Around the Tubes: July 10, 2021

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on HootieFest, McCartney 3,2,1, The Go-Go’s, Claire Rosinkranz, Audra McLaughlin, Joy Oladokun, The Valet, and Showtime.

- Hootie & the Blowfish is pleased to announce their inaugural destination concert vacation event: HootieFest: The Big Splash in partnership with CID Presents & On Location. Hosted January 26 - 29, 2022 on a picturesque stretch of white sand beach at Moon Palace Cancún, the four day celebration of all things rock will feature three headlining performances on the beach by the band, as well as appearances by Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Better Than Ezra, Spin Doctors, Toadies, Sister Hazel and Drivin N Cryin. Additional details, including pool party performances are still to be announced.  HootieFest packages will go on sale to the public on July 15 at 1 p.m and include all-inclusive resort accommodations, concert access, roundtrip airport transportation and more. A 24-hour pre-sale will begin July 14 at 1 p.m. ET. To sign up for early access, visit https://hootiefest.com

- All six episodes of "McCartney 3,2,1” premiere July 16 on Hulu. Synopsis: Paul McCartney sits down for a rare, in-depth, one on one with legendary producer Rick Rubin to discuss his groundbreaking work with The Beatles, the emblematic 70s arena rock of Wings and his 50 years and counting as a solo artist. In this six-episode series that explores music and creativity in a unique and revelatory manner, join Paul and Rick for an intimate conversation about the songwriting, influences, and personal relationships that informed the iconic songs that have served as the soundtracks of our lives.

- On July 8, 1981, The Go-Go’s released their platinum-selling, landmark debut, Beauty and the Beat. To celebrate the anniversary of its release, on September 10, 2021, UMe/Interscope will release Beauty and the Beat – 40^th Anniversary Limited Edition pressed on pink vinyl with new cover art featuring a never-before-seen photo taken from the original album cover shoot. Each copy is numbered and will only be available at uDiscover, The Sound of Vinyl and the band’s official store. Pre-order, HERE.  The Go-Go’s skyrocketed to superstardom after they released one of the most successful debut albums of all time. Beauty and the Beat is a collection of hook-laden, infectious songs that stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks, spawning the hits “Our Lips Are Sealed” (named one of Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Pop Singles) and “We Got The Beat” and also earned them a Grammy® nomination for “Best New Artist.”  They have the notable distinction of being the only all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments on a No. 1 album. 

- After building anticipation for its arrival, Gen Z singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz releases her anxiously awaited sophomore EP, 6 Of A Billion, today via slowplay/Republic Records.  Listen to 6 Of A Billion—HERE.  She heralded the project with her most recent single “Boy In A Billion.” In a week, it has already amassed over 1 million total streams. Attracting critical praise, The Honey Pop fittingly described Claire as “what’s next in pop music.” In addition to plugs from DORK and more, Clash raved the track “underlines her alt-pop prowess.” The project also boasts “Frankenstein,” which has reeled in 6 million streams and counting.

- Country-soul newcomer/former "The Voice" Season 6 finalist Audra McLaughlin is pleased to announce the release of her latest single, "(Can't Buy) Fun Like This," available TODAY through major music retail and streaming outlets following its exclusive premiere on Taste of Country yesterday. LISTEN HERE.

- Breakthrough singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun’s new deluxe album, in defense of my own happiness (complete), is out today via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. Stream/purchase HERE.  The special extended edition includes all 14 tracks from her major label debut, in defense of my own happiness, as well as the ten additional songs from her self-released 2020 record, in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings), and one new track, “judas”—listen HERE.

- “The Valet” Starring Eugenio Derbez Set for Worldwide Release on Hulu and Disney+.  Lionsgate Remake of French Film Picked up by Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer Platforms to Premiere Summer 2022 as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and Internationally on Disney+ as a Star Original.  The film, the English-language remake of the French hit The Valet, is directed by Richard Wong and stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving in her first lead role in a romantic comedy.  Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt, Marisol Nichols, Noemi Gonzalez, Carmen Salinas, Ravi Patel, Tiana Okoye, Diany Rodriguez, Armando Hernández, Carlos Santos, Amaury Nolasco, John Pirucello and Alex Fernandez round out the cast. 

- Showtime Networks Inc. and Amblin Partners have renewed their exclusive output agreement, under which qualifying Amblin Partners films theatrically released through December 31, 2024 will air across SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on SHOWTIME multiplex channels and streaming service. The agreement allows Showtime Networks Inc. to exhibit high-profile Amblin Partners features across its premium services on-air, on demand and online. The announcement was made by Kent Sevener, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Showtime Networks Inc.  The new SHOWTIME deal extends the company’s long-term relationship with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin, that began in 2010, and adds up to 18 additional films to an already robust library of Amblin Partners titles available on SHOWTIME networks and streaming service.  Upcoming theatrical releases include Spielberg’s untitled film starring, among others, Oscar^® nominee Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano and Gabriel LaBelle; Distant, starring Anthony Ramos and Naomi Scott; Easter Sunday, starring comedian Jo Koy; and Last Voyage of the Demeter, which stars Corey Hawkins. 

- SHOWTIME has announced that Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award^® winner Kiefer Sutherland (24) will star as President Franklin D. Roosevelt in THE FIRST LADY. Sutherland joins Oscar^®, Emmy and Tony winner Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), who also executive produces, as former first lady Michelle Obama, Oscar and Emmy nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit) as Betty Ford and Emmy and Screen Actors Guild winner Gillian Anderson (The Crown) as Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Previewing This Way Up: Season Two

COVID not only wrecking the filming schedule, it also ruined the writing too.  Not that screenwriters can write from home or over video conference, some shows decided to include the pandemic into their show, mostly to poor results.  Superstore is the only one that handled adding it to the show successfully, because after a couple months of going to the store with COVID protocols, we were ready to laugh at just how ridiculous how things were.  But for most shows, it really would have been best if they just pretended it did not happen.

 

This Way Up is doing something slightly different in that it still takes place in this world, but shut down does not happen until the last seven minutes of the season finale. So really, we will have to wait until season three to see if the show hits COVID straight on or if they will skip over the pandemic almost complete and start the next season after everything has gone back to “normal.”

 

Hopefully there is a third season because the second one is just as sharp and witty as the first.  If you missed the first season, it will take you less than two and a half hours to catch up (so go do that now because there are spoilers for the first season coming up).  Then the second season is another tight six episodes topping out at twenty-five minutes.  The first season ended with Africa kissing the father of one of her students while her sister kissed a girl.

 

Going into the second, only one of those kisses turned into a full-fledged relationship.  And it was not Shona who remains engaged to Vish though he spends the entire season in New York City (while COVID does not affect any of the character until the end, I have a sinking suspicion Aasif Mandvi was not able to make it to England to film in person there which is why Vish is stateside) as Shona has to make due with a Vish doll that partakes in a weird threesome.  But Shona still has to work Charlotte which makes this awkward.  But awkward is what makes this show so charming and this season features a pretty awkward sauna session and bachelorette part.  Hopefully COVID does not delay a potential third season and the next one comes sooner than two years.

 

All episodes of This Way Up season two will be premiere on Hulu tomorrow.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 4, 2021

 

Kevin Can Fork Himself:  Ha, she reported the drug dealer who in turn ratted out the person that was supplying the drugs she was trying to buy.  That was the first time I laughed during this show so far.  But since we saw the neighbor in the “drama” setting this week, does this mean Kevin has the magical powers?  If she manages to kill him, will there be no sitcom?  Not that I think she will manage it.

 

The Chi:   So we got all the teases from the premiere last week but they still held out just who shot the mayor.  Surprisingly they revealed the shooter’s identity right off the bat.  Though I had absolutely no clue who that was at first.  It turned out to be Brandon’s mother who I do not believe we have seen since Brandon’s funeral back in the season three premiere.  And now I am left wondering if she was a bad shot or if she was not trying to kill them since he survived.  If it is the former, why not walk over to him and put a bullet in his head just to make sure?  That was just a pretty random reveal to bring back someone like that a season and a half later.

 

Black Monday:  I was wondering where Wayne was (okay, I was wondering where Horatio Sanz was, I had no clue his character’s name was Wayne) he was the only original one missing.  I guess he is dead now since everyone ended up being splattered with Wayne at the end.  But who killed Wayne and everyone else and shot Blair seems as obvious as how abducted everyone (seriously, Mo got picked up after Blair asked where he was): the preacher’s daughter.  But then it crossed my mind, what if it was Blair’s wife?

 

Flatbush Misdemeanor:  What is up with the rise of mean therapists?  The Winter Soldier was seeing one and now this one is so angry she is berating the dude’s neighbors for being so loud.

 

In the Dark:  They are just going to tease the lesbian dying all season aren’t they.  That scene on the road where they got out of the car really looked like the scene at the end of episode one.  Then she gets kidnapped at the end.  But by who?  The cops or the queen pin’s people?  Or possibly a friendly?  But I thought for sure the annoying dude would somehow skip out of the threesome, but good for him.  So does the Blind Chick call him or the other boyfriend when the lesbian does not show up?

 

The Bold Type:  I thought they brought Pinstripe back for Jane’s happy ending.  Instead Jane not only declines the promotion but quits all together.  Huh?  So now the editor in chief is going to be someone who was just hire back because she was fired for leaking information about the board of the magazine.  So stupid.  Good riddance to this show.

 

Good Girls:  So why did Annie try to escape only to cover for the guy keeping her captive?  And at what point does the bro squad recruit Matt Sarasan to their squad.  Granted, he does not know much, or really anything.  But it would be nice to be included.