Around the Tubes: 7/14/2018

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 Castle Rock, Casual, Ariana Grande, Lord Huron, The Avett Brothers, Mobb Deep, POV, Who Is America?, Shark Squad, Now What with Amanda de Cadenet, Conan, and Final Space.


- Hulu are excited to debut the official trailer for upcoming Hulu original series Castle Rock. The psychological-horror anthology series from J.J. Abrams and Stephen King premieres Wednesday, July 25th only on Hulu.


- Hulu released the trailer for the fourth and final season of Casual. All 8 episodes will premiere on Tuesday, July 31st. All episodes of the series will be available to binge on Hulu at that time.


- Today, Grammy Award®-nominated, multiplatinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande releases, God Is A Woman, the second single from her highly anticipated fourth studio album Sweetener via Republic Records. The brand-new single was produced by ILYA for MXM, written by Ariana, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Rickard Göransson, and ILYA. Listen to God Is A Woman HERE. The official lyric video for God Is A Woman has also been revealed, watch it HERE.

- Lord Huron’s Spotify Singles debut today, including a performance of their hit single “When The Night Is Over” as well as a cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.” Listen/share the singles HERE. Additionally, the band will preform “Never Ever” on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on August 8 and will appear on “CBS This Morning: Saturday Sessions” on August 11.

- The Avett Brothers announced that they will be ringing in 2019 with two shows at Charlotte, North Carolina’s Bojangles Coliseum on December 30th and December 31st. Tickets will be available to Avett Guild members starting on Tuesday, July 10th at 10am and will then go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 13th at 10am. CID Entertainment will once again be offering special VIP and travel packages. More info can be found at theavettbrothers.com.

- You cannot mention rap’s most timeless duos without naming Mobb Deep. To celebrate the 25thAnniversary of their monumental debut release Juvenile Hell, Urban Legends/UMe released both a standard black vinyl LP and a limited edition red vinyl pressing of this iconic release. This is the first time that Juvenile Hell has been available on vinyl, and both versions can be ordered at shop.urbanlegends.com.

- In celebration of their 40th Anniversary, JOHN LYDON’s PUBLIC IMAGE LTD (PiL) have announced The Public Image Is Rotten: The North American Tour, will kick off in New Orleans on Tuesday, October 9 (see below for all dates). Tickets go on-sale starting Friday, July 13 at 10:00AM local time. Further PUBLIC IMAGE LTD activity includes the release of The Public Image Is Rotten a career–spanning box set (out July 20) and a new documentary film of the same name, the latter of which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and at London’s Raindance Festival. Directed by Tabbert Fiiller and released by Abramorama, the film will make its North American theatrical premiere on Friday, September 14 in New York City at Metrograph with more theatrical dates in October-November to coincide with PiL’s North American fall tour. View the trailer for The Public Image Is Rotten film (here).

- In “one of the most dangerous places on earth," where the Taliban maintains a substantial presence, a young woman faces obstacles to pursuing a seemingly simple passion: sports. Born and raised in Pakistan’s mountainous tribal region of Waziristan, Maria Toorpakai emerged to become the country’s top female squash player and one of the top 50 in the world. Directed by Erin Heidenreich, The War to Be Her premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and makes its national broadcast on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, July 23 at 10 p.m. POV is American television’s longest-running documentary series now in its 31st season.

- Showtime announced a brand new satirical half-hour series from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Famous for creating a roster of iconic moments and incendiary characters, Baron Cohen returns to series television for the first time in more than a decade, writing and directing Who Is America? In the works over the past year, the seven-episode series will explore the diverse individuals, from the infamous to the unknown across the political and cultural spectrum, who populate our unique nation. The first episode will debut on streaming, online and On Demand this Sunday, July 15 at midnight ET (9 p.m. PT July 14) and will premiere on air that same night at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with subsequent episodes airing on Sundays at 10:00.


- Around the world, a group of scientists are risking life and limb to come face-to-face with the most fearsome sharks in the ocean. From researchers in Guadalupe attempting to attach a camera to a great white, to a dedicated “shark lab” in the Bahamas investigating shark migration and overall intelligence, join a thrilling journey into the hidden habitats of these premier marine predators. Shark Squad is now streaming on Smithsonian Earth™ – available on Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Android™ and at SmithsonianEarthTV.com.

- Showtime has ordered a new pilot Now What with Amanda de Cadenet (working title), for a half-hour weekly news-magazine format created and hosted by Amanda de Cadenet (The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet). The show takes a thematic approach exploring America’s current social, sexual, cultural and political issues, seen through de Cadenet’s sharp, feminist lens. Emmy® nominee Inuka Bacote (Eastsiders), and Danielle Oexmann (Vice Does America) will serve as co-showrunners. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks.

- Team Coco and TBS are bringing Conan O’Brien’s unique brand of comedy to San Diego in a nightly pop-up comedy club. TEAMCOCOHOUSE will be open beginning Wednesday July 18th through Saturday July 21st. Located at 327 Fourth Ave, a few blocks from the convention center, TEAMCOCOHOUSE will showcase a daily lineup of comics handpicked by Conan, podcasts, panels, screenings, giveaways and special appearances by friends of Team Coco, as well as O’Brien himself.

- Oh my double crap! TBS announced this week that San Diego Comic Con will be the next stop on the Final Space intergalactic circuit. Series creator Olan Rogers along with the cast and producers of the recently renewed epic space opera will descend on fans for an action-packed Q&A about the adventures and mystery of Final Space, including a special fan contest announcement. The panel will be followed by an autograph signing at a separate location.

Final Space- Q&A with the Cast and Creators of the TBS Animated Series

Panelists: Olan Rogers, David Sacks, Tika Sumpter, Tom Kenny, Coty Galloway
Date: Friday, July 20, 3:30 – 4:10 p.m. PT
Location: Hilton Bayfront San Diego, Indigo Ballroom

Signing: Friday, July 20, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PT
Tickets to the limited autograph signing will be available at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, July 20 at the Sails Pavilion of the Convention center.

Previewing Harlots: Season Two

About halfway through watching the second season of Harlots, I had to ask myself, is this show just Lady Billions? Instead of the eternal struggle between a District Attorney and a Hedge Fund manager, we have two feuding madams. And I spent most of the first season thinking that Bobby Axelrod has to go to prison. When that did not happened, I resigned he would not spent much, or any time in prison.

With Charlotte going under cover at the end of season one, I figured early in season two that the season would end with the demise of Lady Quigley. But what if this really is Lady Billions and the two warring factions are in it for the long haul for countless seasons? What if the team up half way through the third season to take down greater threats to them? With no satisfying take down in sight on Billions, hopefully Harlots take a different path.

The new season of Harlots starts with an eviction. And so the battle between Lady Quigley and Margaret Wells begins anew. Someone who is part of the battle does find themselves in prison during the first episode (and is not the only main character that finds themselves behind bars) and loses their wig in the process. We also get a mini murder mystery this season as well as Liv Tyler with a British accent a lady of privilege who runs into Charlotte. Lucy finds a wealthy client this season and finds herself away from the warring factions for most of the early season. Oh, and Emily Lacey starts her own brothel because we all could use a little humour in our lives.

The first two episodes of Harlots are available on Hulu now with a new episode arriving every Wednesday.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/8/2018

Claws: Finally the Quiet Ann-centric episode I never knew I needed. And I am still not sure I need it. I guess the AA Meeting was pretty entertaining. But, wait, Quiet Ann has a brother who is a gay politician? What? How have these groups of criminals not exploited that yet. But what is with that ending? Did Arlene fake getting fired in hopes to get a sting just like it went down?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: Gee, the police got there pretty quick. Is the station right next to the school? But is there anyone Noah will not hook up with? How exactly was he able to stay faithful for twenty years? Or was Alison not his first affair. Then there was Helen and very telling she left after saying she could not live without her kids and did not say Vic. I almost thought she was going to say Noah first. But poor Vic, probably the most stand up person on the show, really the only one, and he just got a death sentence. Although making Helen raise a kid alone without him at his age is kind of selfless. I was waiting for Helen to ask, which one after that woman answered Bush. But I guess the oldest W. babies are only seventeen. As for the intro, it looks like I was wrong thinking that Noah and Cole were not looking for Alison because Anton’s comment about having a type pretty much confirms it. Which then begs the question, what the fork is Anton doing there?

I’m Dying Up Here: After a season of self-sabotage, Ron finally did the ultimate, he just upped and quit. But will it last or will he be happily back on the show by the finale last week? And just when you thought Bill’s dumbest thing he would do this week would be making fun a bunch of bikers, he tries to schedule a strike against Goldie. That will probably end p with his getting blacklisted more than getting paid by Goldie.

The Bold Type: I was wondering with Jane blaming a diversity hire for not getting a job if Kat would support her friend or call her out for being racist. I guess conflict should have been the obvious answer.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: After everything that went down the last two episodes, they just yadda-yadda Offred getting back safe and sound. Or as safe and sound as a handmaid in Gilliad can be. And just when you thought Rory Gilmore’s life could not get any worse, she end up in the house of probably the most dysfunctional family in Gilliad. Then her commander asked if she healed properly. What exactly did they do to her? I assumed when it happened last season they removed her lady parts but since she is back to making babies, that cannot be the case. But holy fork, they punished the driver’s teenaged wife with death by public drowning?!? Out oll the cruel things they do in thid country, that may be right below the ritual rape.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Wait, wasn’t drilling for an “energy source” a plot point on Runaways? I wonder if it is connected even though Marvel television shows never reference each other except for the Netflix shows. Granted Freeform and Hulu are at least partially owned by Disney (and may soon be majority owner). Also the shows are on different coast. Still now that the Runaways have actually ran away, maybe they will make their way to New Orleans. But I will not hold my breath.

So there is a guy who worked with her father that Dagger cannot see his hopes. Instead they are locked away in his brain guarded by Cloak’s dark energy. Of course this begs the question is this because he is in a catatonic state or does the scientist was working on these powers when the rig exploded and he was the one that shut down his brain and is waiting for Cloak and Dagger to unlock it?

As for a question that likely will go unanswered on the show, why did the dirty cop have the hot lady cop kill his distributer? Didn’t he clear the streets of all the other drug kingpins to let this guy have a monopoly and get a cut for eliminating the competition? Doesn’t he need someone running the operation? Having the drug dealer kill the hot lady cop who is on to him seemed like the better strategy. Unless he is going to try to get her into his business. But still, it is not like she will be able to run the business.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.