Around the Tubes: January 27, 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 We Were the Lucky Ones, Solar Opposites, Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez, Bon Jovi, Amy Sheppard, Ariana Grande, The Libertines, 6 Minutes to Glory: The HBCU Band Experience, and Ahmed Al-kadri.

- Hulu debuted seven first look images from upcoming Original series "We Were the Lucky Ones." The limited series, based on a true story, will premiere on Hulu with three episodes on March 28, and new episodes launching weekly.  DATE ANNOUNCEMENT: HERE.  Based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, the television adaptation of “We Were the Lucky Ones” is a limited series inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive and reunite. “We Were the Lucky Ones” demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive. The series is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds. CAST:  The series stars Joey King, Logan Lerman, Hadas Yaron, Henry-Lloyd Hughes, Amit Rahav, Sam Woolf, Michael Aloni, Moran Rosenblatt, Eva Feiler, Lior Ashkenazi, and Robin Weigert.

 

- Citizens of Earth, prepare for a brand new “Solar Opposites” Valentine's Day special crash landing on Hulu on Monday, February 5th!  TRAILER: HERE 

- Check out the all-new trailer for Hulu's "Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez." All eight episodes premiere Friday, February 2nd on Hulu.  TRAILER: HERE  “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez” is a fun, exciting peek into the personal lives of WWE’s hottest couple. Bianca Belair and Montez Ford’s road to WrestleMania is a wild ride, as Montez continues his ascent and Bianca fights to hold on to her title. With the support of their tight knit group of friends, family and fellow superstars, the dynamic duo somehow always manages to pull off the impossible.  

- Hulu announced its acquisition of “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” the first-ever docu-series on the band’s history with full cooperation from all past and present members of Bon Jovi. The docu-series is a ROS production, the banner of filmmaker Gotham Chopra.   The four-part, all-access series chronicling four decades of the iconic rock band Bon Jovi premieres Friday, April 26, on Huluin the U.S., and coming soon to Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories. Following one of the world’s most iconic bands and its frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, the documentary gives us a view behind the music and the man.

- Multi-talented Australian singer-songwriter Amy Sheppard is set to make her biggest splash yet in the United States with the release of her latest single, ‘Overthinking’, which is now available here.  Now based in Nashville, Amy holds the distinction of being the most-played Australian female artist on country radio between 2022 and 2023. This impressive momentum is rapidly extending to the United States, where her latest single ‘Overthinking’ has made a significant impact. This week, it broke into the Music Row Top 100, climbing to sit at number 85 with a bullet, signaling a rapidly growing popularity in the American country music scene.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and international superstar, Ariana Grande debuts at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “yes, and?”.  The debut marks Ariana Grande’s eighth #1 and twenty-first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  Each lead single from her first seven studio albums debuted in the Top 10, the only artist to achieve this accomplishment. In addition, “yes, and?” debuts at  #1 on the Digital Song Sales Chart.  “yes, and?” is the lead single to her highly anticipated seventh full length album, eternal sunshine, to be released on March 8 via Republic Records and available now for pre-order HERE.

- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI commemorates the 40th anniversary of its self-titled debut with the digital release of BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION on all streaming platforms today via Island/UMe with a special 40th anniversary trailer.   Additionally, the GRAMMY Award-winning band has announced the release of an exclusive limited-edition ruby color vinyl LP on March 24 and limited-edition cassette on April 5.  Listen to the Deluxe Edition HERE.  Pre-order on the group’s official D2C store HERE.  BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION consists of the remastered original album in addition to a total of nine bonus tracks, including unreleased studio recordings and four rare live cuts. Jon Bon Jovi co-produced BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION alongside longtime sound engineer Obie O’Brien who also mixed the bonus material.

 

- The Libertines are cock-a-hoop to announce the release a new single Shiver, taken from the band’s forthcoming new album, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. Listen/Stream Shiver HERE!  Shiver is co-written by Peter Doherty and Carl Barât:

- AspireTV, the network that celebrates and reflects Black life, style and culture, will debut the second season of 6 Minutes to Glory: The HBCU Band Experience on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Two episodes will debut each week for three weeks with a “HBCU Alums: Where are they now?” special on Feb. 24.  The series is a tribute to the distinctive and fascinating culture of Black Marching Bands – The Halftime Show. Focused on one HBCU band per episode, viewers will get an insider look at the band through the eyes of the students and hear about band members’ dreams, their inspiration for attending an HBCU and joining the bands, and how each school’s band has their own traditions that make them truly unique. The season will highlight bands from six Historically Black Colleges & Universities including Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, Grambling State University, Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern University and Alabama A&M University.  AspireTV, the network that celebrates and reflects Black life, style and culture, will debut the second season of 6 Minutes to Glory: The HBCU Band Experience on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Two episodes will debut each week for three weeks with a “HBCU Alums: Where are they now?” special on Feb. 24.  The series is a tribute to the distinctive and fascinating culture of Black Marching Bands – The Halftime Show. Focused on one HBCU band per episode, viewers will get an insider look at the band through the eyes of the students and hear about band members’ dreams, their inspiration for attending an HBCU and joining the bands, and how each school’s band has their own traditions that make them truly unique. The season will highlight bands from six Historically Black Colleges & Universities including Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, Grambling State University, Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern University and Alabama A&M University.

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- Yemeni-American comedian, Ahmed Al-kadri is poised to release his first comedy special, Special Not Special on February 24th via YouTube. As a Yemeni-American navigating the cultural maze of an immigrant household in Dallas, Texas, Ahmed brings his striking goofy charm to tales that span the spectrum of life's absurdities from taking mushrooms at a Lizzo concert and playing Taboo with his brothers to the comedic nuances of dual cultural identities. The hour offers the telling of uproarious misadventures involving drug-dealing escapades, dating mishaps, and a slew of other silly situations as Ahmed turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. In his own words the special “really just answers the question “who is Ahmed Al-kadri.” But Special Not Special is more than just laughs; it's a rollercoaster ride through the complexities of growing up Yemeni-American, where every moment, whether it's special or not, is infused with Ahmed's unique brand of humor and cultural identity. Said Al-kadri:

View from the Peak - Everything coming to Paramount+ in February 2024

 

There is so much incredible content coming to Paramount+ this February. Football fans, get ready to fire up the hot wings and enjoy a refreshing beverage, when streaming Super Bowl LVIII in all its glory. We have brand-new seasons of hit original series Halo and The Family Stallone premiering next month, along with the debut of the animated original film The Tiger’s Apprentice. Fans can experience all the high-octane thrills and chills of the action blockbuster Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning when it hits the service tomorrow. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in February, check out the latest edition of View from the Peak.

SUPER BOWL

CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz, Tracy Wolfson and Tony Romo On Sunday, February 11, Paramount+ subscribers of every tier can stream all the action of CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl LVIII, kicking off live from Las Vegas at 6:30 pm ET.  Super Bowl LVIII will cap a record-breaking season for the NFL on CBS across Paramount+. We scored our most-streamed regular season which brought in double-digit, year-over-year growth in households, minutes and average-minute audience. And the AFC Divisional matchup between the Chiefs and Bills was the most-streamed live event ever on Paramount+. Thanks to football fans, the NFL on CBS became one of the top drivers for Paramount+ subscriptions in 2023. Super fans will be able to enjoy seven hours of pregame coverage on gameday, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET with Nickelodeon’s NFL Slimetime. Super Bowl Sunday is highlighted by The NFL Today, which features four hours of pregame coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET, in addition to halftime and postgame shows.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Tom Ryan, President and CEO of Paramount Streaming As we look ahead to a new year of unbeatable streaming entertainment, we wanted to give you a special view from the proverbial peak this month. We sat down with Tom Ryan, President and CEO of Paramount Streaming, to hear about what’s ahead for Paramount+.  Q: 2023 was a transformational year for Paramount+.  Any personal highlights?  We made tremendous strides on our path to profitability last year. Despite two strikes and a market slowdown, we grew the business in Q3 to hit 63 million subscribers and increased engagement by 46 percent. We also welcomed SHOWTIME to the Paramount+ lineup, coupling its edgy and ambitious slate with Paramount’s diverse mix of content to deliver an unbeatable streaming experience the whole family can enjoy.  Holding strong as one of the fastest growing services for the third year in a row, I’m incredibly proud of our team for continuing to defy the odds and the critics.   Q: Looking ahead to 2024, what’s on the horizon? This year, we’re investing in content, partnerships and markets with the greatest returns and doubling down to increase audience engagement and retention by prioritizing key tentpole moments that will drive revenue across advertising and subscriptions. That begins with our upcoming stream of Super Bowl LVIII and continues all year long with the addition of highly anticipated shows and films such as Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Knuckles and season two of Halo which are strategically programmed for the whole household.   Q: When it comes to the industry at large, what do you think sets Paramount+ apart? Increasingly, consumers are telling the marketplace that they want an option with something for everyone, and with Paramount+ we have created a destination for the entire family. Paramount Streaming is the only scaled player in SVOD and FAST and we have always understood the importance of reaching the total addressable market. We also have a unique advantage by holding the keys to Paramount’s iconic and immense library and lineup of brands. From SpongeBob to Star Trek, these are titles and brands that have defined culture and entertainment for decades.   Q: When it comes to the industry at large, what do you think sets Paramount+ apart? I think we are going to see live streaming play a more significant role in the SVOD space. We have been live streaming sports and events on Paramount+ for nearly a decade, and while it brings its own unique challenges, I think we are going to see this offering play an increasingly significant role in subscriber growth and retention, especially as cord cutting accelerates. I also expect that we’ll see an uptick in unique and differentiated bundles, such as the ones we have with Walmart+ and Delta, where our partners benefit from bringing the diverse and popular Paramount+ library to its audiences and the service in turn experiences deeper levels of engagement.

BEHIND THE STREAMS

Pablo Schreiber in Halo In its first season, Halo introduced audiences to the interstellar conflict between the human race and the zealous alien threat known as the Covenant, and season two promises to up the action and the drama. Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber), who leads the Spartans, his team of elite super soldiers, risks everything to prove what no one else will believe: the Covenant are preparing to attack humanity’s greatest stronghold. With the galaxy on the brink, John embarks on a journey to find the key to humankind’s salvation, or its extinction—the Halo. “We’re bringing higher stakes for everyone,” said executive producer Kiki Wolfkill. “The clock is ticking and that escalates the impact of every decision. There is a propulsion you feel throughout the season—new locations, new challenges to our Spartans and mysterious entities unveiled alongside some very beautiful human moments. The result is both scale and intimacy, loss and hope. We want the audience to not just see our Spartans' journey but feel it, too." The fight for humanity continues when Halo season 2 premieres on February 8.

WATCH THE TRAILER

DID YOU KNOW?

This year, Black Americans in the arts are at the center of Black History Month. On Paramount+, we’ve curated our Black Voices collection, a streaming collection that highlights the stories and boundless contributions of Black trailblazers in the arts, culture, history and beyond. This year’s collection includes inspiring films based on true stories, such as Selma, Red Tails and The Inspection; classic films like Dreamgirls, Beverly Hills Cop and Shaft; and new, critically acclaimed originals such as Lawmen: Bass Reeves, The Chi and America in Black. Just in time for the Lunar New Year, the Paramount+ Original movie The Tiger’s Apprentice is a mystical adventure for the whole family, telling the story of a Chinese-American teen who discovers he, along with the celestial animals of the zodiac, carries the fate of the world. The film is voiced by an incredible cast, including Henry Golding, Brandon Soo Hoo, Lucy Liu, with Sandra Oh and Michelle Yeoh.  The Family Stallone returns for a second season in February with 10 new episodes and some major life changes for our favorite Hollywood household. Fans will watch as the Stallones leave their Los Angeles home and move across the country, with Sly and Jennifer settling down in Palm Beach, Sophia and Sistine starting new adventures in New York City, and Scarlet exploring all that Miami has to offer. Before the season finale, the family reunites in Italy for an unforgettable vacation.    With Valentine's (and Galentine’s) Day on the horizon, we’ve got nothing but love and laughs in February’s Peak Romance collection. New swoon-worthy movies this February include all three Bridget Jones films, Friends with Benefits, Like Water For Chocolate, In & Out and Jersey Girl. These join current hits like How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days, Love in Taipei and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and classic romances like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Pretty in Pink, Dirty Dancing, Funny Face and more!

EXPLORE THE BLACK VOICES COLLECTION

STREAMING SOON

Justin Hartley in Tracker, Vanessa Lachey and LL Cool J in NCIS: Hawai'i and Utkarsh Ambudkar and Rose McIver in Ghosts The wait is over! Brand-new seasons of CBS’ hit series are set to stream next month on Paramount+. CBS Premiere Week kicks off after the Super Bowl on February 11 with new original drama Tracker starring Justin Hartley followed by a week of fan favorite shows returning with original episodes. Premium subscribers can tune in live for the premieres of beloved comedies, such as Ghosts, Bob Heart's Abishola and Young Sheldon and the full line of pulse pounding crime dramas, including NCIS, Blue Bloods, CSI: Vegas, FBI, The Equalizer and more. Premiere dates for returning CBS titles can be found below in Library Shows.

ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES & EVENTS 2/1: A Bloody Lucky Day premiere A down-on-his-luck taxi driver has an uncharacteristic streak of good fortune when he agrees to drive a mysterious man to a faraway city in exchange for an exorbitant fare. 2/2: Kokomo City* The lives of four Black trans sex workers confront the dichotomy between the Black community and themselves in this intimate documentary. 2/2: Past Lives* In this Academy Award® nominated film, Nora and Hae Sung—two deeply connected childhood friends—are parted after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Decades later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love and the choices that make a life. 2/2: The Tiger's Apprentice The life of Chinese-American teenager Tom Lee changes forever when he discovers he is part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians.  2/4: The 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards** It’s music’s biggest night! Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can livestream the GRAMMY Awards hosted by Trevor Noah and featuring powerful performances from Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, Luke Combs, Travis Scott and more. 2/6: #Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders premiere In this docuseries, TikTok true-crime sleuths sift through clues, explore leads and try to unravel the brutal murders of four students at the University of Idaho. 2/8: Halo Season 2 premiere With the galaxy on the brink of destruction, Master Chief John-117 leads his team of Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant. 2/21: The Family Stallone Season 2 premiere There's no place like Stallone. Season 2 of the reality series follows Sly, Jennifer and their daughters as they leave Los Angeles.  2/27: As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial This eye-opening documentary follows Bronx rap artist Kemba as he explores the growing weaponization of rap lyrics in America's criminal justice system and abroad. LIBRARY SHOWS February 7 Bar Rescue (Season 8) Behind The Music (Season 2) Danger Force (Season 2) Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League (Season 1) MTV Couples Retreat (Season 3) Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City Season 1-3 The Love Experiment (Season 1) February 9 Super Bowl Greatest Commercials (2024)** February 11 Tracker (Season 1)** February 12 Bob Hearts Abishola (Season 5)** NCIS (Season 21)** NCIS: Hawai'i (Season 3)** The Neighborhood (Season 6)** February 13 FBI (Season 6)** FBI: International (Season 3)** FBI: Most Wanted (Season 5)** February 14 The Smurfs (2021) (Season 2) VH1 Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition (Seasons 2-3) February 15 Ghosts (Season 3)** So Help Me Todd (Season 2)** Young Sheldon (Season 7)** February 16 100 Days to Indy (Season 1) Blue Bloods (Season 14)** Fire Country (Season 2)** S.W.A.T. (Season 7)** February 18 CSI: Vegas (Season 3)** The Equalizer (Season 4)** February 21 Black Ink Crew Los Angeles (Season 2) Black Ink Crew New York (Season 10) February 28 Air Disasters (Seasons 18-19) Survivor (Season 46)** February 29 Elsbeth (Season 1)** LIBRARY MOVIES February 1 12 Years a Slave 23 Walks A River Runs Through It* A Thousand Words* A Walk on the Moon Agent Revelation Alfie (1966) Alfie (2004) All Styles American Hangman An Unfinished Life Animal Kingdom Another Kind of Wedding Arrivederci, Baby! Barefoot in the Park Bangkok Dangerous* Beastly Beautiful Girls Benefit of the Doubt Birthday Girl Bounce Bound Boys and Girls Bridget Jones’s Baby Bridget Jones's Diary Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Brown Girl Begins Captive Carolina Case 39 Chicago Chocolate City Clue Cold Brook Cold in July* Colewell Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind* Daniel* Dead Water Dirty Dancing* Dirty Pretty Things* Don't Look Now* Downeast Drillbit Taylor* Echo in the Canyon Ella Enchanted Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt) Enduring Love Enough Said* Extraordinary Measures Fade to Black Fancy Pants Foxfire Freedom Writers Freedom's Path French Postcards Fresh Friedkin Uncut Friends with Benefits Fully Realized Humans Fun in Acapulco Funny Face Game 6 G.I. Blues Girls! Girls! Girls! God's Pocket* Hamlet (2004) Hands Up Harlem Nights Harold and Maude Hell or High Water Hellion* Home for the Holidays Hoop Dreams In & Out It Started In Naples International Falls Interview With the Vampire Italian for Beginners Jersey Girl Just a Kiss KEVIN GARNETT: Anything Is Possible* Kinky Boots (2006) Labor Day Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life Lee Daniels' The Butler Like Water for Chocolate Lincoln Love Jones Love Spreads Love Story Lucky Them* Magnolia Maid in Manhattan Malena Margot at the Wedding Mindhunters* Moonlight and Valentino Morning Glory Murder On The Orient Express* (1974) Muriel’s Wedding Night Falls On Manhattan* No Country for Old Men No Strings Attached Once Upon A Time In The West* Passion Play: Russell Westbrook* Perfect Sense Phil Premature* Project Ithaca Red Tails Rhapsody of Love Risky Business Roman Holiday Romeo and Juliet* Run with the Hunted Sabrina (1954) Sahara Savage Save the Last Dance Shaft (2000) Shuttlecock: Director's Cut Sidewalks of New York Sirens Slow Burn* Sound of Violence Sunset Boulevard Superpower* Superstar Swingers The Appearance The Cider House Rules The Fighting Temptations The First Nudie Musical The Get Together The Good Girl* The Great Gatsby (1974) The Harder They Come The Help The Honeymooners The Iron Giant The Ladies Man The Ledge The Long Kiss Goodnight The Long Shadow The Love Guru The Loved Ones The Original Kings of Comedy The Out-of-Towners (1970) The Out-of-Towners (1999) The Ramen Girl The Romantics The Secret Life of Bees The Sunlit Night The Weather Man The Wrong Todd Tigerland Tone-Deaf Trading Places True Grit (1969) Urban Cowboy Vampire in Brooklyn Virtuosity* Walkaway Joe We Own the Night We Were Soldiers What Breaks the Ice* What Women Want When a Stranger Calls When We Were Kings Wuthering Heights (2003) Why Stop Now William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet* Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! Wish You Were Here Your Sister's Sister Zodiac February 10 Pixie* February 11 The Last Voyage of the Demeter* February 23 End of Watch* SPORTS 2/2-2/3: AFC Asian Cup Quarterfinals 2/3: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Wichita State @ Memphis* 2/3-2/4: PGA TOUR – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Third and Final Round Coverage)* 2/4: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Purdue @ Wisconsin* 2/4: Serie A – Inter vs. Juventus 2/6-2/7: AFC Asian Cup Semifinals 2/8: NFL Honors* 2/9: Super Bowl Greatest Commercials 2024* 2/10: Serie A – Roma vs. Inter 2/10: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Illinois@ Michigan State* 2/10: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Gonzaga @ Kentucky* 2/10: The Super Bowl Soulful Celebration 25th Anniversary* 2/10: AFC Asian Cup Final 2/11: Serie A – AC Milan vs. Napoli 2/11: YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE! The Show That Changed Sports Television Forever* 2/11: Super Bowl LVIII 2/13: UEFA Champions League – Copenhagen vs. Manchester City 2/13: UEFA Champions League – RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid 2/14: UEFA Champions League – Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Sociedad 2/14: UEFA Champions League – Lazio vs. Bayern Munich 2/15: UEFA Europa League & UEFA Europa Conference League 2/16: Barclays Women’s Super League – Chelsea vs. Manchester City 2/17: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Texas @ Houston* 2/17-2/18: PGA TOUR – The Genesis Invitational (Third and Final Round Coverage)* 2/18: Professional Bull Riders – Los Angeles* 2/18: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Purdue @ Ohio State* 2/20: Concacaf W Gold Cup – U.S. Women’s National Team vs. TBD 2/20: UEFA Champions League – Inter vs. Atlético Madrid 2/20: UEFA Champions League – PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund 2/21: UEFA Champions League – Napoli vs. Barcelona 2/21: UEFA Champions League – Porto vs. Arsenal 2/15: UEFA Europa League & UEFA Europa Conference League 2/23: Concacaf W Gold Cup – U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Argentina 2/24: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Houston @ Baylor* 2/24: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Washington @ Arizona* 2/24: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Alabama @ Kentucky* 2/25: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Creighton @ St. John’s* 2/25: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Purdue @ Michigan* 2/25: NCAA Men’s Basketball – Ohio State @ Michigan State* 2/26: Concacaf W Gold Cup – U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Mexico Throughout February: Italian Serie A competition Throughout February: Concacaf W Gold Cup competition  Throughout February: AFC Men’s Asian Cup competition  Throughout February: Scottish Professional Football League competition Throughout February: UEFA Champions League competition Throughout February: Barclays Women’s Super League competition Throughout February: Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition  * Title is available to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers. **All Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can live stream CBS titles via the live feed on Paramount+. Those titles will be available on-demand to all subscribers the day after they air live. Dates for library titles are subject to change.