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 Up Here, The Great, Waco: The Aftermath, The Circus, Wizards of Waverly Pod, Lauren Spencer Smith, The Weeknd, Kidnap, ALO, Scorpions, Billions, and Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi.
- Hulu has debuted the official trailer and key art for upcoming musical romantic comedy series, "Up Here," starring Mae Whitman and Carlos Valdes. The series, which hails from Steven Levenson (“tick, tick...BOOM!"), Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”), Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (“Frozen”), premieres on Friday, March 24 with all eight episodes. A musical romantic comedy set in New York City in the waning days of 1999, following the extraordinary story of one ordinary couple, Lindsay and Miguel, as they fall in love and discover that the single greatest obstacle to finding happiness together might just be themselves – and the treacherous world of memories, obsessions, fears and fantasies that lives inside their heads.
- Elle Fanning announced that season three of the Emmy®-winning series “The Great” will return to Hulu on Friday, May 12th with all ten episodes. Season 3 of “The Great” sees Catherine (Elle Fanning) and Peter (Nicholas Hoult) attempt to make their marriage work after some seemingly insurmountable problems. Peter witnessed his own attempted murder at Catherine’s hands and she also imprisoned all of his friends. On top of this, Peter is at a loose end playing First Husband to Catherine’s reign, so he busies himself with fathering, hunting and salty culinary ventures. But they’re not enough to keep him contented as visions of his late father (played by Jason Isaacs), get in his head about his failures as Peter the Great’s son. Catherine the Great starts making a name for herself beyond her borders and inspired by a visit from the US ambassador, sets up a conference where peasants, nobles and merchants can all give their input on developing a new Russia. She learns that even the best political leaders sometimes need to make compromises in order to progress.
- Marking the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the infamous 51-day standoff at Mt. Carmel in Waco, Texas, SHOWTIME announced today the official trailer for WACO: THE AFTERMATH. The five episodes will debut on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers on Friday, April 14, before making their on-air debut on Sunday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
- The Emmy® nominated docuseries THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH continues its eighth season this Sunday with the unofficial kickoff of the Republican presidential nominating contest. Hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri – along with guest host Tim Miller, a former Republican-turned #NeverTrump political strategist; writer-at-large for The Bulwark; and author of the New York Times best seller Why We Did It – delve into a breakneck week of GOP presidential politics. As Donald Trump headlines the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland, long seen as a springboard into the presidential primary, some of his strongest potential challengers – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence – test the campaign waters elsewhere. For a preview, go to: https://youtu.be/NY2f-d022gU
- In this week's newly released episode of PodCo's "Wizards of Waverly Pod" rewatch series hosted by Jennifer Stone and David DeLuise, the two hosts reconnect with their co-star Selena Gomez to catch up and discuss their iconic series, new bts secrets from filming, as well as heartfelt moments of tears expressing their unwavering love and support for each other. The trio even tease Selena's return to come back and record future episodes with her close cast she considers family.
- Lauren Spencer Smith, the generational talent and breakthrough act of 2022, is set to have a landmark 2023. The 19-year-old singer songwriter from Vancouver Island, Canada shares the official video for her latest single, “Best Friend Breakup.” It’s an anthem for a falling out among best friends, an experience simultaneously so personal to Lauren and universally understood. In the video, Lauren is in her bedroom reflecting upon the best friend breakup she experienced. The visuals, directed by Boni Mata, complement the tone of the single with Lauren looking and sounding beautiful juxtaposed against the heartbreak she’s going through. Lauren made her TV debut of “Best Friend Breakup” on The Late Late Show with James Corden — watch here.
- The Weeknd presents his first-ever live album, Live At Sofi Stadium, via XO/Republic Records. Listen to The Weeknd Live At Sofi Stadium —HERE. Reaching another unprecedented milestone, The Weeknd has made history as “the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.” As of today, he scored the biggest monthly listener count ever on the platform with 100.4 million. This enshrines him as the #1 artist in the world on Spotify. Meanwhile, his mega-smash “Blinding Lights” remains the DSP’s “most streamed song of all time” with 3.4 billion streams and counting.
- Kidnap, aka British producer Matt Relton, today releases a new single, “Things Change”, featuring pinkpirate. Watch the video HERE. Speaking about “Things Change”, Kidnap says: "pinkpirate's vocals contain so much character that I felt my job was to move out the way wherever possible." Kidnap says. "Woven together with lazy piano and atmospheric production, we offer a warm reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of change."
-California rock band ALO share their highly anticipated, spirited ninth studio album Silver Saturdays out everywhere now, including a limited run of clear 180g vinyl, via Brushfire Records. Get an exclusive look at the making of the forthcoming album as the band brings listeners behind the scenes here. Alongside the full project, the band shares the latest single and video, "Growing Your Hands Back" out everywhere now. Next week, ALO will hit the road on the Tour d'Amour XVI around the Western U.S. with support from Rainbow Girls on several dates, and other dates featuring Hot Buttered Rum, ORGŌNE, Ron Artis II and The Moore Brothers. Tickets are on sale now.
- Saying that Scorpions can look back on an eventful history as a band would be an understatement. Their spectacular story is now becoming a new and very colorful experience: With Scorpions – Colours of Rock, BMG is announcing the reissue of 12 album highlights by the legendary German hard rock band who have shaped the music world – now appearing on colored vinyl. Alongside versions of Fly To The Rainbow, In Trance, Virgin Killer and Humanity (Hour 1), remastered for the first time ever, are further handpicked treasures including Savage Amusement, World Wide Live, Love at First Sting, Blackout, Animal Magnetism, Lovedrive, Tokyo Tapes and Taken By Force. The reissued albums can be pre-ordered exclusively HERE starting on March 2, 2023. They will be released on May 5, 2023, only days before Scorpions embark on the European leg of their Rock Believer World Tour, which had previously taken them across South America – from El Salvador via Colombia, Brazil and Argentina to Chile – during the first months of the year.
- SHOWTIME has announced that Emmy winner Damian Lewis will return as fan-favorite Bobby “Axe” Axelrod to season seven for six of the twelve episodes of the acclaimed drama series BILLIONS, starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy winner Paul Giamatti, Corey Stoll and Maggie Siff. Currently in production in New York City, BILLIONS will return later this year. Toney Goins, who plays Philip has been upped to series regular in season seven. In season seven, alliances are turned on their heads. Old wounds are weaponized. Loyalties are tested. Betrayal takes on epic proportions. Enemies become wary friends. And Bobby Axelrod returns, as the stakes grow from Wall Street to the world. BILLIONS also stars David Costabile, Asia Kate Dillon, Condola Rashad, Jeffrey DeMunn, Sakina Jaffrey and Daniel Breaker.
- he Hulu Original series "Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi" returns for its second season with all 10 episodes on Friday, May 5th. In season two of “Taste the Nation,” award-winning cookbook author, host and executive producer Padma Lakshmi, takes viewers on a culinary adventure across American soil, exploring the rich and diverse communities who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. Over borscht, cornbread, pasteles and more, Padma uncovers the roots and relationship between our food, our humanity and our history — ultimately uncovering stories that challenge notions of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American.
