Previewing Marvel's Runaways: Season Two

Big shake up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: small screen addition this year with Netflix canceling three of its five Marvel shows with the other two likely to get the axe after their next seasons air (oh, and I guess something big happened on screen too this year, not that a bunch of teenagers in California notice or care). Of course that begs the question will Marvel resurrect those characters elsewhere even though it is reported there is a contractual two year waiting period. The upcoming Disney+ streaming channel (Disney owns Marvel Studios) is supposedly family friendly, so if we ever see Daredevil and the rest of The Defenders, it would most likely be on Hulu, which Disney will soon own sixty percent of.

Hulu being the current home of its own Marvel show Runaways. So could we see the Runaways team up with or battle The Defenders? Since they are on different coasts, unlikely. And Runaways first season was low on references to the larger universe it inhabits. That does change a little in season two where I caught a Black Panther reference as well as a Cloak and Dagger reference that they really want you to notice because it is in two episodes. The latter airs on Freeform, another Disney owned channel which makes a crossover a little like even though the shows again are on different coast, Cloak does have the ability to teleport.

The first season of Runaways was just one long tease. Given the show’s name, it was a huge shame the titular characters decided to wait until the last frame of the first season to actually run away. And that first season should have been great: a group of super power kids team up to take on their supervillain parent, each with their own tried and true super villain traits: the mad scientist, the witch, the alien, the time travelers, and the street thugs turned real estate tycoons. Then the kids take the traits of their parents, including a sixth teen with super strength whose parents died, to take them down. But the first season just came off as a bad The CW teen show with superpowers. It was created by the writing team that gave us The O.C., Gossip Girl, and The Carrie Diaries.

So has the show improved now that the Runaways have, you know, actually run away? Well, a little, but it was not the leap that other bottom of the Marvel heap show did in the second season of Iron Fist. Although where Iron Fist wisely went from thirteen to ten episodes, Runaways actually expanded from ten to thirteen episodes. The show is much better at answering question at time, both others they take to long to get to the point. But one of the biggest problems with that first season was none of the kids on the show were particularly good actors and I found much of that first season rooting for the evil murderous parents.

I found myself rooting for the parents less in season two but that is mostly because some of their motives were weird or unclear and after a major event in the middle of the season, they just start to become aimless. Sure, that unclear motive is explained for three of the parents, but I still wish they would just go full on supervillain just to make the lines clearer. When it comes to superheroes, you just really cannot have shades of grey that you need in more relationship drama.

As for the children, yes they ran away but they did not go far as they start the season on the streets of Los Angeles with no sense of direction until they find an underground mansion that they co-op. But they seem as aimless as their parents seemingly have six different plans among the six of them. They spend most of the season going off by themselves on side missions they do not seem to add to much. Sometimes the kids go back to their parents voluntarily and sometimes the parents just let them go even though they plot to reunite with their kids by any means necessary. This season really misses a common goal that actually builds to something and actual motivations that make sense and are consistent.

We do get a couple of potential Runaways this season; comic book readers should recognize both. There is a third person who is brought into the mansion and is called a Runaway, which just let me scratching my head as to anyone would do this. But I made a dent into my skull at the number of times I had to scratch my head watching this season of Runaways. With that said, I will likely still be back for season three. Hopefully the dent in my head has been repaired by then.

All episodes of Marvel’s Runaways are available tomorrow on Hulu.

Previewing American Dream / American Knightmare

When I finished watched the NWA bio-flick Straight Outta Compton, my first impression was, sure, fine, whatever, what I really want is a sequel focusing on Death Row which only got about five to ten minutes in the NWA film. It was during the filming of the movie, former Death Row owner Suge Knight killed a man on the set by driving over him with his car. He was later set to prison for that crime and the fifty-three year old is currently serving a twenty-eight year sentence.

Around this time, Suge sat down with Training Day filmmaker Anoine Fuqua to give the most in depth interview the rap mogul has ever given for American Dream / American Knightmare. From his start as a stand out football recruit (there is a Super Bowl Shuffle knock off with his college team) to owning the most successful black run record label of the nineties and his subsequent downfall. And the only people intewviewed for the documentary have the last name Knight. Though it is unclear if that was the intent or still no one wants to talk about the man on camera except family members. So we get to hear Vanilla Ice’s infamous encounter through his 1996 ABC News interview again.

It was a bit surprising to still see Knight’s parents still together and it is weird to hear them talk as if they did not raise a violent criminal. This is a guy who was first arrested in 1987 for slicing off his girlfriend’s ponytail at 22; then attempted murder the next year. And he also thinks paying five millions dollars to five lawyers means you should avoid jail time. There really is nothing really groundbreaking or that new in the documentary, but that is probably all the information we are going to get about Suge Knight until he dies and people will start feeling safe to talk about him without recourse.

American Dream / American Knightmare premieres Friday at 8:30 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/16/2018

Supergirl: These crossover events are just getting lamer. And that potential Bat Woman spinoff looks like it would be abysmal unless they for some reason find a way for Saturn Girl to be part of the show. Or, how about just giving Saturn Girl her own show?
Supergirl on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: So Bunchy is going to turn himself in, yet Micky is able to push a cop down and that geriatric that just had a heart attack can outrun him. Alrighty. But I feel bad for Bridget, she moves across the country only to have her father follow her and get her in danger almost instantly. Maybe she can move back to California, or just find her brother and go there because clearly no one cares about him. But I found it weird that Ray was turned on the mayoral candidate so quickly considering he just forked her last week (literally) and then (figuratively) forked her this week. What exactly is Ray’s play? Is he really going to let her lose? Or is he going to end up framing her opponent for killing the gaured that Bunchy wacked? That would be a very Ray Donovan thing to do.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: If I were to rank my ten favorite Survivor moments, I am sure a couple of the slots would go to fake Idols being played (“It’s a forking stick”) but I have to say, Nick “finding“ the fake Idol he planted to stop other people from looking was brilliant. Well almost, Davie still looked for, and found a clue. And Davie wisely did not give up his vote for a chance to play it later. He ended up getting a few votes. But poor Nick, not only did that fake Idol did not work in keeping people from looking, him playing his fake Idol did not give him the correct response to not play the Idol he did not need to play.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Vikings: Yep, the real baby daddy of the princess had to die. I kind of figured that would be the end to avoid him saying anything. Oh yeah, Ragnor’s other son is back. How long has it been? A couple seasons but decades on the show? And who exactly is the sacrifice? They certainly made it seem to me that Ivar was talking about his brother when he brought it up to him. So why end on a cliffhanger, does that mean it is someone else?
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Titans: So Beast Boys sees some chick wield a golden lasso and his first thought was this much be Wonder Girl? Um, does Wonder Woman not use one in this universe? Then I mostly laughed when White Sean from Rescue Me walked out of that mirror. Not exactly who I picture when I think of Trigon, a larger than life villain with red skin, antlers, and more than two eyes. But I guess the biggest thing that happened this week was the promo for the season finale (wait, there are only eleven episode, kind of a weird number) with Robin taking on Batman. Though it seems pretty obvious all those scenes are from some warped reality, pretty much what exactly The CW crossover did this week.

Nightflyers: I actually enjoyed this week’s episodes more than the first batch because it seemed like they were actually going somewhere. There was that cool scene with the captain surviving the decontamination because apparently he is not an organic material. Although kind of gross when it was sort of revealed he has been forking what you could call his sister. Seriously, what is with all the incest in George R.R. Martin’s work? But what a clusterfork of an ending.
You can download Nightflyers on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/14/2018

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 John Mellencamp, Sigrid, Shaylen, Bird vs. Plane: Miracle on the Hudson, and Pusha-T.

- John Mellencamp releases his 24th album, Other People’s Stuff via Republic Records. Get Other People’s Stuff HERE! On the album Mellencamp noted: “Most, if not all, of the songs on Other People’s Stuff come from The Great American Songbook. These are songs that have been recorded over the last 40 years of my career but had never been put together as one piece of work. Now, they have.”

- Sigrid announces her highly anticipated debut album Sucker Punch, set for release on March 1, 2019 on Island Records. The Norwegian pop star’s experience over the last year has been the backdrop for her debut record. Her epic songs are tales of the unexpected; fearless musical collages and shout-outs to human resilience.

- Los Angeles-based pop vocalist and songwriter Shaylen droped her latest single “Isn’t You” last week via Republic Records—listen HERE! “Isn’t You” follows her debut single, “El Dorado,” released earlier this fall, which Idolator hailed as “a hugely confident pop anthem about knowing your worth.” This Saturday, December 8th, Shaylen will be performing at The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles. Tickets are available now.

- 20th Century Fox has released the trailer and official poster for Breakthrough, based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost, but Joyce refuses to give up and her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery. From producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven) and adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) from Joyce Smith’s own book, Breakthrough is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle.


- On the 10th anniversary of US Airways Flight 1549’s miraculous landing on the Hudson River, Smithsonian Channel revisits the event to explore the impact of bird strikes in aviation accidents around the world. In the United States alone, thousands of aviation bird strikes happen annually, with an uptick in reporting during the winter migration; this was the case during the mid-January miracle on the Hudson in 2009. Featuring first-person accounts from survivors and flight safety experts working to reduce collisions, as well as leading scientists in the field of forensic ornithology, Bird vs. Plane: Miracle on the Hudson examines commercial and military air accidents, investigates the roles different bird species play in these events and highlights groundbreaking work to prevent future occurrences. Bird vs. Plane: Miracle on the Hudson premieres Tuesday, January 15 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- The highly anticipated 1800 Seconds album has finally dropped! Hip-hop legend Pusha-T and 1800® Tequila have partnered to find 10 aspiring hip-hop artists to launch 1800 Seconds, a new recording and artist discovery platform that gives unsigned artists a chance to record one new track. Pusha-T personally selected each rising artist for 1800 Seconds from across the country for their individuality and unique music. Under his curation the 1800 Seconds music platform produced a 30-minute compilation album featuring 10 new tracks. After more than 15 years as a major recording artist and coming off the success of his third studio album Daytona, the verified titan of hip-hop is pushing culture forward by supporting new talent. The 10 artists include Ant White (Philadelphia, PA), Cartel Count Up (Hampton, VA), Don Zio P (Middletown, CT), Hass Irv (Harlem, NY), Monalyse (Detroit, MI), Nita Jonez (Houston, TX), Sam Austins (Detroit, MI), T Got Bank (Brooklyn, NY), Trevor Lanier (Wilmington, NC) and Tyler Thomas (Los Angeles, CA).

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/9/2018

Supergirl: Wow, that has to be the lamest superpower ever. But hopefully this is the last we see of Agent Liberty now that he is in jail because that storyline sucked. But I have a sinking suspicion the mysterious figure he was talking to on the phone this week was the new president so he may get out sooner than later.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: Wow Teresa sure was able to get to New York pretty quick. I know Terry said he would need Bridget to look after the kid for a couple days, but it did not seem that long.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: Every season, as it starts to wind down, someone I barely remember pops up with a plan that makes me go, really, you have been hiding in the shadows this whole time and that is your big plan to win over the jury. Davie is that person this season. The rest of the tribe wisely realizes that Christian would win in a route and blindside him because he has an Idol. But Davie in all his infinite wisdom tells Christian this… and then still votes for him. What? I kind of hope he makes the final just so I can hear his explanation as to why he thinks he played the best game.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Vikings: Ooo, Ivar’s new bride is a spicy minx. He may not be able to produce an heir, but that is not going to stop her from giving him one. But what will the baby daddy say about the heir to the throne? Speaking of heirs, interesting Alfred is trying to convert the pagans to Christianity much like Ragnar once practiced (though I do not remember him renouncing his God, just doing a hybrid). And so much for the bishop going back to his vow of celibacy. That did not last long. Speaking of forbidden love, it looks like Bjorn has the same penchant for banging princesses as his father.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

The Good Place: I never thought we would get to the actual Good Place this season, maybe the season finale at the earliest. And how disappointing that I have spent the last three years trying to maximizing my Good Place points only to learn no one has gotten in there in centuries. No more snail funerals for me.
The Good Place on iTunes.

Blindspot: So Zapata is caught and Jane as gone full loony. I thin last week may have made for a better mid-season finale.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Titans: I recently signed up for DC Universe and finally caught up on the show and, well, you would think of how much the DC movies have gotten panned for being too dark and gritty, they would not make a show that was too dark and gritty. But alas, here we are. Though the most recent was the best so far. Having Lyla Garrity helps, she has been in a coma way too long. But really, it is not a good sign when the two best episodes spent not much time on the Titans because the Doom Patrol episode was the second best.

Nightflyers: Well, this George R.R. Martin adaptation is certainly no Game of Thrones. And really it run into the same problem every spaceship television show run into: the ship is too small making the show too claustrophobic for ten hours o so. You really need to spend some time outside.
You can download Nightflyers on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/7/2018

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 Hootie & the Blowfish, American Dream/American Knightmare, En Vogue, Eight Days that Made Rome, and Disasters at Sea.

- Hootie & the Blowfish: Only Wanna Be with You


- Showtime will debut the world premiere of the new documentary film American Dream/American Knightmare, on Friday, December 21 at 8:30 on-air, streaming and on demand. The documentary, which offers an uncensored look into the life of notorious rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, is directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Southpaw).


- On Saturday, Vevo confirmed that thank u, next had broken the 24-hour Vevo record. Today, Vevo can confirm that Ariana Grande's video is now the fastest video to reach 100 million views, a feat managed in under four days following the release of the video on Friday, November 30 at 3pm ET.

- Tune in Friday, December 7 at 9:00 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “En Vogue” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV.

- Presented by award-winning historian, author and broadcaster Bettany Hughes – Oxford University scholar and one of the BBC’s 100 Global Women – Eight Days that Made Rome explores the eight key days that defined the great Roman Empire. To tell the story of Rome, Hughes travels across the region once held by the empire, delving into its rich history and uncovering brand new archeological evidence to bring ancient Rome back to life. The eight-part landmark series offers a fresh perspective on the building of arguably the most powerful empire of all time – examining how it came to dominate the ancient world and helping us to understand its astonishing success. Eight Days that Made Rome premieres on Monday, January 7 at 8:00 with a special premiere episode sneak peek the night before on Sunday, January 6 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- From pleasure cruises to cargo carriers, even the calmest boat trips can end in tragedy. In the aftermath of the world’s most destructive naval catastrophes, loved ones and investigators are often left with unsatisfying answers. Following its acclaimed series AIR DISASTERS, which has uncovered shocking revelations behind aviation calamities for 11 seasons, Smithsonian Channel expands its search for the truth into the world of maritime incidents. New series Disasters at Sea premieres Sunday, January 13 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

Previewing: Into the Dark: Pooka!

The first “episode” of Into the Dark was a farcical slasher flick, the second was a very insularity psychological thriller, and for December, we get a third very different type of horror. Pooka! is a very disturbing mind trip where the further we get in the episode the harder it is to trust what exactly what we are seeing.

Directed by Nacho Vigalondo, the writer and director of Colossal, Pooka! stars Nyasha Hatendi (Casual) stars as a struggling actor who gets cast as the body of the hot new toy for this Christmas season. Pooka has headlight eyes, a weird oval mouth with lines on both sides (being right under the eyes makes me wonder if they may be tears), a big “O” on the belly, and repeats everything you say in its weird voice. Oh and Pooka, who is only available at pop-up stores, chooses to be naughty or nice, not the owner or anyone else. Of course throughout the episode, Pooka is more naughty than nice.

After putting on the suit for the gig, Hatendi starts to wonder if he is wearing the suit or is the suit wearing him. There are gaps in his memory and visions of the suit moving without him. Making things even more troublesome, a budding romance with a single mother. And just when you think there is no why this episode can end in a coherent way, it actually ends in a way that (kind of) makes sense. Here is my up to date Into the Dark Power Rankings:

1. The Body (October)
2. Pooka! (December)
3. Flesh and Bone (November)

Into the Dark: Pooka! premieres tomorrow only on Hulu. And look out later this month for “January’s” episode, because the New Year’s Eve episode premieres December 28.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/2/2018

Supergirl: I knew Manchester Black was a bad guy from the comics, but pretty cold to sell out Supergirl like that. And it did not even work, Captain Liberty was somewhere else. Although I kind of hope Manchester does exact some revenge because am ready for the Make Earth Great Again storyline to be over. Whatever happened to Soviet Supergirl?
Supergirl on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: You would think after getting blackmailed with a sex tape the mayoral candidate would not be so quick to fork another dude she just met even if he helped her out. And just what exactly is Bunchy up to? But is this the end of Conner? He finally gets out to New York with the rest of the family only to ship out by the end of the episode. Granted he is the least interesting Donovan so itt would be fine if he stays in Afghanistan or wherever he is going.

The Walking Dead: Way to spoil who survives that graveyard Promo Monkey. Geez. But is it really that hard to scale five foot wall? With Eugene pulling and two dudes pushing him over should not have been as hard as they made it out to be. And did Maggie really die in the time jump? She has only been vaguely mentioned and her kid has been whole absent. Maybe they just sent her away assuming her ABC show gets quickly canceled and she will be back next season.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Manifest: Wait, they killed off the Homeland Security guy? Or at least hot lady cop was told he did not make it. Of course my number one rule of television is, if you do not see someone die, they probably are not dead. Me thinks he was taken by the shady government agency.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: Wait, Probst offered up extra rice for exchange of someone sitting out an immunity challenge? Lame. Dude’s taken everything before. Should have at least made multiple people sit out. But Angelina is just that keeps on giving this season. She could have been booted that week after the jacket incident and still would have been an all-timer, but lack of self-awareness is just pure entertainment. She finally thinks she is in with the David’s and the look on her face when she realized that Carl was getting more votes than expected was just priceless. She is almost the second coming of Eliza.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Blindspot: So Kurt finally realized Jane was not who she was pretending to be and… they ended up having to still work together because they got caught up in a home invasion. But now that she has escaped, it should make things a little more interesting as the FBI will now be chasing two rouge agents. So how long until Jane hooks up with Zapata? Although doesn’t Jane need the FBI and their information? Patterson did find another file this week.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/30/2018

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 I Am the Night, Marvel's Runaways, Fail State, Desus and Mero, Sommore: A Queen with No Spades, Taylor Janzen, Showtime music documentaries, Ask Dr. Ruth, Life Sucks, and Laws of the Lizzard.

- Director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster) has released a new trailer on Twitter for TNT's highly anticipated limited suspense drama, I Am the Night, starring Chris Pine (Wonder Woman, Star Trek). I Am the Night premieres Monday, January 28, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).


- Check out the official trailer for the second season of Marvel's Runaways, premiering all episodes Friday, December 21, only on Hulu.


- Executive produced by news legend Dan Rather, Fail State (Monday December 17, on Starz) investigates the dark side of American higher education, chronicling the decades of policy decisions in Washington, D.C. that have given rise to a powerful and highly-predatory for-profit college industry. With echoes of the subprime mortgage crisis, the film lays bare how for-profit colleges exploit millions of low-income and minority students, leaving them with worthless degrees and drowning in student loan debt. Combining five years of research and interviews from over 60 experts, policymakers, whistleblowers, and students defrauded by their colleges, director Alexander Shebanow presents a searing indictment on the for-profit college industry and the lawmakers enabling widespread fraud and abuse in American higher education.

- Showtime will debut Desus and Mero, the weekly half-hour late-night series starring Desus Nice and The Kid Mero on Thursday, February 21 at 11:00, which will air on Thursday nights from New York City. The first ever weekly late-night talk show on Showtime will feature popular TV and podcast personalities Desus and Mero speaking off the cuff and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more.


- Stand-up comedian Sommore brings a full house of class and sass for the debut of her new one-hour comedy special, Sommore: A Queen with No Spades, on Friday, December 21 at 10:00 on Showtime. In the special, directed by Kevin Layne and Scott Woolley and filmed at the Faena Theater in Miami Beach, Sommore commands the stage with her frank and fearless take on today’s issues and her unique perspective on life, politics and individual choice. T

- With her stunningly sparse melodies and minimalistic guitar riffs, 19 year old Taylor Janzen may seem softly spoken, but her staggering lyrical narrative and deeply personal writing sends a resounding message. The Winnipeg artist garnered praise from the New York Times with her debut EP, Interpersonal. which was mastered by Greg Calbi (Julien Baker, Arcade Fire, Big Thief), and co-produced by Taylor. Today, she returns with "New Mercies" - a song that sees Taylor embrace a bigger, fuller sound and was produced/mixed by Mike Mogis (Cursive, Phoebe Bridgers, Bright Eyes). With folk-twinged riffs and an unabashedly post-punk backbone, New Mercies has an underlying sense of frustration that sees the Canadian artist grapple with her disconnection with spirituality.


- SHOWTIME has announced plans for a special week of music documentary premieres in December, profiling rock legends Jeff Beck, Agnostic Front, GG Allin and Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch. JEFF BECK: STILL ON THE RUN will premiere Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, AGNOSTIC FRONT: GODFATHERS OF HARDCORE on Wednesday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT, GG ALLIN: ALL IN THE FAMILY on Thursday, December 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, and KORN’S BRIAN “HEAD” WELCH: LOUD KRAZY LOVE on Friday, December 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.


- Hulu announced that it has acquired 2019 Official Sundance Selection Ask Dr. Ruth to join its growing slate of award-winning documentary films, which includes 2018 Sundance Film Festival selections and critically acclaimed titles Minding the Gap and Crime + Punishment. The film will premiere at Sundance Film Festival, on Hulu and in theaters in 2019, and will receive the widest theatrical release for a Hulu Documentary to date. Directed by Ryan White (The Keepers, The Case Against 8), Ask Dr. Ruth chronicles the incredible life of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor who became America's most famous sex therapist. With her diminutive frame, thick German accent, and uninhibited approach to sex therapy and education, Dr. Ruth transformed the conversation around sexuality. As she approaches her 90th birthday and shows no signs of slowing down, Ask Dr. Ruth follows Dr. Ruth as she revisits her painful past and unlikely path to a career at the forefront of the sexual revolution.

- Laughspin has exclusively premiered the first two episodes of the new '00s nostalgia comedy series LIFE SUCKS, a perfectly awkward blend of Freaks & Geeks and Wet Hot American Summer, with a production history worthy of true underdog status. Episodes 3-6 will be released weekly beginning in the first week of December.

- Biologists and wildlife filmmakers Nate Dappen and Neil Losin launch a year-long adventure in search of the secrets of an unassuming reptile in Smithsonian Channel’s Laws of the Lizzard. Dappen and Losin travel to remote forests and tiny islands across the Caribbean and Latin America to uncover how a tiny reptile can reveal the fundamental rules of nature – what they call the “laws of the lizard.” Winner of the 2018 Jackson Hole Science Media Awards’ top prize, the Grand Helix, Laws of the Lizard will premiere on Wednesday, December 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

Previewing the Second Half of Vikings Season Five

Last season on Vikings, it was brother vs. brother as half of the sons of Ragnar L:othbrok fought each other for control of Katagaurd. But it was Ragnar’s long lost brother who returned to tip the scales, but not the way I would have guessed. Instead of siding with nephew Bjorn whom he had actually known and his mother, he fought with Ivar whom I do not believe he even met.

The other major storyline from last season saw Floki sail to Greenland looking for the lands of the Gods only to find a frozen wasteland and his traveling companions only became more frustrated. Then over in England Alfred has ascended to the throne even though I believe he was not actually the king’s son. And one of his first decrees being that the English shall now only speak English. So the English and Vikings both speak primarily English. Alrighty.

So the big question going into the new block of episodes is what becomes of the loser Bjorn, Ubba, and Laggatha who is now sporting white hair even though the show picks right up and she really did not have the time to go that grey that fast. Granted with all the decade time jumps in the past she has got to be up there in age by now. The other big question for me is how long can Ivar hang on to power. I have been a bit surprised that a cripple could hold on to power that long. But he has vanquished a couple brothers though there is a new lady in his life that could be his downfall. And I am not the only one to think that because Ivar even has some disturbing visions of her.

Vikings airs Wednesdays at 9:00 on History.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/25/2018

- Supergirl: I spend the summer catching up on Game of Thrones and after all that time looking at Drogan and his brothers, I audibly laughed at how cheesy the dragon looked on this show.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: Yeah, Bridget’s fiancé is adding nothing to this show. Those I did get a laugh out of Bridget talking about how her last relationships went. Too bad beau number three may actually not be much better. But when will Micky realize that Ray is smarter than him? So where do Micky and Bunchy go from here? They still have their ID’s so they can still get to Canada but they do not have the money to get to Vietnam or any other country without an extradition treaty. Shouldn’t Daryll still be worried about retaliation though if Micky does not have the money to go anywhere? I cannot imagine Ray turning Micky in if Bunchy is still with him. Although even if his baby mama has not called the cops, Bunchy still killed a guard?

Manifest: Wait, why is the brother at the same school as his sister? Shouldn’t she be in high school and him still in elementary school? Did he get socially promoted because he should be in high school?
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Last week I predicted that Joss and Sylvia would win and I should have gotten that right except those morons stupidly stepped down for some deal that the other team had no obligation to keep. Just lost five minute there. Had they just lasted to second place in that challenge, they likely win. Well, unless Cara Maria and Maria would have agreed that Joss and Sylvia gotten their grenade too. Speaking of stupid moves, how does Hunter let Smashley win? Clearly he could have out run her but chose to stay with her. And even I was against taking the money, Smashley’s excuse of Hunter threatening her family was a worthy reason to screw her over. You just do not treat people that way. It will be interesting how Hunter reacts to the tape of him saying what he swears he did not say. The tape does not lie.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: I had a pretty big eye roll when Carl found the Idol Nulifier. I thought there was no way that thing would be used correctly and really, I doubted it would be used at all. But oh I was wrong and in a big way. When the Davids were talking about all their advantages, I thought it was too good to be true that they would actually play all their advantages and actually do it correctly. The stealing of Alison’s vote did kind of raise my eyebrow but maybe that was the decoy to get the Idol out and through the scent off of who they were actually targeting. But the David’s pulled it off without a hitch. Kudos to Christian who managed to get a Goliath out and hold on to his Idol even though before the vote I thought he should had played it just in case. You found that one, go out tomorrow and find another.

So what now? We are actually back even, five each. Do the three Goliaths who were keen on flipping last episode still try working with the David even though they pulled two over on them two Tribals in a row? Does Angelina go rouge after getting voted for by Goliaths? Would it be wise for any Goliath to flip because it would be pretty obvious now they would be on the bottom? Can the Goliaths pull together and get the upper hand back with all the Advantages sans Christian’s Idol out of the game? It should make for an interesting final stretch since Dan was the least likable of the bunch this season. Hopefully it keeps ping ponging back and forth because one tribe dominating post-merge is always boring.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/23/2018

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 Future Man, SMILF, Krypton, Alessia Cara, Shaggy, The All American Rejects, Blanche, Maggie Lindemann, Allan Rayman, Phony Ppl, Marilyn Monroe for Sale, and Showtime boxing.

- Check out the teaser trailer for the second season of Future Man, Hulu's hit comedy series from the guys who brought you Sausage Party! Season 2 premieres Friday, January 11, only on Hulu.


- The hit Golden Globe® nominated Showtime comedy series SMILF, starring creator, executive producer and showrunner Frankie Shaw in her Golden Globe-nominated performance and multiple Emmy® Award winner Rosie O’Donnell, will return to the network on Sunday, January 20 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. To preview what’s to come for Bridgette Bird (Shaw) – a single mother living fearlessly – and her family, exes and friends.


- Krypton, the all-new series from executive producers David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Cameron Welsh (Constantine) tells the origin story of DC’s iconic Superman in a whole new way! Just in time for the second season on SYFY, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release the action-adventure hit series Krypton: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD on March 5, 2019. Fans can purchase the set which, in addition to all 10 exhilarating episodes from season one, contains over an hour of extra content, including the 2017 Comic-Con panel, featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel. Krypton: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray which includes a Digital Copy. Krypton: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

- When you generate as much fan love as Alessia Cara has in the last few years, it's little wonder than your ever-growing audience can't wait for your new album. That's what's happening with 'The Pains of Growing,' Cara's second full record and the first to arrive since she won the "Best New Artist" award at the Grammys earlier this year. The Canadian singer with the deep love of family and the unique way of blending pop with R&B touches, has brought the world a handful of hits, including "Wild Things," "Seventeen" and "Scars To Your Beautiful" as well as a cool collab with Zedd and other stars. Vevo has long been a big supporter of Alessia, one of their major LIFT artists since hitting the scene in 2015. Now, with her Vevo X Session, she shares raw, emotional live performances of tracks from the upcoming album, including "Not Today," "Trust My Lonely" and "Growing Pains."

- Iconic reggae artist, Shaggy is back with his new single, "Use Me" via 300 Entertainment and Brooklyn Knights Entertainment. The mid-tempo record consists of Shaggy's desire to be present for his woman emotionally and physically, anything less is pointless to him and their relationship. Shaggy's powerful voices commands the soothing production and displays why he remains one of the most important figures in dance hall. "Use Me" is the first single off the Grammy winner's upcoming 2019 album.

- Tune in Friday, November 23 at 9:00 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “The All American Rejects” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV.

- Blanche, aka Ellie Delvaux is pleased to release new single "Moment" through [PIAS] Recordings alongside it's dazzling video. Watch and listen HERE. Already a big name in her native Belgium, Blanche’s return is marked with a livewire energy - ideas and feelings expressed with passion and technical expertise beyond her 19 years. "Moment" was produced by Rich Cooper (Billie Marten) and mixed by Dan Grech (Lana Del Rey, Halsey, Shura).

- After over 700 million career streams to date, rising alterna-pop icon Maggie Lindemann opens up and bares all in her new track, Would I, premiering on PAPER Magazine. From the opening moments of the track, we're greeted with a somber guitar riff layered against Maggie's brooding vocals, as she walks us through a narrative that pieces together her experiences with mental health issues while navigating the fast paced lifestyle of Los Angeles.

- Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Allan Rayman has released his new musical project, Harry Hard-On, out today via Republic Records. Get it HERE. The new album is produced by Andrew Dawson (Daytona [Pusha T], My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [Kanye West]) and executive produced by Moose. The album marks Rayman’s debut on Alex da Kid’s label, KIDindaKorner. The mysterious artist will be spending the rest of the year headlining a European tour, a list of dates is below.

- Phony Ppl recently unleashed their new album mō’zā-ik (300 Entertainment), the follow-up to 2015 Yesterday's Tomorrow. Blending soul, funk, R&B and more, each song on the 11-track set plays as an extended jam between five musicians playing at their peak and garnered attention from the likes of NPR, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NYLON, who called the album "ethereal as hell." Today, the Brooklyn-based quintet release the dizzying visuals for their song, "Way Too Far." Directed by Joe Weil who has directed videos for Kendrick Lamar, YG, Puff Daddy, and The Internet", the production company who produced the video - Psycho Films - recently produced the video for Jay Rock ft. Kendrick Lamar -- "Wow Freestyle" as well as Aminé -- "Reel It In". The video follows the band and gives us a window into their world, and features cameos by Briana Shanee Wilson (Influencer / Entrepreneur. Creator of Matte Brand) and Patrick Paige II of The Internet.

- Smithsonian Channel is set to revisit the life of one of the silver screen’s most iconic legends by way of her most personal possessions. At Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, more than 1,000 lots sold for a total of over $11 million at a show-stopping auction of Marilyn Monroe belongings. Telling the story of this definitive Hollywood movie star and sex symbol via some of her most recognizable costumes, letters and clothes, the new documentary Marilyn Monroe for Sale premieres Sunday, December 23 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- For the first time, Showtime Networks Inc. is offering viewers the opportunity to purchase the blockbuster WBC Heavyweight World Championship Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury on Showtime PPV directly through the Showtime app. Subscribers and non-subscribers will be able to purchase and live stream as WBC World Champion Wilder defends his title against lineal champion Fury via the SHOWTIME app on Apple mobile and AppleTV (4th Generation) devices, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android phones and tablets and directly on Showtime.com for $74.99 or through cable, DBS, telco and streaming providers nationwide. The showdown of undefeated heavyweights will air on Saturday, December 1 live at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. For more information on where the fight is available and pricing per distributor, visit: SHO.com.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/18/2018

Supergirl: The season finale promised up Soviet Supergirl but it seems like she has only been on screen for about a minute and a half in the first five episodes this season. Certainly that storyline has to be better than this annoying anti-alien storyline.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: So just how long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to New York City? I actually used Bing Maps and it actually took less than I expected: forty hours without traffic (though when I searched, Bing estimated nine extra hours with traffic). The trip while avoiding toll roads which I am guessing two fugitives would want to avoid would take at least forty-six hours (plus maybe twelve hours of traffic). Still, that is plenty of time for Daryll to hire some protection. Or does that set not have any protection. Last week Daryll said his dad was going to kill him, maybe get prepaired for that situation.

The Walking Dead: So five(ish) years later they never did finish the bridge (you would think how much Rick wanted it, you would think they would have continued) and Negan is still in prison. Oh, and Carol and Eugene have way more hair. Weird the different communities have lost touch, but of course theey are just starting to get back together. And was the “her” Michone talked about in HillTop Maggie or did she die in the missing years. And when did covering yourself in mud throw your scent off the zombies?
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Last Ship: I guess we now know what Saving Private Ryan would look like on a television budget. Though I guess the less personal and firepower can be explained away by the virus. And I joked about Tom Chandler going down with his ship a couple weeks back and it turns out I was right that they actually did sink the ship. Except Tom Chandler didn’t actually go down with it despite an apparent lengthy white light montage. Jokes aside, The Last Ship was a fun summer diversion (even though it crept into the fall in the last couple seasons), like a televised weekly action movie and still managed to go multiple seasons after no longer being the last ship.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

You: Well I have been predicting Joe would kill Beck by the end of the season and it turns out I was right. Which brings up his death doll this season to six I believe. But whatever happened to the DNA the PI mentioned? Is there really no DNA in urine like Joe hoped? Was the PI just bluffing to see how Joe reacted? And though I was right about Beck, I was wrong about Candice being killed by Joe. So where has she been? Was Joe telling the truth that she really changed her name and moved to Italy? I just assumed the teeth were hers. So whose teeth were those?
You can download You on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Do you believe in highly unlikelies!?! The curse of Bananas screwing over Sarah strikes again. And just in time for TJ to announce that twist of players being able to screw over their partner is back. I ridiculed Bananas for doing that, but for an extra half a million, I think I may just have to take that money. But then I thought about taxes. If you take the million dollars, you will ended up with $512,000.29 while if you split it, then you would receive $283,670.89 which is not as dramatic as getting an extra half a million dollars. But without Bananas and Tony, this may be the weakest finalist field ever. I guess if I had to make a prediction, I would go with Joss and Sylvia.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: The rare we get to see no votes cast Tribal. You have to expect some weird shirt to happen when the editors pull that. But why not just show the obligatory one vote for Christian and one for Angelina? We still would have gotten that shock that, oh, why is John getting votes moment. But yeah, why exactly did John get votes? Was it that Davie did not tell everyone that he had an Idol, but devised a plan to get rid of strong Goliath and not just an easy pickings like Angelina with Christian and Nick? That seems the only plausible answer I can come up with.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

The Good Place: Isn’t it obvious why Doug Forcett is destined for The Bad Place like Shawn suggest even though Michael was shocked. Tahani’s whole reason for going to The Bad Place is because she did good for the wrong reasons and so it would also mean if the sole reason why you are doing good things is for the moral deserts of not being tortured for all eternity, then not only are you not getting those points, you are actually getting negative points for your efforts to subvert the system. But really disappointed that The Real Eleanor did not play a bigger role in the episode. Why even un-pod her just to be a random henchman in a bar brawl?
The Good Place on iTunes.

Blindspot: A couple weeks ago an episode with a tease of Jane getting caught by Kurt only for her to talk her way out of it pretty easily. I do not think that will happen this time. But if she is going to go rouge, how long until she teams up with Zapada?
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/16/2018

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 Affair, Comcast, Terrorism Close Calls, Game Show Network Daily Draw, Invisible Hands, Ariana Grande, Noël Wells, The Carpenters, and Cassadee Pope.

- Oscar® and Golden Globe® Award winner Anna Paquin (True Blood) has signed on as a series regular for the fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed Showtime drama series, The Affair. Paquin will play a pivotal role as Alison and Cole’s now adult daughter Joanie Lockhart, who returns some years in the future to a climate-change ravaged Montauk to piece together the truth about what happened to her mother, bringing the whole story full circle.

- Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) today announced it has selected two new African American majority owned independent networks to be broadly distributed on Comcast Cable systems beginning in January 2019. After a thorough evaluation of dozens of proposals, Comcast selected AFRO and CLEO TV, both of which will provide quality entertainment that highlights and features TV and movie content about African American and black communities.

- Looking for your next Netflix binge? Check out Terrorism Close Calls– a ten-part series investigating the world's deadliest terror plots that failed at an intimate event (now streaming on Netflix). The series features exclusive access to the agents involved in disrupting the plots as well as leading national and international authorities on counter-terrorism, intelligence, and law enforcement, including Mark Kelton.

- Game Show Network’s popular daily sweepstakes, Game Show Network Daily Draw, is super-sizing for the holidays by giving away up to $25,000 throughout its “Twelve Draws of Christmas.” On weeknights from Monday, December 10 through Tuesday, December 25 at 7 p.m. ET, host Trish Suhr will announce which twelve lucky viewers will win cash prizes ranging from $750 to $10,000! To play, viewers need to watch Game Show Network for the code word each weeknight from 8 pm – 2 am and then enter the code word online at https://www.gsntv.com/sweepstakes/dailydraw/ or send in a postcard for a chance to win. For more information go to gsntv.com/dailydraw/rules/.

- Invisible Hands exposes child labor and child trafficking within the supply chains of the world’s biggest corporations, which produce some of our most loved items. The film offers a harrowing account of children as young as five years old making the products we buy and consume every day. Chilling undercover footage shows children being sold like animals to the highest bidder and others being abused by this pervasive slave labor. Invisible Hands digs deep into a modern slavery system quietly supported by some of the world’s largest companies, demanding to know why top stakeholders continue to engage in this unlawful practice.

- Multi-platinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande makes more history. Her brand new song, “thank u, next” claims the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with over 55.5 million streams in the U.S. On Apple Music, she broke multiple records. “thank u, next” now holds the global record for “#1 Most-Streamed Pop Song First-Week on Apple Music.” She also reaches rarified air as the “only female artist to chart in the Top 5 songs first-week of release on Apple Music.” It represents a milestone moment for the singer. At Spotify, it captured both “the U.S. and Global One-Day streaming records for a female artist,” generating over 9 million plays worldwide and 4 million in the U.S. on the platform. Not to mention, it soared to #1 on iTunes, Amazon Music, and Tidal. It also debuted at #1 on the Official UK Singles chart, becoming the highest selling #1 debut of the year in the UK.

- Actress, writer, filmmaker and comedian Noël Wells is proud to present the first single taken from her forthcoming debut album titled “Sunrise.” Streaming now, “Sunrise” was the first song written for the upcoming full-length, composed on a guitar Wells picked up in an AirBnB she was staying at in Austin, TX while she was shooting a film.

- The Carpenters are getting the royal treatment. Carpenters With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is set for release worldwide December 7 by A&M/UMe. Featuring timeless hits and favorites, the album pairs Carpenters' original vocal and instrumental tracks with new orchestral arrangements from Carpenter, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) at Abbey Road Studios. It is available now for preorder in digital, CD and 180-gram 2LP vinyl LP formats. The vinyl set will be released February 8.

- Tune in Friday, November 16 at 9:00 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “Cassadee Pope” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV.

Previewing Escape at Dannemora

At the dawn of twenty-four cable news station, we got inundated with these bizarre true crime stories about figure skaters who wacked their competition quite literal and women who cut off their husband’s manhood while they slept. A decade late, Nancy Grace rose to fame by spending whole episodes talking about missing hot white chicks. These cable networks would spend so much time on these types of stories it would become unwatchable at time.

But the thing is, I kind of miss those days because now it is ninety percent political news which is just a conservative nut job and a liberal windbag yelling at each other with us rational people in the middle wishing a pox on both their houses (which I think is the point because politicos have realized it is easier to get people not to vote than vote for you). Take the prison break in upstate New York a couple years back, a decade ago new it would have been wall to wall news for months, but in the summer of 2015 as the presidential campaigns were starting up, it barely made a blip and quickly faded from conscious after it was over.

Where the twenty-four news channels spend all their time reported on the latest stupid thing the president say, television and movies have picked up the slack on the retelling of the salacious news stories from OJ to the Menendez Brothers. Now that prison escape story from 2015 is getting its own true crime limited series on Showtime called Escape at Dannemore.

The show stars Benicio del Tora (Excess Baggage) and Paul Dano (Ruby Sparks) as the two prisoners who broke out of prison while Patricia Arquette (Little Nicky) is the prison work supervisor who helped them escape while David Morse (Treme) is another worker at the prison. Bonnie Hunt (Rain Man) also shows up as the Inspector’s General of New York.

I was a bit surprised at the format of the series. I assumed the manhunt would be the heart of the series, but that does not even begin until the final episode while the show starts in the winter of the escape that happened during the summer. Granted that final episode runs an hour and forty minutes (the show was originally announced as an eight episode miniseries so it seems like they just combined what was supposed to be the last two).

So really this comes off more as a six episode mini-series of how they escaped and then crammed the twenty-three day manhunt into a feature length movie. I do wonder if the show would have been better off evening the show between planning and escape because the planning episodes drag at times. And just when you start wondering if they ever revealed what exactly these two prisoners to land themselves in prison, we do get some graphic flashbacks showing us exactly what happened.

It was also a little disappointing that the whole show is not as weird as the trailer would have me believe. Sure Arquette and her on screen husband make interesting choices but must and other things get weird from time to time, but this is mostly a straight movie based on a weird story. Del Toro plays the suave inmate who paints portraits of Hilary Clinton (yeah, that is one of the weird parts) while Dano is the follower in the situation.

The musical choices are also interesting. Sure this is a period show, but that period was only three years ago. Apparently Uptown Funk was so invasive back in 2015 that it even got overplayed in prison. I was also weird to think we actually let Meghan Trainor to be a thing and this happened just a couple years ago.

Though the show takes it’s time in places, it does go to some interesting places. Part of the escape includes crawling through a pipe and you really feel the claustrophobic as one of the prisoner only goes a small distance. And when we get a long tracking shot from the jail cell to outside the prison, it is beautiful.

Escape at Dannemora airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/11/2018

Supergirl: Wait, The Real Eleanor did not die in the season premiere? I thought she got stabbed in the back of the head. Oh well, I guess she is dead now since her fiancé just bought a shirtload of guns. And why is Manchester Black, um, actually black now? Isn’t making a football hooligan black kind of racist? At least Russian Supergirl is back. That storyline seems much more interesting than the anti-alien one is. Granted Commie Supergirl will likely do something evil and everyone will think it is American Supergirl which will only enflame the racists old white dudes on the show.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: Oh Bunchy, you have never been the smartest of the Donovan children (which says a lot) but murdering a prison guard to break out your father who is on death’s doorstep (though being a television show, Micky will undoubtedly make a full recovery) is the dumbest thing you have ever done. It is hard to imagine even Ray can fix that situation for you, but being a television show, he probably will. I guess that will involve a cross country trip to New York.

The Walking Dead: Wow, Rick got out of being gored by a metal rod pretty quickly. I guess the only way they could end an episode that the show heavily promoted as Rick’s last episode would be to not actually kill him off. Instead he was taken by the mysterious helicopter people whom will may never learn about on the show because the flash forward almost ten years. But it seems we may actually learn what was going on there with a big budget Rick movie. So will he die in that because I cannot image Rick would not do everything to get back to his daughter.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Last Ship: I joked last week they were killing off all the minority cast members in the final season, but c’mon, another one gone this week. But the Columbian dude killing all his generals because of Tarot card was wild even if they were planning a coup.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

You: I have spent most of the season thinking the season would end with Joe killing Beck with the outside chance of her joining him and his murdering way. Now that she knows, it kind of has to end that way. Or maybe she gets shipped off to Rome with Candice. Is that really happen to Candice? On the cusp of being signed only to move to Europe and completely cut herself off from everyone, including not learning her brother died? Sounds fishy.
You can download You on iTunes.

Kidding: I knew the show was always dark, but I would not have ever guessed that is was slit Tara Lipinski’s throat dark.

Manifest: The little kid can speak Bulgarian now? I did not think the show could get much dumber. And why him? Is there were like eight people being experimenting on, why did no one else feel it? This show is so stupid.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Yeah, doing the math before you actually start plugging in the pegs seems pretty obvious. Should have been obvious for the stronger males, but they clearly got outsmarted. Unfortunately the other battle was just pure strength with the two bigger dudes winning in a blowout. But it will be interesting if the other teams can get Bananas out before the final, which looks may start next week.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: Kind of a bad strategy from Elizabeth to wait until Tribal to stir up things. I almost thought it worked though when people started to get up and talk which has not been a good sign in the past. Though now I wonder what there were talking about because no one seemed to change their vote.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Superstore: Weird to see Sue Heck play someone who is not Sue Heck. Good thing there is a spin off in the works for her. But since her replacement urinated in the middle of the store, she may be hired back next week.
You can download Superstore on iTunes.

The Good Place: The Real Eleanor is back! I was wondering why she was in a blink and you miss it first flashback and then did not appear in any more (the actree did say she was in the animal fair but she was cut). But then she shocking popped up in the present after the demons figured out how to get to Earth without going through the Judge’s door. This should be interesting. Hopefully she last longer than Trevor.
The Good Place on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/9/2018

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 Family Business: Trump and Taxes, Dollface, MythBusters Jr, John Mellencamp, Matt Nathanson, Anthony Hamilton, Hailee Steinfeld, Brooke Moriber, Hudson Thames, A Murder in Mansfield, and Catfish: The TV Show.

- Showtime is offering the documentary short film The Family Business: Trump and Taxes for free online and across multiple platforms. Directed by Emmy® nominee Jenny Carchman and produced by Oscar® nominees Liz Garbus and Justin Wilkes of The Fourth 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 film is now available for online sampling on YouTube, Facebook and SHO.com. It is also rolling out across multiple television and streaming providers’ devices, websites, applications and authenticated online services and their free On Demand channels.

- Today Hulu announced a 10-episode series order for Dollface, a new comedy from ABC Signature Studios. The new Hulu Original Series will star actress Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls), who is also set to executive produce the comedy alongside Creator and Writer Jordan Weiss (Harley Quinn) and Showrunner Ira Ungerleider. Additional executive producers include Margot Robbie, Brett Hedblom and Tom Ackerley for LuckyChap Entertainment; Bryan Unkeless and Scott Morgan for Clubhouse Pictures; Nicole King and Stephanie Laing (Vice Principals). Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West) will executive produce and direct the first episode.

- Adam Savage will return to television as host and executive producer of MythBusters Jr., when the new Science Channel series premieres on Wednesday, January 2 at 9:00. For the ten-episode series Savage has teamed-up with six of the nation’s leading young ‘makers’, robotics wizzes, builders, and inventors, all under the age of 16, who show off their amazing ingenuity and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) skills.

- John Mellencamp announces the preorder for his 24th album, Other People’s Stuff [Republic Records], available everywhere on Friday, December 7th. Pre-order Other People’s Stuff HERE.

- Tune in Friday, November 9 at 9:00 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “Matt Nathanson” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV.

- Iconic GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum-selling R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Anthony Hamilton is using his voice to speak out about the importance of the 2018 midterm elections and he’s doing so through a timely new song and music video via ESSENCE.com. “Love Conquers All” tackles tough, uncomfortable subjects like gun control, criminal justice reform, and prioritizing education,” Hamilton tells ESSENCE. “An artist has two choices. Stay quiet, or use your voice.”

- Academy Award®-nominated actress and multiplatinum recording artist Hailee Steinfeld releases Back To Life, from the upcoming motion picture Bumblebee. Get it HERE via Republic Records.

- Songwriter and ex-Broadway singer Brooke Moriber has released the title track of her upcoming Cry Like A Girl LP, recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, with legendary producer Fred Mollin (Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Shawn Colvin) at the helm. The song is a powerful country-pop cut that showcases Brooke's powerhouse vocal delivery and lyrics that challenge what it means to "cry like a girl". Watch The Last Goodbye.

- Singer, songwriter, and modern renaissance man Hudson Thames drops the video for his brand new single “Last Call” today via Republic Records. Watch HERE.

- 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 A Murder in Mansfield will have its national television debut exclusively on Investigation Discovery on November 17, 2018 at 9:00.

– MTV today announced that new episodes of Catfish: The TV Show will premiere on Wednesday, November 28th at 9:00. “Catfish’s” next chapter will attempt the impossible: finding someone to replace longtime co-host Max Joseph. The explosive eight new episodes will feature Nev Schulman as he auditions actors, athletes and influencers to help him track down online daters and bring them face-to-face for the first time.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/4/2018

Supergirl: Ugg, they are really laying on the evil old white guy who hates alien immigrants really thick this season. It is becoming a harder and harder watch. They really need to bring back Saturn Girl to make it watchable.
Supergirl on iTunes.

The Walking Dead: So this is how Rick dies, impaled on a rail with two hordes converging on him? Kind of anti-poetic. Sacrificing himself for Daryl to get out of that pit would have been a better way to go. Granted he is not dead yet so maybe he makes it out of that situation only to go out in a more poetic fashion.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Last Ship: We have said goodbye to a few sailors early this season and I thought we were going to actually get through the siege without any casualties, at least to the people we know. But just like a horror movie, there is always one last death. Although, haven’t all the long standing characters that have died this season, all been minorities? Maybe they are setting up the big sacrifice of Tom Chandler. A captain does always go down with his ship.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

You: So Joe and Beck broke up for three months. Yawn. Can we fast forward to the end of the season where Joe kills Beck, it is going to happen eventual. If not now, maybe the series finale. Or Beck becomes a killer. Oh crap, are they going to kill John Stamos together?
You can download You on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Stacking cards up high? Someone has been watching Survivor. Here is hoping Bananas does not pull the Double Cross.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: I thought for sure that Mike White was going to turn on a Goliath once again (actually I got very I am going to sacrifice myself vibe from Mike White right after the challenge) even though Lyrsa was the smarter vote. You cannot assume you are going to merge and with Lyrsa, you are not winning any more Immunity Idols. Of course right after voting out Lyrsa, there was a promo that there is a merge next week. Oops, maybe they should have voted out the more strategic threat than the way to beat Lyrsa.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

The Good Place: Wait, so Eleanor’s mom and Tahani’s sister do not even need any help getting into the Good Place? Kind of a filler episode if nothing that did helped their family member. At least Pill Boi was (presumably) put on the right track.
The Good Place on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/2/2018

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 Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Beastie Boys, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Maggie Lindemann, Sigrid, America's Mississippi, Shut up and Dribble, Our Cartoon President: Election Special 2018, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Looking for Alaska, and Common Knowledge.

- Showtime has announced the next chapter of the Penny Dreadful saga with Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. John Logan, creator, writer and executive producer of the Emmy nominated series Penny Dreadful, will continue in those same roles. Joining him as an executive producer will be Michael Aguilar (Kidding). Production is expected to begin in 2019. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

- Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Played a 15-Year-Long Prank on Ad-Rock:


- Ahead of the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 6, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee will air a bonus episode on Monday, November 5 covering local political races to make one final plea to viewers to please, for the love of God, vote. On Wednesday, November 7, the show will unpack the results of the elections and air footage taken at the polls. Both episodes will air on TBS at 10:30.

- After over 700 million career streams to date, rising alterna-pop icon Maggie Lindemann takes a refreshingly new personal approach with her new track ‘Human’. Maggie’s gift for elegantly crafted modernist pop remains in check, as does her ability to write melodic hooks which immediately embed themselves in the memory. But as the chorus sinks in (“I wish I was human, I wish that I could see shit like you do, where it’s sunny all the time but it’s useless, and if you saw through my eyes you’d understand why”), it’s clear that she’s exploring her personal challenges with mental health struggles.


- New video ‘Sucker Punch’ cements the Norwegian star Sigrid’s rise to pop prominence. Directed by AB/CD/CD the video is a confident, spontaneous, authentic pop-tastic visual.


- Smithsonian Channel turns its lens on the mighty Mississippi, a leviathan that carves through the American landscape and shapes the nation like no other river, in a new, visually stunning three-part series, America's Mississippi. Connecting the east to the west, the country to the city and America to the world, this iconic river supports and challenges both humans and animals – beginning as a mere trickle, beating through the heartland and becoming a wild force as it drives south toward the Gulf of Mexico. Filmed in ultra-high definition to reveal the true beauty of the river, the series captures the extraordinary abundance and diversity of wildlife that lives along North America’s greatest waterway. America's Mississippi premieres Wednesday, December 5 at 8:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Narrated by acclaimed sports journalist and commentator Jemele Hill, the highly-anticipated three-part documentary series Shut up and Dribble 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.


- Just ahead of one of the most consequential midterm elections of our time, the Showtime animated series OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT takes a look at the political field in an expanded election special on Sunday, November 4 at 10:30 on Showtime. Our Cartoon President: Election Special 2018 focuses on Cartoon Trump’s deepening concerns about what he fears is a coming Democratic “Blue Wave” and his possible impeachment.

- Hulu announced that Jessica Williams, Nikesh Patel, Rebecca Rittenhouse and John Reynolds have been cast in the upcoming limited romantic comedy series Four Weddings and a Funeral.

- As announced by John Green via twitter, Hulu is excited to confirm that our leads for Looking for Alaska have been cast – Kristine Froseth as ‘Alaska Young’ and Charlie Plummer as ‘Miles Halter.’

- Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, has added Joey Fatone (*NSYNC, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) as host of its new knowledge-based game show, Common Knowledge. The new half-hour series will premiere January 14 at 5:30 p.m. ET and will air Monday through Friday.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 10/28/2018

Supergirl: Ugg, they are really going to lay on the illegal aliens are the actual aliens allegory pretty thick this season aren’t they. And as an old white dude, I am kind of offended how old white dudes are portrayed this season on the show. C’mon, we are not all alien (illegal or actual) hating people.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Shameless: Wait, crazy Peg Bundy is a shrink herself? I guess it takes one to help one, maybe? But poor Fiona, she seemed to finally get her stuff together, only for everything to completely fall apart right before she is about to leave the show. I wonder if she will end up going out the way it almost happened back in season one in that she does run away with Steve in her final scene. And is Lwna really that oblibious that Supergirl showed up seconds after Kara left?

The Walking Dead: Okay preacher guy, when you’re crazy girlfriend asks if you are with her or will you report her, maybe not admit you are going to tell Rick.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Last Ship: They have killed off a bunch of cast members in this final season and those all of them survived this episode (except for that one dude’s leg), did they really need to kill that child that helped the Americans? But how very Red Reddington of the Florida traitor. What shadiness does she have up her sleeve? But c’mon, military, be smarter, you had to know the ambulance was a scam all along. I sniffed it out from the moment they arrived.
You can download The Last Ship on iTunes.

You: So Joe is really going to be okay with Beck breaking up with him? Is he just going to start obsessing over that new chick? Well, at least he was able to last more than a minute the first time with her.
You can download You on iTunes.

Manifest: So is the kid going to be some sort of messiah? First he just happens to find the Jamaican dude by when he claims was a feeling, no voices or visions like everyone else. And then he is apparently the only person in the plane to see the weird lights. So what is his connection, did he do this or did some other force (aliens) do it because of him?
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: The producers really do have a floating scale when it comes to giving people the boot. I was a bit surprised when it was not even discussed Sylvia head-butted Marie and after giving Cory a deserved boot, how did Tony not go with him? Putting your arm around someone tightly and asking multiple times, “are we gonna fight” seems like grounds for being sent home. Also, that had to be the lamest trivia challenge ever. Two wrong answers I think? Just too many Challenge related questions. Trivia should be common knowledge questions.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: Oh my goodness, Angelina asking Natalie multiple times for her jacket after being blindsided is the greatest moment on the show since Andrea told Zeke he sucked at this game. I am not sure if she was being sincere or trolling her, but either way it was awesome.
You can download Survivor: David vs. Goliath on iTunes.

Superstore: Weird that the day after Megyn Kelly suggested that blackface is fine if done out of respect, and a day before her show was canceled for those comments, this show had the exact same discussion. And the anti-blackface side was only doing that so they could win the costume contest.
You can download Superstore on iTunes.

The Good Place: Did we really need to leave Jacksonville so soon? They could have spent the whole season trying to save the souls of Donkey Doug, Pillboi, or even Blake Bortles and I would have been perfectly fine with that.
The Good Place on iTunes.

Blindspot: So Jane explained the syringe that Kurt caught her with as what she wants to kill herself with. Um, Kurt, you are a moron. Are you not a little suspicious that she already had the poison in a syringe and not keeping it in a vile until it was time. But I really like these Patterson-centric episodes where we only get glimpses of the mission which is clearly done to keep costs down but are always well done.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.