57 Channels and Only This Is On: 10/8/2017

Ray Donovan: Well that was harsh Abby, going without even telling your husband goodbye. I am not sure that was because it is easier and he could not talk him out of it or payback for all the infidelity (including the new hot actress while she was sick). And it seems weird to do long concluding flashback with four episodes left. Is there going to be more flashbacks because any more would seem anticlimactic now that Abby is dead and after that really graphic brawl. And they spent so much time with Abby in the flashbacks; it never really occurred to me that Avi also had a backstory to tell. So now we know why Avi was mostly missing for most of the season, he was back in New York arrested on heroin charges.

Lucifer: Wow, Superman got really old. But Lucifer has been redeemed? Alrighty. I am guessing the new bad guy will be his mom who did not stay in her new universe.
You can download Lucifer on iTunes.

The Gifted: In the ad before the show when they announced this show was part of The X-Men Cinematic Universe I thought, oh I have not seen the last couple movies. Days of Future Past being the last. But the problem with those films is they are all jumbled. The first three were linear, but then they did a Wolverine origin movie which was universally panned which I think is no longer cannon. Then they did two more Wolverine movies that took place in varying timelines. The First Class was in the eighties. Then Days of Future Past started in an alternative timeline flashbacked to the First Class timeline, and then created a new timeline… I think. So I have no idea where this show fits in. Making things worse is Blink is in both the movies and the television show but seem like two different entities. But I was mostly meh on the first episode, the main family cannot act besides the mother which is very distracting. But on the bright side, their powers are much less lame than those of the Inhumans.
You can download The Gifted on iTunes.

Kevin (Probably) Saves the World: This show was much better when it was called Joan of Arcadia. Put Kevin in a wheelchair and fing Amber Tamblyn and it may be watchable.
You can download Kevin (Probably) Saves the World on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: Interesting that after springing returning players on them twice, TJ just confirmed the next batch is going to the Redemption House. Should be interesting who gets the boot next week with the winning team made up of mostly outcasts. Do they go big and target Johnny Bananas and CT or go more conservative and give Hunter the instant boot. As for females, Camilla seems like a lock to be one of the two picked, but who is the other? Again, do you go big with Cara Maria or target the newbie with Tori. I really hope they go with the bold moves but The Challenge players always seem conservative.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: Ugg, why do the most annoying players always find the Hidden Immunity Idols? I guess you have to be shady to actually go look for it. I am surprised no one has used the, “we should go look for it as a group” way around looking selfish going after it yourself. Although the financial analyst came up with an idea I would have never thought of: holding onto the Super Idol to see if she can use it to make people think she has a regular Idol.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

The Good Place: Mmmm, Michael says he can get everyone to the real Good Place. Sound like a bluff to me but working with him would be better than going to the real Bad Place. But do they need Michael? If Janet can take them to the Medium Place, why can she not take them to Good Place? I just hope we get more of Real Eleanor’s fake Good Place next week. Really that could be the rest of the season as they work a way to get to the real Good Place.
You can download The Good Place on iTunes.

Gotham: Wait, is Jim really going to hook up with Falcone’s daughter? I have a feeling right when that is about to happen Leigh is going to show back up. Then Barbara and Ra’s Al Ghul? Interesting. They have been teasing Barbara as Harley Quinn for a while now, but maybe she is going to end up being Talia’s mother. Or they are just subbing in Ra’s for The Joker in Harley’s backstory.
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Once Upon a Time: The show had gotten really bad in recent years, but somehow the hard reboot was worse. I do not even know where to start.
You can download Once Upon a Time on iTunes.

Marvel’s Inhumans: I complained about the cheesy powers last week (I still am not entirely sure what the princess’s powers are), but they finally introduced an Inhuman this week with cool powers. Sure those powers were the exact same as Cyclops from the X-Men.
Marvel's Inhumans on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 10/6/2017

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 Future Man, Johnny Cash, Elton John, Seal, Belly, new Hulu acquisitions, Ill Behaviour, Secrets of the Underground, No Bombings in Beirut, What on Earth?, Black Sabbath: The End of the End, Entre Nos: Part 1, and Let’s Make a Deal.

- Check out the official trailer for Hulu's upcoming comedy series Future Man starring Josh Hutcherson! All episodes premiere Tuesday, Nov. 14 only on Hulu. Thank you!


- In the last decade of a career that spanned half a century, Johnny Cash capped off his musical legend with a breathtaking final act, recording a series of raw, stripped-down albums with producer Rick Rubin. Those albums reestablished Cash as a vital artist, while adding a remarkable closing chapter to his incredible body of work. Available November 3, the Unearthed vinyl box features a pair of cloth-bound books housed in an LP-sized black cloth slipcase. One book holds the nine LPs, while the other is a gorgeous 60-page coffee table book that incorporates Sylvie Simmons' extensive liner notes, drawn from five days of interviews at Cash's home in Tennessee, as well as Cash and Rubin's comments on every song on the set, plus a copious selection of photographs from the recording sessions, including some of the last photos ever taken of Cash. Preorder Unearthed now.

- Elton John today announces the forthcoming release of ‘Diamonds.’ Released on November 10th through UMe, ‘Diamonds’ is the ultimate greatest hits collection from Elton John and will be available on 1CD, 2CD, 3CD limited edition boxset, 2LP heavy-weight gatefold vinyl and digital formats. Kicking off with the ever-stunning ‘Your Song,’ this definitive collection brings together all the landmark hits of one of the greatest song books of all time, including ‘Tiny Dancer,’ ‘Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time),’ ‘Candle In The Wind,’ ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,’ ‘Sacrifice,’ ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight.’

- Today, British soul legend Seal releases new song “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” from upcoming album Standards available November 10 via Republic Records. An artist who’s been at the top of his game throughout his 30-year career, Seal’s 10th studio album breathes life into iconic hits, paying tribute to legends including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. Listen to “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” HERE.

- 90's alt-rock group Belly are back - hitting the studio for the first time in more than twenty years for their third album, NameTBD. Through their exclusive PledgeMusic pre-order campaign, launching today, the beloved band is inviting fans to take part in their creative process with sneak peeks into the studio, limited-edition merchandise, special experiences, and much more. Fans can pre-order the album in digital, CD, or vinyl form now on Belly's campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers behind-the-scenes content and items not available anywhere else.

- Hulu announced a new agreement with the Disney-ABC Television Group for the exclusive U.S. subscription video-on-demand rights to all episodes of iconic sitcoms Boy Meets World, Home Improvement and Dinosaurs. The deal will mark the long-awaited SVOD debut of the complete libraries of hit series Boy Meets World and Home Improvement. In addition, all episodes of fan favorite Dinosaurs, from The Jim Henson Company, will also become available to stream in SVOD exclusively on Hulu. All titles will begin streaming on Hulu September 29th. The series will join hundreds of episodes of previously announced hit shows from America’s favorite Friday night lineup from the 1990s on Hulu – including Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Perfect Strangers and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper – and the agreement will make Hulu the exclusive subscription streaming home to the largest collection of series from the original “TGIF” lineup with the addition of Boy Meets World and Dinosaurs. All series launch exclusively on the service beginning September 29th, just in time for the 30th Anniversary of Full House and the 25th Anniversary of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.

- Showtime has acquired the BBC series Ill Behaviour, a six-part comedy thriller about the boundaries of friendship and the lengths taken to preserve it. Starring Chris Geere (You’re the Worst), Lizzy Caplan (MASTERS OF SEX) and Tom Riley (DaVinci’s Demons), Ill Behaviour focuses on Joel (Geere) who uses any methods, conventional or otherwise, to save Charlie (Riley) when Charlie announces that he is abandoning chemotherapy treatment for his cancer. Written by Sam Bain (Peep Show) and directed by Steve Bendelack (Friday Night Dinner), Ill Behaviour makes its Showtime debut on Monday, November 13 at 10:30.

- Using cutting-edge technology to investigate and uncover the world’s most fascinating subterranean mysteries, the Science Channel series Secrets of the Underground, is set to return for a second season. Explorer, adventurer biologist and tech fanatic Rob Nelson and his new co-host, geophysicist Stefan Burns, will dig deep into some of the world’s most notorious underground legends including the long-rumored Nazi Gold Train, America’s Atlantis, the Lost Temple of Jerusalem, Nikola Tesla’s buried master plans, and more. The new season, featuring eight one-hour episodes, premieres Saturday, October 28 at 10:00.

- From the man who pioneered stand-up comedy in the Middle East, Nemr: No Bombings in Beirut is a unique comedy event like no other, premiering Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 on Showtime. Filmed both in Lebanon and in the United States, No Bombings in Beirut is an hour of uproarious comedy that will leave viewers inspired as they witness the refreshing reality of a world they were told never existed. Journeying from his early days in the U.S. to his later years in Lebanon, Nemr touches on childhood, family, relationships, religion, war and the power of perspective while being able to laugh at our shared experiences. As Nemr explains, “We are at our finest when our paths cross.”


- Thousands of satellites orbit Earth, capturing images of our planet in unprecedented detail and revealing areas that have, until now, remained a mystery. These images, used by platforms like Google Earth, have uncovered baffling new structures and phenomena, many of which defy explanation. Science Channel’s top rated series What on Earth? uses state-of-the-art imaging technology, expert analysis from leading scientists, and hands-on investigation to search for answers to these mysteries. What on Earth? returns for its fourth season on Tuesday, October 17th at 9:00.

- Showtime will air Black Sabbath: The End of the End, a film showcasing Black Sabbath’s final concert, making its world television premiere Saturday, October 28 at 9:00. Black Sabbath: The End of the End captures the farewell performance by the Grammy®-winning band’s Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler in their hometown of Birmingham, England on February 4 at the Genting Arena – the culmination of their 81-date sold-out “The End” world tour.

- Riding on the success of Entre Nos: Part 1, comedians Vladimir Caamaño, Frankie Quiñones and Shayla Rivera will take the stage in the 30-minute stand-up comedy show Entre Nos: Part 2 when it premieres on Friday, October 13th at 9:30 exclusively on HBO LATINO®. In the hilarious English-Language special, the three comedians are joined by host and comedian Ben Gonzalez at Los Angeles’ El Portal Theatre for a laugh-out-loud night of stand-up. Directed by Joke Yanes and Adolfo Nowake, Entre Nos: Part 2 will air across all of the channel’s platforms including HBO NOW®, HBO GO®, HBO On Demand® and affiliate portals.

- GSN announced earlier it will celebrate the work of TV icon Monty Hall with a 6-hour marathon of Let’s Make a Deal on Sunday, October 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

I Want My Music Television: 10/2/2017

You’re the Best Thing About Me – U2


The last time U2 walked around the city streets of an American city, I Still Havn’t Found What I’m Looking For in Las Vegas, that felt epic. Three decades later, walking around the streets of New York City just seems mostly boring.


Selfish Love – Jessie Ware


I really dig this song by Jessie Ware, it gives me a very early Sade vibe to it.


Stand by My Girl - Dan Auerbach


Should I know who Ellia Sophia or JD Wilkes is? She kind of looks like Lili Simmons while he looks like Cochran from Survivor. Otherwise I am not sure while either gets a “starring” credit in ta Dan Auerbach music video.


Lift – Radiohead


Lift is off Radiohead’s OK Computer rerelease and the video feels like something out of the ninties (right down to the rectangular screen.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 10/1/2017

Ray Donovan: Oh Darryl, you clearly are the dumbest Donovan. I take it Micky s going to put the body with the dead sensei in what may turn out to be Dexter situation. Those Donovan’s do like to take down west coast FBI heads. I wonder when they take on the overall head. Although I guess the current head is busy with the president doing illegal and crazy things. Then we got a big bombshell in the Abbie situation, she actually committed suicide because of the pain and for a brief second we were lead to believe Bridget provided the drugs, instead Terry admitted he was the one. And not surprisingly Ray punched him out.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: People falling from high heights is never not entertaining. But why were there so many shocked people at the end when we learn Nelson was not coming back. Dude punched Derek (and then bizarrely said check the tapes claiming Derrek approached him first which clearly did not happen). What I was shocked was TJ asking CT who he was picking to go into elimination. And then they ended the show before he answered. I hate when they do that. I do fear that they will go through the vote, maybe even the Double Cross before saying, “just kidding, no guy elimination because of Nelson.”
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: The Idol Train last season was one of the worst moments in the history of the show. Just not according to Jeff Probst who spent the summer telling people how much he loved it. He was either lying or all the criticism got to him because, yeah, we got an advantage right out the gate, but it was not the silly Legacy Advantage, it was a first Tribal only Super Idol. And if the finder does not go to the first Tribal, they can pass it to someone who does. When turtleneck nerd was safe, puking chick seemed obvious.

What was also obvious was with an ad right before Tribal, something big was going to happen. Whenever that occurs, someone quits, gets medically removed, or last season, the Zeke outing Tribal. Except puking chick ended up voted with the majority to get rid of who looked to be her only real ally. Either a stupid move or the editors did some very fishy editing to completely throw the viewer off the scent, something that happened way too many times last season too. Kind of an ominous start to the season for me.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunesr.

The Blacklist: Wait, to rebuild his evil empire, Red has employed two carneys? And why not take down the racist drug cartel and take their money? Or are they saving that for later in the season. But I have to admit, I like the bare bones version of Red’s operation. I hope it takes a while for him to rebuild his empire.
You can download The Blacklist on iTunes.

The Good Place: Please let us get a full episode of Real Eleanor’s version and not have it be just part of a montage like this week. If we are lucky, the rest of the season will be the foursome and Michael teaming up against the Real Eleanor. I was a little disappointed that the version with Eleanor’s soulmate being Tahani and a Golden Retriever were just part of the montage. Those could have been full episodes in themselves too.
You can download The Good Place on iTunes.

Gotham: I thought they were holding Barbara back last week because there was going to be some big return. Nope, it turns out after being electrocuted all she has been doing is stockpiling weapons and the only lasting change was a new unflattering hairstyle. I thought for sure she would rise like a phoenix out of the electrocution as something else, like Harley Quinn whom they have been teasing ever since Barbara was kidnapped a few seasons ago. Even more disappointing the lady villains would not let Poison Ivy play in their reindeer games; she was the most entertaining part of the second part of last season. Hopefully they find her something to do.
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Marvel’s Inhumans: Very few things live up to the hype these days, and on the flip side, things tend not to be as bad as people say because they tend to just be piling on. Inhumans is one of the rare exceptions. Boy, was that a flaming pile of dog shirt. First off, the Royal Family has to have some of the lamest superpowers ever. The king can kill with his voice so he just does not talk. Instead he does a moron’s version of ASL. Then his wife, Medusa, can kill you with her hair which is a way too on the nose name. I guess it could be worse, since she had her hair cut off, they could have named her Samson. She has a hot sister, but they ruin her hair with weird symbols in it. I am not entirely sure what is up with her powers other than it looks like she can shoot something out of her fingers. More confusing was the Asian dude. He can turn back time? Then the head of the Royal Guard, who did not know his subordinates were part of a coup, just has hooves for feet. Even worse is the little brother who has nothing and is basically just Loki in a story we have seen before, done better with a bigger budget. Marvel was doing really well with their shows, SHIELD was improving, Daredevil and Luke Cage were solid, Jessica Jones was great, but since then Iron Fist was bad and Inhumans looks to be worth, and next month’s Runaways does not have a strong start either. Hopefully Squirrel Girl can save Marvel television shows.
Marvel's Inhumans on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 9/29/2017

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 The Islands and the Whales, Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's Wild, Drop the Mic, The Librarians, Hulu, Blood Ivory, Air Disasters, The President Is Missing, The Affair.

- The Faroe Islands are where the North Atlantic meets the Norwegian Sea, found on a map in a triangle between Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Norway. It is there, among the eighteen rocky and majestic islands formed by volcanoes and oceans, that this visually stunning and evocative documentary The Islands and the Whales takes place. And it is there that the global forces affecting whaling converge in dramatic fashion. The Islands and the Whales has its national broadcast premiere on the PBS documentary series POV (Point of View) next Monday, October 9, 2017 (check local listings). POV is American television's longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 30th season.

- Starting October 24, Tuesday nights on TBS will be fueled by hip-hop, comedy and culture with the reboot of a classic game show, Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's Wild airing at 10:00. Immediately following, the new celebrity-led rap battle contest Drop the Mic, based on the wildly popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden, is hosted by Method Man and Hailey Baldwin and will premiere at 10:30.




- Season four of TNT's hugely popular fantasy series The Librarians is slated to launch with a two-episode premiere on a new night, Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 8:00. Based on TNT's hit movie franchise, The Librarians centers on an ancient organization dedicated to protecting an unknowing world from the secret, magical reality hidden all around. Rebecca Romijn, Christian Kane, Lindy Booth and John Harlan Kim star in the series as protectors of the world's mystical treasures, with Emmy® winner John Larroquette as their reluctant caretaker. Noah Wyle recurs in seven of twelve episodes this season as Flynn Carsen, the role he played in TNT's hit movie trilogy.


- Following a groundbreaking licensing agreement that marked the streaming debut of iconic series Will & Grace, Hulu and NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution today announced a new agreement that will make Hulu the exclusive SVOD home to all episodes of Emmy Award winning comedy series, 30 Rock, beginning October 1st, as well as add hundreds of episodes of shows for the whole family to Hulu. In addition to bringing the complete library of the critically acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning comedy series from creator and star Tina Fey - 30 Rock - to a new streaming home, the new deal includes a full suite of premium programming that will become available to stream on Hulu: Parenthood (early 2018), There's Johnny (new show with Tony Danza), Made in Chelsea (first 13 seasons later this year), and Face Off (first 10 seasons early 2018).

- iscovery’s Animal Planet and Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW), a U.S. nonprofit that employs U.S. Veterans to protect endangered wildlife teamed up for Blood Ivory, a historic and exciting documentary series that premiered Tuesday, September 12, 2017. VETPAW was founded in 2012 by Ryan Tate , a former post 9-11 Marine who saw what was happening to elephants and rhinos in Africa and realized that like himself, U.S. Veterans trained on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan in counter-insurgency warfare are remarkably well suited to re-purpose those skills in the battle to save African endangered species.

- When a plane crashes, the world is left wondering what happened. Amid the tragedy of lost life and confusion surrounding these catastrophic accidents, experts are there to determine what went wrong and how these disasters can be prevented in the future. Smithsonian Channel’s popular and long-running series Air Disasters follows the stories of these fatal crashes and the investigators on the scene who must search for the clues in the aircraft’s final descent. The premiere episode, Air Disasters: High Rise Catastrophe, airs Sunday, October 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

- Showtime announced it has acquired the rights to adapt into a series The President Is Missing, based on the highly anticipated novel by President Bill Clinton and bestselling author James Patterson set to be published in 2018. In the book, President Clinton and Patterson tell the startling story of a sitting U.S. president’s disappearance, with the level of detail that only someone who has held the office can know – generating a powerful, one-of-a-kind thriller. Though fictional, the story brings to life the pressures and realities of the most important position in the world.

- Showtime announced that Sanaa Lathan (American Assassin, Shots Fired) will recur on the network’s Golden Globe®-winning drama series The Affair. Lathan will play Jenelle, the tough-as-nails principal of the charter school where Noah (Dominic West) teaches, who intrigues him. She’s got a lot to prove to her school's oppositional administration and faculty, who seem to fight her at every turn. The Affair will return for its fourth season on Showtime in 2018.

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.

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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.