price
Hard Headed Woman
Loma Vista Recordings
I’ve never been the biggest country fan, but I admire Margo Price for her strong will. Case in point: one of her first releases from Hard Headed Woman (nice title) is called “Don’t Let the Bast*rds Get You Down,” a cheeky, rousing romp that even non-country lovers can tap their foot to. Also download “Losing Streak,” a solid tune featuring fun lyrics about parties we can’t recall and cars from the early ’90s.

Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell
Making Good Time (EP)
I had to include this EP in my reviews—Ben Bridwell’s voice is well-known among Southern indie rock fans, after all—and he and Sam Beam are childhood friends reuniting for their second project, the follow-up to Sing Into My Mouth. At just five well-crafted tunes, download the whole thing—but definitely don’t sleep on “Luther,” a swaying rendition of the song by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, perfect for these cooler nights.