Hampton Habitues

Family Values
Just in time for Halloween, there’s a new “The Addams Family” movie out. Hooray. That’s right. The creepiest, kookiest, most mysterious and spookiest are back. And this time, they’re more animated than ever, thanks to the feature-film cartoon treatment and a fresh look at the original 1930s-era source material by the late Charles Addams. Appearing in the New Yorker, his illustrations and comics were shadowy line drawings that delivered a subversive pleasure: dark themes, genius chiaroscuro, and zippy one-liners. This newest animated film version uses that look and energy of those original drawings and also offers heretofore unexplored origin stories for the beloved Addams characters — Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester, Cousin Itt, Lurch, Thing and Grandma — which have not ever been shared in the original television series, animated series’ movies or Broadway play. This iteration of “The Addams Family” — starring the vocal talents of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dogg, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Titus Burgess, and Jenifer Lewis — is all about inspiring people to be more accepting of those who are different. Definitely timely. Now, for those who are wondering what any of this has to do with the East End, we’ve got a real treat for you. Addams was a Sagaponack resident until his death in 1988. In fact, the Cedar Point Lane residence where he and his wife, Marilyn “Tee” Addams, lived has been home to The Tee and Charles Addams Foundation since 1999. And the Foundation’s director, Kevin Miserocchi, serves as one of the film’s executive producers.
Political Patriarch
Readers will surely remember that we touted Gwyneth Paltrow’s newest streaming series, “The Politician,” last month. But having not watched the whole series yet, what we didn’t know at that time was (a) how amazing it is and (b) that Bob Balaban, a huge favorite of ours, is in it. His role is as the father of the lead character, perfectly played by Ben Platt, and husband of Gwyneth’s. OMG. Introduced in “The Harrington Commode” episode, the Bridgehampton resident is amazing. The whole show is amazing. It’s a must-watch!
Record-Breaker
Another awesome performer that we can’t get enough of is Mariska Hargitay, who is back for the 21st season of NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU.” Starring as crime-fighter and victim advocate Olivia Benson on the longest-running primetime drama currently on television, the East Hampton resident also holds the record of playing the longest-running character on the series. It’s something she’s immensely proud of, she says. “This is a character that our society needs. Somebody who, against all odds, is committed to finding justice,” says Hargitay. “The fact that I get to be on a show that is so successful but gets to talk about the abuses of power, gets to talk about everything that matters, everything that’s important … and empathy and compassion and respect … I get to put those things out into the world.”
Busy SJP
Somebody else who doesn’t let any moss grow underfoot is Sarah Jessica Parker. The busy actress, designer, entrepreneur and influencer just announced that she’s launched her SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker sunglasses collaboration with Sunglass Hut, and also her own wine line. Titled Invivo X, the “rogue Sauvignon Blanc” launched in September in collaboration with New Zealand-based business Invivo & Co. Made with grapes from five estates in Marlborough, New Zealand, the blend has notes of grapefruit, honeysuckle flower, passion fruit, and citrus zest. Sounds yummy. And also like it could provide a springboard for another of SJP’s passions — fragrance. Could a companion brand be on the horizon? Let’s drink to that.