Around the Tubes: April 27, 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 Catch-22, Wu-Tang Clan, Private Lives of the Monarchs, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler, Aly & AJ, Gloria Gaynor, Gastor Almonte, Hombre, and Showtime Documentary Films.

- Hulu has released the official trailer of the anticipated limited series Catch-22. All 6 episodes of Catch-22 premiere on Friday, May 17, only on Hulu.


- Wu-Tang Clan: Triumph on The Tonight Show:


- Smithsonian Channel slips into the bedchambers and back rooms of Britain and France’s royal palaces to discover the Private Lives of the Monarchs. Hosted by Tracy Borman, joint Chief Curator of the Royal Palaces, this five-part series uncovers the nitty-gritty, down and dirty and outright strange about the most iconic rulers of our history books – from the infamous Henry VIII to the “mad” King George III and up to Queen Victoria’s long-lasting reign. The series takes Borman through the royal palaces and castles of these monarchs to seek out rare documents and artifacts that tell the hidden and illicit stories of their reigns – their affairs, ailments, drug use and more. Private Lives of the Monarchs premieres Monday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

- Singers, songwriters and producers Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler are surprising their fans with an extended play titled brent, releasing on May 3rd. Their new single, “you were good to me,” is out now—watch the video HERE!

- iconic sister duo Aly & AJ release the second song from their up coming EP Sanctuary. Driven by a booming kick drum, an incredibly catchy chorus, and arpeggiated synths reminiscent of 80's pop, "Don't Go Changing," is a danceable plea for things to stay the same.

- Legendary songstress Gloria Gaynor has unveiled a new single “Joy Comes In The Morning” from her forthcoming gospel album Testimony out June 7th. LISTEN HERE. Fans will automatically receive the song as an instant-grat track with each pre-order of the album. “Joy Comes in the Morning” captures Gaynor’s smooth, soulful vocals with an authenticity that could only come from someone who has experienced the challenges and trials of life. With lyrics like, “…joy comes in the morning no matter how bad it feels, right after the storm ends and I promise it will,” Gaynor describes her own faith experience and encourages every listener to cling to hope through the darkest of times. For more information and future announcements, please visit: gloriagaynor.com.

- Comedy Central just posted the unedited version of Gastor Almonte's appearance on This Is Not Happening with Roy Wood Jr. over on Facebook Watch - check out "Reverse Drive-By" here:

- Showtime has announced the cast for Hombre, its new pilot from Academy Award® nominee Jonas Cuarón (Gravity). Marisé Alvarez (The Vessel), Greg Grunberg (A Star Is Born), Pepi Sonuga (Famous In Love), Adriana Santos (Taken) and Noah Reyes will join executive producer and Golden Globe® winner Gael García Bernal (Mozart In The Jungle, Coco) for the emotional thriller, which is set to begin production at the end of April in Los Angeles. The project is created by Cuarón, who will also direct the pilot and serve as executive producer. Hombre is a co-production from Showtime and Makeready. Hombre centers on a Mexican-American family man named Marcos Osuna (Bernal) who is living undocumented in the United States. When his wife Leticia is detained by ICE, Marcos, both desperate and resourceful, goes to unprecedented lengths to get her back. The project is an emotional thriller about a man enmeshed in a dangerous double life, contending with powerful forces set on thwarting his unwavering desire to unite his family.

- Showtime Documentary Films today announced a four-part documentary series that will chronicle the history of the iconic L.A. club The Comedy Store, directed and executive produced by Mike Binder (Black or White) and executive produced by Oscar® nominee and Emmy® winner Mike Tollin (THE FRANCHISE). The project is expected to premiere on SHOWTIME in 2020. This documentary series brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at The Comedy Store, which over the past 47 years has launched the careers of a breathtaking array of stars. As a Comedy Store alum, former stand-up comic Binder spotlights one of pop culture’s great laboratories with never-before-seen footage and incisive, emotional interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy. Among the comedians who got their start or developed at the Comedy Store are David Letterman, Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Paul Mooney, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Tom Dreesen, Sam Kinison, Paul Rodriguez, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Marc Maron, Whitney Cummings, Iliza Shlesinger, David Spade, Sebastian Maniscalco, Annie Lederman, Jeff Ross, Theo Von, Bobby Lee, Bob Saget, Howie Mandel, Joe Rogan, Chris D'Elia, Jimmie Walker and many more.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: April 21, 2019

Killing Eve: Hopefully now that the assassin ha a new handler she starts going on missions because these first two episodes have been a bit of a bore without her targeting someone. Granted the last time she got a new handler, she killed him. But I did love her code to call her bosses was a Clueless reference.
You can download Killing Eve on iTunes.

Billions: Whenever I see a woman throw up on screen, for some reason I have been conditioned to think she is pregnant. That crossed my mind for a second with Taylor. Then it was beyond obvious to me when it happened that that Axe’s boat was not boke but wanted more time with the investor though we never did get the scene of him revealing that Machiavellian scheme saying the coast guard was in on it. Again, I have been conditioned to think these things. I apparently was wrong on both accounts.

Good Girls: They are really going to tease out Ruby turning on Beth, aren’t they? I bet the FBI dies before that happens. Hopefully they do not wait until the finale.
You can download Good Girls on iTunes

The Act: When you need an evil grandmother, of course you bring in Mags Bennett. Kind of wish the whole episode was flashbacks because Gypsy and creepy guy added nothing this week. Especially since next week is entitled Bonnie and Clyde so presumably that episode will be them on the run already. We really could have used more time with Dee Dee and her mother. But we did get the origin story of the wheelchair and where Dee Dee became overly protective. I still would have liked seeing where the genesis of the feeding tube came in because that had to be a big con by Dee Dee if it seems like Gypsy never really needed it.
You can stream The Act on Hulu.

Survivor: Edge of Extinction: Oh Wardog, you were playing this great game subtly decimating the Kama tribe, and then in two fell swoops you just eliminated your two biggest shields. I get David, he was coming for you but Kelley makes absolutely no sense. You do not take the biggest target out of the game if you are the second biggest target. Victoria has been playing a very shrewd game so I can totally see her swing back with Gavin to team up with the spited Lauren and Julie. The big question I guess is where does Aurora land? In the past she says she goes with the numbers, but she just seemed to make a pact with Ron, so her and her Extra Vote could put the new Power Trio in an actual power position. Granted how apropos it would be if Wardog goes out because Lauren plays her Idol.
You can download Survivor: Edge of Extinction on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists: Oh snap, black chick got frisky… and then gets run over for her trouble. Could the guy who’s head she bashed in come to fast enough to mow her down? Honestly, I do not particularly care considering we still do not know who murdered the douchy guy from the first episode. And I vaguely remember Hanna getting run over and that reveal turning out to be lame.
You can download Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists on iTunes.

The Challenge: War of World: Ugg, they were doing so well this season, eliminating one team per episode and as we inch to the end we get an annoying cliffhanger. And Georgia can only pick three people, it is not worth waiting to find out. Seriously, this is the very reason so many people wait until the end to binge shows not.
You can download The Challenge: War of Worlds on iTunes.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: We finally get to see inside Cloak’s dimension and… well it looks a lot like what he sees when he touches someone and sees their fear. And the way to get out was for Dagger to break the rules?
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

Gotham: Well that came together as a fitting finale… except there is still one more to go. I guess we will get a full Batman episode which seems like it will just be Batman Begins. Well, they already did Dark Knight Rises for the last couple episodes anyway.
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: I was really excited for the idea of Beard Hunter, then he had and go and eat sink hair. Eww. I could have done without that.

Blindspot: A little disappointing that Weller’s mother just turned out to be a junkie that was taken advantage of by Sandstorm. Oh well, on the other hand it would have been way too predictable.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

The Blacklist: Yep, I called it was an inside job when they “killed” the kid when the father did not pay.
You can download The Blacklist on iTunes.