I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Six by Sondheim, Guess Who's Coming to Christmas, The Velvet Underground, AV Club, Playing it Forward, Dominion, Inside Comedy, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love, Fierce Bad Rabbits, Tess Druckenmiller, and Dallas.
- Directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Steven Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, Six by Sondheim is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. Told primarily in Sondheim’s own words, this feature documentary weaves together dozens of interviews with the composer, rarely seen archival material spanning more than half a century (including newly discovered footage of Ethel Merman performing Gypsy) and re-stagings of three songs produced especially for the film. Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts Monday at 9:00. Check out the trailer below:
- UP, “America’s Christmas Channel,” presents the UP Original Movie Guess Who’s Coming To Christmas (#GuessWho), a funny, romantic holiday movie for the entire family, starring singer/actor/emcee Drew Lachey (98 Degrees, Dancing with the Stars) and actress/musician MacKenzie Porter (Christmas Rescue, Dinosapien). Kristoffer Tabori (The Carpenter’s Miracle, Judging Amy) directs from a screenplay written by Tippi and Neal Dobrofsky (Window Wonderland, Goodnight for Justice). Guess Who’s Coming To Christmas will premiere exclusively on Sunday at 7:00.
- Universal Music Enterprises and Burger Records have joined forces for the release of the 45th Anniversary of White Light/White Heat
by The Velvet Underground with a tribute album featuring indie artists Gap Dream (“Sister Ray”), Natural Child (“White Light/White Heat”), Curtis Harding (“Here She Comes Now”), among others. Lou Reed famously said "No one listened to it. But there it is, forever – the quintessence of articulated punk. And no one goes near it." This partnership between UMe and Burger Records proves 45 years later, fans and bands of every age continue to listen and be inspired by this iconic album and is a true testament of the influence of The Velvet Underground.- I will not start publishing my Best of 2013 lists for another two week, but those that want to start perusing others, AV Club has released their 23 Best Albums of 2013 list. Apparently do not care that Black Panties do not drop until next week.
- Crackle, the multi-platform entertainment network, announced today the launch of its first original music series, Playing It Forward. The special street performance-style follow-doc is produced by Team Downey, an entertainment company founded by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey, alongside veteran music producer/composer Tony Berg and Kevin Lake. The Playing It Forward music movement will showcase surprise street performances by some of the world’s biggest artists in unplanned, unexpected environments across the country benefiting music education and charities of the artists’ choice. The first episode is at crackle.com/c/playingitforward and features a surprise show by acclaimed singer and songwriter John Legend. The Grammy Award-winning artist performed three fan favorites, All of Me, Ordinary People, and Shine to an unsuspecting and amazed crowd at the Culver City Town Plaza in Los Angeles.
- The ultimate celestial battle between good and evil will descend to Earth in 2014 as Syfy officially greenlights the scripted drama Dominion (working title) to series, it was announced today by Syfy President, Dave Howe. Based on characters from the hit theatrical film Legion (2010), Dominion is an epic supernatural drama set in the year 25 A.E. In this transformed post–apocalyptic future an army of lower angels, assembled by the archangel Gabriel, has waged a war of possession against mankind. The archangel Michael, turning against his own kind, has chosen to side with humanity against Gabriel. Rising out of the ashes of the 25 year-long battle are newly fortified cities which protect the human survivors. In Vega (formerly Las Vegas), the largest of these cities, two houses vie for control and the stage is set for political upheaval and a dangerous power shift. Meanwhile, a rebellious young soldier begins a perilous journey as the war between the human race and the fallen angels hell-bent on their domination escalates.
- Showtime has renewed its critically-acclaimed documentary series Inside Comedy for a third season, set to premiere Monday, February 3rd at 11:00. The ten, half-hour episodes from comedy forces David Steinberg and Steve Carell, will continue to feature one-of-a-kind interviews with some of the most respected entertainers who have shaped the genre over the last several decades, with Steinberg returning as host. In addition to Jimmy Fallon, Zach Galifianakis, Jonah Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Bette Midler, the new season will also include Alan Arkin, Dick Van Dyke, and Richard Belzer, along with more names to be announced.
- Composer, conductor, genius, mensch: Marvin Hamlisch (June 2, 1944 - Aug. 6, 2012) earned four Grammys, four Emmys, three Oscars, three Golden Globes, a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize before his untimely death, making him one of only two PEGOT winners ever. Hit after hit - "The Way We Were," "Nobody Does It Better" and scores for The Sting,Sophie's Choice and the Broadway juggernaut A Chorus Line - made him the go-to composer and performer for film, Broadway, every U.S. President since Reagan and concert halls worldwide. With exclusive access to Hamlisch's personal archival treasure trove and complete cooperation from his family, Dramatic Forces and THIRTEEN's American Mastersexplore his prolific life and career in the series' Season 27 finale, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love, premiering nationally Friday, December 27, 2013, 9:00 on PBS (check local listings).
- Westwood describes Fierce Bad Rabbit as, If the members of Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire joined ranks to record an AM Gold tribute to Wilco." I would not be able to come up with something more descriptive. You can check out Do You Want Me Now below:
- If traditional singer / songwriters are more your speed, check out Tess Druckenmiller.
- Three weeks until Christmas and the Ewings of Dallas have a season’s greetings for you:
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