2017 Fall Music Preview

Two things that really stood out to this nineties child when giving a once over to the list of albums coming out this fall. First off we are getting dueling Gallagher albums! Okay, this would have been much more exciting if this were 1997 not 2017. And the other thing was an album being released by some guy named William Patrick Corgan. If you have not figured it out yet, that is Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan. Apparently he thought Deborah Gibsn's name change was not silly enough so he also added the middle name. In other ninties news, Beck is coming out with a fun album after his super depressing Album of the Year one, Wu-Tang Clan is back with an album anyone can buy, while U2 is also back to making people buying albums again. Oh, and Hootie of the Blowfish fame is still putting out country music while Primus is back with their original lineup since 1995. And of course Weezer is back with their bi-yearly release of disapointing tracks. In other artists you probably did not realize were still releasing music news, oh, hey, Barenaked Ladies, Boyz II Men, and Seal.

 I spent so much time on the nineties because as usually I am mostly meh on current music. I have enjoyed what I have heard from the upcoming Jessie Ware album and Jillian Jaqcqueline and Carly Pearce are a breath of fresh air in country pop music along with Danielle Bradbery who put out a track I kind of like (though weird to release a song called Hello Summer on the first day of fall) but that is about it. I will give at least a Spotify stream to these albums. You can pre-order the albums by clicking the album title or go to their iTunes page by clicking on the artists name.


Last Week
Wonderful Wonderful - The Killers
Side A - Jillian Jacqueline

Friday
Sorry Is Gone - Jessica Lea Mayfield
The Desaturating Seven - Primus
Now - Shania Twain
The Attractions of Youth - Barns Courtney
Let's Play Two (Live) - Pearl Jam
Core (Super Deluxe Edition) - Stone Temple Pilots

October 6
As You Were - Liam Gallagher
Offering - Cults

October 13
Colors - Beck
Every Little Thing - Carly Pearce
The Saga Continues - Wu-Tang
There is No Love in Fluorescent Light - Stars
Carry Fire - Robert Plant
Ogilala - William Patrick Corgan
The Con X: Covers - Tegan and Sara
Holiday's Rule Vol. 2

October 20
Glasshouse - Jessie Ware
When Was the Last Time - Darius Rucker
Under the Streetlight - Boyz II Men
All American Made - Margo Price
Southern Gothic - Tyminski
Fever to Tell (Deluxe Remastered) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

October 27
Pacific Daydream - Weezer
World Wide Funk - Bootsy Collins

November 3
Unapologetically - Kelsea Ballerini
Wild and Reckless - Blitzen Trapper

November 10
Reputation - Taylor Swift
Synthesis - Evanescence
What If Nothing - Walk the Moon
Phases - Angel Olsen
Standards - Seal
Automatic for the People (25th Anniversary Edition) - R.E.M.

November 17
Fake Nudes - Barenaked Ladies
If All I Was Was Black - Mavis Staples

November 24
Who Built the Moon? - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

December 1
Songs of Experience - U2
I Don't Believe We Met - Danielle Bradbery

January 19
M A  N   I    A - Fall Out Boy

March 2
TBD - Andrew W.K.



TBA
Pitch Perfect 3 Soundtrack
Inside a Dream - Echosmith
Untitled Christmas Album - Sia
The All-American Rejects
Arctic Monkeys
Ariana Grande
Bob Seger
Cat Power
Father John Misty
Kid Rock
Paul McCartney
Pistol Annies
Sheryl Crow
Vampire Weekend

And of course this could be the quarter Dr. Dre releases Detox.

The Fifty Best Live Show Performances on The Voice

In a measure of full disclosure, I tend to check out of The Voice when it goes Live because most of my favorites from the Blind Auditions are gone by then. So I have not seen every single Live Show performance, it may not even be twenty - five percent. I just tend to watch the few singers I like via YouTube. And here are my fifty favorite.

1. Heartless - Dia Frampton

2. Dream On - Amanda Brown

3. Hotline Bling - Amy Vachal

4. Love Is Blindness - Madi Davis

5. Ordinary People - Mathai

6. I Call the Shots - Hannah Huston

7. Skinny Love - Lindsey Pavao

8. Blank Space - Amy Vachal

9. Songbird - Madi Davis

10. Over You - Cassadee Pope

11. Stars - Amanda Brown

12. We’re Going To Be Friends - Caroline Pennell

13. The A Team - Caroline Glaser

14. To Make You Feel My Love - Amy Vachal

15. Adorn - Cole Vosbury

16. Why Not Me - Emily Ann Roberts

17. Rich Girl - Cole Vosbury

18. Say You Love Me - Hannah Huston

19. Losing My Religion - Dia Frampton

20. Somebody That I Used to Know - Lindsey Pavao

21. Heads Carolina, Tails California - Danielle Bradbery

22. Dog Days Are Over - Caroline Pennell

23. She Talks To Angels - Austin Jenckes

24. Maggie May - Cole Vosbury

25. Foolish Games - Ashley De La Rosa

26. It’s Too Late - Lilli Passero

27. Maybe It Was Memphis - Danielle Bradbery

28. Stay - Amber Carrington

29. Holding Out For a Hero - Jessie Pitts

30. Ex’s & Oh’s - Ellie Lawrence

31. Ain’t No Sunshine - Mia Z

32. Every Breath You Take - Hannah Huston

33. Stupid Boy - Cassadee Pope

34. The Way You Look Tonight - Amy Vachal

35. Inventing Shadows - Dia Frampton

36. Budapest - Joshua Davis

37. Big Girls Don’t Cry - Madi Davis

38. I’ll Be There For You - Tess Boyer

39. Are You Happy Now? - Cassadee Pope

40. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Amanda Brown

41. Leaving On a Jet Plane - Caroline Pennell

42. One More Try - Cody Belew

43. Oh Sherrie - Sisaundra Lewis

44. Alone - Sasha Allen

45. Dirty Diana - Kimberly Nichole

46. My Church - Mary Sarah

47. Somebody To Love - Cody Belew

48. Wake Me Up - Caroline Pennell

49. Before He Cheats - Sasha Allen

50. Blame It On Your Heart - Emily Ann Roberts


Performances by Season

Season 1 – 3
Season 2 – 5
Season 3 – 8
Season 4 - 5
Season 5 - 8
Season 6 – 2
Season 7 - 1
Season 8 - 3
Season 9 - 10
Season 10 - 4
Season 11 – 0
Season 12 – 1

Performances by Coach

Blake - 17
Adam – 12
Pharrell - 7
Cee-Lo – 6
Christina – 4
Shakira - 3
Gwen – 1
Usher – 0
Alicia - 0
Miley – 0


And since I have gone through all the rounds, here is the ranking if you add up all four Best of rounds:

Performances by Season:

Season 1 – 7
Season 2 – 19
Season 3 – 22
Season 4 – 21
Season 5 – 23
Season 6 – 8
Season 7 – 3
Season 8 – 14
Season 9 – 23
Season 10 – 8
Season 11 – 0
Season 12 – 1

Performances of Coach:

Blake – 41
Adam – 34
Pharrell - 21
Christina – 19
Cee-Lo – 18
Shakira - 7
Usher – 6
Gwen – 4
Alicia – 0
Miley - 0

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/24/2017

Ray Donovan: These flashbacks are getting more confusing. So Abby took the place of someone but ended up dying but the girl they ran into this week who also took part is in perfect health. I guess it could be a youth thing. Modern day is just as confusing. So hot actress had sex with Ray, was married, yet she knows a third guy is the father? Very suspicious. Then I have absolutely no clue what I going on with Micky and Avi.

The Strain: Forking Zack, had to mess up the plan one last time. And all the worthy people who could had killed The Master, Setrakian and Quinlin who both dedicated their lives to the case, both ended up dying before it happened just to have a child do it. Yeah, yeah, I understand the redemption arc, but the kid still remains annoying to me. Really just ruined the series as a whole.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: These returning players episodes are becoming cumbersome, especially this being the token eating gross stuff episode. Hopefully this is it for returning players. But they have that secons house so I have a feeling we will be having this until the end of the season.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

The Good Place: I really hated when Lost would do the whole tell the same story from multiple points of view trop, but I really enjoy it during the new season here. And Michael really forked up, already on try three by the end of the premiere. Or are we just going to get him retrying something different every episode? All I know is I need more Real Elinor in my life.
You can download The Good Place on iTunes.

Gotham: So three people supposedly died in the season finale and not one got resurrected in the premiere. The Riddler is still in his block of ice ready to be thawed. Barbara gets mentioned but not seen. While Butch does not get even a mention. But we did get a silly, not quite a cape and cowl Batman costume. And an even sillier plot where criminals carry essentially Get Out of Jail Free cards like some everyday Purge situation. I know this is a comic book, but c’mon, how do the shop owners who get robbed not sue the Penguin?
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 9/22/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Super Hurricanes: Inside Monster Storms, The First, War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend, Hip Hop Squares, Will & Grace, and Hulu.

- n the heels of two of the most devastating hurricanes in recent memory, Science Channel takes an in-depth look at the reasons why these massive storms continue to get bigger and stronger. Featuring interviews with leading meteorologists, scientists, and engineers, who examine the basic science of hurricanes, Super Hurricanes: Inside Monster Storms premieres Friday, September 22 at 9:00.

- Academy Award®-winning actor Sean Penn has joined Beau Willimon’s upcoming Hulu original drama series The First. Though details about the role remain under wraps, this marks the acclaimed actor’s first foray into television. Set in the near future, “The First” will follow the first human mission to Mars exploring the challenges of taking the first steps toward interplanetary colonization. The story focuses not only on the astronauts, but also on their families and loved ones, as well as the ground team on Earth. Hulu and Channel 4 have given a straight-to-series order for the show, created by Willimon (House of Cards, Ides of March), who also serves as executive producer alongside his producing partner Jordan Tappis under their Westward Productions banner. IMG will handle sales in all territories.

- The poignant documentary War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend will premiere on HBO on Monday, November 13th at 10:00 with a special sneak preview on HBO GO, HBO NOW, and HBO ON DEMAND on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11. Synopsis: From executive producer Channing Tatum and director Deborah Scranton (The War Tapes) comes a deeply personal documentary that highlights the intimate relationship between veterans and their K9 companions, both during combat and as they readjust to civilian life. Focusing on three courageous dogs (Layka, Mika and Pepper) and the soldiers who served by their side in the most elite forces in the military, War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend recognizes the invaluable impact these war dogs have during their deployments, finding and disarming enemies while providing emotional support to troops in the bleakest of hours. Featuring exclusive military footage, photos, and revealing interviews with the handlers – who open up about the physical and emotional struggles they’ve faced – the film is ultimately a tribute to man’s best friend, underscoring the incredibly important role that these canine soldiers play in the lives of their human counterparts, and the unwavering loyalty and bravery that make these four-legged comrades in arms heroes in their own right.

- VH1's Hip Hop Squares returns from hiatus with THREE new back-to-back episodes on Monday, September 25th at 9PM, 9:30PM & 10PM.

- TV fans rejoice! For the first-time ever, all 194 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning, pop-culture phenomenon Will & Grace will be available to stream and on-demand. The iconic series will be available on the NBC app, Hulu and on-demand through satellite, cable and telco pay TV providers, beginning Thursday, September 21, one week ahead of the return of Will & Grace on NBC.

- At the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards ceremony held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA, Hulu became the first streaming service in history to win a Primetime Emmy Award in the Best Series category for its critically acclaimed, breakout drama series The Handmaid’s Tale. The premium streaming service garnered its first-ever Emmy Awards for The Handmaid’s Tale and documentary The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years, bringing its total to ten Emmy Award wins for the night.

The Most (and Least) Anticipated Questions of Fall 2017

Tonight is the start of fall television for me with the return of the funniest show on television, The Good Place. (Okay You’re the Worst actually started a couple weeks ago but I not started yet.) Gotham is back tomorrow, and then the floodgates open with a steady stream of new shows premiering almost every week until Thanksgiving. Then we have about a month off until Winter television starts where we can catch up on Fall TV. It has become a never-ending cycle. But anyways. As always, here are the five most anticipated questions I would like answered this fall.


1. How long can Michael keep up the new ruse on The Good Place? Comedies are not known for their plot twists, but The Good Place had one of the most intriguing twists in the history of television. We spent most of the season thinking Michael was an incompetent architect of his neighborhood in The Good Place. But as it turns out he is a very Machiavellian architect for The Bad Place. It took Eleanor a whole season to figure this out last time, but this time Eleanor put a note to herself in Janet’s mouth so hopefully we are not just repeating ourselves for season two.

2. Can Mr. Robot rebound? The first season was one of the best seasons in the history of television. Unfortunately just like Lost and Homeland before it, Mr. Robot could not sustain itself for season two. Eliot spent most of the first half in a prison in a really bad reveal. There was the weird Alf episode. Angela was the best part of the season even though I did not even bother to learn her name in the first. Lost never really recovered, Homeland continues to have ups and downs, here is hoping Mr. Robot can get back on track.

3. Is The Last We See of Mon-El? Okay, stupid question, the bigger question is when will we see Mon-El again. He was banished Earth after it became too unbreathable for him. But on his way from Earth he got sucked into a wormhole. So where (or when) did he go? I am guessing where(when)ever he went, he found a breathing devise.

4. Will Once Upon a Time’s Hard Reboot Help? Once Upon a Time used to do gangbusters in the ratings but barely got renewed and only did because they exiled most of the cast beside Regina, Gold, and Hook; Henry was recast with an older actor introduced in the last scene. Henry is not the only one getting recast; there is a new, Hispanic Cinderella. Alrighty. It should be at the very least entertaining on how they explain this.

5. Wait, Angie Tribeca is not Angie Tribeca? Wait, what?


As the great philosopher Butt-Head once pondered, how would we know if something was cool if there weren't things that sucked; here are the five least antedated questions:

1. Wait, Just How Many Marvel Shows Are There? DC may have added a fifth CW show and that does not even count Fox’s Gotham and Lucifer and the upcoming Kypton on Syfy and Titans (featuring Lyla Garrity!) on the still untitled DC streaming service, but Marvel just caught up and passed DC in comicbook shows this season. SHIELD has been going strong and the Netflix team up Defenders just premiered joining their four previous superheroes. And Marvel is about to double its amount of shows just in the next year. Six in total. Inhumans is going to share SHIELD’s timeslot, The Punisher will join the Netflix lineup, and then Marvel is entering the teen market with Runaways streaming on Hulu this fall while Freeform is getting a pair of shows in the spring, Cloak and Dagger and New Warriors (starring the AT&T girl as Squirrel Girl!!). All of these are part of the Marvel cinematic yet do not expect any cross pollination other than the Netflix team ups because as we have seen on SHIELD, you do not get much other than a passing mention. Not part of the MCU, The Gifted will be joining Legion in the might me, might not be tied into the X-Man world. So for those keeping track at home, the current score is Marvel-13; DC-11 (if you include DC imprints iZombie and Preacher).

2. Is TGIT About to Die? Shonda Rimes has ruled ABC’s Thursday for a while but there were chinks in the armor this year, all the shows are down (granted that is every show everywhere) The Catch was lucky to get a second season but will not get a third. Still Star Crossed did not even air on Thursday and was quickly demoted to Saturday. Then word came this summer Shonda Rhymes signed a deal with Netflix meaning no more ShondaLand shows for ABC aside from the already announced For the People coming midseason. Which makes me wonder will ABC go full spite and kill its TGIT lineup? It remains intact for the fall but will ABC go full spite for the Spring? American Idol has to go somewhere. Their Tuesday comedy block seemed like the B-team but then they would go against The Voice. Maybe they just exile ShondaLand to various 10:00 slots.

3. How Is a Financial Analyst a Hero? Some of Survivor’s best later seasons have been when they have divided the cast in specific groups. They have done race, age, gender, job type, even by the characteristics they say are needed to succeed on the show (Brain, Brawn, Beauty), but the latest is a big stretch: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers. Hustlers were stupid as explained last fall so I was not expecting much from them. I though the former two were obvious, military and civil servants then doctors and nurses. Then the cast was announced. Probation Officer as a Healer is a bit of a stretch, but whatever. Not what I originally thought as Heroes but I can see why they put an Olympian and a football player in that tribe. But how the fork do you explain Financial Analyst on the Hero tribe? When she debuts her first confessional better involve her mentioning she once rescued a baby from a burning building or she will supplant Tai as the most absurd tribe placement when he was put on the Beauty tribe.

4. What’s In a Name? When ABC announced its new shows last spring I was generally “meh” on The Gospel of Kevin. Then I saw an ad for Kevin (Probably) Saves the World… now there is a show I will check out.

5. Barbara Is Not Really Dead, Right? Gotham had a bunch of deaths but in comic book fashion, I have a feeling none of them will last. Okay, Butch will still be “dead” or undead specifically because Solomon Grundy. Obviously being frozen in a block of ice would kill anyone except maybe Encino Man, but clearly The Riddler will be thawed. The biggest question mark is Barbara who was electrocuted. Much like Butch, she really is not dead; this is just an origin story, right? They have been teasing Harley Quinn for a while now.


And here is the full break down of what I will be watching this fall (new show italicized).

Mondays
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (September 25, CBS)
8:00 – Lucifer (October 2, FOX)
8:00 – Supergirl (October 9, The CW)
9:00 – The Gifted (October 2, FOX)

Tuesdays
Future Man (November 14, Hulu)
Marvel’s Runaway (November 21, Hulu)
8:00 – The Middle (October 3, ABC)
9:00 – Black-ish (October 3, ABC)
9:30 – The Mayor (October 3, ABC)
10:00 – Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (October 3, ABC)

Wednesdays
8:00 – Survivor (September 27, CBS)
8:00 – The Goldbergs (September 27, ABC)
8:00 – The Blacklist (September, 27)
9:00 – Modern Family (September 27, ABC)
10:00 – You’re the Worst (Already Premiered, FXX)
10:00 – Mr. Robot (October 11, USA)
10:00 – Vikings (November 29, History)

Thursdays
8:00 – Gotham (September 21, FOX)
8:00 – Superstore (September 28, NBC)
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (November 2, CBS)
8:30 – The Good Place (September 28, NBC; preview 9/20 at 10:00)
9:30 – Great News (September 28, NBC)

Fridays
8:00 – Once Upon a Time (October 6, ABC)
8:00 – Blindspot (October 27)
9:00 - Inhumans (September 29, ABC; premieres at 8:00 its first week)

Sundays
9:00 – Good Behavior (October 15, TNT)
9:00 – The Walking Dead (October 22, AMC)
9:00 – Shameless (November 5, Showtime)
10:00 – White Famous (October 15, Showtime; moves to 10:30 11/5)
10:00 – SMILF (November 5, Showtime)
10:00 – Search Party (November 19, TBS)

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/16/2017

Ray Donovan: When will people learn, you should never trust Micky. And if he tells you not to ask where the money came from, you definitely want to ask where the money came from. I guess Avi was the exception because the alternative to trusting Micky was pretty bleak. But poor Bunchy, off to prison because of his father, I cannot count the number of times a Donovan boy has gone to prison because of him t this point.

The Last Ship: Wait, what is going on with Chandler’s kids? I thought he left the Navy because their grandfather died and no one was left to take care of them. Are they still n the Italian village?
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

The Strain: I am glad they did not try to redeem the little brat after he caused the apocalypse (granted there is still one episode left).
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

Preacher: The first season finale was one of the worst ever. The second finale was not as bad but still left me rolling my eyes. Never a good sign when Hitler is one of your more redeemable characters.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: Whenever you see Camilla in the cast, you know you are in for one great meltdown that season. Sure it has been diminishing returns since she first walked into the pool. But the annual appearance of Camillinator was had to watch this season. It may be time to put her out to pasture. But a bit of hypocritical for Jordan to comment considering he had a more offensive moment this season.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 9/15/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Search Party,
Strange Evidence, Make it Out Alive, PodcastOne. TBS renewals, Kidding, I’m Dying Up Here, and Aly & AJ.

-
Dory (Alia Shawkat), Portia (Meredith Hagner), Elliott (John Early) and Drew (John Reynolds) must deal with the disastrous consequences of successfully tracking down missing classmate Chantal (Clare McNulty) in season two of TBS’ dark comedy Search Party, returning Sunday, November 19. As the friends’ paranoia grows, their relationships fray, and it becomes increasingly difficult to trust that no one will discover the group’s secret. These privileged, self-absorbed 20-somethings are in danger.


- Worldwide, 300 million surveillance cameras are watching us, on our streets, at work, and in our homes. At times, they capture images that don’t seem to follow the normal laws of physics. A new Science Channel series investigates mysteries caught on tape and uncovers the science behind some of the most bizarre occurrences ever recorded. With a team of experts analyzing footage that seems to defy explanation, including levitating cars on a freeway, a statue that appears to move on its own, and a spontaneous burst of flames, Strange Evidence premieres Tuesday, October 17 at 10:00.

- Experience the pulse-pounding moments behind some of the world’s greatest disasters, reliving the incredible stories of those that faced split-second decisions that made the difference between life and death. Make it Out Alive brings viewers back to these catastrophes and tells the stories of these events by recounting both the horrific and heroic tales of human sacrifice, bravery and survival. This new series features ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances – in the center of disasters both man-made and natural – and offers compelling insights into the moments before and after disaster strikes. A special sneak peek of Make it Out Alive will be available on Saturday, October 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT ahead of the series premiere on Sunday, October 15 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- On this week’s episode of Attack Each Day: The Harbaughs’ Podcast, ESPN Analyst, University of Michigan alumn and family friend Adam Schefter joins Coach Jim Harbaugh to discuss Schefter’s recent and inspiring experience in the Michigan locker room, their history of crossed paths, Harbaugh’s playing days, and Adam’s readiness to serve as a “fill in captain” for the team. Jack Harbaugh also appears and shares a story of when MLB player Gates Brown came to the house when Jim and John were kids, and how the brothers sold autographs to their friends. Jim disagrees and they leave it to the audience to decide the truth. The episode is available now, exclusively on PodcastOne.com, the PodcastOne app and Apple Podcasts.

- Turner’s TBS has renewed three of the network’s most recent hit original series: The Guest Book, People of Earth and Wrecked. All three shows rank among the top 10 cable comedies with adults 18-49 in Live +7, and The Guest Book is cable's #1 new comedy series of the year. The network's summer series join TBS' previous 2017 renewals, including the dysfunctional family comedy The Detour and police procedural spoof Angie Tribeca.

- This Week, Showtime announced the pick-up of new half-hour comedy series Kidding, starring Golden Globe® winner Jim Carrey (The Truman Show) in his first series regular role in more than two decades and reuniting him with Oscar winner Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), who will direct the project With a 10-episode first-season order for Kidding, Carrey – one of the most beguiling, popular screen stars of his time – will executive produce with Gondry, Emmy® nominee Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Jim Garavente (Bad Words), Raffi Adlan (The Green Hornet) and Michael Aguilar (I’m Dying Up Here). Kidding was created by Dave Holstein (WEEDS, Raising Hope), who wrote the pilot and will serve as showrunner. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc.

- Showtimes is picking up its drama series about the art of comedy, I’m Dying Up Here, for a second season, it was announced today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

- Musical duo, Aly & AJ, who have sold over 2 million records worldwide, recently returned after a 10 year musical hiatus, with new track, "Take Me". The song was received with critical acclaim from major outlets like Billboard, InStyle, Allure, Refinery29, BuzzFeed, Playboy and more, generating over a million streams in its first week, with MTV enthusing, "Dreamy, anthemic...It's perfect pop."


- The Ruderman Family Foundation has announced the preliminary results for its Ruderman TV Challenge to audition and cast more actors with disabilities, with CBS and 20th Century Fox leading the way seven months in. The Challenge was designed to reach television executives, showrunners, producers, content creators and casting directors with a very simple request: audition and cast more actors with disabilities this pilot and TV season, as people with disabilities remains the most marginalized group in Hollywood.

57 Channels an Only This Is On: 9/10/2017

The Strain: The good news, everyone is finally back together. The bad news, apparently that includes Zach. Clearly his dad will take him back but if that brat turns his back on human kind again, I am throwing something at my television. But it looks I was right that Setrakian did not come away scott free from the Nazi. At least he got a hero’s death but still sad he did not live long enough to get rid of The Master.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: Wait, weren’t Camilla and Tony a team on Rivals? And didn’t they get kicked off for fighting each other? And this is why I stopped getting drunk a long time ago. But it was kind of disappointing that they pretty much skipped a bunch of the guy’s trivia.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 9/8/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars, The Mindy Project, Space's Deepest Secrets: Cassini, Active Shooter: America Under Fire, Swim Team, Gary Owens: I Got My Associates, People, and Ball Street.

- Ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, Showtime has released the full-length trailer and key art for the new Showtime Documentary Film, Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars. Following the festival, the film will make its world television debut exclusively on Showtime on Saturday, February 10 at 9:00. Also making its debut at TIFF this weekend is the new Showtime Documentary Film LOVE MEANS ZERO, which presents an in-depth look at famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri and will premiere on Showtime in 2018.


- Check out the new trailer for the final season of The Mindy Project! The sixth and final season of The Mindy Project premieres Tuesday, Sept. 12 only on Hulu. New episodes will stream weekly on Tuesdays.


- Science Channel will follow the final moments of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft before it crashes into the atmosphere of Saturn. On Friday, September 15th the Cassini mission will end its remarkable 13-year tour of Saturn by plunging into the gas giant and burning up. Cassini has spent months diving close to Saturn’s rings, offering the world remarkable never-before-seen images of the planet. Now we’ll see what it looks like from inside its famous rings. Science Channel captures the months of lead-up to the mission’s ‘Grand Finale,’ as well images taken right before the crash, in Space's Deepest Secrets: Cassini, premiering Tuesday, September 19 at 9:00. The network will also go live on September 15 at 7:50 a.m., broadcasting Cassini’s final moments.

- Showtime announced a powerful new eight-part documentary series, Active Shooter: America Under Fire, that delivers an in-depth exploration of mass shootings and their devastating consequences. From the first-hand perspective of survivors, families of the victims, witnesses and heroic first responders, the series goes beyond the sensationalistic coverage of these nightmarish moments to offer a comprehensive report on these tragic events. Active Shooter: America Under Fire will premiere Friday, September 29 at 9:00 on Showtime, on-air, on demand and over the internet.


- Lara Stolman’s inspiring debut documentary, Swim Team, follows three diverse young men—Michael McQuay Jr., Robert Justino and Kelvin Truong—from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, who fall on the autism spectrum. New Jersey reports the highest rate of autism in the country, with one in 26 boys on the spectrum. On the McQuays’ team, the Jersey Hammerheads, these young men find inclusion, independence and space to achieve their loftiest goals. Swim Team has its national broadcast premiere on the PBS documentary series POV (Point of View) on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 10:00 (check local listings). POV is American television's longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 30th season. Swim Team is a co-presentation with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).

- The outrageously funny Gary Owen is back with his third SHOWTIME comedy special, Gary Owens: I Got My Associates, premiering Friday, September 8 at 9:00. In this hour-long special, Owen’s stories are as unbelievable as they are true, running the gamut from celebrity weddings and bumping into LeBron James in the bathroom to the dichotomy of his hillbilly family and being married to the daughter of a founding member of the Black Panthers. Filmed at the Stardome in Hoover, Alabama, Owen also includes his thoughts on being the father of teenagers and serving in the military, as well as what he thinks of gamblers, prisons and even hand washing. No one sees the world quite like he does in this hilarious new special.

- The legendary Madonna graces this week’s cover of People, with an exclusive look at her charity work for the African nation of Malawi, which recently culminated with the opening of the country’s first ever pediatric hospital. Madonna, a mother to six children – four of whom she adopted from Malawi – gives People and PEN unprecedented access to her incredible journey in helping a country she holds so dear.

- Showtime announced the pilot order for the new half-hour comedy series Ball Street, starring Emmy® nominated and Golden Globe winning actor Don Cheadle (HOUSE OF LIES) and two-time Tony® Award nominee and Grammy winner Andrew Rannells (Girls, The Intern). Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will direct and executive produce the pilot. Ball Street was created by David Caspe (Happy Endings) and Jordan Cahan (My Best Friend’s Girl), who will serve as executive producers and showrunners. Production on the pilot is scheduled to begin in February. The project is a co-production between Showtime and Sony Pictures Television Studios. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. takes us back to October 19, 1987 – aka Black Monday – the worst stock market crash in the history of Wall Street. To this day, no one knows who caused it. Until now… Ball Street is the story of how a group of outsiders took on the blue-blood, old-boys club of Wall Street and ended up crashing the world’s largest financial system, a Lamborghini limousine, Don Henley’s birthday party, and the glass ceiling.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/3/2017

Ray Donovan: I guess I was wrong that the lack of Daryl in the present timeline meant he had something to do with Abby’s death but he actually showed up this episode. But I am a bit fuzzy on the Abby is dying timeline. They seem to be jumping around so did this week happen before Abby collapsed and went to the hospital or after? Then I was also wrong that the guy Bridget met in the premiere was the recipient of Abby’s heart instead Ray tried to kill him. Um, when has Ray ever failed to kill someone (aside from his father I guess)? And why even try to kill someone who was already dying, does he not have enough money, or can blackmail someone with enough money?

The Last Ship: It was only a matter of time that Civilian Chandler would run into the Nathan James, I probably had under three episode, but that was an interesting reintroduction of him to his former crew. Of course he will likely become acting captain as the new captain seems to be MIA.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

The Strain: And more people finally finding each other. Maybe Gus can actually contribute to the story after being mostly meaningless so far. But I am still a little puzzled what actackly went down with the Nazi vampire. Okay, I get Setrakian poisoned his blood, but still, how did he come immune from turning despite being bit? Seems convenient.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

Preacher: Wait, the guy escaped the ambulance? I guess we will get how next week.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: More Redemption House? I guess at least the losers from the last try to get back into the game are not still there (that we know of). But I wonder just how long the Challenge took. I have watched every season but I am sure it would take he hours to get it right and I think some of these kids were not even born when season one debuted.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 7/1/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Scared Famous, Cloves, Neurotica, Wild Castles, Second Nature, Chatty Catties, and PodcastOne.

- VH1 this week announced the new spine-chilling competition series Scared Famous will premiere on Monday, October 23rd at 9PM ET/PT. Legendary rapper Redman is named the Master of Scare-a-Monies for 10 of the biggest reality stars as they try to endure gruesome challenges and terrifying scares that pay homage to recent horror hits. Over 2 weeks, these celebrities will move into an eerie estate in Savannah, Georgia, one of America’s most haunted cities, and test their limits for a chance to donate $100,000 to his or her favorite charity. They must rely on alliances, strategy and friendships, but supernatural forces beyond their control may be their true undoing.

- Tune in to the AT&T* AUDIENCE Network concert special "CLOVES" airing Friday, September 1, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. In this episode, the 21-year-old London-via-Melbourne singer/songwriter CLOVES with series host Ted Stryker for an in-depth interview.

- In the new IFC Comedy Crib series Neurotica, a plucky dominatrix named Ivy struggles with her OCD and fights to maintain her business when a fancy new MegaDungeon opens in her small town, which could easily be mistaken for Stars Hollow. Created by and starring Jenny Jaffe and produced and directed by Jetpacks Go!.

- The abandoned castles of Europe are magnificent markers of the continent's tempestuous history, but where they once hosted royalty, these empty, hulking structures are now overtaken by the wildlife and rich natural environments flourishing around them. From the exquisite brown bears and aquatic salamanders of Predjama Castle, to the Neuschwanstein Castle that inspired the fictional fortresses of some of Disney’s most iconic princesses, explore the curious history of these imposing European structures and the creatures that now call them home. New episodes of WILD CASTLES will premiere on Smithsonian Earth each Friday, starting today.

- Second Nature was directed and co-written by Seattle's Michael Cross, and was shot in Cross' hometown of Ellensburg, WA with an entirely Northwest-based crew and supporting cast. The film aims to bring light to gender inequality by showing how the rivalry between men and women is alive and well. When mayoral candidate Amanda (Collette Wolfe – Interstellar, Hot Tub Time Machine) uses a magic mirror to reverse the gender roles in her small town, she gains the upper hand on her womanizing opponent, Bret (Sam Huntington – Superman Returns, Sully). As each experiences life in the other’s shoes, they must decide which reality they prefer before they’re stuck in the flipped world forever.


- Following a successful, multi-city theatrical run this past Fall, Pablo Valencia's award-winning comedy, Chatty Catties, featuring Deaf actor John Autry (GLEE) as the voice of Leonard the Cat, is coming to iTunes and Amazon this Tuesday!

- PodcastOne, America’s largest advertiser-supported podcast network, is launching a new, premiere line-up of original sports programming under the banner of PodcastOne Sports.
PodcastOne Sports debuts September 5th with the launch of Attack Each Day: The Harbaugh’s Podcast. Hosted by University of Michigan football coach, Jim Harbaugh, Attack Each Day will feature regular visits by family and friends, including Baltimore Ravens Head Coach and brother, John Harbaugh, former coach and father, Jack, and former University of San Diego player, J.T. Rogan.

I Want My Music Television: 8/29/2017

Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift


At first listen of the song you knew the video would be built around the old Taylor is dead line. Still I spent most of the video missing the Our Song era of Taylor. People have been making a lot out how this is “dark Taylor Swift” but it does not sound much different than her last two albums. To me, dark Taylor would sound more like Safe and Sound. Unfortunately the Civil Wars no longer exist; instead she is making another record with the dude from Bleachers who is getting kind of stale (he recently did the underwhelming Lorde sophomore album). If there is a silver lining is that Taylor’s first singles are the worst song off the album, hopefully that is the case here.


The Sky Is a Neighborhood - Foo Fighters


I think like many people around the eclipse, I watched Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart video, apparently so did the Foo Fighters who weirdly are using the same eye-light effect.


Every Little Thing - Carly Pearce


I am a long proponent of sad bastard songs and this one by Carly Pearce is the saddest of 2017 so far.


Batdance - Prince


I cannot count the number of times I went to YouTube searching for Batdance only to remember, oh yeah, Prince hates the internet. A month or two his estate has slowly putting his music videos on the site and last week, we finally got an offiial version of Batdance. I am so happy.

Previewing Mysteries of the Missing

There was a time when my biggest complaint about the cable news stations was they would get obsessed over insignificant stories like random dead white chicks and missing plains from halfway across the world with no Americans on board. Just wall to wall coverage despite no new news to report for days. Much simpler times. When Natalie Holloway’s dad popped up recently I thought, what a reprieve to what modern news has devolved into.

For those that miss these types of stories, Science Channel has a new show that will delve into stories that puzzled us all and still do with Mysteries of the Missing. Tonight’s premiere starts off with CNN’s favorite missing plain, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. In a time of security cameras, satellites, and cameras in almost every phone, it is increasingly shocking how a plain leaving from Kuala Lumpur, traveling to Beijing could just disappear. The show goes over the various theories (a couple I never heard of before) as well as talking to aviation specialist as well as a hacker that has been banned from a couple airlines.

The series features other prominent vanishing acts including the three Alcatraz escapees who managed to flee the island fortress in 1962; the Lost Roanoke Colony in North Carolina; the unexplained cause of a 1908 explosion in an extremely remote part of Siberia that is said to have been the equivalent of a thousand atom bombs; and the notorious Bermuda triangle, among others. The series is narrated by Lost’s Terry O’Quinn.

Mysteries of the Missing airs Saturdays at 10:00 on Science Channel.

Around the Tubes: 8/25/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Prince, Cold War Kids, Baker Grace, Aly + AJ, The Third Rail with OZYThe Third Rail with OZY, Jerry Lewis, the SAG Life Achievement Award, and 2017 VMAs.

- Showtime has acquired the rarely seen Prince concert film Sign O’ the Times, which will air on American television for the first time in more than a decade, premiering September 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Created as a companion to the 1987 Prince double album of the same name, Sign O’ the Times features live performances of songs including “U Got the Look” (with Sheena Easton), “If I Was Your Girlfriend” and “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man,” in addition to the title song and a striking rendition of the Prince classic, “Little Red Corvette.” Much of the film was shot at Prince’s own Paisley Park Studios, as well as on tour in the Netherlands and Belgium.

- Tune in to the AT&T* AUDIENCE Network concert special Cold War Kids airing Friday, August 25,at 9:00 via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. In this episode, Cold War Kids perform fan favorites and sit down with series host Ted Stryker for an in-depth interview.

- Stepping out today with her debut single, 16 year old newcomer Baker Grace makes an immediate impression with Am I Talking To You? Showcasing gorgeous vocals and songwriting ability belying her tender years, the track features Baker's sparkling tone decorating a sparse arrangement.



- Musical duo, Aly + AJ, who have sold over 2 million records worldwide, return today after a 10 year musical hiatus, with their brand new track, Take Me. “This is just the start,” muses Aly Michalka, who, along with her sister AJ Michalka, exude an excitement impossible to ignore. Their energy completely renewed, the track, "Take Me" exudes that same vigor - it's teaming with a slow burning restlessness that’s nestled amongst textured melodies and 808 drums, with nostalgic synth hits.

- OZY Media and PBS new prime time show, The Third Rail with OZY, premieres Friday September 8, 2017 at 8:30 pm ET and is hosted by OZY CEO and founder Carlos Watson. Watson grew up in Miami and holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. After stints on political campaigns, graduating from law school, time at McKinsey & Company, starting his own college prep company and anchoring on MSNBC, Carlos Watson channeled his skills toward building Silicon Valley based-OZY, a media company focused on the future.

- Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate the life and career of acclaimed comedian, actor and filmmaker Jerry Lewis, whose irrepressible zaniness and frantic creativity made him a defining figure of American entertainment in the 20th century, with a five film tribute on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4 in honor of of the nearly 50 years Mr. Lewis spent hosting The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon encouraging viewers to donate to the charity. Lewis, who passed away Sunday Aug 20 at the age of 91, knew success in movies, on television, in nightclubs, on the Broadway stage from his early films with Dean Martin, to his solo career eventually writing, producing and directing many of his own films.

- Morgan Freeman – Academy Award® winning actor, producer, voice actor and activist – has been named the 54th recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Freeman will be presented the performers union's top accolade at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan.21, 2018 at 8:00. Given annually to an actor who fosters the "finest ideals of the acting profession," the SAG Life Achievement Award will join Freeman’s exceptional catalog of preeminent industry and public honors, which includes a Screen Actors Guild Award, an Academy Award, HFPA’s Cecil B. DeMille Award®, an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, seven Image Awards, a Silver Berlin Bear, several Obies®, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

- MTV today announced additional performers set to take the stage at the 2017 “VMAs” airing live from the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on Sunday, August 27 at 8:00. Logic will perform his hit single “1-800-273-8255” featuring Khalid, and Gucci Mane will take the stage with previously announced Fifth Harmony to perform their song “Down.” Additionally, the show will feature special performances by breakout artists Post Malone and Julia Michaels. MTV is announcing that singer-songwriter Alessia Cara and rapper KYLE will perform at the 2017 "MTV VMAs" on Sunday at 8pm ET/PT.

I Want My Music Television: 8/24/2017

Future Me - Echosmith



Broken Glass - Rachel Platten


Echosmith and Rachel Platten debut major label albums were cheesy fun and what set them apart was that they sounded more like classic pop songs instead of what passes as current pop, which is basically vaguely EDM with that weird dolphin sound in ever song. So it was very disappointing that both of their new songs of their sophomore albums have that same vague EDM sound like everything else there right now.


Feel Good - Neon Trees


Well at Neon Trees are still doing their same power-pop songs for better or worse.


Versace On the Floor - Bruno Mars


Was Bruno Mars trying to make a Prince video, because I kind of see it. Granted, Prince would have gotten that dress of much faster.

The 100 Greatest Two Hit Wonders of All Time

1. The Presidents of the United States of America

2. Spin Doctors

3. Steppenwolf

4. Irene Cara

5. The Chi-Lites

6. Whitesnake

7. Terence Trent D'Arby

8. Tesla

9. A Flock of Seagulls

10. Twisted Sister

11. Tone-Loc

12. Rancid

13. Scorpions

14. Fine Young Cannibals

15. Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock

16. Amerie

17. The Romantics

18. Corey Hart

19. Delta Rae

20. The Power Station

21. Quiet Riot

22. Mr. Mister

23. The Dandy Warhols

24. Extreme

25. James Bay

26. John Parr

27. Carl Thomas

28. Domino

29. Kim Wilde

30. Soul Coughing

31. General Public

32. City High

33. Candlebox

34. Bloodhound Gang

35. MisterWives

36. Rugburns

37. JoJo

38. The Motels

39. Berlin

40. Del Amitri

41. Naked Eyes

42. Embrace

43. The Refreshments

44. Ready for the World

45. Stereo MC's

46. Glass Tiger

47. Echosmith

48. Was (Not Was)

49. The Rembrandts

50. Everlast

51. Sixpence None the Richer

52. Sophie B. Hawkins

53. Soul for Real

54. Seven Mary Three

55. Sister Hazel

56. Filter

57. Junior M.A.F.I.A.

58. Erin McCarley

59. Europe

60. Zero 7

61. The Foundations

62. Switchfoot

63. Howie Day

64. Phantogram

65. Fun Lovin' Criminals

66. Suzanne Vega

67. The Spencer Davis Group

68. One eskimO

69. Damn Yankees

70. Cameo

71. Walk the Moon

72. Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

73. Inner Circle

74. Snap!

75. Level 42

76. Stacie Orrico

77. Falco

78. Glenn Medeiros

79. Nine Days

80. Vanessa Hudgens

81. Broken Bells

82. Animotion

83. Blue Swede

84. Fort Minor

85. Vanilla Ice

86. Lit

87. The Soup Dragons

88. Jackie DeShannon

89. The Ting Tings

90. Ugly Kid Joe

91. Amy Macdonald

92. The Donnas

93. Veruca Salt

94. Lita Ford

95. Mad Season

96. White Zombie

97. Another Bad Creation

98. White Lion

99. Dream

100. The KLF

Previewing The Last Ship: Season Four

So The Last Ship found a cure for the outbreak in the first season, spread it across America in season two, and then shipped it across the globe in season three. So what is left for season four especially after Captain Chandler walked away from the ship in the season finally to raise his kids after his father died? Well apparently the virus, called Red Rust on account that is the color food is turning, that threatened humanity is now destroying the food supply. But fear not, there is a virus resistant strain, except it is being horded somewhere is Iran. Maybe. So on to Mesopotamia the Nathan James goes this season.

Civilian Chandler is still on the show, he and his brood has found their way to Greece (maybe no so coincidentally the Nathan James will be travelling the Mediterranean early in the season) and has found a hot Greek family to shack up with. Except with the food shortage, pirate have to taking food from local fishermen, including those Tom is cohabitating. And Tom thought his days of hero-ing were over.

It has been sixteen months since the events of last season and even early in the first couple episodes, the show visits, Nebraska, Morocco, Greece and Spain, with more foreign countries to come. And like past seasons, there are plenty of explosions and tense action that should keep you entertained for the rest of the summer.

The Last Ship airs Sundays on TNT.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/19/2017

Orphan Black: 147 clones? Wow, Dyad was busy. They are apparently all dead now but I wonder how many dude clones were there. I was just disappointed they ruined Alison, turning her into a hippy for no apparent reason with two episodes left. I was hoping we would get a cheesy sitcom spin off with her and Donnie.
You can download Orphan Black on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: So are they going to continue to tease Abby’s death without actually saying the word or at least show the body? Sure Ray found her convulsing and foaming from the mouth, but we never heard what happened to her. Ray did mention the head injury from the car accident which of course was cause by the hot leaked actress. Except Ray did not bring that up when she showed of at his office. But I did find it interesting that she told Ray she “shot” her husband, not that she killed her. It would be more interesting if the husband is not dead because it seems like Ray cleans up a dead body at least one a season. I believe the very first scene of the series was Ray getting rid of a dead body.

Claws: I am not sure what was more entertaining, the Whitney Houston scene or the Humpty Dance scene. Still I do not understand why Roller and Uncle Daddy let Desna, and Virginia, live for trying to kill the former. And I am not sure if I am racist and think every black man looks the same, but I am pretty sure that was Desna’s doctor friend that the Dixie Mafia met with in the last scene.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: So Setrakian has been part of a bone marrow experiment this whole time? And that was kind of an easy escape, why not try that earlier? And why I am complaining, why did the Master not swarm Eph after learning his location. New Horizons was right there presumably swarming with Strigoli.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Bill got the chair? I know the show positioned him as the next big thing, but never really deserved it in my eyes. Then he did not even bother to kill himself afterward. The other big question beside how did Bill get on Carson, let alone the chair is what happened to Teddy’s club? Did someone set it on fire or was it electrical because the pimp said it passed inspection but not because he updated it. Not that I really cared because after watching the whole season, I wish we would have gotten a second season of Roadies instead.

Preacher: What the fork is up with the freaky dude with the eye? Seriously, the butter thing, what was that?
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: She may look and act like a ditz, but, wow, Jenna looked like a beast as the only one who pushed her opponent off and she did it twice.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 8/18/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Good Behavior, Halt and Catch Fire, Austin City Limits, Conan, Might Cruise Ships, A Season With, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Watergate *But Were Afraid to Ask, Anna of the North.

- Award-winning actress Michelle Dockery will be back on the bad side when she returns as thief and con artist Letty Raines in the hit TNT drama Good Behavior. Juan Diego Botto, Terry Kinney, Lusia Strus and Joey Kern also star in the seductive drama. The second season of Good Behavior is slated to premiere across TNT's television, mobile and digital platforms on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 10:00.


- AMC announced today that the award-winning Blue Man Group will appear in the season premiere episode of Halt and Catch Fire, which begins its fourth and final season on Saturday, August 19th at 9:00. The network will also be launching an exclusive sweepstakes where fans can enter to win a Blue Man Group prize package, including two tickets to see a Blue Man Group performance, a human paintbrush canvas of Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy) as seen in the season four premiere, and much more. The sweepstakes will launch on Friday, August 18th at 3:00pm ET and run until September 1st.

- The iconic PBS series Austin City Limits (ACL) announces a new season premiering October 7 with an an epic hour featuring global superstar Ed Sheeran. With this season, ACL becomes the longest-running music show in television history, providing viewers with a front-row seat to the best in performance for over 40 years, and continues its legendary run showcasing more stars, innovators and highly-anticipated debuts. The series airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide and full episodes are made available online for a limited time at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast

- TBS’s Conan will take the show internationally for the seventh time in two years as the popular host travels to Israel. Conan Without Borders: Israel will be a primetime special premiering Tuesday, September 19 at 10:00 on TBS. O’Brien plans to visit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem among other locales to be announced in the coming weeks.

- Embark on a journey across the globe on some of the world’s most luxurious cruises and remarkable trains, exploring breathtaking landscapes on land and sea while experiencing the unique ways passengers can travel the world. Voyage on some of the most extraordinary vessels and locomotives and meet the engineers and crews behind these incredible machines as they travel to locales near and far; with first-class amenities, it’s no wonder these trains and cruise ships are so distinguished. MIGHTY CRUISE SHIPS and MIGHTY TRAINS premiere on Sunday, September 3 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET/PT, respectively, on Smithsonian Channel.

- SHOWTIME Sports will chronicle the 2017 Naval Academy football team with weekly installments of the all-access documentary series A SEASON WITH NAVY FOOTBALL. The third edition of the groundbreaking franchise, A SEASON WITH, immerses viewers behind the scenes and into the lives of the football players and coaches at the storied Service Academy with weekly 30-minute episodes throughout the 2017 season. The series premieres Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, four days after Navy begins its season on the road against Florida Atlantic University. New episodes will premiere each Tuesday as the Midshipmen balance the rigors of academics, athletics and military service while navigating a challenging 2017 NCAA FBS football schedule.

- The innovative hybrid publisher, Riverdale Avenue Books is releasing Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Watergate *But Were Afraid to Ask by Brian J. O’Connor and Lori Perkins on August 14th. Select chapters will be available for free to read on RiverdaleAveBooks.com on August 8th, the 43rd anniversary of Richard Nixon’s resigning from office.

- Anna of the North today unveil new single ‘Money’, another infectious alt-pop gem from the ever-more endearing Norwegian-Kiwi duo who stand on the precipice of blowing up.

Previewing Episodes: The Final Season

There are many advantages to shortened seasons utilized by cable networks. But there is one huge disadvantage, where major network shows tend to only have three month breaks, when you are only airing ten episodes a year, that means you are off the air for forty two weeks a year, or a nine and a half month hiatus. And that is the minimum. Sometime it takes longer to come back. Case in point, they announced the last season of Episodes so long ago, Matt LeBlanc managed to air all twenty-two episodes of his next show, Man with a Plan. Seriously, the last episode of Episodes aired March 15, 2015.

Ten months is a long time to remember what happened on a television show, so what happened almost two and a half years ago is very vague. I remember the show within a show was canceled but not that much else. That, of course, makes me ask, if the fake show was canceled why not cancel the real show? What else is there possible to do?

The answer is quite clear at the start of the season premiere; Matt LeBlanc’s new fake gameshow The Box is great. They even spend the first eight minutes show up the fake game show where contestants are stuck in a box (natch) and can build up advantages within the game by answering trivia questions that they can use to make their experience inside the box better or the competitors lives worse to the point they quit the game.

Things are not as entertaining with Beverly and Sean’s new show which they pitched but then was turned over to different showrunner who is ruining their show. At least in their eyes. Yet like two ships passing in the night, the writing duo again crosses path with the former Friends star professionally, and again with mixed (but hilarious for the audience) results. The first couple seasons of Episodes were hit or miss, but the final season is firing on all cylinders, I kind of wish, this season was the starting point and we got four seasons after this premise. Especially a behind the scenes show about The Box.

Episodes airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

Previewing Dice: Season Two

Two years ago, networks were getting creative with rolling out new series kind of like NBC when they dumped the entire first season of Aquarius On Demand after the premiere. Showtime tried this out with Dice. But much like Aquarius which aired weekly in its second season, it looks like Dice will do just that even though Showtime cares more about subscribers who will watch whenever than appointment viewing.

But that really is the only change with the second season of Dice. Mr. Clay starts off the new season still paying off his gambling debt and even after playing a string of shows he is still owes the casino money. Then after a weird encounter with a rabbi, Dice wakes up in a parallel universe where he never became a comic and is now living as a salesman. And it is really disturbing just how much “normal” Andrew Dice Clay looks like most of my uncle’s friends. Then it dawned on me, oh my, if Andrew Dice Clay went into hedge funds, he may have ended up being The Mooch, the White House communication director for a week and a half Anthony Scaramucci.

I spent most of the first season of Dice wondering, just who is this show for. And it took the past election to realize, people who work for Donald Trump. The type of guy who still find jokes about sniffing underwear, use homosexual terms as an insult, wish they could still grab women without their consent, and vote for Donald Trump will love this show. I guess liberals who want to make fun of how sad these people’s lives are may also enjoy hate-watching Dice too.

Dice airs Sundays at 10:30 on Showtime.

Previewing Divided: Season Two

I used to watch a lot of game shows; The Price Is Right was one of the few things I watched in college. But as I grew older I moved into more scripted fare. But now that I grow even older and I have no idea what is going on from week to week and need a five to ten minute “previously on” package, maybe I should get back into game show. They even have their own network now. Okay, do not ask me if I receive GSN, if I do it is in the 100 tier I never scroll through.

But I did get sample one of their original programming, Divided, returning for a second season tonight with back to back episodes. The first episode features a “full time live streamer.” And no, one of the questions is not how exactly does she make any money (unless the live stream does not involve clothing). The show features four contestants who have to answer each question unanimously and the longer they take to agree, the less money they make if they get. And if they get it wrong, their bank is divided in half. There is also a “Takeover” button where one person can answer for the group.

Then halfway through the episode one person is booted by the group, but if three people do not unanimously, again they have to debate while losing money until they agree. Then at the end of the game, the final bank is divided into sixty, thirty, and ten percent and the remaining three have to agree who leaves with what percentage, and of course everyone’s cut goes down as they debate who gets what.

One of the first things I noticed about the show is how poorly the layout is. Just in the first episode one player said he was picking A but B showed up on the board because he pressed the wrong button. Then later, another player went to lock in his pick, but pushed the Takeover Button by accident. I also found the final dividing round unnecessarily evil. Although the episode I watch, they surprisingly can to a decision quite quickly. But the questions were interesting, I only got one wrong and I was kind of shocked how wrong they all were in the first question of the night dealing with how many vegetarians there are in the nation. But I clearly would be horrible on this show because I am not very agreeable or persuadable. I would probably burn the two Takeovers early which would leave me to getting booted.

The new season of Divided will feature a number of special themed episodes, including Baby Boomers vs. Millennials, Military Night (featuring representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines), all teachers, all lawyers, all poker players, and “Second Chance” episodes where contestants voted off the show early get a second shot at the prize money.

Divided airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on GSN.