57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/1/15

Hannibal: Well that was an odd way to start off a new episode, dialogue free with a character we have never seen before. Then we get to learn what has happened since Hannibal turned himself in three years ago, he has pleaded guilty but is eclipsed by a new serial killer. Will now has a wife and a teenage son and of course is talked into working on the new case, the first time since Lecter was locked away. Really other than Hannibal, I do not think he has worked on a case since season one (except I guess when he was wheeled in to consult on cases while in the prison for the criminally insane). It is nice to see him back at work.
You can download Hannibal on iTunes.

Masters of Sex: I figured they were not going to go with Hef, but was still a bit disappointed that it did not go that way. It is amazing to think that The Playboy Club failed spectacularly, but if my memory serves me correctly, that did not have much, if any Hef on that show either. But poor Tessa, having an absentee mother who is best known for writing a sex book is going to be rough.

The Strain: The kid was annoyingly precocious last season in a oh yeah Eph has a kid kind of way whenever he popped up on screen, but not with the recast, the kid is just downright extremely annoying in a I really hope his mom turns him so we do not have to listen to him anymore kind of way. But the UV security system was pretty cool, I did not see the ninja vampires going out like that.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

Falling Skies: By far the best part of the episode was whoever named their bowling alley Lois Lanes. Awesome.
You can download Falling Skies on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: Wait, Red Hood is back? I thought we already learned that CeCe was Red Hood. Or is this an A situation where we learn who it is only for the writers to go, nope, that was not A because we need to stretch the story out another couple seasons so here is another A to torment the girls? Meh. It may be time to end the show.At least Hannah and Spencer commented on how much the scholarship guy looked like Jason because I actually thought that was Jason when he walked into the room for a couple seconds. But alas, I fear the cop will no longer what Allison to coach church girls soccer after she stole his pass key, that was not very Christian of her.
You can download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

Tyrant: It only took half a season but finally someone recognized Barry even with the beard. You would think someone in the second biggest city would recognize him considering we saw his face plastered all over the place in the season premier. Of course the one person who recognized him ended up dying, and really for no good reason either. But since her father left the show, there was no reason to keep her around either even though that was one of the more interesting relationship in the first season. But now that his son is on the way to the city, I wonder how long it will take for Barry to run into him (but seriously, who gets ten million dollars and then decides to drive to a war zone, take the money and run young gay dude).
You can download Tyrant on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: I spent the first couple episodes assuming Christian Slater was a figment of Elliot's imagination only to have some very distinctive interactions with many other characters the past two week. But this week he is back to just randomly showing up out of nowhere (on the steps of Elliot's apartment because Dalia Royce told him about it? Alrighty). But this episode felt like the show's first misstep going back to the drug dealer who I am still not entirely sure how he figured out Elliot was behind his incarceration. It just felt like a very long excuse to put Shala's death on Elliot's conscience.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

SexAndDrugsAndRockAndRoll: I usually talk about how the behind the scenes aspects of Aquarius are more interesting than what actually happens on the screen and that may be the same for the new Denis Leary Show (I probably will not be writing it by name because of the overabundance of ampersands in the title and for some reason Blogger does not like displaying them properly). I went to watch the second episode of the show On Demand this weekend and found it interesting that there were four different versions of the episode. Most episodes typically have two version in my On Demand folders, SD and HD (TNT is the only channel I watch regularly that annoyingly does not offer their shows in HD On Demand) but the new FX show also had SD and HD version for the broadcast version and an uncensored version. Then again yesterday there were all explicit versions. I did not noticed anything naughtier than I am used to seeing on FX except Joan Jett dropping an F-bomb in the two episodes (other FX shows have used plenty of non-F expatiates and I have seen Jax Teller's naked backside many more times than I ever wanted too). Maybe this may be where television is headed. I know Aquarius has an uncensored version but was used for the On Demand release (at least the version I have watched. Mr. Robot had some F-bombs in this week's episode that were noticeably edited out (I think Mad Men pioneered the using F-Bombs that are edited out unless you count nineties rap videos). If only the actual show was as interesting as it is being distributed.
You can download Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll on iTunes.

Twinning: I found the premiere cheesy fun but nowhere near as good as other competition shows that it rips off. Then something caught my eye this week in that I kind of recognized a pair of the twins Roxanne and Nicole. I could not find confirmation anywhere on the internet that they are the same set, but the duo do share the same names are the twin who appeared in the seminal bad movie The Real Cancun a decade ago so I am just going to ahead and assume they are the same twins. (Fun fact: current VH1 star of Hindsight Laura Ramsey also got her start on the first, and probably only, so called reality movie). As for the actual episode, this week's challenge was slightly better but that wall seriously limits having any good challenges. I wonder at what point, if ever, do the change the game and merge the houses and take down the wall. And the Twin Off continues to be stupid. You can grab two random friends from any high school in the nation that could do just as well if not better at these questions.
You can download Twinning on iTunes.

Around the Tubes:7/31/15

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 World Lion Day, Peanuts, You're the Worst, Feherty, On the Record with Mick Rock, The Day the Bomb Dropped, Blood Drive, and FX.

- Nat Geo WILD today announced plans to commemorate World Lion Day, Monday, Aug. 10, with a full day of big cat programming to remind viewers why these vital apex predators are so important to protect. The network’s programming initiative also draws awareness to the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative with public service announcements and on-air promotional attention, kicking off Wednesday, July 29. “Nat Geo WILD has supported the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative since we went on the air five years ago with our annual Big Cat Week event, and unfortunately it’s news like the tragic death of beloved Cecil that reminds us that our work to save these majestic animals is far from over,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo WILD. “Big cat populations are in dramatic decline, and it is our network’s responsibility to do everything we can to bring awareness to their plight.” The lineup for World Lion Day includes:

Monday, Aug. 10, 2015:
12 p.m. Lion Battle Zone
1 p.m. Lion Gangland
2 p.m. The Last Lions (2 hours)
4 p.m. Game of Lions
5 p.m. Killer Queen
6 p.m. Fight for Life: Lion Pride Takeover
7 p.m. Man v. Lion

- Please join us in celebrating the 47th anniversary of Peanuts first African-American character, “FRANKLIN,” on July 31! Harriet Glickman, a school teacher wrote a letter to the comic strip’s creator Charles M. Schulz following the death of Martin Luther King urging him that an African American character needed to be added to the popular comic strip. “Franklin Armstrong” was introduced on July 31, 1968, representing the importance of desegregation.

- Critics call You’re The Worst “fantastic,” “the best,” and “the perfect love story for our times.” The all new season premieres September 9th on FXX.


- Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and avid golfer John Boehner sits down with David Feherty – one of the most recognizable and unique personalities in sports – for a wide-ranging interview about his life, career and love for golf on the next episode of Feherty, Golf Channel’s primetime interview series, Monday, Aug. 3 at 10:00.

- New Ovation show, On The Record With Mick Rock, follows legendary rock-and-roll photographer, Mick Rock, as he visits the hometowns of musicians Josh Groban, Patti LaBelle, Kings of Leon, and The Flaming Lips. The conversations that ensue are candid, unconventional, and shed light on the unknown stories behind an album cover, record release, or tour. On The Record With Mick Rock premieres Sunday, August 2nd at 8:00.

- A gripping new one-hour special from Smithsonian Channel relives the fateful day 70 years ago when the United States dropped a single bomb on Japan, destroying the city of Hiroshima and killing up to 70,000 people instantly. Narrated by Golden Globe nominee Dominic West (The Affair), The Day the Bomb Dropped premieres on Sunday, August 2 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel. Written and directed by Leslie Woodhead (The Hunt For Bin Laden; 9/11: The Day That Changed the World), The Day the Bomb Dropped gives an hour-by-hour account of the events of August 6, 1945, from the perspective of those who lived through it: the crew of the Enola Gay, the scientists who constructed the bomb, and the people on the ground in Hiroshima whose lives would be changed forever.

- Syfy and Universal Cable Productions today announced they have greenlit Blood Drive, a high-octane, over-the-top scripted series in the classic grindhouse movie tradition. Set in a near-apocalyptic future, the 13-episode series centers around LA’s last good cop who is forced to join a twisted, gory cross-country death race -- with cars powered by blood and a dangerous femme fatale partner who sees people as fuel.

- Express yourself FX style with the FX Emoji app featuring dozens of custom emojis for your iOS and Android device. Download the app for free from the Apple iTunes Store and Google Play:
iOS: http://itunes.com/app/FXEmoji
Android: https://goo.gl/G5wcXC
The new FX Emoji App features iconic images from your favorite FX and FXX shows, including Archer, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Strain, Man Seeking Woman and Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.