Saturday, January 30, 2021

Around the Tubes: January 30, 2021

  

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 Women in Blue, City on HillThe Mamas & The Papas, Paris Jackson, The Weeknd, The Peter Frampton Band, The Muppet Show, Cut Throat City, Laugh InSupervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine.


Filmed from 2017-2020, WOMEN IN BLUE follows Minneapolis’ first female police chief Janeé Harteau, as she works to reform the Minneapolis Police Department by getting rid of bad cops, retraining the rest, diversifying the ranks and promoting women—who statistically use less force than their male counterparts—into every rank of leadership. The film focuses on four women in Harteau’s department, each trying to redefine what it means to protect and serve. After a high-profile, officer-involved shooting forces Chief Harteau to resign, the new, male chief selects only men as his top brass. The women left behind continue to fight to police differently and to rebuild community trust.  WOMEN IN BLUE will broadcast on PBS television series Independent Lens series on Monday, February 8, 2021


SHOWTIME will premiere the second season of its one-hour drama series CITY ON A HILL, starring Golden Globe winner and Emmy® nominee Kevin Bacon and Screen Actors Guild® award winner Aldis Hodge, on Sunday, March 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Beginning April 18, the series will move to 9 p.m. ET/PT. Additionally, SHOWTIME has released the official key art for season two, which will consist of eight one-hour episodes.

On January 29, Geffen/UMe is set to release The Mamas & The Papas' If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears on black vinyl. Also, the album will be available on opaque yellow vinyl exclusively at uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl. Considered one of the best pop-rock albums of all time, the 12-song 1966 debut showcases the exquisite pop sensibilities and impeccable harmonies of Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty, John Phillips and Michelle Phillips. Reaching No. 1 on the Billboard album charts within months of release and spending more than 100 weeks on the chart, the Lou Adler-produced gem opens with the No. 1 hit "Monday, Monday" and includes "California Dreamin'," which hit No. 4 on the Billboard singles chart. Preorder here: https://TheMamasAndThePapas.lnk.to/IfYouCanBelieveVinyl.

22-year-old singer, songwriter, actress, model and activist Paris Jackson releases the official eyelids” video – watch HEREThe song features vocals from Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull, who co-wrote and produced the track, as well as Jackson’s first full-length album, wilted, out now – listen HEREThe video was directed and edited by Phillip Lopez (Selena Gomez, Kygo, Avicii, Lauv) and executive produced by Tara Razavi (Justin Bieber, Tyler, the Creator, G-Eazy & Bebe Rexha).

Gravity defying artist The Weeknd and XO/Republic Records have announced a special project curated specifically for his upcoming Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show appearance. Given the vast mainstream audience of the Super Bowl, The Highlights album is a way to present some of The Weeknd’s most notable works in one place.  While this isn’t a “Greatest Hits” album it does provide a new listener a rich foray into some of the iconic artist’s best and favorite work. The project is available on February 5th, pre-order HERE.

Frampton Forgets the Words, the new studio album by The Peter Frampton Band, will be released April 23 via UMe. The album features instrumental tributes to some of Frampton’s favorite songs and is the follow up to his 2007 Grammy Award-winning instrumental album, FingerprintsThe first track to be revealed is their take on Radiohead’s “Reckoner,” alongside a video—watch/share HERE.  Frampton Forgets the Words was co-produced by Frampton and Chuck Ainlay and was  recorded/mixed at Frampton’s own Studio Phenix in Nashville. With his infamous 1954 Les Paul Phenix—which was lost in a plane crash in 1980 and recovered more than 30 years later —  Frampton brings virtuosic guitar playing to songs by David Bowie, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz and more. See track listing below.

The long wait for Muppet fans is almost over! “The Muppet Show,” Jim Henson’s iconic variety series that started it all, will begin streaming Friday, February 19 exclusively on Disney+. In addition for the first three seasons, fans will be able to enjoy seasons 4 and 5, which have never previously been released on home entertainment.  Originally premiering in 1976, some of Hollywood’s brightest stars stopped by “The Muppet Show” for unforgettable comedy and chaos including Crystal GayleSteve MartinElton JohnLiza MinnelliAlice CooperJulie AndrewsBernadette PetersDiana RossGladys KnightGene Kelly, and Mark Hammill.

 CUT THROAT CITY, the “ambitious, messy, sprawling and bullet-riddled crime epic” (Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times), set in the Crescent City, has topped the Netflix charts hours after its debut on Netflix. The film, the third effort from recording artist, composer and rapper RZA, was released last summer to critical and audience acclaim and is mounting a dark horse, renegade #FYC Awards campaign to support the Netflix streaming of the film.  Opening on a gritty graphic novel animation, CUT THROAT CITY finds four boyhood friends return to NOLA’s Lower Ninth Ward in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As FEMA fails to provide aid to their wracked community, they reluctantly turn to a local gangster for help. When that job goes horribly awry, they must outrun–and outsmart—a system rife with corruption and filled with both malevolent and colorful characters.

This February, the TV DVD archivists at Time Life are making ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE SERIES available at retail for the very first time for classic TV aficionados and comedy lovers alike. The ultimate completist’s set, this handsomely packaged collection is comprised of 37 DVDs featuring all 140 remastered episodes from the series award-winning, groundbreaking six-year run. Included are 89 episodes never-before-released on ANY format, along with exclusive bonuses such as the rare pilot episode (September 9, 1967), the 25th Anniversary cast reunion and more.

SHOWTIME announced today that the provocative docu-series SUPERVILLAIN: THE MAKING OF TEKASHI 6IX9INE, profiling hip-hop artist Tekashi 6ix9ine’s epic rise to notoriety and spectacular fall to convicted criminal, will premiere on Sunday, February 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes will debut on-air every Sunday through March 7, while the entire series will release for on-demand streaming or download on SHOWTIME and across all SHOWTIME partner platforms on February 21.  In the three-part series, director Karam Gill (Ice Cold, G-Funk) examines manufactured celebrity through the lens of 6ix9ine’s controversial artistry, personal demons and mastery of social media, as a reflection of our times and the complicity of culture today. The series is narrated by Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian). SUPERVILLAIN is produced by Imagine Documentaries, Rolling Stone and Lightbox. Brian Grazer executive produces with Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein of Imagine Documentaries, Gus Wenner of Rolling Stone, Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn of Lightbox, journalist Stephen Witt and Peter J. Scalettar.  To watch and share the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/rKeH1THBBEU.

Sunday, January 24, 2021

57 Channels and Only This Is On: January 24, 2021

 

Your Honor:  So the judge was able to get a reprieve from the gangster by saying he could get his son off by preceding over his murder case.  Um, so now that he is not, why doesn’t the gangster just kill him?  Were the cops pulling over the black lady judge their bidding?  We already know the gangster has the cops in his back pocket when they kidnapped the kid he originally thought killed his son and interrogated him before he was even booked.

 

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist:  Meh, after Zoey sang the song to start the episode, I thought we were going to get another full episode of just her singing, which was my favorite episode of the first season.  But she still heard other people sing and just kept singing the same song over again.  I wonder if they are saving a full glitchy episode for later this season even though this seemed like the perfect time as the stress of her dad dying and stress from her new job overwhelmed her.

 

The Challenge: Double Agents:  Um, I thought T.J. hated quitters.  I wonder if his speech was at the behest of some producer who wanted this to be a teaching moment on mental health or if that actually came from the heart from a guy who loves seeing contestants fall from very high heights into water.  But seems right that right after being reinstated, Smashley goes right back out in her very next chance to be sent into elimination.

 

Wandavision:  I am quickly realizing a weekly half hour mystery box show may not be the best idea.  These decade parodies are already getting tiresome.  Making it worse is that I think most people can already guess the mystery: Wanda broke mentally, created a sitcom world where she and Vision can live happily ever after and S.W.O.R.D. agents, like the black lady, are trying to break her out of it.  But all will be forgiven if next episode one of the twins grows up to be a young Republican and the episode after that the other twin gets sent to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Aire.

 

The Blacklist:  Um, why does the FBI have easily available bombs that they can check out?  That is not something I want our intelligence agency on hand.  And is car bomb the best idea Lizzie came up with to kill Red?  Even worse, when that plan failed she thought, well, I still have this bomb, might as well use it to sneak into the hospital where Red was admitted.  Seriously, why not inject him with something if you are that close that you can plant a bomb on his hospital bed?  That was just some Bond villain level of stupidity.

 


Saturday, January 23, 2021

Around the Tubes: January 23, 2021

 

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 Fake Famous, Sublime, A Life Too Short, The Lady and the Dale, Lori McKenna, Your Honor, William H. Macy, and The First Lady.


HBO’s FAKE FAMOUS, debuting TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), from first-time director and veteran journalist Nick Bilton, explores the industry of social media influencers through an innovative social experiment. The film’s journey into this world is driven by the casting of three people in Los Angeles who all have relatively small social followings and the attempt to grow them into famous influencers. By purchasing fake followers and an army of bots to “engage” with their social media, the newly made “influencers” discover both the wonders and costs of this unlikely, immersive lifestyle.  The documentary will be available on HBO and to stream on HBO Max.


Z2 COMICS continues to roll out news of some of their most ambitious projects yet, with today’s announcement of the RYAN CADY-written graphic novel chronicling the misadventures of one of the most defining bands of the last three decades, the Long Beach, reggae-punk institution, SUBLIME!  The laid-back Long Beach trio spawned an entire genre—fusing reggae grooves, punk grittiness, ska energy, back-porch folk introspection, and hip-hop swagger.   The SUBLIME: $5 AT THE DOOR graphic novel clocks in at 120 pages and will be released in a standard soft and hardcover editions in comic shops and bookstores alike in June 2021, with a special deluxe edition, and highly limited super deluxe edition available for preorder now exclusively through the Z2 website! Deluxe and super deluxe edition include a special first-time vinyl edition of the Doin’ Time EP, unavailable elsewhere, as well as exclusive prints, Lou-Dog toy and more!


MTV Documentary Films will debut A Life Too Short, from two-time Oscar® winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Tribeca Film Festival winner My Father The Mover from breakout director Julia Jansch on Friday, January 22 at 7:00PM ET on Pluto TV.  An official selection of the 2020 DOC NYC Film Festival’s Shortlist and SFFILM’s DocStories festival, A Life Too Short, produced by two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, directed by Safyah Usmani, co-directed by Saad Zuberi and executive produced by Sheila Nevins and Guy Oseary, examines the startling tragedy behind the killing of Pakistani activist and social media star Qandeel Baloch. A vocal, provocative proponent of women’s rights and freedom of expression, Qandeel challenged conventional ideas with her open exclamations of women’s equality and sexuality.  Her bravery and outspokenness ended in chilling violence that reverberates around the world.  Following Qandeel’s murder, a crucial amendment to Pakistani law was passed, eliminating the possibility for families to forgive the perpetrators of “honor” killings.  The premiere of A Life Too Short will be followed by the award-winning short documentary My Father The Mover at 7:45 PM ET. The film introduces a South African teenager named Alatha whose father calls himself a Mover. Using African dance moves – electronic Gqom beats – he helps kids in Khayelitsha township to transcend hardship and "find their superpowers." The Mover is also a single father, and while he has helped many kids, he still has difficulty getting his own daughter to find her own powers.  But in a tender moment together, that is all about to change.


This four-part documentary series from Emmy®-winning producers Mark and Jay Duplass (“Room 104”) traces the audacious story of Elizabeth Carmichael, a larger-than-life entrepreneur who took the world by storm with her promotion of a fuel-efficient, three-wheeled car known as The Dale in the middle of the 1970s oil crisis. Liz's promotional zeal thrust her into fierce public and media scrutiny which uncovered a web of mystery and suspicion about the car’s technology and her own checkered past. Co-directed by Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker, THE LADY AND THE DALE mixes animation, archival footage, and interviews with Liz's family members and gender scholars, including Susan Stryker. The result is a probing exploration of family and identity seen through the lens of the rise and fall of a fearless and wily innovator, an extraordinarily resilient woman and a dedicated parent.  The series debuts with two back-to-back episodes SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with new episodes airing subsequent Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. THE LADY AND THE DALE will premiere on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max.


Award-winning broadcaster and podcaster, Candy O’Terry and Music City Mentor, Jacy Dawn Valeras have released another episode in their joint podcast project, Country Music Success Stories with Candy O’Terry. The new podcast is a conversation with one of Candy and Jacy's all-time favorite singer/songwriters, multi-award winner Lori McKenna.  Their shared Boston roots shine through this interview with Lori which took place at 95.9 WATD, a local radio station just outside of Boston. At the core of this episode is the connection between an artist and local radio. Lori shares stories of her slow and steady rise in country music while raising her five children in her hometown of Stoughton, MA. and the joy of hearing Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Little Big Town breathe life into her songs. Subscribe to the podcast here and listen on all podcast platforms here.  Listen to an excerpt of the conversation with Candy O’Terry and Lori McKenna about writing the hit song “Humble And Kind” recorded by Tim McGraw here.


The hit SHOWTIME drama series YOUR HONOR will return with an all-new episode on Sunday, January 31st at 10pm ET/PT, after a repeat this coming Sunday. The ninth episode will air Sunday, February 7th at 10pm. The following Sunday, on February 14th at 10pm, the series concludes with the finale, directed by series star and executive producer Bryan Cranston.


William H. Macy is more than just your favorite on-screen character, he’s creating gritty music and badass whiskey. His new single, “Whiskey Dell,” is a marriage of those passions. Under the moniker Willie CreeksMacy’s inner outlaw, is personally writing spirited tales of fishing in the rugged Rockies while armed with his trusty 1935 Martin ukulele and a glass of whiskey from Woody Creek DistillersWhiskey Dell” features a driving kick, floor-rumbling bass, and a feverish energy brought to life through colorful collaboration with some extremely talented musicians. Watch the video HERE and stream the single HERE

 

SHOWTIME has announced that Oscar and Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit) will star as Betty Ford and Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Susanne Bier (The Undoing) will direct and executive produce the anthology series THE FIRST LADY (w/t), starring and executive produced by Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), who will play former first lady Michelle Obama. THE FIRST LADY is a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House. Produced by SHOWTIME and Lionsgate Television, the series is executive produced by Oscar winner Cathy Schulman (Crash), Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Andrew Wang, Jeff Gaspin (Rhythm + Flow) and Brad Kaplan (Mr. Church) and created by author Aaron Cooley (Four Seats: A Thriller of the Supreme Court), who will write several of the episodes and executive produce. 


Sunday, January 17, 2021

57 Channels and Only This is on: January 17, 2021

 

 Shameless:  Yet another Showtime show that features a teacher forking their student right now?  Last decade, Game of Thrones kicked off a decade of shows that features siblings hooking up, is this the new official taboo for this decade between this, Your Honor and A Teacher?  I hope not because I am ready for this topic to die.  Never a good sign when the Milkovichs move next door and that is not the grossest thing that happens in the episode.

 

Your Honor:  I knew last week this was not going to be the finale, because, you know, six more episodes, but it sure seemed like it because of the gangster would have no problem killing a judge.  And he almost did, but the thing that saved him was the judge knew his son was going to be arrested. Kind of a cheap play to extend the episode. 

 

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist:  Last week’s musical selections were not great but they corrected that this week with an influx of nineties music.  And it seemed like I was not the only one who thought the workplace was turning into a bit of a sausagefest.  But if Zoey poached three chicks from the fifth floor, isn’t that place a sausagefest now?

 

The Challenge: Double Agents:  So that makes Natalie the second people in two seasons to come on the show pregnant.  Though Melissa last season made it all the way to the finals without realizing.  And with her took the only female Gold Skull with her while three dudes had one.  Guess it is going to be much easier for the females to make it to the finales, but the dudes are going to run out of Gold Skulls soon unless someone who already has one gets sent in next.  Hopefully Fessy just keeps getting thrown in after all the Gold Skulls are passed out.

 

Search Party:  That new dude is extremely annoying.  Really everyone is extremely annoying this season.  Portia is the only entertaining part of the show so far.

 

Wandavision: They have been saying this show is going to be weird for a while but I still was not prepared for it.  I wonder if they are just going to continue doing a new decade every episode or if they will speed thing up.  Hopefully by episode five, Vision gets sent off to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Aire.

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Around the Tubes: January 16, 2020

 

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 United States vs. Billie HolidayRick and Morty, Vice, Women in Blue, Boss Level, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler, and Sasquatch.

Hulu announced that the streaming platform has acquired the U.S. rights to Lee Daniels’ THE UNITED STATES vs. BILLIE HOLIDAYwhich will debut as a Hulu Original film on Hulu on February 26, 2021. Sierra/Affinity will continue to handle international sales on the film.  The legendary Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, spent much of her career being adored by fans across the globe. Beginning in the 1940’s in New York City, the federal government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to escalate and racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial and heart-wrenching ballad, “Strange Fruit.” Led by Oscar® nominated director Lee Daniels and introducing Grammy® nominated singer-songwriter Andra Day, THE UNITED STATES vs. BILLIE HOLIDAY unapologetically presents the icon’s complicated, irrepressible life. Screenplay Writer Suzan-Lori Parks, the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, pens this intimate tale of a fierce trailblazer whose defiance through music helped usher in the civil rights movement. NAACP Image Award® Nominee Trevante Rhodes and Emmy® Nominee Natasha Lyonne co-star along with Garrett Hedlund, Miss Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Evan Ross, Tyler James Williams, Tone Bell, and Erik LaRay Harvey.




Wubba-lubba-dub-dub! From creators Justin Roiland (“Adventure Time”) and Dan Harmon (“Community”), go on an intergalactic journey across the multi-verse with the release of Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-4 boxed set from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 2, 2021.  Get ready to binge on one of cables #1 watched comedies - and follow the misadventures of America’s favorite crazy scientist and his grandchildren with this outrageous boxed set which includes all 41 episodes from the first four seasons of the award-winning series, along with copious special features, including audio commentary, deleted scenes, “Inside the Episode” segments, numerous featurettes, past animatic sketches, and more. For a limited time, fans who purchase the set will receive an exclusive poster from the series. Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-4 is priced to own at $79.99 SRP for the DVD ($89.99 in Canada) and $89.99 SRP for the Blu-ray ($99.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Rick and Morty also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.


SHOWTIME announced today that season two of the award-winning documentary series VICE will premiere Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The season will consist of 15 episodes, eight of which will air weekly on Sundays leading to a midseason finale on April 25. The remaining seven episodes will air this fall. Known for delivering immersive reporting from the frontlines of global conflicts, civil uprisings and more, VICE returns with a new slate of groundbreaking stories from its team of global correspondents, taking on a range of issues from police brutality in Nigeria to the continued shockwaves of President Trump’s foreign policy in Iran and Yemen. And in the U.S., VICE will continue its fearless exploration of the racial reckoning underway in the country. Watch and share a glimpse of season two here: https://youtu.be/2vmDDm5yyPA.


Filmed from 2017-2020, WOMEN IN BLUE follows Minneapolis’ first female police chief Janeé Harteau, as she works to reform the Minneapolis Police Department by getting rid of bad cops, retraining the rest, diversifying the ranks and promoting women—who statistically use less force than their male counterparts—into every rank of leadership. The film focuses on four women in Harteau’s department, each trying to redefine what it means to protect and serve. After a high-profile, officer-involved shooting forces Chief Harteau to resign, the new, male chief selects only men as his top brass. The women left behind continue to fight to police differently and to rebuild community trust.  WOMEN IN BLUE offers an unprecedented view into the inner workings of the MPD, chronicling a department—and a community—grappling with racism and a troubled history of police misconduct long before an MPD officer killed George Floyd in May of 2020. The film reveals the limitations of police reform through incremental change and asks questions that apply well beyond the city of Minneapolis. Could increased gender equity and more women —especially Black women — contribute to greater public safety?  WOMEN IN BLUE will broadcast on PBS television series Independent Lens series on Monday, February 8, 2021.


From acclaimed filmmaker Joe Carnahan comes BOSS LEVEL, an action-packed drama starring Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts. The clock is ticking, get in on the thrill Friday, March 5, only on Hulu!  Trapped in a time loop that constantly repeats the day of his murder, former special forces agent Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) uncovers clues about a secret government project that could unlock the mystery behind his untimely death. In a race against the clock, Pulver must hunt down Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson), the powerful head of the government program, while outrunning skilled ruthless assassins determined to keep him from the truth in order to break out of the loop, save his ex-wife (Naomi Watts) and live once again for tomorrow.


Rekindling their undeniable chemistry once again, singers, songwriters and producers Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler return today with a new single “this is how you fall in love” out now—listen HERE!  this is how you fall in love” heralds the arrival of their forthcoming EP, brent ii, releasing February 5th. Pre-order/pre-save HERE. Additionally, they unveiled the song’s official music video, watch HERE. “this is how you fall in love” is a smoothly harmonious song that brings Jeremy and Chelsea’s strongest vocals to the table in what they describe as “the kind of song to slow dance to at your wedding.”


Hulu has announced Sasquatch, a three-part documentary series from Duplass Brothers Productions and Director Joshua Rofé, which investigates rumors of a bizarre twenty-five year old triple homicide said to be the work of a mythical creature, will launch exclusively as a Hulu Documentary this Spring.  Synopsis: While visiting a pot farm in Northern California in 1993, investigative journalist David Holthouse heard a story that still haunts him: On a nearby farm three men were torn limb from limb in a savage Bigfoot attack. Sasquatch follows David as he revisits the Redwoods twenty-five years later, in search of any evidence that might lead to the truth of what happened that night. As he pulls at the threads of this story, he’ll be taken down a path that’s far more terrifying than anyone would have imagined. 

 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

The Twenty-Five Best Movies of 2020

 


1. Avengers: Endgame

2. Knives Out

3. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

4. Ready or Not

5. Shazam!

6. Spider-Man: Far From Home

7. Hamilton

8. John Wick

9. Palm Springs

10. The Nice Guys

11. Zombieland: Double Tap

12. Alita: Battle Angel

13. Baby Driver

14. Widows

15. Parasite

16. The Grand Budapest Hotel

17. The Invisible Man

18. Lady Bird

19. Toy Story 4

20. What We Do in the Shadows

21. Wonder Woman 1984

22. Anna

23. John Wick: Chapter 2

24. Run

25. Mary Queen of Scots


Monday, January 11, 2021

The Twenty-Five Best Music Videos of 2020

 

1. Ice Cream - BLACKPINK with Selena Gomez



2. State Of The Union (STFU) - Public Enemy feat. DJ Premier



3. Boyfriend - Selena Gomez 



4. Joke's On You - Charlotte Lawrence 


5. Sad Girl Summer - Maisie Peters 

6. Fight The Power: Remix 2020 - Public Enemy feat. Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought, Jahi, YG, and Questlove

7. Man from the Magazine - HAIM 

8. No Save Point  - Run The Jewels 

9. 34+35 - Ariana Grande 

10. cardigan - Taylor Swift 

11. Czar - Busta Rhymes 

12. Kool - BENEE 

13. Forget - Nikki Yanofsky 

14. Don't Wanna - HAIM 

15. Bathroom Floor - Maddie & Tae 

16. My Own Soul’s Warning - The Killers 

17. positions - Ariana Grande 

18. ooh la la - Run The Jewels feat. Greg Nice & DJ Premier 

19. Savior Complex - Phoebe Bridgers 

20. Supalonely - BENEE 

21. Moral of the Story - Ashe 

22. The Man - Taylor Swift 

23. The Steps - HAIM 

24. willow - Taylor Swift 

25. Feel The Way I Want - Caroline Rose 


Sunday, January 10, 2021

57 Channels and Only This Is On: January 10, 2020


 

Your Honor:  So is next week the series finale next week because the fifties mob boss is not forking around.  Dude blew up the house of the people he thought carries out a hit on his son; he does not seem like a guy who would have problems taking out a judge.  Or is fifties mob boss actually going to take the time to figure what exactly went down before administering his own type of swift justice?

 

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist:  Oh how nice to have the show back.  I have been calling Jane Levy the Emma Stone of television since her Suburgatory days so I was really giddy when Mo called Zoey, “a sad Emma Stone Halloween costume.”  But I will say the songs were a bit lacking in the premiere.  Hello Dolly was fun and grand, but I did not even know what song that new guy was singing.  But is the love triangle now over?  Simon did sing a lust song so there is still a flame.  I really hope Zoey does not go back and forth all season.  But there really is much of an option for Simon.  Joan just left, the other two women on the show are married or recently widowed.  Maybe the new guy should have been a woman to break up the sausagefest at Sparkpoint.  But I guess there is always Ava Price two floors up.  Oh yeah, I guess there is always Mo.

 

The Challenge: Double Agents:  I have always found Nelson boring but I am beginning to feel bad for him.  Last season he went home late, going into elimination so his body Corey did not have to.  Now he got blindsided by someone who he thought was a friend, such a close friend he went to Corey’s gender reveal party (wait, did Corey knock up yet another chick).  I really hope Fessy keeps getting thrown in until he loses.  Maybe he can go in against Josh and have them eliminate each other some how.  Oh, and that drone challenge sucked massively.

 


Saturday, January 09, 2021

Around the Tubes: January 9, 2021

  
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 No Man's LandSolar Opposites, Derek Delgaudio's In & Of Itself, Ryland James, Eddie Vedder, The Black Crowes, The Weeknd, Bailey Bryan, Taylor Swift, and Michelle Obama.

- NO MAN'S LAND Opens in Select Theaters, on Digital Platforms and VOD on January 22nd . Synopsis:  Border vigilante Bill Greer (Frank Grillo) and his son Jackson (Jake Allyn) are on patrol when Jackson accidentally kills a Mexican immigrant boy. Bill tries to take the blame but Texas Ranger Ramirez (George Lopez) sees through the lie, spurring Jackson to flee south on horseback across the Rio Grande to become a gringo "illegal alien" in Mexico. Chased by Texas Rangers and Mexican federales, Jackson journeys across deserts and mountains to seek forgiveness from the dead boy's vengeful father (Jorge A. Jimenez), as he falls in love with the land he was taught to hate.


Adult animated comedy series Solar Opposites returns with 8 all-new episodes on March 26, only on Hulu.  Season 2 Announcement Video Available HERE.  Co-created by Justin Roiland (Rick & Morty) and Mike McMahan (ex-writer's assistant on Rick & Morty), Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens who escape their exploding home world only to crash land into a move-in ready home in suburban America. They are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Justin Roiland) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love humans and all their TV, junk food and fun stuff. Their mission: protect the Pupa, a living super computer that will one day evolve into its true form, consume them and terraform the Earth. On season two of Solar Opposites, the Solar Opposites take it bigger, funnier, and more opposite than ever before.


DEREK DELGAUDIO’S IN & OF ITSELF is a new kind of lyric poem. It tells the story of a man fighting to see through the illusion of his own identity, only to discover that identity itself is an illusion. An intimate and powerful exploration of what it means to be and be seen, the film chronicles Derek DelGaudio’s attempt to answer one deceptively simple question, “Who am I?” His personal journey expands to a collective experience that forces us to confront the boundaries of our own identities. Premieres Friday, January 22, only on Hulu.



Today critically acclaimed Canadian breakout star Ryland James released a brand new single, “Blame,” via 21 Entertainment / Republic Records / EMI and Universal Music Canada.  Listen to the single and watch the lyric video HERE.  “Blame,” comes after a busy holiday season that saw Ryland release his first-ever holiday EP, A Little Christmas. The project had Ryland revisit and recharge four seasonal classics, including his 2019 smash rendition of “Please Come Home For Christmas”, which garnered over 10 million streams.


Eddie Vedder releases the five-song Matter Of Time bundle. Just in time for Christmas, he expands on the previously released two-track set and collects a series of acoustic songs and covers performed and recorded throughout 2020. He presents all of these tracks together for the first time in one comprehensive collection which also includes an acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s song “Growin’ Up.”  Get Matter Of Time available tomorrow at all digital streaming partners HERE via Monkeywrench/Republic Records.


- The Black Crowes Present: Shake Your Money Maker, the multi-platinum debut by the seminal rock n' roll band The Black Crowes, is being re-released in multi-formats sets on February 26, 2021, through UMe/American Recordings. Band founders, brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, with original producer George Drakoulias, oversaw the creation of the re-release.  Most exciting are the  4LP and 3CD Super Deluxe versions, which includes the original album, remastered; 3 never-before-heard studio recordings; 2 unreleased demos from the band's early incarnation as Mr. Crowe's Garden;  B-sides; a spectacular, high-energy 14-song unreleased concert recorded in their hometown of Atlanta, GA in December 1990; reproductions of an early Mr. Crowe's Garden show flyer, setlist and tour laminate; a 4" Crowes patch; and a 20-page book with liner notes by David Fricke.   To listen or pre-order Shake Your Money Maker, click HERE


The Weeknd has released an intriguing new video for “Save Your Tears” from his album After Hours. The video, maybe the darkest from the album thus far, continues the platinum selling artist’s continued physical transformation (previously being decapitated in the “Too Late” video). While his physical rehabilitation makes progress it’s clear in the video that he’s mentally unraveling.  With the NFL playoffs starting this weekend the countdown to February 7th for The Weeknd’s Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime performance begins with fans eagerly anticipating the super star’s show for over 100 million viewers.   WATCH ‘SAVE YOUR TEARS’ HERE


Bailey Bryan is kicking off 2021 not with an expected celebratory New Years bop, but with “Sober” -- a gorgeously constructed, melancholic reflection on a love-hangover that feels all-too-relatable. Out today is the track’s chillingly profound music video where glitter, plastic champagne glasses, Chinese takeout and silver balloons litter the floor as Bailey pleads to a lover to remember her after the buzz of their young love wears off.


 Rounding out a landmark 2020, Taylor Swift closes out the year by making history once more. evermore, her latest 5 star album, bows at #1 on the Billboard 200, and her single “willow” captures #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, cementing her as the only artist in history to simultaneously debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 twice. Taylor is the only artist ever to accomplish this historic milestone in one year.


Former First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA'S story has just begun. The Obamas have remained quite busy with their new life of activism which includes their issue-oriented production company, Higher Ground, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2020. Mrs. Obama's autobiography, Becoming, has become the best-selling memoir of all time and even won a Grammy following the publication of her book. Get lost in the incredible journey of this modern-day First Lady's story in the making.  The feature-length biography is now widely available, including Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/2XqTne5


As we are watching the U.S. Capitol being taken over on our television screen, BET has posted a point of view piece on BET.com, sharing the words of Black legislators.


Through his actions, President Donald J. Trump has violated his oath of office and betrayed the public trust.  The shameful events of January 6 have shaken American democracy to its core. Incited by the incumbent president of the United States, a mob temporarily took over the US Capitol and tried to prevent the Congress from exercising its constitutional duty to confirm the choice of the American people for their next president. Thankfully, the effort failed. Indeed, the episode underscored the essential resilience of our democracy. At a time of great peril, the congressional and judicial branches have rallied to protect our constitutional system and the rule of law—features that have distinguished the United States during its nearly 250-year history.  There will be time enough for thoughtful reflection about the path forward to restore the health of our democracy, reduce the polarization that has prevented effective action to address the needs of the American people, and recommit to the aspiration of making the United States a beacon of freedom and equality for the world. But at least one thing is already clear: The president, through his actions, has violated his oath of office and betrayed the public trust. More than that, his ongoing presence and unwillingness or inability to faithfully exercise his constitutional duties pose a direct threat to the peaceful transfer of power and the well-being of the Republic. Whether through resignation, impeachment and conviction, or invocation of the 25th amendment, President Trump must leave office immediately.  Michael Abramowitz, President of Freedom House,  Michael Chertoff, Chairman, Freedom House Board of Trustees


 Independent Women's Forum President Carrie Lukas released the following statement:  "Millions of Americans have lost faith that our election systems can be trusted. They don’t trust the media to tell the truth. They feel our government bureaucracy has been politicized and our justice system treats politicians from one party very differently than the others.  “These concerns are legitimate, but violence and disrupting the peaceful transfer of power are not the ways to fight those fights. The Constitution that our founders bequeathed to us is more important than any single election. Americans have the right to protest peacefully, but not to destroy or resort to mob violence. Anyone who violates the law, regardless of political party, should be arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law.  “We must keep fighting for a better country, but not like this."

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

The Twenty-Five Worst Songs of 2020

 
1.        Yummy – Justin Beiber

2.       W.A.P. – Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion

3.       LIL PIMP BIG MAGA STEPPIN – Lil Pump

4.       Trollz – 6ix9ine featuring Nicki Minaj

5.       Watermelon Sugar –Harry Styles

6.       Stupid Love – Lady Gaga

7.        Blueberry Faygo – Lil Mosey

8.       Body – Megan Thee Stallion

9.       Commander in Chief – Demi Lovato

10.   ROCKSTAR – DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch

11.   Imagine – Gal Gadot and Friends

12.   What’s Poppin – Jack Harlow

13.   Stuck with U – Ariana Grande and Justin Beiber

14.   My Oh My – Camilla Cabello featuring DaBaby

15.   Savage – Megan Thee Stallion

16.   Rain on Me – Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande

17.   Toosie Slide – Drake

18.   Anyone – Demi Lovato

19.   Nice to Meet Ya – Meghan Trainor featuring Nicki Minaj

20.   Wonder – Shawn Mendes

21.   Nobody’s Love – Maroon 5

22.   Baby I’m Jealous – Bebe Rexha featuring Doja Cat

23.   HOLIDAY – Lil Nas X

24.   Monster – Shawn Mendez and Justin Beiber

25.   I Love My Country – Florida Georgia Line