Around the Tubes: September 23, 2023

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 Only Murders in the Building, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Love in Fairhope, Chucky, Olivia Newton-John, Daya, Nickelback, and Stephen Sanchez.

- Check out multi-Grammy®/Academy Award® winner Steve Martin perform “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” -  a new song written specifically for the show by Oscar®, Grammy®, Tony®, and Olivier Award-winning songwriters/producers Benj Pasek & Justin Paul ("La La Land," "Dear Evan Hansen," and "The Greatest Showman"), Grammy®, Emmy®, and Tony®-winning songwriter/ composer Marc Shaiman ("Hairspray") and Tony®, Grammy® and Olivier Award-winning songwriter Scott Wittman ("Hairspray").  SINGLE: Apple Music | Spotify

- SHOWTIME today released the official trailer and key art for the highly anticipated original film THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL, written and directed by Academy Award^®-celebrated filmmaker William Friedkin and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk of the same name. The captivating film follows a U.S. naval first officer who’s standing trial for orchestrating a mutiny after his captain shows signs of becoming unhinged and jeopardizes the lives of his crew. Following the film’s premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL, will premiere on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers on Friday, October 6, before making its on-air debut on SHOWTIME on Sunday, October 8, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

- If you were given the chance to bring your fantasy love story to life on TV, how would it look? Would it be a picture-perfect fairy tale or something a bit messier? This uniquely unscripted romantic series follows five women at different stages in their lives as they experience reimagined romance in the picturesque small town of Fairhope, Alabama, a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone else’s business and matters of the heart matter most. In “Love in Fairhope," real people star in a story inspired by their own where fantasy and reality collide.  "Love in Fairhope," a uniquely unscripted romantic series, premieres on Hulu Wednesday, September 27.  TRAILER: HERE

- Chucky... Next stop, Washington, D.C.  Season 3 Premieres October 4 at 9PM on USA & SYFY.  Season 3, Part 1 (four episodes) premieres October 4 and Part 2 returns with more episodes in 2024.  Tune in for returning fan favorites Devon Sawa and Jennifer Tilly, and guest stars including Saturday Night Live's Sarah Sherman and Kenan Thompson!  Episodes Will Stream Next Day on Peacock.  Text "CHUCKY" to 201-500-3347 to join the Chucky party and be the first to get any new camPAIN 🔪 updates!  Official Season 3 Trailer Here

-  On November 17, MCA/UMe is set to release both vinyl and CD editions of Dame Olivia Newton-John’s smash-hit, tenth studio album, 1978’s Totally Hot, a record that further reinforced her status as a surefire international superstar. In celebration of Newton-John’s first-ever platinum-certified album’s 45th anniversary, Totally Hot returns to vinyl for the first time in decades in two different options, in addition to being made available anew on CD and on all major digital platforms.   Totally Hot will be released in the following formats: limited-edition 1LP neon coral red vinyl, standard weight 1LP black vinyl, 1CD, and Digital. All versions of Totally Hot can be pre-ordered HERE.

- Daya has released her latest single “Downtown,” alongside an official visualizer. The sensual electropop track is now available for streaming on all major digital platforms.  LISTEN TO “DOWNTOWN" WATCH THE OFFICIAL “DOWNTOWN” VISUALIZER  Following the success of "Juliene," Daya's first single release of the year, which marked the commencement of an exciting new era in her career, "Downtown” offers fans a look into the pop star’s sultry side while documenting a thrilling night out.  Daya's journey through the music landscape has been nothing short of remarkable. With a string of hits that have resonated with fans globally, the artist has cemented her status as a true pop icon. 

- Nickelback unveiled the music video for their single “High Time,” off of their 2022 album Get Rollin’. With a funky groove and country rock twang, “High Time” takes listeners on a hazy cross-country road trip that reminds us it’s always 4:20 somewhere. Frontman Chad Kroeger sings about “strumming’, thumpin’ on the dashboard”, which listeners are sure to do as their friends sing along in the backseat of a long drive while they get rolling - literally.  The world-renowned rock band is currently bringing their “fiery, raucous, unapologetic and rock-driven” energy (The Tennessean) across North America with their 53-date Get Rollin’ tour, in support of their 10^th studio album by the same name. Their electrifying set explores their record-breaking, genre-defying discography of arena-ready singalongs, hard-hitting rock anthems and emotional ballads. With hits spanning nearly three decades, the band continues their incomparable legacy as “one of rock’s biggest-ever bands” (KERRANG). Nickelback’s Get Rollin’ tour holds the #7 spot on Pollstar’s LIVE75 chart which ranks worldwide active tours by average tickets sold for shows performed over the last 30 days. In April 2024, Nickelback will join Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, Post Malone, Hardy, Diplo, Wiz Khalifa, Bailey Zimmerman and more at the iconic Stagecoach Country Music Festival in California.  

-  Multi-platinum emerging artist Stephen Sanchez has released his debut album, Angel Face, out now via Mercury Records/Republic Records. The 13-track album is filled to the brim with 50s and 60s-inspired love songs, including RIAA 3x Platinum Certified hit, “Until I Found You.” Listen to Angel Face HERE. Along with the album, Stephen has released cinematic music videos for “Death Of The Troubadour” and “High,” directed by Charlie Rees - watch “Death Of The Troubadour” HERE and watch “High” HERE.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 17, 2023

 

 The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  So they are just not going to explain why Daryl is in France?  Didn’t he literally ride off into the sunset at the end of the main series?  But the new setting is breathing some new life into the show even if the religious stuff is a little heavy handed.  Really, that kid is going to be able to bring back souls to zombies?  C’mon.

 

The Chi:  In this week’s installment of should I know who that is: the dude Keisha met at the barber shop.  I feel like I have already asked this about this character this season.  But one episode until the break.  Will we finally see a team up to bring down Douda?  It seems like they have teasing it all season.

 

Billions:  I think we all know what Chuck will call on Axe to do when the time comes.  Of course with just four episodes left, that time will come soon.  But that double turn did not make much sense.  Doesn’t the US government look like fools for letting the Russian back on our soil?

 

Only Murders in the Building: I am mildly disappointed that, with the episode entitled CoBro, we did not get to see any actual footage of the movie this week, or more Girl Cop for that matter; but that disappointment quickly went away with Mel Brooks literally phoning in a cameo. It was also nice to get Theo back (cast this guy as Superman because I did not realize that was him until he started signing). Uma was also great as usual. I may have to steal her line about three types of people: alive, dead, and dead to me.

 

There was a popular theory that Loretta was actually Ben Glenroy's mother. We did learn this week that his and Dicky's parents were Ben Glenroy's birth parents, but I wonder if Peggy was on the right track and she is Dicky's mother but thought Ben Glenroy was her kid because his parents adopted her kid, which is actually Dickie, not Ben.

 

So where exactly is Mabel now? I always assumed she would find a way to stay at the Arconia by the end of the season because it would be weird for her to investigate a murder in a building she no longer lived in. I wonder if maybe Theo is letting her squat in the empty Dimas apartment for now. But it is really sad she did not let her favorite olds she had moved. At least two of the three amigos are back together; hopefully they bring Mabel back into the fold next week too. They are much better together than apart.

 

Ashoka:  I mentioned that Daryl Dixon got a little too religious, but at least he did not get swallowed by a whale.  I figured when the map was destroyed, they would use the space whales to get to the other side of the galaxy, but I was not expecting them to travel inside them.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Why are they still trying to make Survivor vs. Big Brother a thing?  There are two Big Brother players left.  It is over, Survivor won.  Team up and get rid of the remaining vets like it seemed like to be the plan in the beginning of the season.