Around the Tubes: February 22, 2019

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 Billions, Ariana Grande, The Resurgence: DeMarcus Cousins,, Janelle Monáe, Monica Martin, Peter Tork, and MuscleKingz Car Show & Concert.

- Showtime has released a new video for the highly anticipated fourth season of Billions, premiering on Sunday, March 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Paul Giamatti and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis. Viewers can catch up on the first three seasons of BILLIONS, available now on Showtime on-air, on demand and over the internet.


- Multi-platinum, record-breaking superstar ARIANA GRANDE captures #1 on the Billboard 200 with her fifth full-length album, thank u, next. Get it HERE via Republic Records with SB Projects managing. This marks her fourth number one bow on the chart and second number one bow in under six months. The album broke numerous records right out of the gate. With 360k equivalent album units in under seven days, it now holds the record for Largest Streaming Week for a Pop Album & Female Artist. She also ascends as The Only Female Artist to Grace the List of Top Ten Biggest Streaming Weeks.

- Showtime today announced The Resurgence: DeMarcus Cousins, a Showtime Sports Documentary Films original chronicling the enigmatic NBA superstar’s grueling comeback from a career-threatening injury and his path through free agency, will premiere on Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The Resurgence provides unfettered access to one of the NBA’s biggest personalities at the most crucial time of his career. Viewers witness Cousins’ roller-coaster ride through free agency that culminated in a shocking one-year deal with the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and join his private and emotionally charged journey back from a devastating Achilles injury.

- Last weekend marked NBA All-Star which lent itself to a handful of exciting announcements and performances, specifically as it relates to AT&T. Most prominently, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, performer, producer, activist and actress Janelle Monáe headlined the debut AT&T Pregame Concert streamed live Sunday on AT&T and NBA social media channels with more than 1,000,000 live viewers. The rising star was most recently featured in the Robert Zemeckis film Welcome to Marwen in winter 2018, and pulled off an incredible musical performance at last week’s Grammy Awards in support of her critically-acclaimed third solo album, DIRTY COMPUTER. Watch the replay on AT&T Twitter or here on AT&T’s YouTube channel.

- Chicago-born and Los Angeles-based songstress Monica Martin releases her new single “Patient” via Republic Records. Get it HERE! “Patient” exclusively premiered on Consequence of Sound, who said, “The track finds the former PHOX frontwoman trying to find strength in pushing a loved one away while pop piano melodies sadly sway under constantly building alt-folk orchestration.” The song, produced by Jon Green (James Bay, Paloma Faith) and featuring noteworthy musician Ian Fitchuk (producer of Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy Award-winning album Golden Hour), marries acoustic guitars and steady beats. Blurring the lines between pop, alternative and folk, the lyrics evoke an emotional plea, “You’re going to have to be patient with me.” “Patient” follows her previously released singles “Thoughtless” and “Cruel.”

- MeTV Network pays tribute to the career of actor and musician Peter Tork with a special presentation of The Monkees airing on MeTV this Sunday, February 24, beginning at 5:00pm ET/PT through 6:00pm ET/PT. Complete tribute schedule is listed below. Peter Tork will forever be remembered as the keyboardist and bass guitarist for The Monkees, the 60’s pop/rock band that was formed specifically for the eponymous television show that originally aired from 1966 to 1968. Beloved for the TV show’s comedy and music, The Monkees musical hits include I’m a Believer (featured in this MeTV tribute), Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville and Pleasant Valley Sunday.

- Yes, it’s true! Luke Duke, Daisy Duke, ‘Crazy’ Cooter Davenport, Coy Duke, Cousin Jeb Duke, Deputy Enos Strate, and Deputy Cletus Hogg are reuniting and will appear at the MuscleKingz Car Show & Concert series! The MuscleKingz Car Show & Concert series puts a modern twist to the classic culture of a traditional car show with the addition of great live music. The kick-off event will transform the Kern County Raceway on Saturday, April 13 into a car show & concert venue fit for a great experience for car enthusiasts and music fans alike featuring classic and modern American muscle cars, custom trucks, hot rods, rat rods and more. Previous shows have been headlined by Dan+Shay, Rodney Atkins, 38 Special, Night Ranger, and more! To register your vehicle and learn more visit musclekingz.com.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 17, 2019

Shameless: Oh no, Fiona got fired. But long overdue, she has been constantly drunk since learning her boyfriend was married. Now I am wondering if she is actually going to die and that is how she leaves the show. It is certainly not going to be her going away for very long for that petty assault. Or she could go to rehab and be back a season later like Ian who was just revealed to be returning just two months after announcing his departing. But that was kind of a random intro with Frank recapping what happened during the first season of Homeland which was about eight years ago. I guess it is nice he is finally getting caught out. I cannot wait to hear his take on the bad second season.

The Walking Dead: When they lingered on Jesus, I thought they were actually going to act like a sword through the heart was not fatal. Would not have been the most absurd, oh dude is dead moment, only for them to recover the next episode moment. But then you have Negan who escapes, goes back home, and then decides he rather be a captive? Is that actually what is happening?
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Passage: Oh snap, the main vampire forked the other doctor’s wife and then turned her into a vampire herself? Now with all the mind control going on, they have to kill all the vampires now, right?
You can download The Passage on iTunes.

Manifest: Let me call it now, all of these new people with lost time are going to be the evil version of the flight passengers. Although it would be quite on the nose that the good people lost time in the air while all the bad people lost time underground / under water.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Challenge: War of World: How silly how they played up Hunter sending home the person who took a half a million dollars (pre-taxes) from him as if they are even now. Smashley can go home to her million dollars (pre-taxes) while Hunter is stuck in a house where most people are against him. I do wonder if anyone has won a Challenge after being sent in first. But the big news was the promo for next week hyping a Legend goes home. Has to be Bananas right? Really only him and CT qualify even though CT went out early last season so that really would not garner a tease like that. I guess there is an outside chance that it is Cara Maria or Wes.
You can download The Challenge: War of Worlds on iTunes.

Deadly Class: How very Fear and Loathing of them. Though I guess Hunter S. Thompson never ran into a talking Ice-T slot machine. I kind of want to play that. But was the headmaster really there or was white boy just tripping?
You can download Deadly Class on iTunes.

Gotham: Of course Leigh was a secret agent, she “died” with The Riddler. But why didn’t Bane deploy her at the same time?
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: The Doom Patrol episode of Titans was the best one of that show so I had high hopes for the spin off. Unfortunately it dragged a bit because there were so much origin stories. Yet somehow at the same time not enough because I was left wondering how Elasti-Girl and Negative Man met the Chief and then we got nothing of Crazy Jane. And it was a bit weird Beast Boy did not even get a mention despite being part of the team for a while. Here is hoping now that the introductions are out of the way, things pick up next week.