Saturday, February 27, 2021

Around the Tubes: February 27, 2021

   

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 The Handmaid's Tale, City on a Hill, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.kid 90Iron MikeSolar Opposites, Ray Donovan, Lord Huron, The Who, Emily Kinney, Sheppard, Cap Carter, Sheléa, Hunger WardAnimaniacs, Shrill, Love, VictorThe Goldbergs, The First Lady, and Halo.


The fourth season of “The Handmaid's Tale” premieres with three episodes on Wednesday, April 28. In the 10-episode upcoming season, June (Elisabeth Moss) strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader, but the risks she takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges. Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships.



SHOWTIME has released the official trailer for the second season of acclaimed drama series CITY ON A HILLstarring Golden Globe winner and Emmy® nominee Kevin Bacon and Screen Actors Guild® award winner Aldis Hodge. The series will return for season two on Sunday, March 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Beginning April 18, the series will move to 9 p.m. ET/PT. 



Hulu’s new adult animated comedy series “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.” premieres all 10 episodes Friday, May 21. In “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.,” the megalomaniacal supervillain M.O.D.O.K. (Patton Oswalt) has long pursued his dream of one day conquering the world. But after years of setbacks and failures fighting the Earth’s mightiest heroes, M.O.D.O.K. has run his evil organization A.I.M. into the ground. Ousted as A.I.M.’s leader, while also dealing with his crumbling marriage and family life, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing is set to confront his greatest challenge yet!



Get ready for a trip down memory lane with Hulu’s kid 90 trailer! Soleil Moon Frye's Hulu Original documentary premieres on March 12, only on Hulu.  As a teenager in the ‘90s, Soleil Moon Frye carried a video camera everywhere she went. She documented hundreds of hours of footage and then locked it away for over 20 years. After all this time, kid 90 unlocks the vault and presents a true time capsule of a group of friends growing up in Hollywood and New York City in the ‘90s, balancing childhood and fame pre-internet and social media explosion. It is a deeply personal coming-of-age story that explores how “sometimes we need to look back to find our way forward.” Soleil is joined by lifelong friends and fellow child stars who provide commentary on growing up in the ‘90s; including David Arquette, Stephen Dorff, Balthazar Getty, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Brian Austin Green, Tori Leonard, Heather McComb and more.



Hulu has picked up 8-episode limited series “Iron Mike.” From the team behind “I, Tonya,” the series explores the wild, tragic and controversial life and career behind one of the most polarizing figures in sports culture – heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

Holy Shlorp! Get a taste of this season’s craziness with the official trailer of the all-new season.  Solar Opposites returns with 8 all-new episodes Friday, March 26, only on Hulu. 



SHOWTIME has announced a RAY DONOVAN feature-length film continuing Ray’s journey, following the hit drama series’ seven-season run on the network. Star Liev Schreiber will return in his Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated role and co-write the script along with series showrunner David Hollander, who will also serve as director. Golden Globe winner Jon Voight will also reprise his role as Mickey Donovan, as will Kerris Dorsey as Ray’s daughter Bridget. The production is tentatively scheduled to begin filming later this year in New York and will air on SHOWTIME.  The new film picks up where season seven left off, with Mickey in the wind and Ray determined to find and stop him before he can cause any more carnage. It will also weave together the present-day fallout from the Donovan/Sullivan feud with Ray and Mickey's origin story from 30 years ago.


Lord Huron gives debut television performance of their new single, "Not Dead Yet" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! - watch HERE. The band recently released the single alongside the second installment of their four-part series—Alive From Whispering Pines.  The next Alive From Whispering Pines will take place on March 18th. Fans can purchase tickets to each livestream, a season pass to all four shows, and exclusive merch at http://www.lordhuron.comTwo more installments will premiere monthly, with the last episode airing on April 15th.


 Initially released in December 1967 and described latterly by Rolling Stone as “The Who’s finest album,” The Who Sell Out reflected a remarkable year in popular culture. As well as being forever immortalized as the moment when the counterculture and the “Love Generation” became a global phenomenon and “pop” began metamorphosing into “rock.”  The new Super Deluxe Edition of The Who Sell Out features 112 tracks, 46 of which are unreleased, an 80-page, hard-back, full-color book, including rare period photos, memorabilia, track-by-track annotation and new sleeve notes by Pete Townshend with comments from the likes of Pete Drummond (Radio London DJ), Richard Evans (designer) & Roy Flynn (the Speakeasy Club manager).  The Super Deluxe package also includes nine posters & inserts, including replicas of 20” x 30” original Adrian George album poster, a gig poster from The City Hall, Newcastle, a Saville Theatre show 8-page program, a business card for the Bag o’ Nails club, Kingly Street, a Who fan club photo of group, a flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who, a crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London, Keith Moon’s Speakeasy Club membership card and a Who Fan Club newsletter. 


Jullian Records and actress/singer-songwriter Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead, Showtime’s Masters of Sex, ABC’s Ten Days In The Valley) are excited to present “Omaha Hotel,” the latest single to be lifted from the FridayApril 9 release of Kinney’s brand new full-length album titled The Supporting Character (pre-order). Written after attending the funeral of her uncle in her home state of Nebraska, “Omaha Hotel” is an examination of life and experiences Kinney’s had through the lens of being a busy actor.  “When I first moved to NYC, I didn't have the money to go back to Nebraska often. And when I started booking big acting jobs, I didn't have the time,” Kinney says. “I felt drawn to be an artist, and spend time in big cities and live a more transient type lifestyle – very different from the small-town farming communities in which I grew up. I don't regret it, but I realize I do miss out on other things that are important.” Stream “Omaha Hotel” over at SPIN HERE and on YouTube HERE


Exactly one year to the day since their year-long ‘Kaleidoscope Eyes’ project began, with the release of the first single ‘Don’t Believe In Love’, Sheppard have finally unveiled their third pop masterpiece in all its glory, alongside a brand new single and music video for ‘M.I.A’.  With a song unmasked every month throughout what was a tumultuous year, fans have taken a journey through love, loss, pain, joy, heartbreak, humour and more, with tracks including ‘Symphony’ and ‘Learning to Fly’ which have added to the band’s already impressive swag of radio hits and lit up airwaves across Europe, Latin America and more.


Born in Manila, the western Sydney raised Cap Carter releases his debut single and video, “Relapse,” today – listen HERE.  Building a global and dedicated fan base with his original music and honest storytelling, Cap stands out for his distinctive and authentic vocals. Writing through his own personal and lived experiences, Cap works a fusion of R&B soul with an edge and grit that is unique and refreshing. Having already shared a stripped back DIY performance of “Relapse,” today’s release is a fresh new version recorded in Sydney.


- This week, acclaimed singer, songwriter, pianist, and actress Sheléa premieres a brand new video to accompany her latest single, entitled “Grace” on BET SOUL. Watch HERE.  Backed by soft piano, she delivers intimate verses before her voice takes flight on the hook. In a call-and-response with a gospel choir, she pleads, “Can I get a little grace? Can I get a little empathy?”, as her words resound. 


MTV Documentary Films announced it has acquired the documentary short subject Hunger Ward (www.hungerward.org) which will have its world premiere on Pluto TV’s 24/7 Documentary Channel, Pluto TV Documentaries at 7pm ET on Monday, March 1st.  The film, directed by Oscar® nominated and Emmy® nominated director Skye Fitzgerald, documents the devastating human cost of the on-going conflict in Yemen, which disproportionately affects children. Filmed from inside two of the most active therapeutic feeding centers in Yemen, Hunger Ward chronicles healthcare workers fighting to save the lives of extremely malnourished children within a population on the brink of famine against the backdrop of a forgotten war. It is one of 10 films on the shortlist for consideration for an Academy Award®. 


Following a successful first season and practically blowing up the internet, “Animaniacs” has been renewed for a third, zany season on Hulu consisting of 10 episodes. The series garnered the most social mentions of any Hulu Original to date over its season one opening weekend proving that fans can’t get enough of watching Yakko, Wakko and Dot as they wreak havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet. The second season of “Animaniacs” will debut later this year.


The third and final season of “Shrill” premieres all eight episodes on Friday, May 7. The new season finds Annie (Aidy Bryant) energized by her breakup with dud boyfriend Ryan (Luka Jones) and her newfound momentum at work. Annie feels like everything is finally falling into place for her, but does she actually know how to get what she wants?


The popular teen dramedy “Love, Victor” returns with all 10 episodes on Friday, June 11. Season two picks up with a newly out-of-the-closet Victor (Michael Cimino) entering his junior year at Creekwood High. However, being out brings new challenges as Victor faces a family struggling with his revelation, a heartbroken ex-girlfriend in Mia (Rachel Naomi Hilson), and the difficulties of being an openly gay star athlete -- all while navigating the excitement of his new relationship with Benji (George Sear).


Singer/songwriter/actor Hayley Orrantia, who plays Erica Goldbergs on the ABC-TV hit comedy The Goldbergs, will pay tribute to Dolly Parton, an inspiration whom she calls “the ultimate woman,” when she sings “9 to 5” on The Goldbergs on Wednesday, March 3 at 8 p.m.  “Dolly Parton is simply an icon,” said Orrantia. “Her music has touched the lives of so many and has directly affected my music. Her songwriting ability is universal and continues to resonate with future generations. Her self-confidence is inspiring and I have always admired her quick wit. She is a class act that also doesn’t take crap from anyone.”  Orrantia recalls both excitement and trepidation when the writers of The Goldbergs told her she was going to be singing “Nine to Five” in an upcoming episode.


SHOWTIME has announced that Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winner Gillian Anderson (The Crown) will star as Eleanor Roosevelt in THE FIRST LADY (w/t), rounding out the trio of 2021 Golden Globe nominees starring in the scripted anthology series. Anderson joins Oscar®, Emmy and Tony winner Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), who also executive produces, as former first lady Michelle Obama and Oscar and Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit) as Betty Ford. Yet another Golden Globe nominee this year, Susanne Bier (The Undoing), will direct and executive produce. THE FIRST LADY (w/t) is a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House. Produced by SHOWTIME and Lionsgate Television, the series is executive produced by Oscar winner Cathy Schulman (Crash), Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Andrew Wang, Susanne Bier, Jeff Gaspin (Rhythm + Flow), Brad Kaplan (Mr. Church) and created by author Aaron Cooley (Four Seats: A Thriller of the Supreme Court), who will write several of the episodes and executive produce. 


ViacomCBS announced that the highly anticipated upcoming original drama series HALO will premiere exclusively on Paramount+. SHOWTIME is producing the series in partnership with 343 Industries and Amblin Television. Currently in production in Budapest, HALO is set to premiere on Paramount+ in early 2022.


Sunday, February 21, 2021

57 Channels and Only This is On: February 21, 2021

 

Shameless:  I would say Terry surviving a bullet was the most absurd gunshot survivor bit the dude from Big Sky was shot right above the eye. Then we got a surprisingly earnest discussion about consent that I certainly would not expect from this show.  But the big kicker was Frank being diagnoses with alcoholic induced dementia.  Sure, this is a guy that got some dire diagnoses over the years, but since we have a couple episodes left, I think this may actually be the end for the Gallagher patriarch.  Though, maybe they might keep him alive for the inevitable reboot in five years.  But I do have a sinking suspicion this may be the end of the Gallagher homestead.  But what ever happened to the house in Wisconsin?  Couldn’t Lip get money from selling that?

 

Your Honor:    So despite the overwhelming evidence, the defendant getting caught lying under calling the prosecutor a naughty worry, the jury found the thug not guilty solely because the played the audio of his brother dying?  Seriously, that is all it took.  Then I see how poetic that the judge’s son was accidentally killed by the brother of the kid that was murdered for what he did, but did the little brother need to be that bad of the shot that he missed someone so bad that he hit someone who was not even in the shot of the thug hugging his mother?  But honestly, when I saw the little brother buying the gun, I was actually hoping he would get an assault riffle just so he would gun down everyone at that party, I really wanted to see more of the horrible people o this show die.

 

Snowpiercer:  So we do not get to see Jennifer Connelly this week but supposedly she made it to the station to ping the balloons.  Do they not have any other way to make contact with her why she is there?  I cannot imagine it was that easy.  If I were a betting man, I would say there is someone, or something, at that station.  I wonder how long until we see her again.

 

Big Sky:  Wow, when we got the flashback of Drew Carey’s brother bashing his wife with a hammer which turned out to be a dream sequence, I thought they were going to do it again but switch the characters, but she actually murdered her.  Man, survive a bullet to the brain only to be murdered by your wife.  Well, he was a horrible human being.

 

The Challenge: Double Agents:  Ugg, the wrong Amber won.  But is she going to be back next week?  They was that same thing in the previews that they used to bring Smashley back.  Is Lolo really going to quit like they kind of make it seem?  She seems to be irrationally going over the edge just because she has a partner that has a language barrier.

 

Wandavision:  So they just made Kat Dennings into some escape artist?  Meh.  But that was a funny car ride with Vision.  I liked how they had him do a testimonial outside the van.  Nice touch.  But we finally got the reveal most people have been expecting: it was Agatha all along.  But the big question is: did she have help?

 

The Blacklist:  Yet another Lizzy-less episode?  But it is weird she is working with so many Blacklisters just to get at Red.  Seems like there would be easier ways to get to him.