Around the Tubes: 8/11/2017

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 Episodes, Dice, Major Crimes, Shameless, White Famous, SMILF, Louis Armstrong, Mondo Cozmo, The Band Perry, MTV VMA, and Six Words Fresh Off the Boat: Stories of Immigration.

- SHOWTIME is giving viewers nationwide an early opportunity to sample the season premieres of the network’s hilarious comedy series EPISODES and DICE for free, ahead of their debuts on Sunday, August 20th at 10 p.m. and 10:30pm ET/PT, respectively. Starting today, consumers can watch the series premiere for free on YouTube (EPISODES / DICE) and SHO.com (EPISODES / DICE). Consumers can also sample the premieres of EPISODES and DICE across multiple television and streaming providers’ devices, websites and applications and their free On Demand channels.

- TNT's Major Crimes faces its three most challenging cases, struggling to solve mysteries mired in complex political conflicts having little to do with identifying and arresting murderers. As Cmdr. Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) grows accustomed to her new boss, Assistant Chief Leo Mason (Leonard Roberts), the detectives find themselves questioning their faith in the rapidly changing priorities of the justice system and their ability to reason through difficult changes in their personal relationships. Finally, they must accept the necessity of risk, in all its different guises, as they prepare to face the inexplicable but increasingly undeniable return of Phillip Stroh (guest star Billy Burke).

- SHOWTIME has announced the premiere dates for its fall comedy slate, including two new half-hour comedy series and the return of the hit hour-long comedy SHAMELESS. WHITE FAMOUS – starring Jay Pharoah (Saturday Night Live) and based on the personal experiences of Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx – will debut Sunday, October 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, airing after the hit drama series RAY DONOVAN. SMILF – starring Frankie Shaw (Mr. Robot) and based on her Sundance Film Festival Jury Award-winning short film of the same name – will launch Sunday, November 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, following the 9 p.m. ET/PT season eight premiere that night of the hit series SHAMELESS. On November 5, WHITE FAMOUS will move to 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

- In celebration of the late, great Louis Armstrong’s 116th birthday today, Verve Records/UMe have released the digital collection, The Complete Decca Singles 1935-1946, bringing together every single and B-side Pops released during his first decade on Decca Records. Totaling 136 tracks – with many available digitally for the first time – the comprehensive collection is now on all digital retailers and streaming services just as the annual music extravaganza Satchmo SummerFest gets underway in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter for three days and nights of contemporary and traditional jazz in honor of the legendary trumpet player and singer. The Complete Decca Singles 1935-1946 is available here: https://UMe.lnk.to/LouisCompleteDecca

- Taking a much-deserved victory lap as his full-length debut Plastic Soul [Republic Records] earns unanimous critical praise worldwide, “The Best New Rock Act of 2017,” Mondo Cozmo (who named his music after his dog) shares an incendiary live performance video of the record’s title track “Plastic Soul” (Live From Exit/In Nashville) on VEVO. Watch it here.

- Tune in to the AT&T* AUDIENCE Network concert special The Band Perry airing Friday, August 11, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. In this episode, the Grammy® Award-winning trio The Band Perry perform fan favorites and sit down with series host Ted Stryker for an in-depth interview.

- MTV yesterday announced that platinum-selling, Grammy-award winning, Top Dawg Entertainment recording artist Kendrick Lamar, will take the “VMA” stage for the first time as a solo headline performer. The “VMAs” will air live from the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, CA, on Sunday, August 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Lamar joins an extensive line-up of A-list performers for the show, including Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd and more, promising more music and unpredictable moments than ever before.

- Marrying the acclaimed immigration-themed ABC Television Network series Fresh Off the Boat with the New York Times bestselling Six-Word Memoir series by Larry Smith, Kingswell Press is thrilled to publish Six Words Fresh Off the Boat: Stories of Immigration, Identity, and Coming to America (on sale: September 5, 2017).

I Want My Music Television: 8/7/2017

Perfect Places – Lorde


Pure Heroine was a great album that I had on heavy rotation, I just realized that I listened to the new Lorde once when it came out and that is out. Perfect Places was my favorite track off that album, I may have go back and revisit it. I do really like the video; it reminds me a time when people actually spent money on videos by going to exotic locations. Just imagine how great those Rio-era Duran Duran videos would have looked in hi-def.


Bibia Be Ye Ye – Ed Sheeran


How do I put this nicely: Ed Sheeran is very white so it is weird to see a bunch of black people sing his songs. But I wonder if Ed has a Graceland in him, that could be interesting.


Boys - Charli XCX


Charli XCX can be very hit or miss for me and I am learning towards the latter for my early assessment of Boys. I like the chorus but the repetitive chorus may get very annoying.


Feels Like Summer - Weezer


Feels like Summer is another in a long line of underwhelming Weezer singles, but you gotta love the Guns N' Roses circa Paradise City send up.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/6/2017

Claws: So does Roller know who tried to kill him or does he really have selective amnesia? It is kind of a huge troll move if he does know at this point. Or he really fears the Russians and that he is throwing the scent that way?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: Poor maid, Zach is totally going to get her killed soon.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: So the new guy pursues Cassie, gets a chance to nail her in the broom closet (because having sex apparently is the best way to end sexual tension), turns her down and then uses her as a wingman. Only on television or movies. But still, that is more believable than the other Boston guy banging the hot roommate in the baby’s room.

Preacher: So Preacher sinks the old cowboy in the bottom of a swamp and next week it looks like he will have another weirdo to deal with next week in the form of the dude we met this week.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

Casual: I guess I was wrong that the season would end on a wedding. That is not to say we did not get any big news, Alex is going to be a father. Wow. That is a scary prospect. And his baby mama is not much of a responsible adult either. Should make for an interesting season four.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: That challenge was kind of disappointed. I think they have done ones like that before but it was much longer than one pass through. They should have done until one team had all the rings or the most rings after a time limit.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.