To close out the year, GQ is revisiting the most fascinating ideas, trends, people, and projects of 2023. For all of our year-end coverage, click here.
1. Wham!
I really liked the Netflix Wham! documentary. I was more into Culture Club during that time. What I liked about it is watching two young guys, with this kind of brotherhood relationship, running across the stage and not being out of breath. And just how exciting it was to watch two people make it happen, you know, and how they did it back in that day. Then I went down a gigantic George Michael hole, which I'm still in.
He's a fellow Greek and he had a similar relationship with his dad that my brother had with ours. So it just kind of opened up a nice little hole for me to climb in. That's been really fun for me — just reading [up on them and learning] how articulate George was, and what a beautiful voice he had and how honest his lyrics were. I don't normally listen to words in music — I’m listening to the music — but I'm listening to his lyrics. I was like wow, he really is telling you what's happening.
2. John Early’s stand-up special, Now More Than Ever
Original and really funny. He was just on point and on fire. It was just really smart and it was just so him.
3. “What’s His Name” by Joey Quinones and Thee Sinseers
I just thought musically it was an original song. I like the look of the band, and I'm excited for them. I haven't listened to all their music, but I really liked that song.
4. Cindy Sherman’s new artwork
She posts a lot of it on her Instagram page.
5. Cole Escola's Our Home Out West
Cole Escola did a movie for YouTube, and I got to play an old lady in it, which I love, playing old ladies. It's on YouTube and I think that's really good.
Honorable Mentions:
- All There Is With Anderson Cooper
- Theater Camp (“I thought it was really good. They did a terrific job.”)
- Everything/Nothing/Someone, by Alice Carrière (“I just thought it was well-written and a really good story.”)
- May December
