Around the Tubes: 10/5/2018

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 Marvel’s Runaways, Black Monday, Escape at Dannemora, The Family Business: Trump and Taxes, Rod Stewart, Cover Story, Vanessa Hudgens, Her, Gun Tracks of Vietnam, FOX Sports Films, and Shut Up and Dribble.

The official teaser for Hulu’s Marvel’s Runaways season 2 is now available! All episodes of season 2 will be available to steam on December 21st.


- Showtime has released a provocative first look at its new comedy series Black Monday, starring and executive produced by Emmy® nominated and Golden Globe winning actor Don Cheadle and starring two-time Tony Award nominee and Grammy® winner Andrew Rannells (Girls) and Regina Hall (Girls Trip). The series was created by David Caspe (Happy Endings) and Jordan Cahan (My Best Friend’s Girl), who will serve as executive producers and showrunners. Emmy nominees Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Preacher, Superbad), who will also executive produce, directed the pilot.


- Showtime has unveiled the posters and a behind-the-scenes video for Escape at Dannemora. The seven-part limited series stars Academy Award® winners Benicio Del Toro (Traffic) and Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), and Golden Globe® nominee Paul Dano (Love & Mercy, There Will Be Blood), and is executive produced and directed by Emmy® winner Ben Stiller. Escape at Dannemora is based on the stranger-than-fiction prison break in upstate New York in the summer of 2015 which spawned a statewide manhunt for two convicted murderers, aided in their escape by a married female prison employee who reportedly carried on months-long affairs with both men. The series will premiere on November 18 at 10:00


- On the heels of The New York Times' breaking news story revealing new information about President Trump’s financial history, SHOWTIME has announced The Family Business: Trump and Taxes, a new documentary short film directed by Emmy® nominee Jenny Carchman and produced by Oscar® nominees Liz Garbus and Justin Wilkes of The Forth Estate. The film follows a team of New York Times investigative reporters through their diligent and intense efforts in uncovering the information that led to this exclusive report. The Family Business: Trump and Taxes will premiere this Sunday, October 7 at 8:30 on Showtime, after an all new episode of The Circus.

- Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Rod Stewart will release his 30th solo album Blood Red Roses, which critics and fans around the world are raving about experiencing as a complete album collection today and live in concerts during Stewart’s sold-out North American summer tour. Released last week by Republic Records in the U.S. on CD, vinyl, digital download and across streaming platforms, Blood Red Roses’ release has been heralded by first single “Didn’t I,” which scored Stewart his 23rd Top 10 Hit on the Billboard AC airplay chart.

- Game Show Network’s Cover Story, a one-hour documentary series that looks at the fascinating personalities, memorable moments and outrageous scandals in and around the most popular games and shows of all time will return to Sundays this fall at 7 p.m. ET, beginning on October 21 with Cover Story: Game Show Super Contestants.

- Los Angeles-based electronic duo Phantoms (aka Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola), alongside superstar actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens, release the official music video for new single “Lay With Me” today. The music video is inspired by the history of friendship between Phantoms and Vanessa, giving a wink to the TV/Film phenomenon, High School Musical.


- Her unveils the live video for “Neighborhood” filmed at Studio La Fabrique in Paris—watch and share HERE! The video, directed by Rodrigue Huart, is part of the upcoming film “Are You Still Here” set for release this November.


- Smithsonian Channel is set to honor American veterans this November with two premieres offering unique perspectives and new insights on crucial aspects of the Vietnam War. One-hour special Gun Tracks of Vietnam premieres Sunday, November 11 at 9:00 and explores the ingenuity of American servicemen and the ongoing legacy of one of America’s fiercest fighting units. The following Sunday, November 18 at 9:00, The Lost Tapes returns with Tet Offensive, bringing to life a defining moment of the Vietnam War. Both premieres feature rare audio and exclusive never-before-televised 8mm films – some shot directly by soldiers during combat.

- This month, FOX Sports Films, in association with Major League Baseball, expands the company’s coverage of America’s pastime with documentaries, honoring legendary player moments from Kirk Gibson, Jim Abbott, and Aaron Boone. The three one-hour films air throughout the month of October as FOX Sports also delivers the Major League Baseball Playoffs starting at 5:00 pm ET with National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 1 Thursday, Oct. 4 on FS1. The announcement was made by Charlie Dixon, EVP, Content at FOX Sports. The first documentary, Walk-Off Stories: Improbably Gibson, debuts Sunday, Oct. 7 at 11:30 pm ET on FS1 following the MLB on FS1 postgame coverage. Set Apart: The Jim Abbott Story premieres Sunday, Oct. 14 on FOX. Walk-Off Stories: From a Battle to a War airs Sunday, Oct. 21 on FOX.

- Showtime has announced the airdate for its upcoming docu-series Shut Up and Dribble, with the first episode premiering on Saturday, November 3 at 9:00 on Showtime on-air, streaming and on demand. The remaining two episodes will continue at 9:00 on Saturday, November 10 and Saturday, November 17. Narrated by acclaimed sports journalist and commentator Jemele Hill, the three-part documentary series is a powerful inside look at the changing role of NBA athletes through the lens of our shifting cultural and political environment. Hill is among one of the many luminaries featured in the documentary that includes former NBA players, executives, sports journalists and pop-culture icons. SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE is directed by Gotham Chopra and executive produced by LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Chopra. To watch and share a first look from the docu-series, go to: https://s.sho.com/2OsUXt2.

Previewing Into the Dark

Sure they mostly got shut out at the Emmy’s, but Hulu did seem to muster plenty of discussion this spring and summer with weekly releases of Handmaid’s Tale and Castle Rock. But it looks like Hulu is going to mirror that other streaming service and start releasing all their shows all episodes at once starting with this fall. I do have to question that logic as discussion of The First died before network fall television even started. It will be interesting if they continue this or if Handmaid’s and Castle Rock still with their weekly released.

There is one glaring exception to the fall episode dump and that is Into the Dark which not even airing episodes weekly, instead is airing a new episode every month. The show comes from Blumhouse and if you are unfamiliar with the studio, it basically produced almost every horror or thriller movie you have watch in the past decade from Paranormal Activity to The Purge to Get Out. Then the show is an anthology that will feature a new episode based around a holiday that month.

Naturally with the show starting in October the first episode, entitled, The Body, which involves a hitman who uses the guise of Halloween to transport a body where his employer wants it to be found. We even get a four hour ticking clock by when he needs to get the body to the destination. Naturally complications arise and he ends up with a group of people at a party who take interest in his very real looking costume.

Okay, I figured out exactly how the episode would end about ten minutes in, but it was a fun ride as a couple members of the group provide plenty of comedic relief. And I came away from the episode wondering why Rebecca Rittenhouse is not in more things as she really steals the show.  Unfortunately the same the guy who plays the hitman as he lacks even a hint of charisma. Really, had they gotten a better actor, this episode could have been a feature film.

Next month features a teenage girl who has not left the house since her mother died and the murder remains unsolved. Ironically as the main character is agoraphobic, as the viewer, this episode feels very claustrophobic. Sure she can reach her arm out to the mailbox that is affixed the house but cannot quite reach the package left on the far edge of the porch. So obviously the therapist comes to her. Then as the anniversary of the death of her mother approaches on Thanksgiving, the girl’s mind starts playing tricks on her and leaving the house may be the key to her survival. Dilemma, dilemma.

Of the first two episodes, the Halloween one is defiantly the better of the two thanks to some comedic moments. And I have been using the term “episode” loosely, the first two run eighty-two and ninety-three minutes respectively. Really, they are feature film length which makes me wonder if they are films Blumhouse thought about making and are only producing them under the Into the Dark label because they did not think they garner a theatrical audience. Really the Thanksgiving episode could have taken place any time of year and could have just been jammed into Thanksgiving to fit the series theme.

Still, these first two episodes were good enough that I will stick around all year to check out the rest. I am just curious what holidays will be coming next. The promo did suggest Christmas and New Year’s Eve (though they both technically fall in December) before skipping to April Fool’s Day before filling the screen with holidays that are probable (St. Patrick’s Day) and some absurd. They are not actually going to do National Grandparent’s Day, are they? And where every month has an obvious holiday or three, I do have to wonder what Into the Dark has in store for August. My calendar only has listed Civic Holiday which is Canadian and (Eid) al Adha which Google tells me is an Islamic holiday also referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice. I guess we have to wait ten months for that.

Into the Dark airs new episodes every month starting tomorrow on Hulu.

I Want My Music Television: 10/1/2018

Africa - Weezer


What strange long trip this year has been to Weezer’s biggest hit in over a decade. From a kid requesting they cover Toto on Twiiter because she heard the song on Stranger Things and culminates with “Weird Al” Yankovic. Though if you are going to parody Undone, where are the dogs? Even Africa mentions wild dogs crying out in the night.


Mary Don't You Weep (Piano & a Microphone 1983 Version) - Prince


Leave to Prince to have one of the best albums of the year even after he died with a simple piano live to tape album. And he does not get enough credit for his social activism despite Sign O’ the Times being very profound, but the video just follow his legacy in that matter.


Colors - Beck


Here is a video Beck released six months ago on Apple Music but it has only become available on YouTube now. But anything with Alison Brie and directed by Edgar Wright is certainly worth the wait. Thankfully there have not been many exclusive since.


Head Above Water - Avril Lavigne


Everyone has to grow up sometime (except for maybe Angus Young) but it is weird seeing Avril Lavigne in what could have been a treatment for a Celine Dion music video. Unfortunately the song is about as boring as a Celine Dion ballad.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/30/2018

Shameless: You would think Frank supporting a pedophile foe Congress would be the most shameless moment of the season, but it was not even the most shameless part of the episode. No, Lip pulling the plug of someone on a ventilator so he could kidnap a kid was really bad.

The Last Ship: Well that was a novel way to blow up a bridge.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

You: Call me old fashion, but seeing who I thought I was dating forking some other dude she just met would be a huge deal breaker for me. Doing that seems more psychopathic than killing your crush’s boyfriend. Although leaving the body in your car while putting together the girl’s bed is probably up there. But really, trying to get a child to buy that stuff should be child endangerment that should come with some jail time. And I hope that ending was intentionally funny.
You can download You on iTunes.

Manifest: Going into the show I kind of expected it to knock off Lost, but I was not expected the show to also knock off another mid-nineties show, Wonderfalls. And really poorly because being told to do ambiguous things that turn out to be for the better is much more entertaining when it is done by inanimate objects rather than your voice in your head.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Gifted: And I though the kid’s Beiber haircut was laughable. But other than him, I really wish they would just get rid of the Mutant Underground and spend all the time with the inner Circle, all of the more interesting character are there.
You can download The Gifted on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Oh snap, someone on this show went with the strongest team to meet in elimination. And then actually defeated them.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: What a horrible way to end an episode. Definitely should have done a double episode on that. And why were they making such a big deal of Christian solving that first puzzle, which was the easiest one in the show’s history. A child could have done that in a minute or two.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

The Good Place: Kind of a meh start to the season. I guess having the characters all being on Earth kind of eliminates some of the zanier aspects of the show. Hopefully Trevor spices things up next week (but thanks to the promo right before the last segment and Adam Scott’s name appearing in the credits before he was actually on screen, that surprised was kind of ruined). Granted, if the demons are sending up their own to taint this experiment, it really should have been Real Eleanor. Hopefully Trevor fails and she is next.
The Good Place on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 9/28/2018

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 Circus, Cucuy: The Boogeyman, High Voltage, Lenny Kravitz, Noah Kahan, CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion, 2018 American Music Awards, The Lost Tapesand whata is streaming on TNT and TBS.

- On the eve of a highly anticipated hearing regarding charges of sexual misconduct swirling around Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, new accuser Julie Swetnick gave her first and only TV interview since leveling shocking allegations against Kavanaugh to John Heilemann, co-host of The Circus on Showtime. Swetnick is the first Kavanaugh accuser to speak on camera.


- Hybrid Entertainment's upcoming original movie, Cucuy: The Boogeyman, scheduled to premiere on SyFy on Saturday, October 13th (7p/6p CT) is a timely twist on the indelible legend of a story young children are told by their mothers about a Latin American boogeyman known as the Cucuy who would come at night to snatch misbehaving children and take them back to his cave to be eaten.


- SP Releasing will release writer/director Alex Keledjian’s horror thriller High Voltage, set within the gritty and competitive Los Angeles music scene, releasing in limited theaters and on-demand on Friday, October 19th through SP Releasing’s output deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film will open in at least ten cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and more, and will also be available on all major digital platforms same day. DVD and Blu-Ray release will follow November 20th.
Written, produced and directed by Alex Keledjian (Project Greenlight; FEAST), the film stars David Arquette (SCREAM 1-4; EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS), Allie Gonino (The Red Road; GEOGRAPHY CLUB), Perrey Reeves (Entourage; OLD SCHOOL), and Luke Wilson (OLD SCHOOL; Roadies).

- Lenny Kravitz's first five albums - 1989's Let Love Rule, 1991's Mama Said, 1993's Are You Gonna Go My Way, 1995's Circus, and 1998's 5 - honored with an extensive vinyl reissue campaign courtesy of Virgin/UMe, with each release appearing on 2LP 180-gram black vinyl in addition to individualized limited-edition, color variants. Both the 2LP reissues and color variants for Mama Said, Are You Gonna Go My Way, Circus, and 5 are all available as of September 21, while Let Love Rule will kick off its 30th anniversary in style on November 30. Four of the five double-LP reissues also feature exceptional non-album tracks, many of them appearing on vinyl for the very first time.

- Today, global singer/songwriter sensation Noah Kahan unveils his latest single, “False Confidence,”—listen HERE. “False Confidence” sets the stage for further music to be released by Kahan this fall.

- Critically acclaimed German born pop iconoclast bülow releases brand new single “Two Punks In Love” today via Republic Records/ Wax Records. Listen HERE. Today, bülow also announces debut U.S. performances hitting the road to support Fickle Friends on a SOLD OUT tour this Fall.

- CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion reveals a compelling and often amusing look at the history of disability portrayals in entertainment. From the early days of silent films to present-day Hollywood blockbusters, this historic film takes a detailed look at the evolution of “disability” in entertainment over the last 120 years by going behind the scenes to interview celebrities, filmmakers, and studio executives. With heart and humor, CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion utilizes clips from Hollywood’s most beloved motion pictures and television programs to shine a light on how the media impacts society and the monumental effect these portrayals have on inclusion.


- dick clark productions and ABC yesterday announced an all-star lineup of soul and gospel legends who will come together to pay homage to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, at the “2018 American Music Awards.” Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans, friends of the late, luminary singer/songwriter, will take the AMAs stage for a moving tribute honoring Franklin’s gospel roots and iconic gospel album, Amazing Grace. Consulting Producer for the tribute is the Emmy Award®

- Twenty years later, in a country shaken by political unrest and the fight for gender equality, we’re still living with the legacy of the Clinton presidency. The 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton rocked the country to its core and set the stage for the next two decades of polarization and controversy in America. Now, a new episode of Smithsonian Channel’s critically acclaimed The Lost Tapes relives the scandal, using only contemporary film and audio to allow viewers to experience history without comment. The hour-long episode delves into the collective memory of America to pose the question: At a time when everyone took a side, would you take the same one now? The Lost Tapes: Clinton Impeachment airs Monday, October 29 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Turner’s TNT has secured critically acclaimed and Emmy® Award-nominated writer and producer Frank Pugliese (House of Cards) to serve as showrunner for The Angel of Darkness, a new limited series based on the sequel to author Caleb Carr’s best-selling The Alienist. A huge critical and ratings success, The Alienist is a top 10 cable drama, having reached more than 50 million people across multiple platforms.

- What is streaming on TNT and TBS in October:
Star Wars saga: Episodes I through VI streaming 10/1-10/30
The Conjuring 2: Streaming 9/24 - 10/31
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Streaming 10/1 - 10/30
Frankenweenie: Streaming 10/1 - 10/31
The Interview: Streaming 10/1 - 12/31
Godzilla: Streaming 10/1 - 10/31

2018 Fall Music Preview

Good riddance summer. It hit ninety way too many times this year and was still hitting the upper eighties as late as last week. I saw this was the second hottest summer here in recorded history. I am ready for it to be cold so I can put on a blanket and watch television in real time again. Hopefully there will be some good tunes this fall after a pretty good first three quarters of a year. Though looking at the list I compiled it may be slim pickings for great unless everything in TBA gets released. That include three possible albums by Kanye West who started the summer producing five mostly uninspiring albums. After that he announced his intention to do that for an entire year. Here is hoping he just stays in the studio until he have seven great tracks. But anyway. Here are the albums that should be coming out before Christmas. Click on the album title to pre-order on Amazon. Click on the artist name to be taken to iTunes.


Last Week
Piano & A Microphone: 1983 - Prince
Coordinates - The Band Perry
Drogas Wave - Lupe Fiasco

This Week
Elephants On Acid - Cypress Hill
Blood Red Roses - Rod Stewart
American Treasure - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Joe Strummer 001 - Joe Strummer

October 5
Wax - KT Tunstall
Wanderer - Cat Power
C'est La Vie - Phosphorescent
New Compassion - Haerts
Sings His Sad Heart - Matt Nathanson
My American Dream - Will Hoge
Guide Me Back Home - City and Colour
Traces - Steve Perry

October 12
The Atlas Underground - Tom Morello
Up and Hang Around - Blues Traveler
Mirror Master - Young the Giant
Look Now - Elvis Costello & The Imposters
The Eclipse Sessions - John Hiatt
Give Out But Don't Give Up: The Original Memphis Sessions - Primal Scream
Happy X-Mas - Eric Clapton

October 19
Shake the Spirit - Elle King
Anthem of a Peaceful Army - Greta Van Fleet
Broken Politics - Neneh Cherry
Darker Days - Peter Bjorn and John
Natural Rebel - Richard Ashcroft
R.E.M. at the BBC - R.E.M.
Christmas Party - The Monkees
Live from the Ryman - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

October 26
Honey - Robyn
Young and Dangerous - The Struts
LIFE - Culture Club
Here If You Listen - David Crosby
Reason for the Season - Mike Love
Ingrid Michaelson's Songs for the Season - Ingrid Michaelson

November 2
Post-Apocalypto - Tenacious D


November 9
String Theory - Hanson
The Messenger - Rhett Miller
Black Velvet - Charles Bradley
Electric Ladyland Deluxe Edition - The Jimi Hendrix Experience


November 16
Delta - Mumford & Sons
Other People's Stuff - John Mellencamp
Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun - Smashing Pumpkins
Chris Cornell - Chris Cornell
Acoustic Live, Vol. 1 - Needtobreathe
Love the Holidays - Old 97's

November 30
A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships - The 1975


TBA
Watch the Thrones 2 - Kanye West and Jay-Z
Front Portch - Joy Williams
Good Ass Job - Kanye West and Chance the Rapper
Yessus 2 - Kanye West
Avril Lavigne
Broken Bells
Carly Rae Jepsen
Mandy Moore
Nas
Oh Land
Prophets of Rage
Rihanna
Selena Gomez
Sheryl Crow
Taylor Swift
Vampire Weekend

And of course this could be the season that Dr. Dre drops Detox.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/23/2018

Shameless: Every season I say the show could not do anything more shameless than what they have done in past seasons, but Carl volunteering to euthanize dogs in cars may be an all-time low. Frank’s reverse racism would be up there if it were not so funny. Though Mo White is a little on the nose.

Fear the Walking Dead: How has a bunch of people who have manage to make it this long in the zombie apocalypse be as so stupid to pull a paraplegic along the road? Seriously, did none of them get up to ninth grade science? Not only are you pulling his weight, but the friction is only adding to the force. You would have exerted much less energy just to carry him. But when you are down a wheelchair, the hospital was the right call. Granted it would have been smart to get in, grab, the chair, and keep moving.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Last Ship: My big takeaway from the episode is the New Colombians have a very weird salute.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

You: So Joe’s last girlfriend weirdly went to Rome with some other dude after they broke up? There has to be more to that story. And what exactly is going to have to Benji, in real life and the digital world? Is Joe just going to dump the body somewhere and have people believe he got the wrong drink or if he just going to continue to make daily douchebag hashtags in perpetuity?
You can download You on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Oh snap, TJ pulled out the our female testers were able to do this faster than anyone insult. I was kind of wondering if they tested that challenge from a couple weeks ago where they were dunking people underwater to solve a hard puzzle. Just how well did those testers do on that one?
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 9/21/2018

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 Veronica Mars, The Guest Book, Dark Money, Saved by the Bell, Top Ten Deadliest Beasts, Africa’s Hunters, Eryn Allen Kane, Ben Howard, Crash Test Dummies, Grown-ish, and Let Science Speak.

- Yesterday, Kristen Bell confirmed that Veronica Mars will return as part of the Hulu Originals slate in 2019 and that fans will be able to watch all past episodes on Hulu beginning in summer 2019.

- Greg Garcia’s anthology comedy series The Guest Book, which premiered as 2017’s #1 new cable comedy, returns to TBS on Tuesday, October 23 at 10:00 with back-to-back new episodes. Subsequent episodes will air on Tuesdays at 10:30. As planned with every new season of The Guest Book, season two features a new town, new series regulars, and new guest stars. In the small oceanside community of Mabel Beach, vacationers who stay at the Bare Feet Retreat record their confessions, alibis, and farewells in the cottage’s guest book. They are hosted by town locals Bodhi, Nikki and Tommy, played by series regulars Jimmy Tatro (American Vandal), Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black), and Dan Beirne (Fargo).


- Your vote can be bought, but at what cost? Dark Money follows local Montana journalist John S. Adams, who is determined to uncover the truth about funding in his state’s elections. The film gains insights over the course of three election cycles, as it solves an increasingly complicated and blurred puzzle. Dark Money traces Adams’ steps and sheds light on the grassroots movement to unveil the mysterious financing behind our elections. Dark Money has its national broadcast and streaming debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, October 1 at 10:00. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 31st season.

- It's a bummer that summer's over, but Shout! Factory starts the new school year off with a bang by unveiling the final list of bonus features for Saved by the Bell: The Complete Collection, a "Max-ed" out, completist's DVD set of the iconic and addictive '90s Saturday morning sitcom. On October 2nd, relive the laughter, lessons and love with Zack and his Bayside High Pals in the ultimate 16-disc collector's set of this iconic '90s sitcom, featuring every series episode and BRAND NEW Bonus Features, available now for pre-order at Amazon.com!

- An eight-foot Terror Bird with a head the size of a horse, a giant venomous lizard called Megalania and an aquatic scorpion the size of a human being. These aren’t fantasy creatures but rather some of the most brutal predators to ever walk the face of the Earth. Premiering Wednesday, October 24 at 8:00, Smithsonian Channel’s Top Ten Deadliest Beasts will count down the 10 most lethal animals in all of history, with computer-generated imagery showing these killers as they were in all their glory.

- Smithsonian Earth continues its epic journey through Zambia’s Luangwa Valley with all-new episodes of Africa’s Hunters. This stunning series takes viewers into the backyard of some of Africa’s greatest predators, following the lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas that call the region home. The second season picks up from where we left our amazing cast of characters just a year ago – checking in with the lonely lion cub Misfit of the Nsefu pride and introducing us to the new leopard queen Olimba, who’s taken over from Kamuti’s rule. Along the way, witness the triumphs of a hard-earned kill, the heartbreak of loss and the bonds of brotherhood that endure in the Luangwa Valley. Filmed with military-grade thermal cameras that allow the filmmakers to go unnoticed at night, Africa’s Hunters captures the every movement of these predators 24/7 over the course of several dedicated years. Viewers will get an unfiltered look into the lives of these amazing creatures like never seen before. New episodes are now available on Smithsonian Earth™, which is available on Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Android™ and at SmithsonianEarthTV.com.

- Critically acclaimed Detroit-raised and LA-based R&B singer and songwriter Eryn Allen Kane shares a new single entitled Feel The Need. Get it HERE. The song heralds the arrival of her forthcoming eight-track EP, Imperial Soul, arriving at all DSPs on September 28, 2018. Listen to Feel The Need HERE.

- Ben Howard returns today with three brand new songs, written and recorded during the sessions for his recently acclaimed third album, Noonday Dream. One of the new songs 'Hot Heavy Summer' features a collaboration with American electro pop duo Sylvan Esso, and last night featured as Annie Mac's Hottest Record on Radio 1. Listen to all three tracks here.

- Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies will reunite for the first time in 17-years to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their seminal sophomore album God Shuffled His Feet. They will perform the album in its entirety as well as other fan favorites including “Superman’s Song” and “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.” The north American tour launches November 23rd at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN and will feature the original line-up of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 21st at noon EST. Fans can get tickets on the official Crash Test Dummies website: crashtestdummies.com/#/tour.

- Freeform announced the start of production on season two of hit comedy series Grown-ish. Reprising his role as Doug is musical artist, rapper and actor Diggy Simmons in a recurring role for season two, quickly became a fandom favorite for his character’s relationship with Jazz Forster. Simmons recently released his latest single “It Is What It Is” and "Anchors" off of his highly-anticipated sophomore album that will be released later this fall.

- Let Science Speak is a six-part digital short documentary series about the importance of science in our ever-evolving world. Through intimate storytelling, Let Science Speak highlights not only what is at risk for our lives, our country, and our planet when science is under attack, but what that means for the humans behind the research, and the people behind the facts. The series goes beyond the "War on Science" headlines to humanize environmental scientists, illustrating how their work is intrinsically connected to personal values that many Americans hold dear, including innovation, health, faith, civic duty, class, race, and family. Let Science Speak will premiere during the 2018 Tribeca TV Festival on September 20th and will be available to watch at letsciencespeak.com.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/16/2018

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Well that was a confusing challenge. Why did the people who got the most bags get rewarded by having more disgusting food?
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Castle Rock: One of the biggest critiques of Stephan King is that, even though he comes up with some great idea, he at times is not very good at finishing his stories. So it should not be that much of a surprise that show inspired by King, though had a great twist in episode in episode nine, was a bit of a let down by the time the final credits rolled. It felt like we ended right back at where we started with The Kid back in his cage but now it is Henry keeping him there instead of the Warden.

We never did get a confirmation if The Kid’s story of the alternative universe was real or not. We did learn that it was, in fact, Henry that pushed his father off the cliff, but we did not see what happened to him after that. I actually thought they were going towards the Henrys going back to the other world with Black Henry being stuck there in a cage for the next twenty-five years until he could find his way back to his world.

Then after the start of the credits we finally got some quality Jackie. She was the best part of the early episodes but just disappeared for long stretches only to return to wield an axe like her uncle. But what exactly was that last scene? Was it just one big Easter Egg because it seemed like all her character was this season? Or was it a teaser for season two and the show will follow her out west to where the story she was writing began? The Overlook Hotel (home of The Shining) is out west in Colorado. After not appearing in much of the first season, I would definitely look forward to a Jane Levy-focused second season.
You can stream Castle Rock on Hulu.

Around the Tubes: 9/14/2018

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 Into The Dark, Discover and OWN on Hulu, John Mellencamp, Sir Rod Stewart, A Murder in Mansfield, The Circus, Los Comandos, and Towards the North.

- In partnership with Blumhouse Television, Into The Dark is a horror event series from prolific, award-winning producer, Jason Blum’s independent TV studio. The series includes 12 super-sized episodes, with a new installment released each month inspired by a holiday and will feature Blumhouse’s signature genre/thriller spin on the story.


- Discovery Inc. and Hulu today announced an expansive distribution agreement that will extend Discovery’s portfolio of high quality real life entertainment brands to Hulu’s on-demand and live TV subscription streaming services. The new partnership makes Hulu the #1 streaming home for popular unscripted series and reinforces Hulu’s commitment to offering programming the whole family can enjoy. Today’s multi-year agreement increases Hulu’s offering of top Discovery programming to nearly 4,000 episodes of popular shows including Deadliest Catch, MythBusters, Say Yes to the Dress, Naked and Afraid, Property Brothers, Gold Rush, Street Outlaws, Chopped, Chopped Jr., Fixer Upper, House Hunters and House Hunters International, available outside of Discovery’s networks exclusively to Hulu across all of its subscription plans.

- Concurrent with the Discovery partnership, Hulu reached a licensing agreement with OWN – which is part of the Discovery Networks family – to bring four of the network’s top-rated scripted series exclusively to Hulu. All past episodes of Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots, If Loving You is Wrong, The Paynes and Love Thy Neighbor are now available to stream for the first time, only on Hulu. They join the complete library of acclaimed OWN series Queen Sugar from Ava DuVernay and Warner Horizon.

- Set to coincide with a highly anticipated new album release, John Mellencamp will embark on a 2019 tour of “The John Mellencamp Show” which will feature the rock icon’s classics plus some new material. Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of music’s most authentic and crowd pleasing concert performers, Mellencamp will begin the tour February 7th in his home state of Indiana at South Bend’s Morris Performing Arts Center and will span two months ending in Clearwater, Florida at the famed Ruth Eckerd Hall. Produced by AEG Presents, “The John Mellencamp Show” will start promptly at 8pm and will not have an opening act. Every ticket purchased online will receive a physical copy of Mellencamp’s forthcoming album “Other People’s Stuff” set for release on November 16th by Republic Records. Tickets for the tour will be available to the general public beginning Friday, September 21st at 10:00am local time. Pre-sale and VIP tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, September 19th at 10:00am local time. For more information and all ticketing information please visit Mellencamp.com.

- Music legend Sir Rod Stewart scored his 23rd Top 10 hit on the AC chart this week with his latest single “Didn’t I.” The song soared into the Top 10 just five weeks into its release, quickly becoming a radio favorite and standout live performance on Stewart’s sold-out summer tour. The song is from his upcoming 30th studio album Blood Red Roses, which is due out September 28th via Republic Records.

- Two-time Oscar®-winning director Barbara Kopple has partnered with America’s leading true-crime network, Investigation Discovery (ID) to explore the legacy of the notorious 1989 murder of Noreen Boyle in Mansfield, Ohio in the new documentary, A Murder in Mansfield. The film chronicles Noreen’s son Collier’s journey for answers and peace in the aftermath of his mother’s death nearly three decades ago. A Murder in Mansfield will have its national television debut exclusively on Investigation Discovery on November 17, 2018 at 9:00.

- Showtime announced that prominent political strategist and commentator Steve Schmidt will join the network’s heralded weekly political docuseries The Circus as a recurring on-air contributor when the show returns on Sunday, September 16 at 8:00. Schmidt has made previous appearances on The Circus, offering trenchant insight based on his more than two decades working at the highest levels of national Republican politics. In the show’s fall run, Schmidt will join hosts John Heilemann, Alex Wagner and Mark McKinnon as they crisscross the country covering the most high-stakes midterm elections in modern history — with titanic implications for the presidency of Donald Trump.

- On World Refugee Day, public television’s WORLD Channel announced the lineup of films for season 3 of Doc World, a series that showcases stories that dive deep into the heart of international issues, giving viewers a chance to understand the lives and concerns of people beyond U.S. borders. The series continues this weekend, with two new films debuting this Sunday, September 16,: Los Comandos and Towards the North, following refugees in Latin America fleeing their homes in search of asylum.

Previewing The First

Mars was huge when I was growing up, in the nineties there were even two Mars movies that were released within months of each other while the United States sent the Mars Rover there around this time. We reached the moon long before, so we have envisioned going to Mars ever since. But after the turn of the century our fascination of Mars seemed to wain so far that John Carter removed mention of Mars from its title to avoid alienating viewers. It failed, the movie ended up being possibly the biggest bust in the history of cinema.

But more recently, The Martian was a huge critical and box office success so maybe things are turning around for the red planet. So maybe it is time for a Mars television show. The First depicts Sean Penn and his crew as they try and become the first men and women to set foot on Mars. Okay, by that description and trailer, you would think this is a sci-fi show but a couple episodes that the actual science is not all that important to the writers and this is really just a character study, it is just the characters just so happen to be training to go to Mars. Really, I have not seen a show try this hard to be prestige television since maybe Ray Donovan.

Sure this is 2033 and we get a few technological advances. You can now open your truck door by saying “Open” (voice activation is general is very prevalent), hand signatures have replaced door keys, and apparently Google Glass is entrenched in society. But really the show is more about the characters than what they do. It is not until the final episode when the show goes heavy into the science fiction.

The show starts with Penn as the former mission commander on the eve of a launch of a mission he was removed from because it was for the best. After a complication, NASA then has twenty-three months (at a cost of seventy-billion dollars) until the next window. But again, between the first and last episodes, the mission to Mars is essentially a backdrop.

Instead we get a super serious show where the only “fun” scenes include one involving karaoke and another involving a basketball game. Everyone in the cast seems to be haunted by something. None is more haunted than Penn’s daughter, newcomer Anna Jacoby-Heron who is haunted by the death of her mother while struggling with drug addiction. Since the show is angling to be prestige television, you would think I would complained of a child shoehorned into the story, but this may be the first prestige television child that will not get you reaching for the fast forward button. In fact Jacoby-Heron may actually be the best part of the show. And where more episode seemed to be mostly focused on a certain character, her singular focused episode is a highlight of television so far this year even as the rest of the show can lag at points.

It seemed like Hulu has struggled for a while to decide just how to deliver its episodes. It looked like it had settled on released a couple episodes on launch before going to the traditional weekly format. But it looks like they are shifting to a Netflix model of everything at once with all their fall shows are doing that with the exception of weekly talk show I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman and Into the Dark which actually going the other way with just a new episode every month. Sure I am biased since I grew up that way, but they should reconsider and go back to weekly episode so people can go back to talking about television.

Just look at Castle Rock, sure it was a slow start but by the time episode seven and then nine rolled around, they spawn hundreds of think pieces that I am sure inspire plenty of people to catch up. Episode five of The First could have been that moment for this show. But when you have released everything at once, there is no time to write that think piece because everyone has moved on to the next show. I can see releasing everything for teen leaning shows like Runaways, but if The First is geared towards, maybe Hulu should consider releasing the show the way most adults watch in the future.

All episodes of The First are available tomorrow on Hulu.

I Want My Music Television: 9/12/2018

High Horse - Kacey Musgraves


During the height of disco even established rock acts from KISS to The Rolling Stones tried to jump on the bandwagon mostly to embarrassing result. Yet thirty years later, somehow Kacey Musgraves came up with a pretty awesome country-disco track.


God is a woman - Ariana Grande


Who would have guessed Ariana Grande is into abstract art? But what the fork was up with the screaming gophers? And the Pulp Fiction/1984 mash-up?


Feels Like Summer - Childish Gambino


Releasing a video for “Feels Like Summer” days before Labor Day seems weird, but Childish Gambino perfectly sums up that end of summer malaise. And crying Kanye may be the most summer 2018 thing there can be.


Shame - Elle King



And now it is time to check in a one hit wonder to see if they have a second hit in them. Elle King had one of the few pop-rock hits in recent history, but this song does not sound like it will catch on at radio too.

The Most (and Least) Anticipated Questions of 2018-19 Television

Here we are a week after Labor Day and already fall television is starting to ramp up before the network start their new seasons. Four shows I am watch just lauched last night.
o here are some questions I am looking to be answered by the time we hit next summer.

1. What the Fork Is Going On in The Good Place? – The Good Place blew our forking mind when the ended the first season with Eleanor figuring out that they were, in fact, in The Bad Place. The show did their big twist a bit early in season two when The Judge sent Team Cockroach back to Earth to live out their lives to see if they would end up being worthy of The Good Place at the start of the list episode so we did get a sneak peak of what season three may be like. It may be a bit precocious to think this will be the whole season considering Michael’s second try only lasted two episodes of season two. All I know about the third season is that Jason better enjoy the Jacksonville Jaguars’ run through the playoffs last year.

2. Will DC Universe Succeed? – We have finally reached streaming saturation where we have to ask of every new service, can it survive? Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu seem to have their foothold with the big pockets of Disney, Youtube, Facebook Watch, and Apple TV lurking (granted deep pockets does not necessarily mean success, remember Ping?). Which begs the question is there a place for niche services? Seriously, who is paying six buck a month to get AMC or FX ad free? Do you at least get their movies uncensored? The latest to put their hat in the ring is DC which is offering a vague number of their comic book movies, shows, and actual comic books along with one exclusive series airing at a time released with weekly episode for eight bucks a month (or seventy-five for a yearly subscription). Does not seem enough to me for a permanent subscription, but I will likely sign up once a year or so for a month just so I can see Lyla Garrity in a superhero costume. Now if only they would greenlight a Saturn Girl spin-off.

3. How Will Homeland End? – How apropos that a show with a bi-polar lead would be the most uneven show in the history of television. As great as the first season was, the third season was equally bad. Since killing off Brody, the show has evened out (though the long slow death of Quinn was excruciating). Two seasons ago, the show backed itself into a Russian hacking storyline before it turned out to really be happening. The show recently announced next will be its last. We left off with Carrie completely off her meds for a lengthy amount of time. Kind of a shame the drama of freeing Carrie wasn’t itself the final season.

4. Will Manifest Be the Next Lost? – Lost launched thirteen years ago and during it six year run, every network tried to replicate its deep seeded mythology with sprawling cast to no avail. Very few got a second season and none I believe got a third. Since they all failed, it has been awhile since a network has tried something so ambitious. Can Manifest, about a plane (how Lostian) lands fire years with the passengers thinking it was a normal flight, capture the magic that Lost did or will it just go the way of The Event?

5. Will the Veronica Mars Reboot Be Any Good? – Veronica Mars has long been the holy grail of gone too soon television shows. We did get a movie thanks to Kickstarter but it was too fan servicey to be great itself. Four years later it looks like we may get a full television revival on Hulu (no official announcement yet but creator Rob Thomas has tweeted out multiple acticles on the subject without actually commenting on it himself). So will the reboot be any good? The movie was good enough and with Thomas and Kristen Bell back, I am definitely optimistic. And free of network constraints, just how dark and gritty will the show get? Can we expect a full frontal Dick Casablancas?


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. Who Will Get Roseanne’d Next? - A wise man once said, “Twitter is stupid and Instagram is Twitter for people who can't read.” Twitter has long been a cesspool for the angriest people to shout at each other and earlier this year Roseanne got axed from her highly rated show for being racist. Then about a month later Guardians of the Galaxy writer / director James Gunn was fired, also by Disney for making poor pedophile jokes on Twitter (or so some claimed were jokes; pictures at him at a pedophile themed party did not help his cause). Which begs the question, who will get fired because of Twitter next? Can I put money on Alec Baldwin, who has an upcoming ABC show and surprisingly has never been blacklisted for his very inappropriate tirades including calling his eleven year old daughter a “rude thoughtless pig.” I know it will not be Rian Johnson, another Disney employee and director of an upcoming Star Wars film, who recently deleted all of his tweets older than a year which is probably the wisest thing anyone can do besides never even going on Twitter.

2. What Will Be the Next Crappy Reboot? – Sure there are some reboots to be extremely excited about that may be coming soon like the previously mentioned Veronica Mars as well Alf, and a Deadwood movie. But for every worthy reboot, there seems to be ten crappy ones. Joining Will and Grace and Roseanne The Connors this fall include Murphy Brown, Magnum P.I. Last Man Standing, and Charmed. We will also be getting soon The Hills, Roswell. And also in the works are Bewitched, Designing Women, The Facts of Life, The Muppet Show, Party of Five, The Twilight Show, The Animaniacs, and a double dose of Melissa Joan Hart reboots in Clarrisa Explains it All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (though she will only appear on the former).

3. Where Did the Runaways Runaway To? – It took an entire season for the titular runaways to actually runaway, to the point I do not really care at this point. I am still kind of rooting for the parents.

4. Will FX Continue to Let Kurt Sutter Overindulge? - The first couple seasons of Sons of Anarchy were pretty good. Then the gang went to Ireland and things dragged on a bit. When they got back to California, it did not get much better because FX’s laisse faire attitude let creator Kurt Sutter make longer and long episode that got more and more excruciating to watch. I think there was even a two hour plus episode that included three musical montages in the final season, one sung by Sutter’s wife who was also a star of the show. Aw, nepotism. So his follow-up was a hard pass for me and apparently most of Sons’ viewers because it was canceled after one season. Sutter is back in the motorcycle game with the spin-off with Mayans MC. But if FX continues to give him carte blanche, I think I will pass. And my cable guide has the first episode at over an hour and thirty-eight minutes and episode two at an hour and a half, so definitely hard pass. Seriously FX, notes are good sometimes.
5. Can CW Succeed Going to Six Nights a Week?: The CW was launched twelve years ago and two years later it was outsourcing its Sunday schedule before abandoning the night a year later. A decade later the CW is reviving the night.

And here are the shows I will be watching this fall and when they begin.

Mondays
8:00 – The Neighborhood (CBS, October 1)
10:00 – Manifest (NBC, September 24)

Tuesdays
8:00 – The Gifted (FOX, September 25)
9:00 – Blackish (ABC, October 16)
10:00 – The Purge (USA, September 4)

Wednesdays
8:00 – Survivor (CBS, September, 26)
8:00 – The Goldbergs (ABC, September 26)
9:00 – Modern Family (ABC, September 26)
9:00 – Vikings (History, November 28)

Thursdays
8:00 – The Good Place (NBC, September 27)
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (CBS, September 27)
8:30 – Superstore (NBC, October 4)

Fridays
The First (Hulu, all episodes September 14)
Into the Dark (Hulu, new episodes on first Friday of the month starting in October)
Marvel’s Runaways (Hulu, all episodes December 21)
8:00 – Blindspot (October 12)
9:00 – Midnight, Texas (October 26)

Sundays
8:00 – Supergirl (The CW, October 14)
9:00 – Shameless (Showtime, September 9)
9:00 – The Last Ship (TNT, September 9)
9:00 - The Walking Dead (AMC, October 7)
9:00 - Ray Donovan (Showtime, October 28)
10:00 – Kidding (Showtime, September 9)
10:00 – You (Lifetime, September 9)
10:00 - Escape at Dannemora (Showtime, November 18)

Previewing Shameless: Season Nine

The new season starts with two rats fornicating until one runs off only to get run over to a car in front of the Gallagher house as the camera pans inside to see Frank passed out in his out puke. Welcome back Shameless. Little has changed since we last saw the Gallagher’s as the new season mostly picks up where we last saw the clan.

Ian is in jail after the stunt where he blew up a van and is still an advocate on the inside. Lip took his co-worker’s niece and is still looking after her. Debbie is still working the graveyard shift with only two toes left on one foot Frank is still banging and stealing from PTA members. While newlywed Carl is at military school.

Fiona is still off owning her building cohabitating with the Irish dude. So little has changed except Svetlana is gone (she is replaced by the Irish dude in the main cast so I may have to learn his name) leaving Vee and Kev looking after two very rambunctious children. Shameless may be better suited to soft reboots every season instead of recycling the same storylines keeping them from getting stale. Except we are getting a supersized season this year with two seven episode halves coming so maybe we will get some shuffling them. With an original cast member soon, they will probably have to.

Shameless airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

Around the Tubes: 9/7/2018

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 Shatterbox, Madison Ryann, Dark Money, 93Queen, and World Refugee Day.

- Turner's TNT, in partnership with Refinery29, today announced the World Premiere and digital release date of season two of the Shatterbox, the film series that gives female storytellers a platform to create short films that redefine identity, imagination and storytelling through the female lens. The latest collection debuts Saturday, September 8, across TNT’s digital ecosystem, including its TVE apps available for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Xbox One, Smart TVs, its website (TNTDrama.com/Shatterbox), and social platforms including YouTube and Facebook. To celebrate the launch, the films will also have an exclusive screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and have a presence at Refinery29’s iconic experiential event, 29Rooms New York, which takes place September 6-9 and September 13-16.

- rising vocalist and songwriter Madison Ryann Ward shares the video for her debut single “Mirror”—watch and share HERE. Refinery29 praises the video saying, “The powerful visuals of the music video match Ward's soulful, smooth vocals.” “Mirror” was released earlier this spring after Ward was featured recording the track with producer Rick Rubin in his Malibu studio on Jay-Z’s episode of the hit Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. When Letterman asks Ward about her objective in making music, she replies, “Just to be honest. And to move people in a way that they’ve never been moved before.”

- Your vote can be bought, but at what cost? Dark Money follows local Montana journalist John S. Adams, who is determined to uncover the truth about funding in his state’s elections. The film gains insights over the course of three election cycles, as it solves an increasingly complicated and blurred puzzle. Dark Money traces Adams’ steps and sheds light on the grassroots movement to unveil the mysterious financing behind our elections. Dark Money has its national broadcast and streaming debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, October 1 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 31st season.

- When Rachel “Ruchie” Freier introduces us to Borough Park, Brooklyn, one of the world’s largest enclaves of Hasidic Jews, she acknowledges the community’s prevailing view of a woman’s role: “The focus of a woman is being a mother. Any profession, or extra schooling, is discouraged.” In Paula Eiselt’s debut feature documentary, 93Queen, America’s first all-female EMT corps is born against this unlikely backdrop. 93Queen, directed by Paula Eiselt and produced by Eiselt and Heidi Reinberg, makes its national broadcast premiere on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, September 17 at 10:00.

- On World Refugee Day, public television’s WORLD Channel announced the lineup of films for season 3 of Doc World, a series that showcases stories that dive deep into the heart of international issues, giving viewers a chance to understand the lives and concerns of people beyond U.S. borders. The first three films of the season, kicking off Sunday, September 9, entitled: Sky and Ground, Los Comandos, and Towards the North, all follow refugees fleeing their homes in search of asylum.

Previewing The Last Ship: The Final Season

It is the end of era as The Last Ship is about to ride off into the sunset after one last mission. It has been three years since the Red Rust threatened the world’s food supply and we are long past the Red Flu. In fact the next virus will be cyber. Or at least that is what a student that Captain Chandler is training, the first class of midshipmen since the global pandemic. In fact the last ship has turned into a great fleet and the Nathan James is just a floating museum.

But of course peace does not last long and the season starts off in winter in Columbia. One Colombian has united South America into one country that wants to be on top of the new world order and they are quickly moving north and do not plan to stop at Mexico. Oh and this leader’s most trusted advisor is someone with Tarot cards so he has some issues. And Sasha just happens to be leading a four member covert ops team down south when the first shots are fired.

For those that have made it this long will be rewarded with its most action packed season yet with even a Saving Private Ryan style invasion (or at least a version on a television budget). And with America in a full scale war, do not expect some of your favorite sailors make it to the end. But we do get one last fitting tribute before the last credits roll. The Last Ship will be going out in style.

The Last Ship airs Sundays at 9:00 on TNT.

Previewing You: A Dude's Review of Lifetime vol. IX

I have long lamented how too many television show have ideas that would be better off as a two hour movie than a format that wants to churn out a hundred episodes per season. Sure ninety-five percent of these shows get canned after one season (or less). But the thing is Lifetime’s You already is a movie. In fact about nineteen percent of Lifetime Movies are about stalkers. Though I wonder if anyone watched a Lifetime movie and thought to themselves, I wish that went on for six seasons or more.

You stars a pretentious bookstore worker, because what else could have possibly been? But Penn Badgley (John Tucker Must Die) is actually a good guy beneath his "paper is better than digital" snobbery, he even bring home books to the kid next door who has to sit on the steps when his mother gets in a shouting match with a new boyfriend. And c’mom, who does not do a little Googling when they meet a new hot chick?

Okay, so Googling until they get an address, go there, and proceed to put your hand down your pants jumps across the proverbial line. And unfortunately the title sequence starting to bleed blood red spoils that someone is going to bleed ruining the, well maybe he is not going to go there. Sure a stalking television show about a stalker pretty much means it will go there eventually, but having it in your title sequence means it is going to happen soon.

For the first half of the Pilot, besides the pretentious job, Badgley actually comes across as an enduring everyman who does a pretty good job explaining what men think about in the pursuit of the fairer sex until he starts to slowly go over the edge. By then, his long inner monologues get a bit tedious and I wish he would stick to pithy one-liners which he is much better at.

Elizabeth Lail (Dead of Summer) plays the object of his obsession and is perfectly stacker worthy in an approachable hot kind of way. (I cannot confirm nor deny going through her whole Instagram but will confirm never actually peeping though her window in the bushes.) She has a creepy boss, a douchebag ex she cannot quite quit yet, and daddy issues which makes for the perfect kind of girl you can swoop in and save.

Though her friend circle can be trouble just because they are kind of annoying. Seriously, one calls herself an Instagram Influencer. And you would think a bookstore worker would get along with best friend Peaches Salinger (yes that Salinger played by the fourth best Pretty Little Liar Shay Mitchell), but Peaches and Badgley wisely do not trust each other as things escalate with every passing episode and becomes the most compelling part of the show half way through the first season.

You reminds me of classic J.J. Abrams in that the episodes are set up well and end with shockers that will likely have you tuning in the next week (the end of episode is, um, epically memorable) but everything in between is kind of a bore. I think it probably has to do with too much monologing and maybe a more captivating actor could have help. There is a format change in episode four that shakes thinks up for a bit until you realize it is not much better than the original format. When it comes down to it, You is just not as infatuating as Lail is to Badgley.

You airs Sundays at 9:00 on Lifetime.

Previewing Kidding

When you have a television show that reteams Michel Gondry with Jim Carrey who gave us Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you know you are getting something weird. Sure Kidding is not as surreal as their movie, but it is still pretty weird. Carrey plays Mr. Pickle a children’s television host that will bring images of Mr. Rogers (who is have his own small revival thanks to a documentary). He is so beloved that when hoodlums steal his car and start to strip it only to find his friend Ukularry, they put the car back together and leave the car back where they stole it.

As pure as Mr. Pickle is, he is so naïve that he goes in to have his phone fixed when someone does not text him back, his executive producer / dad Frank Langella (Masters of the Universe), is as shred. See Mr. Pickle has turned into a hundred and twelve million dollar licensing industry. So when Carrey’s son dies in a car crash and Carrey slowly starts to lose it, Langella looks at way to keep the Mr. Pickle franchise rolling without his son.

Caught in the middle is sister / daughter Catherine Keener (Death to Smoochy) who is also the head puppeteer and possible heir to her father. Though no dead child, she has some major issues of her own at home include a daughter who has a tick more annoying than that of Brick Heck that she picked up after she her father with her piano teacher. The death of his son also put a strain on his marriage to Judy Greer (Marmaduke) who has moved on to another man while the kid that did survive the car crash have figure out what is life without the twin that was always there.

Kidding could be your typical corporate power struggle or sad sack drama, but add Jim Carrey into the equation as an overtly earnest kids host, and you get something inherently weird and totally unpredictable as the character slowly descents into madness. Be it shaving a strip down the middle of his head, goes, on a date with a grown up fan, spending time with a terminal cancer patciant, or how he deals with the driver who struck his son. Not knowing where it goes next will likely be the best part of Kidding, for better or worse.

Kidding airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 9/2/2018

Sharp Objects: Last week they made a pretty convincing argument that Adora was in fact a serial murder, killing her own kid along with two local girls more recently. I was slightly disappointed because I was convinced all the way back that Amma was the killer. Of course the one thing that bugged me was they never really explained why Adora would mutilate the bodies by ripping their teeth out. My suspension was right because big twists at the end: I was right in thinking Amma was super creepy this whole time because she did end up killing those girls. The show was a rare murder mystery that cleared up all the loose ends and even managed to explain away all the red herrings. Okay I had to have it explained to me that in the brief flashes at the end was Amma killing one of the girls in the guest house where they found the girl’s blood, I totally missed that. And I am kind of left wondering just what the Sherriff knew about Adora and Amma. It was implied he knew about the Munchhausen by Proxy and I always took him dismissing the Woman in White theory because women cannot pull teeth as kind of deflecting of what he knew or at least assumed happened. I guess the only other loose end I have is who dumped the bike?

Fear the Walking Dead: Wait, the hurricane did not actually blow Morgan away did it? Or did someone actually drive him across state lines during a hurricane? Did he just sleep through the whole thing? I feel like I missed something.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Oh my goodness, they actually played Jozea’s single. And it was just as bad as expected. I actually went to YouTube the next day and after it aired and after five months, the video had less than a thousand views. If this is the job Jozea was talking about, he is really going to need to find another one. Just please do not think you can be the next Johnny Bananas. I would not mind if this was the last season for both of you.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Castle Rock: Well Jackie finally got to partake in the horrors that happen in her time. But did she whack that guy with a wood axe or a fireman axe? Oh and Molly died in the woods. Wait, what? We have seen her interact with many different people so she is not a ghost. Was she brought back to life? Is just everyone in this town dead already? And is Henry really the “Black Death” or was the prisoner being locked up is what is truly behind what is cause people to murder?
You can stream Castle Rock on Hulu.