Around the Tubes: 12/28/2018

- Adam Savage will return to television as host and executive producer of MythBusters Jr., when the new Science Channel series premieres next Wednesday, January 2 at 9:00. For the ten-episode series Savage has teamed-up with six of the nation’s leading young ‘makers’, robotics wizzes, builders, and inventors, all under the age of 16, who show off their amazing ingenuity and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) skills.

- Further expanding its primetime lineup of entertaining and socially-relevant content that attracts a young, multicultural audience, Fuse Media has acquired the exclusive TV rights to WTF Baron Davis. At launch on January 20, 2019 (11pm/ET), the new, eight-episode comedy series starring two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis and NBA impersonator and social media star Brandon Armstrong (bdotadot5), becomes the first scripted sitcom to have its first-run TV premiere on Fuse.


- Noticias Telemundo announced recently the development of its first-ever English-language daily newscast. The planned newscast will be distributed exclusively via YouTube, also becoming the first Noticias Telemundo production to live outside a Telemundo-owned platform. The Noticias Telemundo project obtained a Google News Innovation (GNI) YouTube grant, which is awarded to ventures that elevate quality journalism, evolve business models to drive sustainable growth, and empower news organizations through technological innovation.

- Today, REPUBLIC RECORDS releases the Bumblebee Motion Picture Soundtrack, in conjunction with the film’s arrival in theaters. Get the soundtrack HERE. In addition to featuring “Back To Life”—an original song co-written for the film by Bumblebee lead actress Hailee Steinfeld—the soundtrack also features classics from the eighties, the era of the film. Featured artists include Bon Jovi, The Smiths, Duran Duran, Tears For Fears, and more. What’s more, the soundtrack includes an 80’s Remix of Steinfeld’s “Back To Life.”

Previewing Into the Dark: New Year, New You

Into the Dark started as a novel idea, a new horror movie length episode even month based on a holiday that month. But I wonder how much they thought that threw because you have a couple months where that major holiday actually starts that month. So December actually gets two episodes so people can watch before the New Year themed episode before the start of the year. Or at least have four days to do so. I do wonder if March will get multiple episodes too, because April Fool’s Day seems like the most logical pick for April but that month also has Easter and Tax Day. Then in the final installment of the season, Labor Day is actually on the second of September.

I got really excited when I saw the trailer for New Year, New You as it featured Dalia Royce in all her mean girl glory, okay this time with a hundred percent less deadpan. Instead she plays a self-wellness vlogger who is about to hit the big time with her own television show. But before that, she accepts an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party with her high school friends at a house that will soon to be sold and has a dark history which led to the house being reinforced like a fortress.

The host is not as successful as her childhood best friend who is a babysitter who makes end meet as she never finished college or paying off those student loans. She also sports a scar that looks exactly like the integral symbol for no apparent reasons. This start off alright but clearly there is tension building and not just because Dalia Royce routinely goes back into her pretentious self-help speak saying things like she does not eat dairy anymore for no reasonable reason. And just when the clock is about to hit midnight, things finally start to get interesting.

Okay, only a little more interesting. Once the clock hits midnight, it start to get a bit predictable too. And really before midnight, it takes a while for the episode to finally get to the twisty they choreograph a little too much that it is coming. And it did have some chances to become fun like a TLC dance sequence which was way too short, but instead the episode stays a little to grounded in reality. Still, it is nice to see the old Dalia Royce grow up and help people for selfish reasons. Seems like a reasonable extension of Suburgatory. Too bad Tessa Altman was not invited to the reunion.

Into the Dark Power Ranking
1. The Body (October)
2. New Year, New You (January)
3. Pooka! (December)
4. Flesh and Bone (November)

Into the Dark: New Year, New You premieres tomorrow only on Hulu.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/23/2018

Ray Donovan: Wait, Bridget is old enough to drink? Wasn’t she banging her teacher two seasons ago? I was shocked she did not get carded. Maybe there was a time jump I am not remembering. But I see now why Bunchy was running after that car last week, I did not see who got in that car, I was thinking since they were at a church it was a priest. And you knew it would happen, too many punches are making Terry shake again. Back to Ray, I have no clue where this season is going now. I figured he would find a way to get the mayoral candidate he was forking elected but now I wonder if he would really help Susan Sarandon. Is there a way to do both? That if he gets out of the crazy house. And should I know who the bald person was at the end? Connor? A metaphor? Just a random patient singing?

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: As great as this season has been, probably the best in at least a decade, it is kind of disappointing and kind of clichéd that in a season that pitted David’s vs. Goliath’s, that a David was able to beat five Goliath’s in the end. But really all I want is Angelina in the next couple all-star season. Only she could make a clue that was so simple look so complicated.

Speaking of all-stars, we are getting four returning players next season. Meh. As great as this season was, whenever the show mixes returning players with new ones rank as the worst. Especially the ones where it is just one returning player per tribe.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Vikings: I was wondering why they ended the last episode on a cliffhanger when it seems very much like Igar was threatening his brother. But the big reveal turn out to be a fake Lagatha. Kind of lame. I am a bit surprise that Ivar did not punish his brother for the insubordination at the feast. And that was a large family to expel from his settlement. That is probably a mistake for everyone. But a melancholy happy trails to the seer. I kind of missed why exactly Ivar killed him.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Timeless: So we get a movie to wrap everything up except it kind of felt like just two episodes strapped together. But it was kind of weird that Lucy never bothered to get her sister back. It is one thing to save someone from dying like Wyatt did with his wife, but the wife was fated to die, the sister should exist. And I wonder if that Asian chick from the end who had designed for a time machine was the granddaughter of the North Korean the team saved?
You can download You can download Timeless on iTunes.

Titans: There is nothing I hate more than dream sequences and what a complete waste of a finale to spend basically the whole time in Robin’s darkest timeline. And this felt like a penultimate episode and next week the Titans find a way to save Robin and defeat Trigon. Was that the original idea because his season was supposed to twelve episodes? Did the show just simply run out of money? But hey, we did get an end credit scene and… um, does anyone care about Super Boy? I was actually more excited to see Krypto.