Around the Tubes: August 17, 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 On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Air Disasters, Bishop Briggs, Anna of the North, BENEE, Casanova, Chelsea Cutler, POV, #DOINWHATIDO, Volcanoes: Duel Destruction, Islands of Fire, Late Night with Seth Myers, and A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish.

- Showtime released the first two episodes of its new dark comedy series On Becoming a God in Central Florida, starring Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Kirsten Dunst (Fargo), online for free sampling. Set in a small Orlando-adjacent town in 1992, the series is a story about the cult of free enterprise and one women’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream. The episodes are available for free now on YouTube and SHO.com (Episode 1, Episode 2). The 10-episode series will officially premiere Sunday, August 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.

- In the wake of the world’s deadliest aviation disasters, people always have one question – what happened? Using exclusive eyewitness accounts, archival footage and dramatic reenactments, experts will take viewers to the scene of the crash and uncover the truth behind what went wrong. Brand new season features the tragic stories of: LaMia Flight 2933 – On November 28, 2016, with Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team on board, the crew declares a fuel emergency. Before air traffic control has time to clear a path, the plane crashes on the crest of a mountain, killing nearly everyone on board. Modified P-51 Mustang fighter plane (‘The Galloping Ghost’) – One of the worst air race crashes of all time. On September 16, 2011, local legend Jimmy Leeward seeks to set a new speed record at the Reno Air Races, but halfway through the race, his plane spirals out of control and crashes in front of the stands. AIA Flight 808 – An American cargo plane attempts a difficult landing at the US naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on August 18, 1993. With the runaway only a few meters from the armed border, the maneuver requires avoiding Cuban airspace – unable to make the landing, the DC-8 crashes at the end of the runway. Air Disasters returns with 11 episodes Sunday, September 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel

- Vevo announces the release of Bishop Briggs’ live performance of her new single, “Tattooed On My Heart,” following last week’s session of “Champion.” A Vevo LIFT alum, Bishop Briggs’ music transcends the limitations of singular genres, blending folk, pop and electronic into a wholly unique sound. Born in London to Scottish parents, Bishop Briggs grew up in Japan and Hong Kong before moving to Los Angeles days after graduating high school. She performed for years in any venue that would have her, and was finally discovered in a hole-in-the-wall by a former-A&R rep. The rest is history, with Briggs having an RIAA-certified platinum single “River” under her belt, and well as multiple sold-out tours and live performance slots for alt-J, Bleachers, Coldplay, Kaleo and more. “Tattooed On My Heart” is now streaming on all platforms. Keep up with exclusive content from artists all over the world on YouTube.com/Vevo.

- Anna of the North shares her exuberant new track, "Playing Games". With flickers of synth layered over a building bass line, Anna Lotterud's wistful vocals are stunningly juxtaposed with a fearless narrative as she sings about having the upper hand in a relationship. "I've been playing games with your heart, so I know I've made my mark," she proclaims over delicate electronic textures, "I'll make you jealous so I know I've still got you when I'm not home". It's daydream pop brimming with the bold outlook of a woman taking charge in the modern age.

- Buzzing 19-year-old indie pop artist BENEE announces she will play a slew of headline dates in North America this October for her “Lil North America Tour”—including shows in Brooklyn, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Toronto—see the list of dates below. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, August 16th at 9:00AM ET via benemusicc.com.

- Brooklyn rapper Casanova releases his new track “So Brooklyn” feat. Fabolous today via Roc Nation in partnership with Republic Records. Listen to “So Brooklyn” feat. Fabolous: HERE. Known for his intense vocals and uncompromising realism, Casanova embodies the defiant and self-reliant spirit of New York City. Delivering an anthem for his hometown community, Casanova shares "So Brooklyn," his new song. Running roughshod atop minor-key piano and backed by an ensemble chanting "BROOK-LYN!,” Casanova announces he's aiming for the top spot in the Five Boroughs, bursting out of the speakers with his authoritative bark: "I start sh!t and I spark sh!t/Bout to get on some real King Of New York sh!t." The new track features a colorful verse from Fabolous, who works in a cheeky reference to the country's number one song: "Old Town Road for my projects/Ride 'til I can't no more, I'm Lil Nas X."

- Breakout singer, songwriter and producer Chelsea Cutler unveils her new single, “How To Be Human,” out now via Republic Records—listen HERE! “How To Be Human” reveals Cutler’s inimitable knack for songwriting with honest and vulnerable lyrics, as she pleads, “I still don’t know how to be human, I don’t know what I am doing, please tell me how to be human.”

- When Dian was six years old, she heard a deep rumble and turned to see a tsunami of mud barreling towards her village. She remembers her mother scooping her up to save her from the boiling mud. Her neighbors ran for their lives. Sixteen villages, including Dian’s, were wiped away. Directed by Cynthia Wade (Academy Award winner for Freeheld, Academy Award nominee for Mondays at Racine) and Sasha Friedlander, Grit has its national broadcast debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, September 9 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series now in its 32nd season. Watch the trailer.

- Gary Owen returns to the stage for his fourth Showtime comedy special GARY OWEN: #DOINWHATIDO, premiering Saturday, September 7 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. In the hour-long special filmed at Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in San Antonio, Owen bursts with energy as he recounts stories, including his early days as a wrestler and as a military recruit, his 20-year friendship with Kevin Hart, his reaction to his daughter dating and one of the greatest things he has ever heard at a football game. Whether he is sharing an irreverent anecdote or confronting a number of polemic issues including race and recent high-profile scandals, Owen reminds us that in an age of social media, no one is safe from oversharing.


- Scattered across the globe lie nearly 1,500 known volcanoes – some active all year round, others that can erupt with surprising and often deadly force. Two recent incidents – Fuego in Guatemala and Kilauea in Hawaii – claimed hundreds of lives and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage when they unleashed their terror in the spring of 2018. Now, Smithsonian Channel looks back on these cataclysmic events in a new special, Volcanoes: Duel Destruction, featuring exclusive eyewitness reports and home footage taken on the ground while the tragedies were unfolding. Islands of Fire, a new hour-long documentary, visits the volcanic islands along the mid-Atlantic ridge which, born from fire, have become lands of beauty, growth and new life. Volcanoes: Duel Destruction premieres Sunday, September 8 and Islands of Fire premieres Sunday September 15, both at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

- Alison Brie Put Her Cat in a Headlock via Late Night with Seth Myers:


- Yvonne Strahovski Is Slowly Losing Her Australian Accent via Late Night with Seth Myers:


- Break out the mistletoe and holly and get ready to sing and dance as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish on Digital beginning October 15, and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on October 29. The enchanting all-new original movie stars Laura Marano (Disney’s Austin and Ally) as Kat Decker, Gregg Sulkin (Marvel’s Runaways, Faking It, Wizards of Waverly Place) as Dominic Wintergarden, Barclay Hope (Riverdale) as Terrence Wintergarden, three-time Leo® Award winner and Hallmark Channel favorite Johannah Newmarch (When Calls The Heart, Garage Sale Mystery franchise) as the cruel stepmother Deirdra Decker, Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time) as Kat’s best friend Isla, and evil-stepsisters Joy and Grace are played, respectively, by Lillian Doucet-Roche (The Miracle Season) and Chanelle Peloso (Syfy’s Deadly Class). A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish will be available on Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack for $24.98 SRP ($34.97 in Canada) and DVD for $19.98 SRP ($24.99 in Canada) as well as on Digital for $19.99 SRP. The Blu-ray Combo Pack (and Blu-ray in Canada) include a digital version of the film.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 11, 2019

Veronica Mars: Episode 4: Finally a Vinnie Van Lowe appearance. I really hope the show is successful enough that both he and Dick get a spin-off. We also finally got a Deputy Special Agent Leo sighting. And let us not forget the triumphant return of Lucky. Um, alright. Really it is like the show was just trying to get in everyone who could not reasonable write into the movie. Lucky, the Hearst Rapist, Max, then there was Liam Fitzpatrick from earlier this season. Come to think of it, why have they not gone back to investigate him? Then you had Hayley Dunfey as the token random celebrity cameo of the episode which seems to be a theme after the chick from Future Man, the dude from the Chicken Fries commercials, and the dude from Hot Tub Time Machine. Although back to the mystery I am starting to think the bar owner with the attitude may be involved somehow. Two people she kicked out of her club for being pervy ended up dead via bombing.
You can watch Veronica Mars on Hulu.

Claws: Finally the group has come together and called Desna on her on her overreaching that has led to a lot of pain and death. Still I never expected them to actually kill Melba. All that trouble just to have her gets hit by a bus. Alrighty. I also did not initially think that the boytoy was going to confess at actual Confession, I just assumed he was going to confess to Roller. Turns out we were both wrong, he told the cops. How exactly does Roller get out of that? I am assuming him being handcuffed will be the big season cliffhanger.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

City on a Hill: I have talked about the show’s soundtrack is too heavily influenced by Kevin Bacon’s classic rock leaning finally we got to hear what Decoursey listens to and it did not disappoint, when you are in the early nineties, you cannot go wrong with a little A Tribe Called Quest. But then they end the episode with another oldie. As for the actual plot, it was the tale of two informants. Bacon has one that is outed to his law enforcement buddies and then kills the other. Which begs the question, which will come back to haunt him more?

The Loudest Voice: There are very few things I need less in my life than to see Roger Ailes get a prostate exam.

The Handmaid’s Tale: After wondering what Serena was up to all season, we finally got out answer. But I wonder when she decided to turn against Fred. Did it date back to having her finger cut off? Was it really all about the child which she left June take from her house? Does she really think some warped way that it is kind of hers? Did she come up with this plan with Luke and the other dude when she visited before? I would kind wish she had given some lengthy Bond-villain type speech while explaining herself to Fred. Unless it was really, just simply about the kid.

Back in Giliad, Offjoseph’s plan really hit a bump in the road with the Commander’s wife kind of spoiling everything and then killing herself. But then again, the death could be an opportunity. Offjoseph’s new baby mama’s husband just died. It seems reasonable that the newly single Commander Lawrence could wed her and have June’s kid move in with them. I will be kind of shocked if that is not season four unless something earth shattering happens in the finale.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Harlots: Wait, is Theon Greyjoy dead now too? One of the reasons why I thought they could kill off the lead of the show was because they had Liv Tyler and Theon but now he ends an episode in the pool of his own blood just like Charlotte just two episode ago. Now I am not sure how effective bullets made centuries ago were so I guess he could survive, but the juxtaposition of him lying in his blood and then Charlotte’s blood makes me think he may be dead too. But hey, at least Quigley will not be blamed for Charlotte’s death after Emily Lacey came clean. Granted she has her own murder she actually committed she needs to clear her name of.
You can watch Harlots on Hulu.

Krpton: A melancholy happy trails to Kem. Okay, I do not really care. Really there is no one on the show they could kill off and I would be too upset about. But the problem with Kem was that he was the closest thing to comic relief they had on the show. I guess Lobo could also be this but he is a bit more annoying than funny.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.