Everyone’s a Critic

The reviews are in for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix endeavor Polo, the penultimate installment of their $100 million deal with the streaming giant.

But despite the likely high hopes it would join the ranks of works like Disney’s soccer saga with Ryan Reynolds, Welcome to Wrexham, and 2020’s, The Last Dance, the series has been devastatingly panned by critics.

Receiving two stars or less across the board (out of a possible five), the documentary has been labelled “a tedious inside look at posh polo” and “a mostly boring look at a sport that very few people outside of elite circles have any particular interest in.”

The Daily Telegraph noted: “Not enough of the Sussexes to make this anything, but a dull indulgence about a rich man’s discipline.”

The Daily Mail, my former employer, carped: “Flat, plodding and really rather boring.”

The Riven Rock-based Duke of Sussex, 40, only appears a handful of times throughout the five episodes while Meghan, 43, appears even less, despite being billed as executive producers.

Harry appears in the show’s opening credits, but doesn’t appear again until episode four, when he is only part of a conversation with other players.

Local Neighbors Sing Carols

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry has revealed a secret Christmas tradition she and British actor fiancé Orlando Bloom share each year.

Katy, 40, was in London last week for the filming of a TV special Night of a Lifetime and told the audience of her Christmas Eve plans.

She revealed she dresses up as The Grinch and would be singing to her neighbors, including Prince Harry and his wife, former actress Meghan Markle, who live a tiara’s toss or two away.

“We rent a trolley and we dress up with lighting on the trolley and go around the neighborhood in my home town… We love caroling, and even knock on some people’s door and do some carols.”

I can’t wait…

Condolences to Conan

My condolences to Carpinteria TV host Conan O’Brien, 61, with the loss of both his father and mother within three days of each other.

His mom, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, died just 72 hours after his dad, Thomas O’Brien.

The couple both passed away at their Brookline, Massachusetts, home. He on Dec. 9 at age 95 and Ruth on Dec. 12 at the age of 92.

They were married for 66 years.

Sightings

Gwyneth Paltrow at the opening of Restoration Hardware on East Valley Road… Kevin Costner at the Merry Miramar Christmas tree lighting party… Bo Derek and John Corbett at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Kirk Douglas Award at the Ritz Carlton Bacara.

Pip! Pip!