Around the Tubes: May 24, 2025

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Atsuko Okatsuka: Father, Janet Jackson, The Fray, Common, James Bay, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wilby, Conan Gray, Lauren Spencer Smith, The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, and TNA Wrestling.

- Hulu has released the official trailer for "Atsuko Okatsuka: Father."  Premiering on Friday, June 13 on Hulu, this is the eighth Original special in Hulu's new stand-up comedy slate, Hularious.

- Vevo and Janet Jackson premiered a new episode of Footnotes celebrating her beloved hit “Someone to Call My Lover,” the second single from her seventh studio album, All For You. The episode arrives amid the song’s viral resurgence and ahead of Jackson being honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards.  The episode gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the track and the creative choices that shaped its timeless sound, which blends two iconic samples: the guitar riff from America’s 1972 classic “Ventura Highway” and a sped-up melody from Erik Satie’s “Gymnopédie No.1.” Initially,  Janet didn’t recognize “Ventura Highway” when producer Jimmy Jam played it in the studio. However, she recalled hearing “Gymnopédie No.1” in a commercial during her childhood. The episode also reveals that her son now loves the song and sometimes falls asleep to it. Janet first sang the vocal melody over the phone to Jimmy Jam. Reflecting on the lyrics, Jackson says the song is “really about the next person you want to be with and call yours.”  WATCH HERE

- Grammy-nominated rock band The Fray set the tone for the brand-new “Bel-Aire Backyard Poolside Concert Series” at Durango Casino & Resort with a powerful, emotionally charged performance on Friday, May 16. Against the backdrop of a glowing desert sky, the sold-out crowd were treated to a nostalgic yet electrifying set filled with the band’s signature alt-rock anthems, including crowd favorites “How to Save a Life” and “Over My Head (Cable Car).” With their heartfelt lyrics and platinum hits echoing through the palm-lined space, The Fray reminded the packed crowd why their debut album remains one of the best-selling digital releases of all time.  The intimate, open-air venue with a luxurious cabana-lined poolside is a one-of-a-kind venue where the high-energy thrill of a live concert meets the laid-back luxury of a poolside retreat.  Combined with ease of access from The Strip and convenient, complimentary parking, the poolside concert series provides incredible value to an unforgettable entertainment experience. 

- Academy® Award, Emmy® and 3x Grammy®-winning artist, actor, author and activist Common celebrates two decades of his classic album, Be, with the release of a special digital deluxe 20^Th Anniversary Edition out now on all streaming platforms via UMe. The collection notably boasts previously unavailable Remixes of “The Corner” featuring Mos Def & Scarface and “Go!” featuring Joy Denalane, plus 11 Instrumental Tracks all previously unavailable on DSPs.  Be - 20^Th Anniversary Edition will also be reissued on a translucent yellow marble blend 2LP. This limited-edition vinyl includes the original track list on LP 1 and the albums instrumentals on LP 2. A limited number of copies, each featuring an exclusive anniversary cover signed by Common, will be available through uDiscover, Urban Legends, and the Sound of Vinyl.  Listen and pre-order HERE.

-  three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Bay celebrates the tenth anniversary of his breakthrough 2014 full-length debut LP, Chaos And The Calm, with the release of Chaos And The Calm 10 Years—out now via Mercury Records.  Listen HERE.  Chaos And The Calm 10 Years notably boasts seven previously unreleased Original Session demos actually recorded at the onset of the album’s making back in 2014. These include initial unheard versions of the definitive singles “Let It Go (Original Session),” “Hold Back The River (Original Session),” and more. This cohort of never-before-heard material transports listeners back to the genesis of Bay’s first seminal body of work by showcasing the songs at their most nascent stages and capturing the magic of their creation in the process.

- UMe presents the first-ever official music video for “Free Bird” the iconic song from the legendary Florida rock band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inductees Lynyrd Skynyrd. Fittingly, the song lands just in time for Memorial Day weekend, where the song is a staple at many gatherings across the U.S.  “There’s nothing freer than a bird, you know, flying wherever he wants to go…that’s what this country is all about…being free.” – Ronnie Van Zandt.  Watch HERE 

- Wilby, the indie-rock project of songwriter and artist Maria Crawford, returns today with the poignant new single “Experiments”, out now via Hit The North Records. The folk-inspired track explores the guilt and vulnerability of bringing someone along on a messy healing process—not just as a witness, but as an active participant. Self-reflection cuts deep with Crawford’s beautiful vocal delivery, poetic honesty and soft, stirring guitar lines.  Watch the music video for “Experiments” HERE.

- multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Conan Gray surprises fans with the announcement of new album, Wishbone, arriving August 15 via Republic Records.  In addition to unveiling the forthcoming album title, track listing, and artwork, Conan reveals the first single “This Song” will arrive on Friday, May 30.   Pre-save / Pre-order Wishbone HERE.

- Breakout vocalist and songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith shares a further taste of new music with “bridesmaid,” from her highly anticipated sophomore album THE ART OF BEING A MESS, out June 27 on Island Records/Republic Records. Pre-order/pre-save HERE. Listen to/share the track HERE and watch/share lyric video HERE.  “bridesmaid” follows “IF KARMA DOESN’T GET YOU (I WILL),” which landed on Spotify’s US Viral Chart. Listen/share HERE and watch/share the official lyric video HERE.

- Hulu has released a teaser trailer and logo for "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball", a continuation of the BAFTA Children’s and Annie Award-winning series "The Amazing World of Gumball". Produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball" is set to launch later this year exclusively on Hulu.

- t’s a tariff negotiation unlike any other - On Sunday, May 25^th, stand by for “The Border Brawl,” a Canada vs. USA wrestling event being held at Niagara Falls. It’s a live, international wrestling super-spectacle streaming exclusively for free on Zone·ify, and produced with TNA Wrestling and Block Communications Inc. With politicians deadlocked and trade talks in a chokehold, the only solution is a no-disqualification, international slobberknocker inside the squared circle.  Forget diplomacy — this one’s going to be settled with piledrivers, fisticuffs, and a whole lot of trash talk. The live and streamed event starts at 5:00 pm ET. The entire show will stream exclusively and for free on Zone·ify, available on Roku, Fire TV, Google Android TV, Comcast Xfinity TV, Cox Contour TV, Rogers Xfinity TV, Videotron Helix TV, Buckeye and MaxxSouth TV, Smart TVs, mobile devices, and the web.  “The Border Brawl” will include some of the biggest names in professional wrestling, who will be there alongside TNA fan favorites. They include

Flag Match: Nic Nemeth (USA) vs. Santino Marella (Canada) 
Matt Hardy (USA) vs. Eric Young (Canada) 
Tessa Blanchard (USA) vs. Jody Threat (Canada) 
Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards (w/ Alisha Edwards) (USA) vs. Judas Icarus and Travis Williams (Canada)  
Hardcore Match: Tommy Dreamer (USA) vs. Champagne Singh (Canada)  
Victoria Crawford (USA) vs. Courtney Rush (Canada) 
Moose and JDC (USA) vs. Channing Decker and Jesse Bieber (Canada)  
Frankie Kazarian (USA) vs. Cody Deaner (Canada) 
Sami Callihan (USA) vs. William Trudeau (w/ The Personal Concierge) (Canada) 

View From the Peak - Everything Coming to Paramount+ in June 2025

 

There’s always a Mountain of Movies to explore on Paramount+ and June is no exception with Novocaine recently dropping on the service and Love Me, a post apocalyptic film starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun, premiering June 16. We also have a lot to celebrate next month with Pride Month, Juneteenth and Father’s Day inspiring curated collections featuring the best in movies and series. And don’t miss all the action on the pitch and court, including the UEFA Champions League Final alongside the hit Paramount+ exclusive altcast Beckham & Friends Live; WNBA games including Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky on June 7; and the final episodes of the Paramount+ docuseries PULISIC following USMNT star Christian Pulisic. Live award specials like the The 78th Annual Tony Awards** will also be available to stream next month. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in June, check out the latest edition of View From the Peak.

TECH TALK

At Paramount+, we’re constantly refining and evolving our product experience to deliver a best-in-class viewing experience that grows discovery and engagement.  For this special edition of Tech Talk, we chatted with Vibol Hou, Chief Technology and Product Officer, Paramount Streaming about some of the recent updates to the streaming experience so far this year. Paramount+ had a strong Q1 where Watch Time per User increased again by 17% and Churn improved 130 bps Year-over-Year. Tell us what product features are driving these results? Our Product, Engineering and AI teams have been hard at work driving retention with new features to enhance and personalize content discovery on Paramount+. So far this year, we’ve added several in-player browser enhancements, including playlist tabs and the new “next video” button to improve discovery and keep the user in the video experience. Our efforts to test differentiated poster art shows significant results -- up to +162% increase in click-through-rate. Movie and series end cards now offer better recommendations and context based on the user’s immediate watch history. For example, sports fans are seamlessly directed to the CBS Sports Golazo network after watching live UEFA Champions matches. That's great to hear since Paramount+ is home to so many live championship sports. Can you share any other ways we're elevating the sports viewing experience for fans?  While watching a game, subscribers can now browse a group of matches in the 'On Now' carousel related to what they are watching and also view suggestions for 'Next' and 'Later,' improving sports discovery and engagement. Last quarter, we also rolled out start cards that give users options to catch up on their favorite events with key moment highlights and live time shifting when they join mid-game.  Can you share a sneak-PEAK of a feature you’re excited about that’s in the works and rolling out on Paramount+ over the next few months? That’s a nice play on words! We are rolling out a brand new, short-form immersive video experience called Peek View across select platforms and devices to drive content discovery, engagement and shareability. The feature enhances the browsing experience by letting viewers surf a continuous grid of immersive, near full-screen preview clips to make it easier than ever for them to discover new movies and series, and re-engage with the content they love. Clip-based browsing mechanics solves the age-old problem of navigating in and out of detail pages to find something interesting to watch and taps into the familiar and intuitive interaction models of social media apps, allowing viewers to easily find and get a taste of Paramount’s hit content, expansive library and curated thematic collections. Early performance metrics show that viewers who use Peek View increase additions to their watch list by 15% compared to those who don’t, leading to greater long term engagement.  Over the next few months, we’re continuing to roll out exciting features to enhance sports viewing, including a multi-feed live sports experience. Viewers can choose multiple feeds to put in a single video player, which is perfect for watching multiple UEFA Champions League games and more. With our impressive marquee of live championship sports throughout the year, we’re excited to introduce more tools and features that deliver a more immersive and seamless viewing experience for our subscribers.

MOUNTAIN OF MOVIES

Paramount+ Movie Nights outdoor screening series return to New York this summer   Paramount+ is a premium destination for the best in movies, offering an unmatched library and rich legacy of films including recent blockbuster hits, classics, and critically acclaimed movies.  Don’t miss new movies on Paramount+ in June that offer up plenty of suspense, laughs and wonder. Just dropping on the service last month, the action-packed comedy Novocaine offers outrageous, non-stop fun starring Jack Quaid. The film follows Nathan Caine (Quaid) who was born with a rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling any pain. When the girl of his dreams (Amber Midthunder) is taken hostage in a bank heist, he turns his inability to feel physical pain into an unexpected strength in the fight to get her back. Don’t miss this hilarious new movie, available to stream now. Premiering June 16 on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan is the post-apocalyptic romance film Love Me*, starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun. Set in a future where humanity has been wiped out, the film follows a weather buoy and a satellite that form a unique bond while exploring remnants of human life through digital archives. As they mimic the lives of a couple they discover online, the buoy and satellite struggle with understanding human emotions and relationships. Directed by Sam and Andy Zuchero, the film joins our eclectic list of independent films from Bleecker Street available on Paramount+ including Sasquatch Sunset, One Life, I.S.S. and more. Don't miss the action-packed lineup of library movies joining Paramount+ in June. From the daring adventures of rugged archaeologist Indiana Jones with Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; to the suspense of crime classic The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone; and the ultimate tough-guy Sylvester Stallone in First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III - there's something for every fan of high-octane adventure. We’re also excited to kick off the third year of Paramount+ Movie Nights where moviegoers can once again experience the service's Mountain of Movies. We’re bringing free movie screenings to fans across New York this summer, returning as the official sponsor of Bryant Park Movie Nights, the longest running outdoor movie series in New York City, and BK Mag Movie Nights, at four parks across Brooklyn. The series will feature iconic films from the Paramount+ library like The Godfather, Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting; cult classics including Clueless, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink; and recent blockbuster films Gladiator II, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and more.

HIGH SCORE

Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi playing for PSG, UEFA Champions League  CBS Sports' coverage of the WNBA has kicked off and three games will air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+ this month, including the first ever WNBA game to air on broadcast television in primetime when Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever face the Chicago Sky on June 7. Other WNBA games streaming on Paramount+ in June include Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx on June 14 and Chicago Sky at Connecticut Sun on June 15. Meanwhile, the European soccer season will come to an end with the UEFA Champions League Final as PSG takes on Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich. Fans have the option to watch David Beckham and his celebrity friends for an altcast of the final with Beckham & Friends Live, streaming exclusively on Paramount+. Other soccer content coming to the service includes PULISIC, a behind-the-scenes look at American soccer's biggest star Christian Pulisic. Episodes six and seven premiere on Paramount+ on May 27, while the series finale (episodes eight and nine) premiere on June 26.

DID YOU KNOW?

This June, Paramount+ recognizes the LGBTQ+ community and its contributions with content spotlight: A Mountain of Pride. The annual collection features stories and stars across the vast spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities, ranging from critically acclaimed originals and hit series like Yellowjackets* (season 1 available now on the Paramount+ Essential plan), Fellow Travelers*, Star Trek: Discovery and new episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 10; to classic films joining the library in celebration of Pride month, including But I'm a Cheerleader, Call Me By Your Name, Carol, Center Stage, Chasing Amy, Heatwave, Jawbreaker, Kinky Boots, Pride*, Zola and more. This Juneteenth, we're spotlighting Black excellence on screen by featuring films including 12 Years a Slave, BlacKkKlansman, Dance Flick, How She Move, Imagine That, Save the Last Dance, The Fighting Temptations, Like A Boss and more. Paramount+ delivered a strong start to the year, adding 1.5 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2025, reaching a total of 79 million subscribers - up 11% year-over-year. We also reported the second-most viewed Top 10 SVOD Originals, with Paramount+'s global watch time per user increasing and subscriber churn decreasing.  Load up your watchlist and get Dad’s favorite snacks ready for the ultimate marathon this Father’s Day on Paramount+! Movies joining the library in June that are perfect for a hangout with Dad include Daddy Day Camp, Elf, Imagine That, Everybody's Fine, Marathon Man, Risky Business and The Nice Guys. Or you can queue up your favorite sitcom Dads like Everybody Loves Raymond, The Neighborhood, Frasier, The King of Queens, Everybody Hates Chris and more. You can also give the gift of streaming this Father’s Day with a Paramount+ gift card.

STREAMING SOON

Get ready for Broadway’s biggest night! The 78th Annual Tony Awards** will air live Sunday, June 8 on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S., available live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs. Tony, Emmy, GRAMMY Award winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo will host as the show makes its return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES & EVENTS 6/8 The 78th Annual Tony Awards** Cynthia Erivo will host the 2025 Tony Awards, which honors the incredible artistry of the 2024-2025 Broadway season. This year's ceremony will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  6/16 Love Me* In a story that spans billions of years, a buoy and a satellite meet online long after humanity's extinction. As they learn what life was like on Earth, they discover themselves and what it means to be alive and in love.  6/20 Noah's Arc: The Movie* premiere Fans and new audiences will reunite with the beloved chosen family following the events of 2020's Noah's Arc: The 'Rona Chronicles special. In this next installment, Noah and Wade are expecting twins and must shift gears when each is offered their dream job, forcing one of them to assume the traditional stay-at-home parental role...only which one?  LIBRARY SHOWS June 4  SpongeBob SquarePants (season 14)  June 11  The Really Loud House (season 2)  June 22 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (on-demand)  June 25 The Patrick Star Show (season 3)  Ice Airport Alaska (season 5)  The Last Cowboy (season 5)  LIBRARY MOVIES Hot days, cool movies. More exciting content coming to the Paramount+ library includes The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, The Ides Of March, Whiplash, The Dictator, Orange County, Bad News Bears and more. June 1 3:10 to Yuma* 12 Years a Slave  Bad News Bears  BlacKkKlansman Boogie Nights But I'm a Cheerleader Call Me By Your Name Carol Carriers Center Stage Changing Lanes Chasing Amy Cloverfield Crawlspace Daddy Day Camp Dance Flick Dog Day Afternoon Double Jeopardy  Eagle Eye  Elf Enemy at the Gates  EuroTrip Everybody's Fine  Extract First Blood  Heatwave How She Move How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days  Imagine That  In & Out Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Jawbreaker Kinky Boots Law of Desire Layer Cake  Light of My Life Like a Boss Marathon Man Masterminds Military Wives* Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult No Country for Old Men Orange County Overdrive Pretty In Pink Pulp Fiction  Racing with the Moon Rambo III Rambo: First Blood Part II  RED*  Reservoir Dogs  Risky Business  Road Trip  Run & Gun  Saturday Night Fever Save the Last Dance  School Ties  Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse  She's All That  Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow  Stand By Me  Teen Titans GO! To the Movies  The Autopsy of Jane Doe*  The Crossing Guard  The Dictator  The Fighting Temptations  The Gambler The General's Daughter The Girl Next Door  The Godfather  The Godfather Part II  The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone  The Hunt for Red October The Ides of March  The Kings of Summer The Last Samurai  The Lovely Bones  The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear The Naked Gun: From The Files of Police Squad!  The Nice Guys  The Other Woman*  The People vs. Larry Flynt  The Running Man The Shootist The Space Between Us*  The Untouchables  Tigerland  Tommy Boy Tootsie  Total Recall (1990)  True Grit  Whiplash  Without a Paddle  xXx Zola  June 5  Lions for Lambs*  SPORTS 6/1: Formula E – Hankook Shanghai E-Prix* 6/1: PGA Tour – the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (Final Round Coverage)* 6/6: NWSL – Racing Louisville FC vs. Utah Royals FC 6/7: NWSL – NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Kansas City Current* 6/7-6/8: PGA Tour – RBC Canadian Open (Third and Final Round Coverage)* 6/7: WNBA – Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky* 6/8: PBR – Knockout Kansas City* 6/8: NWSL – Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage 6/13: NWSL – Houston Dash vs. San Diego Wave FC 6/14: WNBA – Los Angeles Sparks @ Minnesota Lynx* 6/14: BIG3 Basketball* 6/15: WNBA – Chicago Sky @ Connecticut Sun* 6/15: LPGA – Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (Final Round Coverage)* 6/15: NWSL – Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit* 6/21: NWSL – Utah Royals FC vs. Seattle Reign FC 6/21: SailGP – Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix* 6/21-6/22: PGA Tour – Travelers Championship (Third and Final Round Coverage)* 6/22: Formula E – Jakarta E-Prix* 6/22: BIG3 Basketball* 6/27: PULISIC episodes 8-9 premiere 6/28-6/29: PGA Tour – Rocket Classic (Third and Final Round Coverage)* 6/29: BIG3 Basketball* * 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. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to CBS titles to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on-demand. Essential tier subscribers have access to these titles on-demand the day after they air.