Around the Tubes: July, 20, 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 Wedding Season, Let the Right One In, Chucky, Reginald the Vampire, Reboot, POV, Hailee Steinfeld, Paul McCartney, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Imagine Dragons, Arkells, Claire Rosinkranz, and Kung Fu.

- Hulu cordially requests the honour of your presence at the debut of its new rom-com action thriller "Wedding Season." All eight episodes will walk down the aisle on Thursday, September 8th.  The date announcement is accompanied by the debut of first-look images of the brand-new series.  The genre-busting series tells the story of Katie and Stefan who fall for each other at a wedding and begin an affair, despite Katie already having a fiancé. Two months later at Katie’s wedding, her new husband and his entire family are murdered. The police think Stefan did it. Stefan thinks Katie did it. And no one knows for sure what the truth is…  The series is an action-packed romp across the UK and the US as Katie and Stefan go on the run, all while trying to prove their innocence.  Wedding Season” stars Rosa Salazar and Gavin Drea, with Jade Harrison, Jamie Michie, Callie Cooke, Bhav Joshi, Ioanna Kimbrook, and Omar Baroud.

- SHOWTIME will debut its new thriller drama LET THE RIGHT ONE IN on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers on Friday, October 7, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, October 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Led by Oscar^® nominee Demián Bichir (A Better Life), the 10-episode series from Tomorrow Studios (Snowpiercer) also stars Tony winner Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls, Power), Grace Gummer (Mr. Robot), Madison Taylor Baez (Selena: The Series), Kevin Carroll (Snowfall), Ian Foreman (Merry Wish-Mas), Jacob Buster (Colony) and Nick Stahl (Fear the Walking Dead).

- CHUCKY is a continuation of the iconic film franchise chronicling the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll. In the TV series, Chucky crosses paths with archenemies, old allies and new prey, as he seeks to inspire fear and mayhem wherever he goes. After his diabolical plan to invade America’s children’s hospitals was foiled in season one, Chucky now seeks revenge on those he holds responsible: surviving teens Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), along with his ex Tiffany, now his sworn enemy. Meanwhile, can “Jevon” make it as a couple in the face of adversity at their new Catholic school, not to mention a brand-new onslaught of terror from the demon doll?  Premieres October 5 at 9pm on USA & SYFY.  Watch the New Teaser Here!

- Imagine a world populated by beautiful, fit and vain vampires. Reginald Andres tumbles headlong into it as an unlikely hero who will have to navigate every kind of obstacle – the girl he loves but can’t be with, a bully manager at work and the vampire chieftain who wants him dead. Fortunately, Reginald discovers he has a few unrecognized powers of his own. A new show with a lot of heart and just enough blood, “Reginald the Vampire” proves the undead life is just as complicated as life itself.  Premieres October 5 at 10pm on SYFY.  Watch the NEW Teaser Here!

-  "Reboot." Hulu's upcoming eight-episode original comedy series  will premiere on Tuesday, September 20 with two episodes. New episodes stream weekly.  Hulu reboots an early 2000’s family sitcom, forcing its dysfunctional cast back together. Now they must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world.  The series stars Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer, Johnny Knoxville, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy and Krista Marie Yu.  The series was created by Steven Levitan, who serves as an executive producer alongside Danielle Stokdyk and Jeff Morton. "Reboot" is produced by Steven Levitan Productions and Twentieth Television.

- America’s longest running documentary series, currently celebrating its 35th anniversary season, follows the erratic 2018 presidential election in Zimbabwe – the country’s first democratic election since its independence in 1980 – as it serves as the ultimate test for both the ruling party and for the opposition in the discerning documentary President.  President makes its national broadcast premiere on POV on Monday, August 8, 2022 (check local listings) and is available to stream free until September 8, 2022 at pbs.org, and the PBS Video app.

-  POV, America’s longest running documentary series, currently celebrating its 35th anniversary season, will present Faya Dayi in its national broadcast premiere on Monday, August 29, 2022 (check local listings).  The film, directed, produced and filmed by Jessica Beshir, is a hypnotic immersion in the world of Harar, Ethiopia, a place where one commodity – khat, a euphoria-inducing plant – holds sway over the rituals and rhythms of everyday life. Faya Dayi is available to stream free until September 29, 2022 at pbs.org, and the PBS Video app. In addition to standard closed captioning for the film, POV, in partnership with audio description service DiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities.

- Multiplatinum pop singer and songwriter and Academy® Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld returns with a new single entitled “Coast” [feat. Anderson .Paak].  Listen to “Coast” [feat. Anderson .Paak]—HERE. Watch the lyric video for "Coast" [feat. Anderson .Paak]—HERE.  Regarding the single, she exclusively spoke to Rolling Stone and shared, “I am so happy to finally be able to share Coast with the world. This song is deeply personal to me and was influenced by my California roots and the music I grew up listening to with my family. The only artist I envisioned collaborating with on this track was my friend, Anderson .Paak. Knowing he loved the song enough to lend his genius to it is absolutely surreal, and I am forever grateful to have his support. This is only the beginning and I can't wait to share the rest of what's to come with you all soon.”

- Written, performed, and produced entirely by Paul McCartney, his three eponymous career-spanning solo albums (1970’s McCartney, 1980’s McCartney II, and 2020’s McCartney III) will now be packaged together and available in one special boxset for the first time.  McCartney I II III box set will be available in three different formats – Limited Edition Color Vinyl, Black Vinyl Edition, and CD – each including three special photo prints with notes from Paul about each album. The newly created boxset cover art and typography for the slipcase are by Ed Ruscha. To pre-order McCartney I II III, please click HERE.

-  STREET SURVIVORS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE LYNYRD SKYNYRD PLANE CRASH, recreates the story of the ill-fated flight through the eyes of former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Artimus Pyle (who narrates the film), who not only survived the plane crash that claimed the life of the band’s founder and frontman Ronnie Van Zant amongst others, but who also physically pulled the remaining survivors out of the plane wreckage before staggering towards the nearest farmhouse in rural Louisiana to seek help.  “This film’s story, MY story, is not just about the plane crash but also about my personal relationship with the genius that was Ronnie Van Zant, whom I loved like a brother and still miss to this day,” says Artimus Pyle.  STREET SURVIVORS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE LYNYRD SKYNYRD PLANE CRASH was scripted and directed by Jared Cohn (DEVIL’S REVENGE, DEVIL’S DOMAIN), produced by Brian Perera, and co-produced by Tim Yasui for Cleopatra Entertainment. The film is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, Roku, AppleTV, Tubi, and for purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.

- Commemorating a major milestone, GRAMMY®-winning, multi-Platinum band Imagine Dragons will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut LP with Night Visions (Expanded Edition) (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope/UMe) on September 9, 2022. It notably boasts nine additional studio tracks and two previously unreleased songs recorded contemporaneously entitled “Love of Mine” and “Bubble.” The Expanded Edition will be available at all DSPs and in physical formats— 2-LP (which boasts the original cover art plus a 10^th-anniversary cover art lithograph), 2-CD, or 2-Cassette. An exclusive limited-edition, canary-yellow 2-LP vinyl of the Expanded Edition will also be available.  The Super Deluxe Edition consists of 4 CDs + 1 DVD (Original Album, Bonus Tracks, Night Visions Live, Remixes, and The Making of Night Visions on DVD) and much more.  Pre-order the Expanded Edition—HERE. Pre-order the Super Deluxe Edition—HERE.

- Arkells share new track, “Human Being” featuring Lights, ahead of their seventh studio record, Blink Twice, coming September 23rd via Virgin Records / Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company.   “We wanted a chaotic energy - something like Talking Heads meets Billy Joel,” says frontman Max Kerman. “We are learning a lot about ourselves on this record. This song is about finding a truer version of yourself - the one you’ve hid in the past. The song is searching for a kind of freedom that conventional life paths have to offer. Once we had it in good shape we sent it to our friend Lights who is the best at writing about this kind of discovery.”

- Maintaining unstoppable momentum this year, 18-year-old Southern California singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Claire Rosinkranz serves up a new song entitled “123” via slowplay/Republic Records.  Listen to “123”—HERE. Watch the lyric video for “123”—HERE.  The track opens with a nostalgic swell of production as she croons, “I’m wasting your time, and by the way you’re a shitty dancer.” It kicks into a head-nodding bassline and glitchy beat as she exhales, “I just want to mess up what we had. Maybe you should listen to my dad.” The track showcases her seamless ability to shift back and forth between vibes effortlessly with style and substance.

- Get in on the action and fight the good fight as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you Kung Fu: The Complete Second Season on DVD September 27, 2022. From Award Winning executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, indulge on all 13 action-packed episodes from the second season, plus a gag reel in the bonus features. Kung Fu: The Complete Second Season is priced to own on DVD at $19.99 SRP ($24.99 in Canada) and is also available to own on Digital via purchase from all major digital retailers and is streaming on HBO Max.  Six months after the explosive events of season one, Nicky and the Shens are in a great place: Nicky's been using her Kung Fu skills to keep Chinatown safe, she and Henry are only deeper in love, and the family are all in the know about Nicky's extracurricular activities. Everything's great...until the reemergence of Russell Tan and the surprise appearance of Nicky's cousin, Mia. 

Previewing City on a Hill: Season Three

 

Congratulations, we finally got him, after two seasons, dirty FBI agent Jackie Rohr was forced to turn in his badge.  In true Jackie fashion, he did not actual turn the badge in as much as tossed it into the Boston Harbor to swim with the fishes.  But that was not the end of City on the Hill, so at the start season three, Jackie has gotten a job as a bartender.  But it does not take very long to find another job more suited to his skills working for Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law) who may very well be a bigger sleaze ball than even Jackie is. 

 

Jackie’s sometime adversary, sometime frenemy Decoursey Ward is still reeling from his wife’s miscarriage from last season and now is faced with the mortality of his ailing father played by Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) that takes him away from Boston the start of the season.  It actually takes the Assistant District Attorney a couple episodes to even get a case to work on and takes even longer until that work runs into Jackie, though he does stop off at Jackie’s bar every once and a while.

 

The murder of Anton Campbell also looms large with the cop who shot him goes on trial.  The wives, Siobhan and Jenny are also around, dealing with past traumas, Siobhan with her miscarriage and Jenny with her father’s abuse.  Then both have someone from her past resurfaces to open past wound.  But that is just Boston in the nineties.

 

City on a Hill airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 24, 2022

 

Westworld: Oh snap, they killed off the remaining human main character (well, assuming the Man in Black is not in cryostasis somewhere; how long can you keep someone alive like that).  But I guess Caleb’s kid has now hooked up with Bernard to uncover Maeve.  Though where was the Man in Black whom she was hugging when buried?  Now that those two timelines converged, the question now is how does Neo-Delores fit in?  It seems fairly obvious she is writing narratives for the fly people and it also seems like it would then be Bernard who sent Teddy, but why.  What is so special about Neo-Delores if the original Delores is dead and her cloned mind ball is in Charlotte?

 

The Chi:  Oh wow, I am surprised the mom picked her baby daddy.  It already ended badly once.  But Trig really needs a wardrobe upgrade if he is running for City Council, that one shirt he had on looked like he was wearing a sash. 

 

Flatbush Misdemeanors:  How many employees does that small bike shop have?  They went from none to three in five episodes.  Sure, none of them seem to be very good.

 

In the Dark:  I am mildly surprised that Jess did not show up at the trial.  I thought for sure she would be a surprise witness.  Instead the surprise was the bartender just went scorched earth on the stand.  But Felix had a point, she did contact him.  But now that Murphy is a CI, seems pretty obvious she will be forced to work with Darnell who is working undercover and that is how he gets shot.  Now the question is when that will happen.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  I was a bit annoyed that we did see the face of the person on the security camera. How about rewind it a bit to show him sitting down? The camera is pointing at the door, the guy had to of entered at some point. I am typically really annoyed when characters are that dumb for the sake of the plot, but I guess Oscar is not the brightest person, so I guess it tracks.

 

But my first thought looking at that guy from the back (and I am using male pronouns because it definitely looked like a guy) is that it kind of looked like Will. Come to think of it, the guy in the wall with Lucy last week also kind of looked like Will too (at least in build, I believe the skin under the mask was lighter), but would a guy with allergies become a vet? Though if Will has Dimas blood in him, maybe we should look at him as a suspect.

 

Though this episode really pushed Alice as the murderer, the whole Son of Sam game, Jan mentioning that the murderer is most likely an artist who would likely try to infiltrate the Three Amigos, which only makes me believe she did it less.  But Alice admitting she is a fraud made me wonder if she also lied about being from England, this could explain her bad accent.

 

Motherland: Fort Salem:  Oh snap, Alder just exploded a bunch of dudes from the inside.   But are they still heading out west, or will this attack make them go back to Salem?

 

The Challenge: USA:  They need to get through the choosing of partners quicker, which should be a thirty second montage.  But I always love challenges that involve intelligence.  It took some of them way too long to realize all the puzzles were and item from a country that are an alliteration. 

 

The Old Man:  Okay, I am confused, is Maeby Funke the warlord’s daughter or did Jeff Bridges who knocked up the warlord’s wife without him knowing?  But a really bad way to end the season.  I do wonder if this was meant to be a limited series, but they cut things short because of Bridges’ health and just kind of did a wink and a nod that they would be able to finish in a second season.