Around the Tubes: March 12, 2022

           

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 Deep Water, Death on the Nile, Sheryl, The Hardy Boys,  Florence + the Machine, Oh Wonder, Kae Tempest, Benee, Lyn Lapid, Em Beihold, Honeyglaze, Kira Kosarin, and Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem.

- Hulu has released the trailer for the psychological thriller “Deep Water,” starring Ben Affleck (“Gone Girl”) and Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”), directed by expert thrill master Adrian Lyne (“Fatal Attraction,” “Indecent Proposal”). “Deep Water” will debut March 18 exclusively as a Hulu Original in the U.S.  Based on the celebrated novel by famed mystery writer Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley), “Deep Water” takes us inside the marriage of picture-perfect Vic (Affleck) and Melinda (de Armas) Van Allen to discover the dangerous mind games they play and what happens to the people that get caught up in them. Directed by Adrian Lyne from a screenplay by Zach Helm and Sam Levinson, based on the novel “Deep Water” by Patricia Highsmith, “Deep Water” stars Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas, Tracy Letts, Lil Rel Howery, Dash Mihok, Finn Wittrock, Kristen Connolly, Jacob Elordi, Rachel Blanchard, Michael Braun, Jade Fernandez, Grace Jenkins, Brendan C. Miller, Devyn Tyler and Jeff Pope. The film is produced by Arnon Milchan, Guymon Casady, Benjamin Forkner and Anthony Katagas.

- 20th Century Studios’ daring mystery-thriller “Death on the Nile,” directed by and starring eight-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh and featuring an all-star ensemble cast, will debut March 29, 2022 on Hulu in the U.S. The film will also debut on HBO Max in the U.S. the same day as Hulu.  “Death on the Nile” will debut on Disney+ in select international markets and on Star+ in Latin America as follows:  March 30: Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Austria;  April 6: Spain, Singapore, Indonesia (Hotstar), Malaysia (Hotstar), Thailand (Hotstar);  April 20: Latin America, Brazil.  “Death on the Nile” is based on the beloved 1937 novel by acclaimed author Agatha Christie. Kenneth Branagh, back as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, is joined by Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright. “Death on the Nile,” which reunites the filmmaking team behind 2017’s global hit “Murder on the Orient Express,” is written by Michael Green, adapted from Christie’s novel, and is produced by Ridley Scott, Kenneth Branagh, p.g.a., Judy Hofflund, p.g.a. and Kevin J. Walsh, with Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Matthew Jenkins, James Prichard and Mathew Prichard serving as executive producers.

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced SHERYL, an intimate story of song and sacrifice about musical icon Sheryl Crow, will have its SHOWTIME premiere on Friday, May 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Director Amy Scott navigates Crow’s seminal yet hard-fought musical career battling sexism, depression, perfectionism, cancer, and the price of fame – before harnessing the power of her gift.  To watch and share the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/FCSkonIngWM.  SHERYL is told through present-day interviews with Crow, behind-the-scenes verité on the road and in her studio, never before seen archival footage spanning 20 years of touring, and interviews with close allies Keith Richards, Laura Dern, Joe Walsh, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, and others. Crow’s early gift of music and dedication to songwriting set her on an unapologetic path to perfection – which ultimately became both a blessing and a curse to overcome. 

- Check out Hulu’s teaser trailer for the upcoming second season of "The Hardy Boys," which premieres with all 10 episodes on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.  The second season picks up six months after the events of Season 1, building on the mystery and drama of the inaugural season and welcoming new friends and suspects. In Season 2, when a Bridgeport classmate mysteriously disappears, Frank (Rohan Campbell) and Joe Hardy (Alexander Elliot) drop their new normal routine to get back to detective work. But when they discover the mystical relic they destroyed last year is still in play, it becomes clear their simple missing person case is actually part of something far more sinister. The Hardy boys and their friends must quickly learn who they can and can’t trust as they race against time to unravel the truth, and ultimately realize that no one is safe from their past. 

- Florence + the Machine debut a new song, “Heaven is Here,” today alongside a video by acclaimed director Autumn de Wilde and choreographed by Ryan Heffington. Listen/watch here.  “‘Heaven is Here’ was the first song I wrote in lockdown after an extended period of not being able to get to the studio,” says Florence Welch. “I wanted to make something monstrous. And this clamour of joy, fury and grief was the first thing that came out. With dance studios also shut it was my dream to one day create choreography with it. So it’s one of the first pieces of music I have made specifically with contemporary dance in mind.”

- Oh Wonder is back today with news of a new album, 22 Make, and brand new single “Magnificent”—listen HERE.  22 Make is the surprise second half of the alt-pop-duo’s 22 Break project, a brand new album they dropped with little warning towards the end of 2021. The band’s most powerful and intimate music thus far, it unpicked a turbulent period in the incredible story of Oh Wonder: here were universal themes (loneliness, inadequacy, resentment, fears for the future) as experienced by one couple in real-time, all blown up in the pandemic. Not many bands can make a break-up album that culminates in them tying the knot—but then again, Oh Wonder have never been like other bands. Coming out of 22 Break and all the soul-searching that it forced them to do, Josephine and Anthony got married and channelled all this into 22 Make: a whole new album set for release on July 22^nd, soundtracking the light at the end of a tunnel and completing the dual project (with 11 songs on each half). 

- “No Prizes” feat. Lianne La Havas is the second single to be revealed from British spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist, and playwright Kae Tempest’s new album The Line Is A Curve, set for release on April 8^th via American Recordings/Republic Records. It is the fourth album from the Lewisham-based artist and has been produced by long term collaborator Dan Carey alongside executive production by Rick Rubin and features additional collaborations with Kevin Abstract, Grian Chatten of Fontaines DC, ássia, and Confucius MC. The record also follows the critically acclaimed play Paradise, which premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2021.  LISTEN HERE & WATCH HERE.

- Following the release of her critically acclaimed EP Lychee on Friday, BENEE reveals the video for her new single “Never Ending”—watch HERE. Directed by Devan Narsai and Riley Coughlin, the glitchy video shows a different side of the New Zealand alternative pop star, further showcasing BENEE’s evolution as an artist and her knack for pushing genre boundaries.  Of the video, BENEE says: “From the start, I knew I wanted the ‘Never Ending’ video to be driven by lots of fast cuts and lots of post-production to make it a really cool visual trip! The video was made with two friends of mine Devan & Riley – Devan has a really good eye for shots & Riley is super skilled at creative direction. I also knew Riley would kill the whole post prod side of the project! This has been my favourite video to date as I just love how well it suits the song. It was a last minute decision to put my dog Tūī in it, but I knew she’d make my performance walking down the street feel more natural (.:” 

- Breakout songstress Lyn Lapid releases her latest single “The Outsider” today from her soon-to-be-announced debut EP—listen HERE. The song features Lyn’s angelic vocals over a bouncy indie pop beat as she sings, “Now I’m someone you used to know, The outsider of an inside joke.”  Lyn says, “I wrote ‘The Outsider’ about that stage in your life when you start to grow apart from people who were part of your every day. For a lot of people, it can be about becoming distant in relationships that you thought would last forever. For me, those relationships in my life were with my old high school friends. Since we all kind of went in different directions after high school, it was sort of inevitable to become distant with them. Watching them grow apart from you and seeing them make new memories with other people is a truly bittersweet feeling. They were probably off making inside jokes with new people, and that felt very isolating, which is why I called it ‘The Outsider.’”

- Emerging as one of the year’s breakthrough acts, Los Angeles singer and songwriter Em Beihold (pronounced bye-hold) unveils the music video for her buzzing single “Numb Little Bug” today via Moon Projects/Republic Records. Watch the music video for “Numb Little Bug” — HERE. Listen to “Numb Little Bug”— HERE.  The visual seamlessly translates the song’s story and energy to the screen, evoking her sharp sense of humor and even sharper songwriting sensibility in the process. It serves as the perfect companion to this rising hit!

- With their highly anticipated debut album due out later next month, Honeyglaze share their new single "Female Lead" today and announce new shows, including Wet Leg dates followed by their own headline tour in May, and numerous festivals this summer.  Their Dan Carey-produced, self-titled debut album will be released on April 29 via Speedy Wunderground. Preorder here.  The South London based, haiku-loving trio formed just before the first lockdown, and a combination of compelling live performances and early singles "Shadows", "Creative Jealousy" and "Burglar" has seen their profile rise rapidly and garner support from a plethora of early fans including Steve Lamacq, Matt Wilkinson and Wet Leg – who have all declared themselves in love with their intoxicating brand of poetic lyrics and impressive musicianship.  Today they also share new single, "Female Lead", premiering on The Fader with accompanying video directed by James Ogram and the band's Anouska Sokolow, and featuring Jojo Macari, one of the stars of Netflix's Sex Education.  

- After making a name for herself as a successful actress and independent artist, Kira Kosarin is ready to re-introduce herself. Today, the 24-year-old singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, embarks on her next chapter with Republic Records—as exclusively announced by Billboard. To celebrate the news, she shares her debut single “mood ring.”  Listen to “mood ring”—HERE.  Kicking off with a lightly picked acoustic guitar and complimented by Kira’s ethereal vocals and lush harmonies, the song serves as the perfect introduction for her new music. “I’m excited to have something out there that when people come and look, is actually a reflection of me, for maybe the first time in my life,” says Kira. “With “mood ring”, I’m telling a story of falling in love through color,” she says. “It’s got a rhythmic pocket that just feels really good to listen to, while still maintaining the emotional connection and acoustic side of my sensibility.”

- Hulu Originals gives series order to drama Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem.  How do you solve a murder in a post-fact world? Especially when sailing the Mediterranean on an ocean liner filled with the wealthy and powerful. Everyone on board is hiding something… but is one of them a killer? That’s what the world’s once greatest detective, Rufus Cotesworth, and his protégée aim to discover. The truth at all costs. Credits: Written, executive produced and co-showrun by Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams. Marc Webb directed the pilot and executive produces for Black Lamb. Mark Martin also serves as executive producer.   Cast: The series stars Violett Beane, Lauren Patten, Rahul Kohli, Angela Zhou, Hugo Diego Garcia, Pardis Saremi, and Mandy Patinkin.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: March 6, 2022

 

Killing Eve:  So the crazy lady assassin is religious now?  Okay, I guess she is still not above feline murder.

 

The Walking Dead:  So who is left back in Alexandra?  We gained from last week, Maggie was still there.  One armed guy is the only other person that I could think of off the top of my head.  Eugene was also conspicuously absent this week, but he was in the “Next Week On” so he was in Alexandra somewhere, we just did not see him.  Then Princess was almost unrecognizable without that puffy jacket.  But how long do we hvve to get to see that confrontation between Daryl and Maggie?

 

Billions:  Episode 6:  If you are in the same room as an instructor, why do you need a screen of the instructor two feet in front of your face?  But anyway.  Almost confusing is a Chinese company having a plant in Wisconsin.  Couldn’t it be cheaper to produce the product in their homeland?  Do they do this solely to slap “American made” on their product?  I am also a little confused to how Chuck is going to use Prince’s alma mater.

 

Snowpiercer:  Well, that escalated quickly. Pike and Layton were fighting Wilford two episodes ago, Pike tries to kill Layton last episode and Layton kills Pike this week.  But Layton kind of had to since Pike had the information of the Horn of Africa being a scam.  But is he just going to kill everyone that lady tells because she really let that slip fairly quickly to Pike.  And of course, people may find out sometime.  Are there really going to find a habitable place in Africa?  It would be weird doing Snowpierer without people actually living on Snowpierer.

 

The Endgame:  I missed how people think the evil lady’s husband was dead in the first episode only to see him talking to the agent’s husband.  How does no one know that someone who is prison is not dead?  Did he fake his death and part of the plan was him to get himself incarcerated with the husband?  What is this plan?  Is she just doing this to expose corruption within the government?  Is she just going to bring don a new official every week?

 

Resident Alien: The only thing funnier than cat murder: octopus murder apparently.  They just drug out that scene until it was not funny anymore and then continued some more until it was funny again.

 

The Dropout:  There is nothing I appreciate more than when shows populate their cast with recognizable actors no matter how small the role.  Sure William H. Macy, Laurie Metcalf and the lady from 24 are big enough for more than two scenes in three episodes, but I appreciate the character work.  Then you got Stephan Fry and the guy from Ghost as lab technicians who I am not sure we will see much of after the initial three episodes.  The dude from the Blacklist just pops in for a couple scenes to ask what fork is going on.  I also spotted Cameron Frye in the “This Season On.”  Having recognizable actors, especially in a large ensemble makes it easier to remember who is who.

 

I have not been following this story very closely, just knowing the headline, but I was not ready for just how weird everything is.  It is interesting to watch this at the same time as the Uber show.  Travis built his whole brand on false bravado, while Elisabeth is just this weirdo with zero confidence, and when she tries to exude confidence, I am not sure she can even convince herself, she certainly does not seem to be convincing anyone else, at least not yet.  But as long as Elisabeth does some white girl dancing in every episode, this show may end up being my favorite show of the year.

 

Big Sky:  Silly me thinking Drew Carey’s brother was dead… again.  He already survived a bullet between the eyes, why would I think having his skull bashed in would be any different?  But it is time to wrap up both storylines; I am getting tired of both of them at this point.

 

The Blacklist:  So they waited until Park left to arrest the Conglomerate because they did not want to put her in danger?  Arresting everyone right after an agent leaves seems like the best way to put a target on her back.  Nothing says set up quite like a raid after someone leaves.  That seemed as dumb as no one realizing that the bug could still be on Lizzy after not finding it on her clothing.  That was the first place I thought of.