Around the Tubes: November 5, 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 George and Tammy, The Circus, Next at the Kennedy Center, The Black Beauty Effect, Ziwe, A Charlie Brown Christmas, José Feliciano, Taylor Swift, Neil Diamond, John Legend, Bret Michaels, Back in the Groove, Your Honor, and Switch.

- SHOWTIME^® today announced that it has picked up the six-part limited series GEORGE & TAMMY, starring Oscar winner Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, Revolutionary Road).  The series is created by Abe Sylvia (The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Nurse Jackie), directed by John Hillcoat (The Road) and produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Freckle Films, Mad Chance, Brolin Productions, Aunt Sylvia’s Moving Picture Co. and Blank Films Inc.  The premiere episode of GEORGE & TAMMY will debut simultaneously on SHOWTIME and on the Paramount Network behind Yellowstone commercial free on Sunday, December 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  The remainder of the season will be available exclusively on SHOWTIME, with new episodes available on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME as well as PARAMOUNT+ with SHOWTIME bundle subscribers on Fridays, before making its on-air debut on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series will also begin rolling out across additional Paramount+ markets outside the US and Canada. 

- The Emmy^® nominated docuseries THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH continues its seventh season with a behind-the-scenes look at the final days of a bitterly contested midterm election.  Hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri, are joined by guest host Paola Ramos – host and correspondent for VICE News, contributor to MSNBC, and author of Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity – as they travel the country documenting a political environment full of warning signs for the Democratic Party. With sustained economic headwinds and daunting historical trends for the party in power, the GOP is on offense as Democrats attempt to hold onto control of both houses of Congress.  For a preview, go to: https://youtu.be/c2-hz-TUlX8. 

- PBS announced that the third episode of NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, a series from the pubcaster’s first multi-year collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will feature the Grammy Award-winning hip hop group The Roots. Anchored by an unforgettable concert in the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall, the special explores how The Roots continue to push the boundaries of their art form while using their platform as the inaugural artist-in-residence of the Center’s Hip Hop Culture Program to foster the next generation of cultural leaders. NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER “The Roots Residency” premieres Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS Video app.   “For more than 50 years, PBS and the Kennedy Center have shared a joint mission to bring the best of the performing arts to the American public,” said Sylvia Bugg, chief programming executive and general manager of general audience programming at PBS. “NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER showcases the richness of the nation’s stage, helping to contextualize the cultural impact of contemporary artists like The Roots who are not only extraordinary musicians but passionate community leaders. As the series continues, we look forward to sharing a diversity of genres and stories.”

- Comcast NBCUniversal and FaceForward Productions announced acclaimed actress Meagan Good will appear in the upcoming three-part docuseries The Black Beauty Effect, set to premiere on November 25^th on the Black Experience on Xfinity channel, a first-of-its-kind destination of Black entertainment featuring the ultimate in Black storytelling. From creator and executive producers Andrea Lewis (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Black Actress); and executive producer Emmy-nominee CJ Faison (Giants & Junebug), Jackie Aina and Kahlana Barfield Brown, the docuseries will spotlight the social change that has taken place in the beauty industry, as told from the perspective of the successful Black women who galvanized it.  The Black Beauty Effect is a three-part docuseries capturing the current evolution, revolution, and disruption taking place within the beauty industry. Black beauty influencers, celebrities, and entrepreneurs have taken up the torch passed down from their pioneering predecessors. Each hour-long episode examines a different aspect of beauty – hair, skin, and makeup – through the lens of some of the beauty industry’s most iconic game-changers. The Black Beauty Effect peels back the gorgeous glow we see in advertisements to tell the ugly truths that have plagued the beauty industry for far too long.

- SHOWTIME has released a new trailer for the highly anticipated new episodes of ZIWE, the critically acclaimed late-night variety series, starring and executive produced by Ziwe (Dickinson, Succession, The Great North). The second season will return to SHOWTIME with six new episodes starting Friday, November 18 on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, November 20 at 11 p.m. ET/PT.   To watch and share the new trailer; go to: https://youtu.be/kTceoAGnF90. 

- In the vivid and thought-provoking new three-part television series, SEARCHING: OUR QUEST FOR MEANING IN THE AGE OF SCIENCE Alan Lightman asks deep and timeless questions: Where do we humans fit in the grand scheme of things? Why do we yearn for permanence in an impermanent universe? Are we just atoms and molecules, or something more? How does consciousness arise from the material neurons in our brains? What aspects of our humanity will be preserved as we evolve beyond biology, from Homo Sapiens to Homo Techno, part human and part machine? What are the smallest things in nature, and the largest and farthest?  To explore these questions, MIT physicist and best-selling author, Lightman (Einstein’s Dreams, The Diagnosis), engages in lively, revealing and sometimes even humorous dialog with Nobel Prize-winning scientists, philosophers, ethicists and faith leaders.  SEARCHING: OUR QUEST FOR MEANING IN THE AGE OF SCIENCE will debut with three one-hour episodes on public television stations starting on January 7, 2023 and streaming on demand on PBS.org for 60 days. This series is made possible through the support of the John Templeton Foundation.

- Craft Recordings proudly announces the debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas—Vince Guaraldi Trio’s timeless score from the beloved 1965 animated special—in immersive Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. The album, which features such holiday classics as “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Linus and Lucy,” and “O Tannenbaum,” is premiering exclusively on Apple Music today. A Charlie Brown Christmas has remained a holiday staple for nearly 60 years (not to mention the best-selling jazz album of all time, alongside Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, after earning 5x platinum certification by the RIAA in May). Now, fans can experience this music like never before.  Apple TV+, meanwhile, is now the exclusive home of the 1965 animated special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, as well as a wide selection of PEANUTS programming, including many of the classic specials from Mendelson/Melendez Productions. In addition, Apple TV+ is the home of their all-new special Lucy’s School and a fresh season of their original series The Snoopy Show, both produced for Apple TV+ by PEANUTS and WildBrain.

-  Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist, José Feliciano, today released his highly anticipated new album, Love & Christmas, to all streaming services through Anthem Records. The new collection of songs, Feliciano’s first since 2020’s critically acclaimed, Behind This Guitar, express the enduring themes of his music and life; passion, inclusiveness, community, family and the joy of the Christmas season.  Love & Christmas also features the first new Christmas song written and performed by Feliciano in over 50 years, making it the first since the release of his beloved, bilingual holiday classic “Feliz Navidad.”  Titled “Viva La Navidad,” the up-tempo, fun, and rockin’ new track is the cornerstone of this new collection of songs, celebrating the joy of the holiday season. Stream “Viva la Navidad” HERE.

- The U.S. leg of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour was announced this morning just days after the eleven-time GRAMMY winner broke streaming, physical and vinyl album sales around the world. Taylor’s critically acclaimed album, Midnights, is the fastest selling album of her career. Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour will be supported by (each artist’s dates are listed on the graphic below) Paramore, beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers, girl in red, MUNA, HAIM, GAYLE, Gracie Abrams, and OWENN. It will be presented by Capital One and produced by Taylor Swift Touring and promoted by the Messina Touring Group (MTG).  To ensure tickets to Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour get into the hands of fans, Taylor Swift has partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program.  Fans can register HERE for the TaylorSwiftTix Presale powered by Verified Fan starting now through Wednesday, November 9 at 11:59PM ET. Registered fans who receive a code will have exclusive access to purchase tickets on Tuesday, November 15 starting at 10AM local venue time. Only fans that have received a unique code will have the chance to purchase tickets starting at $49 up to $449. In addition, VIP packages will start at $199 up to $899 on a first come, first served basis.

- With his first break into songwriting in the 1960s, his meteoric rise in the 1970s, and plenty of crushing disappointments and heart-stopping triumphs along the way, Neil Diamond has maintained an almost unthinkable level of superstardom for five straight decades. So how did a poor Jewish kid from Brooklyn become one of the most universally adored showmen of all time? There’s only one way to tell it: a Broadway musical set to his era-defining smash hits that entranced the world. A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical begins preview performances today, Wednesday, November 2, with an official opening night set for Sunday, December 4, at the Broadhurst Theatre. Tickets for A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical, are available HERE.  

- ulti-platinum, 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend released a breathtaking version of his hit song “Nervous” today with Colombian-American chart-topping singer and songwriter Sebastián Yatra.  Stream the new bilingual interpretation of the song HERE. "Sebastian is such a gifted artist,” said Legend.  “I’m so glad we could collaborate again on this special version of Nervous!"  “I was actually a bit nervous to do “Nervous” with John because singing alongside one of the best singers in the world can be pretty overwhelming,” said Sebastián. “He is an incredible vocalist and performer and puts so much emotion into everything he does. I’m so grateful to be a part of such a special song.”

- Taylor Swift scores one of the most historic weeks in the 64-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as she becomes the first artist to claim the survey's entire top 10 in a single frame. Leading the way for Swift on the Hot 100, "Anti-Hero" launches at No. 1, marking her ninth career leader. Swift now claims 13 of the top 15 spots on the chart with the entire standard version of Midnights.

- Music icon Bret Michaels, fresh off the Stadium Tour, is joining forces with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for their Homes for the Holidays television series. Michaels will be featured in the holiday TV special, giving Gold Star and fallen first responder families the ultimate holiday gifts – mortgage-free homes.  Michaels states, “As the son of a veteran and coming from a family of veterans, first responders, frontline workers, teachers, and utility workers, I could not be more honored to join forces with Tunnel to Towers and give back to the men and women who have selflessly sacrificed so much for our freedoms. In this holiday season,” continued Michaels, “I would ask you and your family to consider giving back to these amazing veterans and first responders.”

- We are excited to announce the premiere date for Hulu's new unscripted series "Back in the Groove," hosted by Taye Diggs. The special four-night event kicks off Monday, December 5 with two episodes, on Hulu. Two all-new episodes available to stream daily through Thursday, December 8.  Check Out the Date Announcement: HERE. Three single women in their 40s, all stuck in the grind of their everyday lives, will check OUT of their comfort zones and check INTO The Groove Hotel, a magical resort on the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic - where the goal is to rediscover their youth, live joyously, and hopefully find love with men HALF. THEIR. AGE. As the saying goes, “you can’t fall in love with someone else until you fall in love with yourself!” At the Groove Hotel, these three women will have the opportunity to do both! Whether they find the perfect fling, friendship, true love, or something in between, this is their chance to take charge and break through the double standards older women face every day. And they’re going to have a lot of fun doing it! The show is hosted by Taye Diggs, who knows a thing or two about getting into the groove.

- The premiere date for the SHOWTIME^® drama series YOUR HONOR has shifted. The 10-episode second season of the series starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) will debut on demand and on streaming Friday, January 13, 2023 and on-air on Sunday, January 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The first season of YOUR HONOR ranks as the top debut season ever on SHOWTIME.   

- Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, has announced actor Jeff Hephner as host of its quick-moving trivia game show, SWITCH. The first season of the half-hour original series will premiere early 2023.  In SWITCH, five players begin the game by taking positions behind large numbers from 1 to 5. After a trivia question is asked, players with correct answers move towards the number 1 spot, and players with incorrect answers move towards the number 5 spot. The goal of the game is to finish the third round of questions in the number 1 position, thus winning the game and earning the right to play the bonus round for $10,000. 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 30, 2022

 

House of the Dragon:  This show reminds me of classic TV where only the red shirts die. Every time someone bites it, I just go, oh no... oh well. I could not even tell you if that was Jace or Luke that died (but am proud of myself that I could actually name both of them).  Viserys is the only person who has dies that has been worth caring about but I think you did not even need to be a book reader to know early on he was not going to last long. Really, the shocking part with his death was that he made it to episode 8. Hopefully without any more time jumps / actor changes (presumably), they will give up reasons to care about some of these characters next season.

 

The Walking Dead:  Last week I was unsure why the mayor left her zombie son and some rando in the room with that one dude, and now this week I am left even more confused by that action.  Also kind of confusing, how they were able to grab Ezekiel without making a sound.

 

Let the Right One In:  The sister came around pretty quickly to her brother just killing people.  But know we now why the henchman is helping some mad scientists, he was providing him with drugs to sell.  But my question is: are these killers in NYC vampires or just people hopped on these drugs?

 

Quantum Leap:  So that other leaper is from the future (or possibly a real good actor, though no one on this show is a good actor).  But why accuse someone from the past of following you?  Is Ben following him, but forgot because of the amnesia?  Could Future Leaper have leaped into someone in 2022 and did something that caused Ben to go after him without telling anyone.  Is Future Leaper tied to Al’s daughter?  This is starting to get too complicated.

 

The Surreal Life:  It seems like the majority of “celebrities” recruited this time around are more infamous than actually famous.

 

Reboot:  Really good first season, but kind of sputtered at the end.  The whole storyline about the new executive burying the show and Paul Rieser having to fall on the sword just fell flat.  It would be a shame if he is not on a potential second season, though obviously they will find a way to bring him back.  Probably by blackmailing the executive.  Also 8 episodes was just too short.

 

La Brea:  Of course Paara was related to the head of the Exiles, but still have not found out where exactly did these people came from and how they speak perfect English.  Are they time travelers?  Did the time travelers teach them English?  We did get conformation that Gavin’s mom is the one creating all these sink holes but we still need to know the how and the why.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale:  Moving back to New Bethlehem seems like a horrible idea.  But it would get them closer to Hannah.  I really do not trust the U.S. government official to pull off a successful raid on wherever she is being kept.  But “Do you have an irony deficiency” may have been the cheesiest, and at the same time, best line ever on the show.

 

Tell Me Lies:  Oh my, what a finale.  It was pretty obvious by the last episode Stephan was driving the night Macy dies, but still very heart wrenching to finally see it for ourselves because they did a really good job fleshing out Macy is that short flashback.  She may actually be the most likeable person on this whole show, either her or Bree.

 

Okay, Mr. Brightside time.  Great song.  Great song placement.  Lucy’s look on her face was an all timer for the unintentional comedy scale.  I just broke out laughing and had to rewind a couple times.  And you cannot feel bad for Lucy after making out with Stephen while Diana was performing in her a cappella group (I am going to need more of that a cappella group in season two).  How is that dude a prize for those two women to fight over?  I kind of get Lucy, being an impressionable freshman, but Diana; it is time to find a real man.

 

Just do not ask Bree for help finding one because bombshell number two was Evan hooked up with Lucy shortly after Bree left for the semester.  That is going to make that awkward wedding even more awkward.  I kind of think Pippa know of this hook-up due to a few things she said at the reception.  Now the question is, who else knows, and has/will anyone tell Bree?

 

Speaking of the reception and the last bombshell of the season: Stephen has a new fiancée.  I guessed it was not going to be Diana, but as I cycled through everyone it could be, Lucy’s high school friend did not cross my mind (for some reason, I was trying to remember if Macy had a sister).  I am so ready for a second season.  How did they meet?  What does Lucy think of this?  Wrigley’s brother killed himself, right?  Or could he be in prison because of Macy’s death?  The only problem with those scenes in the future is we know Stephen gets away with it, at least up until then.

 

But the biggest question may be (well, other than why does Bree still have the same hairstyle at her wedding that she had back when she was a freshman in college seven years ago?): should I patiently wait for season two (which there better be one; get on that Hulu) or just break down and read the book in the meantime?

 

Survivor:  Gabler has to go down as pulling off one of the dumbest merge plans of all-time.  You do not offer up your tribe member at the vote unless you are on the outs.  He just lost a number and showed he is not loyal which will put him on the chopping block. The old orange and red could have easily hanged up on the blue, now it is just anarchy out there.

 

The Challenge: Ride or Dies:  Okay, the double decker Hall Brawl was cool, but that one second head start felt like nothing.  But, sign, it seems like we are at a slow march until all the rookies are out of the game.  There is no fun in that.

 

Stargirl:  So I take it, the Helix Squad will be showing up in the finale just when the battle will seemed to be lost.  Granted, I had no clue who any of those people were.

 

Big Sky:   Holy Buddy Garrity sighting!!!!  Then we had a meeting of the creepy dude and somehow neither died.  I have a feeling their next meeting, one will not be walking away from that encounter..

 

Pennyworth:  So are Bet and Salt really dead?  Or are they going to be resurrected somehow .  The dude is already mostly machine at this point.

 

A Friend of the Family:  Jan has been at a private school this whole time?  That was more bizarre than I was expecting.