It is called “Pretend It’s a City” and directed by (and co-stars) Martin Scorsese. And it’s the best thing I’ve seen in a while.
I remember Fran from her book “Social Studies” way back when, so I was semi-familiar with her perspective.
The series is a seven-part series of Lebowitz’s views via various interviews, most by Scorsese, in which she offers her opinions on (mostly) New York City, but also technology, mankind, computers, books, etc.
I feel like watching it again, it was that good. Anyone else see it?
I admit to not being particularly knowledgeable of her, but I have a fondness for people who are a bit cranky and are witty about it rather than annoying, and I thoroughly enjoyed the series. It made me want to read some of her books.
Thanks for the tip, I just watched the first episode. She’s good, but Scorsese sure had the most laughs. He really seems to enjoy what he does with her or she with him. I’m going to watch some more now. I think I am enjoying it too.
I don’t often binge, but I binged that. I love Fran ever since her two great books came out.
And I loved her with the New York City model in Flushing Meadow Park. The Times article about the series said that they were worried she would kick over a bridge.
She kicked over a bridge. Too bad they didn’t show it.
I might watch it again.
Along with about a million other people, I think, that show made me get up to find my treasured copy of Metropolitan Life on the shelf. It is gone – must have lent it to someone years ago. The mass market paperback, the one with the vibrant yellow-and-orange cover, is now going for like $400 and up. Thanks, Netflix.
Yeah, not all of it has aged really well, though. “I jot down an idea I have for an all-black version of a Shakespearean comedy to be called As You Likes It.”
And complaints about “the acceptance of construction boots as suitable attire for members of the fair sex” and “girl ministers” and “Negro accountants” as societal negatives.
I recently read a book called Subwayland and learned about “token sucking”, a pre-Metrocard method of picking up extra pocket change. Of course, the activity was illegal and not without health risks. I try to walk a line between these two extremes of behavior.
As for who she resembles, I thought the old (i.e., young) Fran looked like Oscar Wilde. It is possible she cultivated this resemblance. Of course, Wilde didn’t live long enough to compare to today’s Fran. She is by the way one of the few celebrities I ever have recognized without anyone’s having pointed her out. It was near the Strand bookstore, so I may have been on the lookout. More interesting was noticing her on the pages of a photography book called something like “Faces of Times Square”, where she was one of about a thousand.
Anyway, I enjoyed the series. I also recently watched on youtube a compilation of all(?) her appearances on David Letterman’s show. She committed there the faux pas of repeating a particular joke sixteen years (though just one appearance!) later. Though I guess it served to underscore her point (it was about writer’s block).
Just binge-watched this series. As a former New Yorker of a certain age, I’ve loved this woman forever, and remember bumping into her in a few locations. I can so identify with her point of view, even when disagreeing with it. Fran could not exist anywhere but in New York City.