Around the Tubes: July 11, 2020

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 Hulu’s British Binge-cation, Pen15, Woke, HAHA Awards (Hilarious Animated Hulu Awards, Kid Cudi and Eminem, James Blake, James Bay, Bow Anderson, Freeman Young, Kiana Ledé, April / 月音, Nelly, We Are The Radical Monarchs, Martin Scorsese, and Ramy.

- Need to get away? Pack up the remote and your finest pair of sweats. It’s time to take a trip on Hulu’s British Binge-cation; a week-long event on the telly, where we’ll premiere five new, and uniquely British shows. Now that’s bloody brilliant.  Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On: Complete First Season (Fremantle, 20 Eps.)  Jamie Oliver shares easy-to-follow recipes, ingredient swaps and tips to inspire people staying at home.  Maxxx: Complete First Season (All3Media, 6 Eps.)  Written, co-directed, executive produced and starring O-T Fagbenle (Black Widow, The Handmaid’s Tale), Maxxx centers around a formerly famous boyband star who tries to make his music comeback and prove to the world that he isn’t a washed-up, old has-been. To get his career back on track Maxxx tries to convince his former manager Don Wild, played by Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU, The Handmaid’s Tale) to take him back but he has other ideas and recruits the help of wannabe manager Tamzin, played by Pippa Bennett-Warner (Harlots).  Ladhood: Complete First Season (BBC, 6 Eps.)  A coming-of-age comedy from BAFTA-nominated comedian Liam Williams (Back to Life), exploring the roots of modern-day masculinity by delving into the memories of his own misspent adolescence.  In My Skin: Complete First Season (BBC, 5 Eps.)  Coming-of-age story about 16-year-old Bethan, who deals with the comical but painfully real anxieties and insecurities of teenage life, along with the stark reality of a home life that is far removed from what she projects to her friends. Directed by Lucy Forbes (The End of the F***ing World) and written by Kayleigh Llewellyn. The pilot episode of In My Skin won two BAFTA Cymru awards for Best Drama and Best Actress.  Brassic: Complete First Season (ITV, 6 Eps.)  Following the exploits of Vinnie (Joseph Gilgun, Preacher), a Lancashire lad with bipolar disorder, and Dylan, his razor-smart best mate. Inseparable and utterly co-dependant, these boys have hardly spent a day apart since birth. Also starring Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street), Damien Molony (GameFace) and Dominic West (The Wire, The Affair).  Brassic was co-created by Gilgun and Daniel Brocklehurst (Shameless, The Stranger, Safe).

- School is back in session! Join your favorite BFFs as Pen15 returns with seven new episodes on Friday, September 18^th.  Please note, Season Two consists of 14 episodes. The first seven will premiere on Sept. 18 and the remaining will stream in 2021.

- All 8 episodes of new comedy series Woke set to premiere on September 9^th, only on Hulu.  Inspired by the life and work of artist Keith Knight, comedy series Woke takes an absurdly irreverent look at identity and culture as it follows Keef (played by Lamorne Morris), an African-American cartoonist finally on the verge of mainstream success when an unexpected incident changes everything. With a fresh outlook on the world around him, Keef must now navigate the new voices and ideas that confront and challenge him, all without setting aflame everything he’s already built. The series stars Morris, T. Murph and Blake Anderson.

- It should come as no surprise to any streaming TV viewer that adult animation reigns supreme. In fact, nearly 40% of Hulu viewers faithfully devour adult cartoons every month. Die-hard fans of the popular genre have waited long enough to weigh in on their favorites!  Beginning today, Hulu is celebrating the animation lover in all of us by hosting the HAHA Awards (Hilarious Animated Hulu Awards) - the first ever all-animated awards honoring the year’s best in adult animated TV shows and iconic characters now streaming on Hulu. The ten categories recognize sophisticated pets, epic battles, the best hangover performance and more. Because sometimes a happy hour escape to Springfield’s Moe’s Tavern or The Drunken Clam is exactly what you need.  Hulu subscribers and non-subscribers can cast votes for their favorites in all categories on the official awards website or via social poll on Hulu’s Twitter channel through Sunday, July 19. The complete list of the 2020 HAHA Award nominees is listed below. All winners will be announced on Thursday, July 23.

- Ready to reach uncharted territory yet again, Kid Cudi and Eminem have released a blockbuster new single entitled “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady”. This marks the very first collaboration between these two icons. Produced by Dot Da Genius, J Gramm, and Eminem, the song serves up a masterclass in gravity-defying bars.  Get “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady” HERE.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Blake releases a new track entitled “Are You Even Real?”  Get it HERE via Republic Records.  The track was co-written by Starrah, Ali Tamposi and Blake. Notably, the song is a part of Apple’s global “Behind The Mac” campaign. Check it out HERE.

- Returning with his first original music of 2020, three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist James Bay is back with a brand new single entitled “Chew On My Heart.”  Listen to “Chew On My Heart” Here!

- Vevo announces the release of Bow Anderson’s DSCVR at Home performances of “Sweater” and “Heavy.” Vevo DSCVR focuses on the development of emerging artists, through performance content and careful curation. Vevo has a long history of helping emerging artists break through to new and wider audiences. Past alumni of Vevo’s DSCVR series include Billie Eilish, dodie and Kiana Ledé. Vevo is committed to working with artists at an early stage of their career to create unique content that brings their music to life visually and provides exposure to new audiences through the platform.  Bold, frank and refreshing, few brand new artists announce their arrival to the pop arena quite like Bow Anderson. In the fabric of “Sweater,” you’ll unpick the threads that have inspired the 23-year-old’s life: the passion and bombast of 60’s soul, strong female role models and the beats and attitude of modern hip-hop. The release of “Sweater” is followed by Bow’s new single, “Heavy.”  “Sweater” and “Heavy” are now streaming on all platforms. Keep up with exclusive content from artists all over the world on YouTube.com/Vevo.

- Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Freeman Young reveals his new single, “No Nevermind,” out today—listen HERE!  Over smooth guitar, Freeman sings intimate verses with palpable emotion on “No Nevermind.” The song builds towards the hypnotic chorus, “I can’t get out of my head.” Ultimately, “No Nevermind” fuses alternative ambition, indie vulnerability and soul spirit as it encourages a deep look inward without judgement.

- Platinum-selling Phoenix-born and Los Angeles-based artist Kiana Ledé releases her new video for “Crazy” today.  Watch “Crazy”: HERE  In the intimate video, Kiana is under a shower spout emoting every lyric with palpable passion, poise and power. As her voice transfixes, the visual does the same when it reaches its fiery finale.

- Emmy The Great has announced news of her new solo album April / 月音 that will be released on October 9th via Bella Union. She has also shared first single “Dandelions/Liminal”, a song about being OK with uncertainty and learning to co-exist with your own sorrow and the sorrows of the world. Listen to it HERE.

- Nelly, the St. Louis-bred hip-hop juggernaut revered for No. 1 hits like “Grillz,” “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma,” and “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” will re-release his stone-classic debut album Country Grammar on July 24 via Republic/UMe. Hailed upon release by Rolling Stone as “the best thing to come out of St. Louis since Redd Foxx,” by NME as the “album of the year so far,” and by People, who proclaimed that Nelly “marked his hometown of St. Louis as a major contender,” Country Grammar debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 and soon vaulted to No. 1. In 2016, the RIAA certified the album Diamond, selling more than 10 million copies to date, a feat which placed Nelly among rock superstars like Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Bruce Springsteen.

- Set in Oakland, a city with a deep history of social justice movements, We Are The Radical Monarchs follows the two trailblazing, queer women of color who created The Radical Monarchs, a more diverse and inclusive alternative to the scout movement.  Directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton, We Are The Radical Monarchs has its national broadcast debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, July 20 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series now in its 33rd season.

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced a new feature documentary from Academy Award^® Winning director Martin Scorsese that profiles David Johansen, the celebrated frontman of the New York Dolls. Emmy^® nominee David Tedeschi will co-direct with Scorsese, and Scorsese and Sikelia Productions will executive produce with Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Imagine Documentaries. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “I’ve known David Johansen for decades, and his music has been a touchstone ever since I listened to the Dolls when I was making Mean Streets,” said Scorsese. “Then and now, David’s music captures the energy and excitement of New York City. I often see him perform, and over the years I’ve gotten to know the depth of his musical inspirations. After seeing his show last year at the Café Carlyle, I knew I had to film it because it was so extraordinary to see the evolution of his life and his musical talent in such an intimate setting. For me, the show captured the true emotional potential of a live musical experience.”

- Hulu has renewed A24's Ramy, from Golden Globe-winner Ramy Youssef, for a 10-episode, third season. The second season debuted on Hulu on Friday, May 29.  The series follows first-generation, Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan (Youssef) who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. Ramy brings a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it’s like to be caught between a religious community who believes life is a moral test, and a millennial generation that doubts an afterlife even exists. In the second season, Ramy delves further into his spiritual journey, finding a new Muslim community and embracing a deeper commitment to his faith. 

57 Channels and This Is On: July 5, 2020

Snowpiercer: Oh snap, they killed off that grungy chick. Did not see that coming. But is that room just dead now? But I guess if Jennifer Connelly can fix the train while under it by wearing that hazmat thing, I guess they could just go in and repair the then thaw it
You can download Snowpiercer on iTunes.

The Chi: So Emmitt just had to whip it out to get into the illegal kitchen? Yeah, that is not going to end well. I feel like there will be another baby mama in his future. And I kind of missed what the girlfriend meant by her people? Did she used to be a dude? Is she bi-sexual?

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels: another shocking death this week with the religious chick taking her own life. Though isn’t suicide the worst sins to the Catholics? Maybe Santa Muerta will save her soul. Maybe she will become a diety to fight Maergery Tyrell next season. Would be interesting because it seems like Maergery was able to recruit her boyfriend.

Black Monday: …and we are back. And everyone has their own weird agenda, so who will prevail. Well I am sure they will all find a way to work together to take down the people blackmailing them. Until them, Keith as a plant was pretty funny.

Stargirl: Oh my, the mean girl is really a mean girl. Pretty good allegory there. To think Stargirl almost melted that façade before reneging on their date. Had to Google who her father is, turns in he used to hang with Hitler so he is very evil. Though I still have no clue who the janitor is. I thought it was Dr. Fate but do not remember him having a massive sword like the janitor brandished this week.

The Challenge: Total Madness: I think we got even less Dee than before. Maybe one shot and no dialogue. Unfortunately my dreams of someone getting cut because they did not have a Red Skull were dashed this week. Really disappointed that no one tried to throw someone in that did not have a Red Skull already except Dee once and early on with Jay when people were scared to go in. But it looks like we will be getting at least another elimination next week which might be a decant consolation prize. Be interesting who gets thrown in. Might as well put in the two biggest threats. But everyone has played a weak game this time so probably not.
You can download The Challenge: Total Madness on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So Coulson died… again. Do they have back up LMD on the ship or is he going to be brought back as a different character. Or I guess they could the team could run into a younger, not dead yet version.
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: The first three episode were a bit of a drag as Dorothy really messed up the dynamic and everyone on the team were all downers and then split up in the second episode. Still not entirely sure why Cyborg went to Detroit. Or why he even came back. But things kicked back into high gear with the return of Flex Mantallo and his, um, most curious flexing ability. Which then brought in a new group that may be weirder than him, the Sex Men. A group that can best be described as Ghostbusters, but for sex. This show is so awesome when it gets super weird.

In the Dark: So the cops chasing evil lesbian were not at all curious as to why she was trying to keep that storage locker open? And just what is Harry Crane’s plan? He cannot get money from Nina. The last guy who tried to extort the group ended up dead. Not sure what he can do with it as leverage unless he want to try selling the stash himself.
You can download In The Dark on iTunes.

The Bold Type: Called, evil conservative chick is a lesbian. Now the only question until she starts lady boning Kat.

Blindspot: Oh yeah, the guy from the end last week was Tasha’s CIA partner, granted he is dead now. And so is Paterson? Weird they spent so much time talking this episode how smart she was only for her to run into a room that was about to burn everything inside. But they also spent some time talking about these escape routes and hidden panic room places so me thinks there was one in that room and she just wants the evil people to think she is dead.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.