Around the Tubes: May 3, 2025

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Summer of 69, Nine Perfect Strangers, Lorde, Erin Gibney, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Lamont Landers, Rachel McIntyre, The Surrender, Call Her Alex.

- Hulu has debuted the official trailer and for the Original movie "Summer of 69."  Marking Jillian Bell’s feature directorial debut and starring Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Matt Cornett, Nicole Byer, Liza Koshy and more, “Summer of 69” premieres May 9 on Hulu.  An awkward high school senior hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance and adulthood.

- Hulu has debuted the official trailer for season two of "Nine Perfect Strangers."  The new season premieres on Hulu on May 21, 2025 with a two-episode launch. New episodes stream Wednesdays leading up to the season finale on July 2. Nine new strangers connected in ways they could never imagine are invited by mysterious guru Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman) to join a transformational wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps. Over the course of a week, she takes them to the brink. Will they make it? Will she? Masha is willing to try anything in the interest of healing everyone involved, including herself.

- Lorde has officially announced her highly anticipated new album, Virgin, set for release on June 27. The project marks the New Zealander’s first full-length body of work in four years and promises a bold evolution in her sound and storytelling. You can pre-order the album HERE.  The announcement follows the release of her new single “What Was That”, co-produced by Lorde, Jim-E Stack and Dan Nigro. The track has been praised for its raw energy and emotional immediacy, offering a glimpse into the sonic world of Virgin.  “What Was That” has already made a major impact, hitting #1 on Spotify in the US — Lorde’s first US #1 on the platform since “Royals”. It also landed at #3 in the UK and #5 globally, solidifying Lorde’s triumphant return to the top of the charts.  The video for “What Was That”, shot on location in New York — including a surprise performance in Washington Square Park — captures the intimate, spontaneous spirit of this new chapter. Watch it HERE & listen to the single HERE.

- Country-pop singer-songwriter Erin Gibney just released her new single, "wasted potential," via Rock Ridge Music.  Says Gibney about the song: "'wasted potential' is a song I wrote after leaving my long-term relationship. It talks about the pain and sadness of giving years to something you thought would last forever, only for it to end. The lyrics of this song are extremely close and personal to me and describe the feelings I worked through in my breakup. I felt a sense of panic when my relationship ended over the thought of giving the first half of my 20s to the wrong person. I wrote this song with Alex Angelo and am so excited to finally bring it into the world!"

- Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ little known 1974 concert album, Saturnight: Live From Tokyo, is now available globally in multiple formats for the first time ever, more than 50 years after it was originally released only in Japan, due to contractual restrictions. The record has been remastered from the original production master at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios and is available on CD, vinyl and digitally for streaming and download via Cat-O-Log Records/UMe.  The CD is packaged in a digisleeve with a 16-page booklet featuring lyrics and new retrospective recollections from those who were there, including bassist Bruce Lynch and the band’s 1974 tour manager Carl Miller, and additional notes. The vinyl is available on 140-gram black vinyl or as a limited edition pressing available only via CatStevens.com, uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl on 140-gram lava splatter vinyl, both packaged for the first time in a gatefold sleeve with the aforementioned liner notes. Saturnight was released in a super limited edition as an “RSD First” for last year’s Record Store Day Black Friday event exclusively on 180-gram orange splatter color vinyl.  Purchase/stream Saturnight: Live From Tokyo: https://ycs.lnk.to/saturnightPR

- Alabama-born singer, songwriter, and soul powerhouse Lamont Landers makes his long awaited major label debut with the release of “Lotta Love,” out now via Lucille/MCA/Republic.  The new single is accompanied by an official visualizer - watch HERE.  Produced by multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton) “Lotta Love” showcases Lamont Landers' unmistakable voice soaring effortlessly over smooth piano, a deep-grooving bass line, and bold, brassy horns. With raw emotion pouring through the hook—“I gotta whole lotta love… come and get you some”—the track blends bluesy guitar licks and a laid back soul vibe that hits instantly. It’s a strong introduction that positions Lamont as one of 2025’s most exciting breakout artists.

- Fresh off her Whiskey Jam debut, Nashville-based Americana/country singer-songwriter Rachel McIntyre Smith is set to release her new EP, Honeysuckle Friend Deluxe Edition, independently on June 27, 2025. Produced by Dran Michael (who also worked with Smith on her debut EP, Glory Daze), Smith’s lyrically driven songs on the EP are full of her trademark “comfort twang” music, which reminds listeners of the classics while also adding a relevant and fresh perspective. A reissue of her 2024 EP, the deluxe edition includes some new songs, as well as previously unreleased bonus content.  “I had such a good time creating the aesthetic and sonic world of Honeysuckle Friend that I didn’t want it to end,” Smith says. “I wrote two of the deluxe tracks after I had the concept for Honeysuckle Friend – ‘Hummingbird Woman’ and ‘My Place’ – they felt like they were meant for the project even though I already had my track list complete. It felt strange to add them to another project, so I decided to keep the party going with deluxe tracks.”  https://www.rachelmcintyresmith.com/

- A fraught mother-daughter relationship is put to a terrifying test when the family patriarch dies, and the grieving mother hires a mysterious stranger to bring her husband back from the dead. As the bizarre and brutal resurrection spirals out of control, both women must confront their differences as they fight for their lives – and for each other.  The Surrender, streaming on Shudder Friday, May 23rd.

- Hulu announced the new original documentary series, “Call Her Alex,” which will launch June 10 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. “Call Her Daddy” creator, host and executive producer Alex Cooper is at the top of her game, signing one of the biggest deals in podcast history. This revealing two-part series gives audiences a behind-the-scenes, intimate look at her journey and the defining moments that shaped her influential voice.  “I’ve shared my life with the Daddy Gang since I started "Call Her Daddy"—but this documentary series takes it even deeper,” said Alex Cooper. “It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the moments that shaped me—the raw, the messy, the personal stuff I’ve never felt comfortable sharing until now. My hope is that by bringing people along for this part of my journey, they’ll feel both more connected to my life and more empowered in their own."

Transmissions from Pluto: Coming to Pluto May 2025

 

Welcome to the May edition of Transmissions from Pluto, where we’re serving up anime marathons, babysitter mishaps, and movie nights so good you might forget to leave the couch. We’re kicking off Ani-May with a revamped collection that includes brand-new anime channels, fan-favorite marathons, and over 800 hours of fresh content to dive into. We’re also celebrating National Babysitter’s Day on May 10 with the Pluto debut of Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (though fair warning, this babysitter might not be the best role model). And if you’re in the mood for a movie marathon (or three), we’ve got you covered. Stream epic favorites like Gladiator, Boogie Nights, Hellboy, A Few Good Men, The Faculty, Zero Dark Thirty, Only the Brave, and more all for free, all month long. Scroll down for everything new and unmissable this May on Pluto TV. ANI-MAY Whether you're a die-hard anime fan or just curious what the hype is about, our team of expert curators at Pluto TV have made sure there is something for everyone this Ani-May. We just dropped our biggest anime refresh ever on Pluto TV with 800+ hours of programming, 120+ movies, 50+ new series, and brand-new channels that range from action-packed adventures to laugh-out-loud comedies and iconic throwbacks. Here’s what’s streaming (and coming soon!) this Ani-May. New Channels Rolling Out This Month: Anime x HIDIVE: A curated mix of fan-favorite hits like Food Wars and Farming Life in Another World Anime Comedy: Over-the-top, ridiculous fun with shows like Pop Team Epic and Ghost Stories Inuyasha: Featuring episodes of the iconic series, day and night Anime Movies: Marathons from franchises like Naruto, Bleach, and Lupin the 3rd Kids Anime: Action-packed picks for the younger crowd (Beyblade, Bakugan, and more) Special Events + Marathons: One Piece Birthday Bash on the One Piece Channel (May 5): Celebrate Luffy’s most legendary moments, all day long Anime All Day Marathons: Weekly marathons spotlighting JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hunter x Hunter, Speed Racer, Death Note, and more Anime x HIDIVE Marathons: Dive into full-day takeovers like Food Wars, Fate/Stay Night, K-On!, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, and Clannad Pluto TV Anime Movies: Epic movie nights every weekend, featuring titles from Bleach, Naruto, Urusei Yatsura, City Hunter, and more Plus, even more marathons on channels like Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Lupin the 3rd that you won’t want to miss! Whether you’re diving in for the first time or reliving your favorite story arcs, there’s never been a better time to tune into anime for free, all month long, on Pluto TV. NEW MOVIE SPOTLIGHT Enjoy a special note from the director of Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. I am immensely proud of this joyful and hilarious film about young suburban Black kids left to fend for themselves over the summer—which, when you dig a little deeper, reveals a real and honest story about being forced to grow up before your time. Our all-star cast truly brought this world to life. Simone Joy Jones, Donielle Hansley Jr., Ayaamii Sledge and Carter Young shine as the siblings at the center of the chaos. Nicole Richie is a comic wonder as the off-the-wall CEO of a fledgling fashion company, and June Squibb is an absolute revelation as the babysitter. The film is also stacked with rising stars like Tyriq Withers and Jermaine Fowler—plus a few fun cameos from the original (but you’ll have to watch to see who!). I couldn’t be more thrilled that Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead is now streaming—for free!—on Pluto TV. We set out to make something bold, heartfelt, and for everyone. I can’t wait for audiences to experience it. Wade Allain-Marcus— Director, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (2024) PREPPING FOR LAUNCH NEW CHANNELS ANIME x HIDIVE Your go-to spot for anime. Dive into fantasy, slice-of-life, romance and more. Whatever you’re into, you’ll find it here. ANIME x HIDIVE is where anime fans belong. INUYASHA Kagome Higurashi, an average ninth grader, gets pulled into an ancient well by a demon, bringing her 500 years in the past to a feudal era.  PLUTO TV ANIME COMEDY Laugh along with your favorite characters on Pluto TV Anime Comedy! From the most mystical worlds to the high school classroom, enjoy stories about the power of friendship and the most hilarious, zany, and irreverent comedies.  PLUTO TV ANIME MOVIES Tune in to Pluto TV Anime Movies for feature-length anime stories. Whether you’re looking for celebrated classics by anime auteurs, fan favorite franchise hits, or cult darlings, Pluto TV Anime Movies has got you covered.  KIDS ANIME Embark on thrilling adventures! From action-packed scenes to laughter-filled journeys, there's always something exciting waiting for you. Dive into epic battles, hilarious moments, and heartwarming friendships on Kids Anime! S.W.A.T. For this highly skilled unit, the biggest challenge is navigating loyalty between fellow officers and the streets of Los Angeles. S.W.A.T. is now streaming 24/7 on Pluto TV. TENNISCHANNEL 2 TennisChannel 2 is Tennis Channel’s second network, airing select live tournament coverage from both the women’s and men’s professional tours. The network also features original series and unique storylines & interviews from shows like Second Serve.   NEW MOVIES American Outlaws Bad Ass Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Bad Ass 3: Bad Asses On The Bayou The Big Hit Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Black Cop Boogie Nights Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Double Team The Faculty Faster A Few Good Men Gladiator Go (1999) Hamburger Hill Hellboy (2004) House Of Flying Daggers Hyena Road Identity (2003) Jamesy Boy Jawbreaker (1999) Jerry Maguire Junebug Kung Fu Hustle Little Man Man Of The House (2005)   Mission: Impossible Mission: Impossible II Mission: Impossible III Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Multiplicity Next Of Kin Only The Brave (2017) The Other Boleyn Girl Pain & Gain Panic Room Playing With Fire Predestination Proud Mary The Raid 2 Raid, The: Redemption Safety Not Guaranteed Saving Face (2005) Single White Female (1992) Southland Tales The Tailor Of Panama The Ides Of March Thunderheart Tigerland Zero Dark Thirty

57 Channels and Only This Is On: April 27, 2025

 

The Last of Us:  So that happened.  I certainly was not expecting Loretta McCreedy to go so hard.  But if I had to choose between her and Elllie, I may still choose Loretta.

 

The Last Anniversary:   Um, so why exactly did Sophie and her ex end up at a pool party?  I get they were in charge of something to do with a party, but still, I do not see how that leads to a pool party.

 

The Righteous Gemstones:  Well there goes my Laid theory; it turned out to be the ex-husband that is disappearing the new boyfriends.  That does not bode well for Eli.  Granted his children will make sure nothing happens to him.  There seems to be a good change the ex-husband will be alligator food by the end of the season.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale:  Of course June runs into Lawrence while trying to escape.  Granted he may be the most interesting character right now.  What exactly is he going to do with the knowledge that the other commanders are plotting his death and will make New Bethlehem back to Gilead after it suits them?

 

Andor:  Oh wow, they added some comedy to the show.  I wonder if we will so the incompetent rebels again.  And just what went wrong with that mission?  I guess we will find out later.

 

But I do want to take some time to complain about the release schedule.  I always found the 9:00 P.M. on the east coast annoying.  If you are shooting for primetime, why not 8:00 then.  But doing the 9:00 from for this show is more annoying.  Do they really expect those of us on the east coast to stay up until midnight to watch all three?  I know I cannot do that.  Since Wednesday is busy, I am stuck just watching one episode a day.  I wish there was someone at Disney who had a brain cell and realize how stupid this is.

 

Survivor:  Oh no, horrible move by Joe and Eva at the exact worse time.  Can they not do math?  Their alliance had a 6-3 advantage.  Voting out David will give Mary a very good reason to join the outcasts.  If she does, your 6-3 advantage turns into a 4-4 tie and thy do not have the social awareness to realize that Kyle has one foot out of the alliance and is clearly working with Kamila because they conspire to vote out that one dude during the tribe swap.  All they had to do it get Mitch this week and it would have been golden.

 

Happy Face:  Wait, so the person convicted of killing the women has an alibi, and Keith seemingly faked that he did it, so who actually killed her?  With one episode left, could they actually solve a decades old cold case?

 

The Stolen Girl:  Okay, it seemed like the sexting relationship was the impetus of the kidnapping, but the mother having no digital imprint before getting married is highly suspicious.  Who was she before that?

 

Grosse Point Garden Society:  As someone who subscribes to the whoever killed the dog was is the dead body theory, it is nice to see the dog storyline is back.  Though I do not think the mother-in-law is the dead body.  If she was, her husband would not have stayed silent about it.  Then they seemingly spoiled the dead body.  They are using their car to dispose of it and we saw some douchebag drop it off.  But also the other mom was the last person we saw drive it.  I do think both are red herrings.  Maybe they stole the wrong car.