Around the Tubes: September 4, 2021

       

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on American Rust, CODA, Public Enemy, Bob Marley, the weeknd, Joy Oladokun, Audidio, People Puzzler, Fruits of Labor, and The Curse of Von Dutch.

- SHOWTIME has released the premiere episode of its new drama series AMERICAN RUST for free sampling, on streaming platforms and on demand. The episode is available on YouTube, Showtime.com and Sho.com, as well as across multiple SHOWTIME partner platforms. Starring Emmy winner and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels (THE COMEY RULE, The Newsroom, Godless, The Looming Tower) and award-winning actress and Emmy nominee Maura Tierney (YOUR HONOR, THE AFFAIR, The Report, Beautiful Boy), the series is also executive produced by Daniels, reteaming with Oscar^® nominee Dan Futterman (The Looming Tower, Capote, Foxcatcher), who serves as executive producer, writer and showrunner. AMERICAN RUST will officially premiere on Sunday, September 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Additionally, the second episode of the series will be available starting at midnight on Sunday, September 12 on demand for SHOWTIME subscribers.

- Republic Records and Apple Original Films have teamed up with Deaf West Theatre (David Kurs, Artistic Director) to release the official music video for the single “You’re All I Need To Get By (Duet Version)” from the CODA “Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film” today. The performance of the Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell classic song is sung by “CODA”’s lead actress Emilia Jones (Locke & Key, Doctor Who) & co-star Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (Sing Street, Vikings), as featured in the film now playing in select theaters and streaming on Apple TV+.  Watch the official music video for “You’re All I Need To Get By (Duet Version)” HERE.

- Public Enemy - the legendary super group that launched a musical revolution - have announced they will bring their classic videos to the world in newly remastered HD for the first time. The remastered HD version of Public Enemy’s “911 Is a Joke” from the group’s third album, Fear Of A Black Planet, is out now. The video, on platform for the first time ever, represents a seminal moment in the group’s history; one that brings Public Enemy forward as forefathers of a visual revolution that can now be celebrated digitally. Throughout the next two months and leading into the 30^th anniversary of the landmark album, Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black, UMe will be releasing a mix of music videos that have previously never been available digitally and classic videos remastered in HD formats for the first time on Public Enemy’s official YouTube channel, CHANNEL ZERO.  Additional videos will follow on CHANNEL ZERO with the debut of the videos for “Can’t Do Nuttin’ For Ya Man,” “Brothers Gonna Work It Out,” the uncensored version of “Anti-N Machine,” “Burn Hollywood Burn,” featuring Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane, and their GRAMMY® nominated anthem “Fight The Power,” all from Fear Of A Black Planet. More HD videos coming include “Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos” and “Louder Than A Bomb” from their landmark release It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, “Hazy Shade Of Criminal,” “Welcome To The Terrordome (Instrumental)” and “He Got Game.” October 1^st marks the anniversary of a seminal moment in the group’s history as the forefathers of a musical, cultural, political, and visual revolution that started over 30 years. And for the October 1^st anniversary of their 1991 GRAMMY® nominated release, Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black, the videos for “By The Time I Get To Arizona,” “Nighttrain” and “Shut Em Down,” will once again make their debut and make history in HD.

- ‘Bob Marley and The Wailers: The Capitol Session ’73’ is now streaming exclusively on The Coda Collection. Meticulously restored and long believed lost, the new film features a never-before-seen studio session with 12 performances by the legendary band, filmed and recorded live at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California. Coinciding with the arrival of the film, Tuff Gong/Mercury Studios have released ‘The Capitol Session ’73’ in CD/DVD, CD, 2LP colored vinyl, and digital audio formats today, which are available now HERE.  ‘Bob Marley and The Wailers: The Capitol Session ’73’ can be streamed in-full now HERE via The Coda Collection, and the group’s performance of “Slave Driver” from the session is available to watch on Bob Marley’s official YouTube channel HERE.

- SHOWTIME and Pepsi announced today that the documentary THE SHOW, a unique, first-ever look into the making of the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show, will premiere on Friday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The 90-minute feature chronicles the massive undertaking behind one of the most iconic musical performances of the year. This year’s show starred The Weeknd and was executive produced by Emmy nominees Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Desiree Perez, Roc Nation and Jesse Collins and directed by acclaimed multi-award nominated Hamish Hamilton (who has directed the Halftime Show since 2010).  To watch the trailer, go to: https://youtu.be/GNqw4alfvwI.

- Breakthrough singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun releases her brand new cover of The Who’s classic “Who Are You.” Stream/purchase HERE.  After CBS Marketing reached out, the critically acclaimed artist personally produced, arranged, sang, and recorded the cover to soundtrack the official trailer for CSI: Vegas which premiered on ET Online. Watch it HERE. CSI: Vegas premieres on Wednesday October 6, 2021 (10:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.  Earlier this summer, Joy unveiled the deluxe edition of her latest album, in defense of my own happiness (complete). It’s out now via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. Stream/purchase HERE.

- After more than 20 years without a TV platform to watch live music video programming, a new Nashville-based video network called Audidio announced Thursday they have answered the call and are now streaming 16 channels of music video content 24-7-365.  Audidio, pronounced Au-did-ee-yo, like if you mixed audio with video, is a new, 24-7-365, music video platform available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, iPhone and streaming online at audidio.com.

- PEOPLE PUZZLER, hosted by two-time Emmy® award winner Leah Remini and based on the iconic crosswords in PEOPLE Magazine, returns with a new season on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th at 6 p.m. ET on Game Show Network and will air weeknights.  In PEOPLE PUZZLER, three lucky contestants will put their pop culture knowledge to the test to complete iconic, PEOPLE PUZZLER crosswords.  The player who has won the most points after three rounds will move on to the Fast Puzzle Bonus Round where they will have the opportunity to win a cash prize. PEOPLE PUZZLER is produced by Meredith Corporation and Start Entertainment, LLC for Game Show Network. Executive Producers are Scott St. John and Neal Konstantini for Start Entertainment, LLC, along with Dan Wakeford and Rachel Feinberg for Meredith Corporation. Rane Laymance also serves as executive producer. 

- Fruits of Labor, which had its world premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival, follows Ashley, a Mexican-American teenager living in a small agricultural town on the central coast of California. A moving coming-of-age story about a determined young woman and an eye-opening look at the seen and unseen forces that trap many families in poverty, Fruits of Labor is a co-presentation of POV and Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES.  Produced and directed by Emily Cohen Ibañez, the film premieres on Monday, October 4, 2021 at 10:00-11:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, pbs.org and the PBS Video app.

- THE CURSE OF VON DUTCH, Premiere Date: November 18, 2021 on Hulu.  Synopsis: “The Curse of Von Dutch” chronicles the unbelievable true story behind the rise and fall of the 2000s most iconic fashion trend. In this epic character-driven saga, Venice Beach surfers, gangsters, European garmentos and Hollywood movers and shakers all vie for control of the infamous brand — pushing it from obscurity to one of the most recognizable labels on Earth. After a decade of backstabbing, greed, and bloodshed, their lives – and pop culture – will never be the same. 

Previewing Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James

For anyone under forty-five, the first thing they probably think of when they think of Rick James is the Charlie Murphy True Hollywood Story from Chappelle Show.  If they were to think of a second thing about Rick James it would probably be U Can’t Touch This, the MC Hammer song that samples a Rick James song.  If there was a third thing, it would be appearing in the Eddie Murphy music video for the song he produced.  If there was a fourth thing, it would be that Rick James was a disgusting pervert who was arrested for keeping a sex slave in his basement for him and his wife. 

 

It is kind of amazing how artists can be so huge but can be completely unknown by future generation.  James had six top five albums on the RnB charts in six years back when being able to sell albums meant something but most people under forty-five can name a song that was not sampled by MC Hammer.  Really, I am not sure most people under twenty-five could name a song by MC Hammer.

 

Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James starts off with Rick James’s daughter unpacking some her father’s belonging for storages which she has not seen for 12 years.  We get plenty of information about James’s childhood growing up in Buffalo, New York, his draft dodging days, and the time he was in a band signed to Motown with Neil Young.  This is a story I have heard before, yet every time I hear it, I am still pretty shocked by it.

 

Aside from a short intro, they really do not get into Rick’s freaky side until about halfway through the doc.  Then it does not get to his legal troubles until the last twenty-five minutes.  Anyone looking for a takedown of someone who was sent to jail for imprisoning and beating women, this is not that documentary.  Most of the talking heads posthumously make excusing for Rick James trying to make the claim that Rick was a good person if not for the drugs.  But as Rick himself explains in the doc, no one has to force you to do crack.  The lack of culpability for someone who spent years in prison for his crimes and still refused to get clean is really lacking from this documentary.

 

Also conspicuously absent from the film are Dave Chappelle, MC Hammer, and Eddie Murphy, though archival footage of all are shown including the infamous Chappelle Show sketch.  The doc was able to get new sound bites from Niles Rogers, Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane, Bootsie Collins, and his backing band that provided the best insight.  The documentary also uses animation for a couple scenes where there was not any footage of.  I really could have done without them recreating sex scenes involving James but there is a scene inside a record executive’s office which looked out of the Chappelle Show sketch.

 

Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James airs Friday at 9:00 on Showtime.

Previewing the Second Half of Billions Season Five

There were plenty of shows that were negatively impacted by COVID, but aside for shows like G.L.O.W. that were renewed but later canceled because of it, there is an argument that Billions was the show most negatively affected.  Of the shows that were shut down while still filming, Billions is one of the last that were not canceled to finally put out there next episode.  The last episode of Billions aired June 14, 2020 and now fifteen months later, we are finally getting the final five episodes of the fifth season.  But it will not be much break until season six which is expected to debut early 2022.

 

Since it has been so long, we do get a ninety second recap that touches on a few bullet points like Taylors new outfit, Wendy kissing Frank Grillo, Chuck’s father needs a kidney, Chuck going after the Treasury Secretary, Chuck becoming a professor and using his students for his needs, and Bobby’s new feud with Corey Stoll.  Hopefully that reminds everyone what is going on. 

 

One person who is barely mentioned in the previously on montage is Julianna Margulies who seemingly was unable to return to the show and only gets a couple passing messages from Chuck.  But that may have been for the best because that whole professor storyline was not the strongest on the show.  But in true Billions style does get a live performance on the show and features a great Tom Petty song near the end of the first episode back.  Then another guest, this time an unwanted one, seemingly will be making an appearance this season when one of the character mentions a Chinese bug that is going to fill the hospital in the near future.

 

Billions airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

The Five Most (and Least) Anticipated Question of the 2021-22 Television Season

Usually I do my fall television preview in early September to coincide with some cable show that gets a jump before the networks premiere their fall state in the finale week of the month. Except this year, I already have seven shows that already started this month that will extend into the fall with one more starting today. August used to be the quietest month on the television calendar so I am not sure if this was COVID related or maybe the new normal in the streaming era where you cannot take the month off if you want to keep people subscribed. 

 After COVID slowed Hollywood to a halt, it seems like we have finally returned to Peak TV with a steady stream of shows coming this way this fall. Here are some of my burning questions for the next television season. 

 1. Is Disney Really Going to Make Nerds Have a Sophie’s Choice? Last December, Disney+ announced nine Marvel shows (four have already premiered and four have been announced since then) and nine Star Wars shows in addition to The Mandalorian and the previously announced Book of Boba Fett (one has already premiered). Thanks to COVID, it has taken some time for many of them to hit the small screen, but it seems as early as this fall, when both Hawkeye and The Book of Boba Fett are set to air, there will be Marvel and Star Wars airing concurrently setting up a Sophie Choice for us nerds as to what to watch first. Disney+ seemed like there were going to solve this problem when they moved Loki from their usual Friday premiere day to Wednesday but shortly announced all their television shows would premiere on Wednesday too and thus back to the Sophie’s choice. 

 So are they going to stick to this and have the conversations on Wednesday split or will they end up moving to more of a traditional network of model of premiering shows throughout the week? Most streamers have a stick release day they stick to though Hulu, which has traditions put out weekly releases on Wednesdays and binge releases on Fridays, will be releasing Only Murders in the Building on a Tuesday (FX on Hulu shows are also releasing on different days of the week). Hopefully Disney+ learns from their sister streamer and start experimenting with different release days so we do not have to decide between Marvel and Star Wars Tuesdays Nights / Wednesday mornings. 

 2. Who Will Win the Uncivil War Between Catherine and Peter? Okay, anyone who paid attention in history class knows who win, so maybe the better question is how it was won. While history class seemingly can also answer that, The Great took some pretty huge poetic licenses in the first season, so the second could take just as many. Though I think it is safe to say, there will be plenty of “Huzzah’s” in the process. 

 3. Can Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Be Saved Beyond a Movie? While there has been no official announcement that Roku will be airing a movie around Christmas, Pitch Mr. Perfect, Skylar Austin recently said in an interview that the movie is being written right now and filming will start in September so it sure seems like a done deal. Initial reports said that if the movie is successful, it can lead to another full season. Up until now, Roku has only acquired programs but have not made anything new. Zoey would be the first the original made specifically for the Roku Channel along with some recently renewed Quibi castoffs. Speaking of Quibi, those shows matched the viewership in days what those shows did over the life of Quibi, so can Zoey have that sort of success? Hopefully so because I would really like a third season even though the Roku ads can be a bit much. 

 4. Is Y: The Last Man Really Going to Happen? I have been joking for a while that Y: The Last Man is the Chinese Democracy of television. In development at FX since 2015 (there were attempts at a movie going back to 2007), it seems like we will finally get to see it after the titular last man, female lead and showrunners have all been replaced at some point. There is a trailer and everything, though I am not exactly convinced it was a real trailer and not one of those fan made trailers. Guess we will have to wait until September 13 when we open up Hulu to know for sure. 

 5. How Will These COVID Delay Shows Pick Back Up? Did the last season of Doom Patrol seem like it ended abruptly? It felt that way because they were starting to film the season finale when COVID shut everything down and they just decided to end the season there instead of coming back months later just for one episode. This will be one of the last shows to finally get around finishing telling the story that was shut down by COVID. The final episode ended with the Candlemaker encasing our heroes to wax. However this cliffhanger is resolved, hopefully it is resolved in a way that the chief’s daughter is no longer on the show. But the third season will see the addition of The Flight Attendant’s Michelle Gomez as Madame Rouge who sounds like an evil version of Elasta-Girl. The other cut off while filming was Billion which finished filming seven of twelve episodes. After fifteen months they will finally get to finish their fifth season. What happened in those first seven episodes? Who know? I vaguely remember Frank Grillo playing a painter. But on the bright side, there will not be a long wait until season six which they started filming after concluding season five and is expected to premiere in early 2022. 

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

 1. Who Thought Ordinary Joe Would Do Better Than Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and/or Good Girls? Neither Zoey nor Good Girls were a ratings goldmine, but do the people at NBC actually think Ordinary Joe is going to do any better? 

 2. Why Did Netflix Revive Manifest? NBC made some questionable decision for the 2021-22 season, but the smartest thing they did was finally put Manifest out of its mystery after a particularly bad season where everyone became extremely unlikable. It was easily one of the worst shows I have watched in my life. But then Netflix inexplicably saved it forcing me with my inability to stop anything I started to watch 20 more episodes of that crap. 

 3. Just How Bad Was the Powerpuff Girls Pilot? There is nothing The CW loves more than IP, I believe they are just down to two non IP shows on their channel, one if they opt not to renew the currently airing Republic of Sarah which is currently getting ratings in the just friends and family are watching range. So it came as a shock when they chose not to pick up their biggest IP Pilot of last Pilot season The Powerpuff Girls. Makes me wonder just how bad it could possibly be that The CW will not air it. The show is being retooled and may make it to air later this season but without Chloe Bennett who seemingly was wise not to get her contract renewed. 

 4. Just How Much Dick Wolf Is Too Much Dick Wolf? When the networks schedules were announced, Dick Wolf controlled the entire night for a network on three different nights: FBI Tuesdays on CBS, Chicago Wednesdays on NBC, and Law and Order Thursdays also on NBC. Now NBC did pull the plug on the latest Law and Order and replaced it with The Blacklist, but still remains a lot of Dick Wolf. Who exactly watches all those crime shows? 

 5. Is Anyone Really Going to Watch Tik-Tokers on a Television? Hulu has a very impressive fall line-up, the have seven of maybe the fifteen shows I am most looking to this fall. Then there is The D’Amato Show. Sigh. It seems like they are trying to recreate their version of the Kardasians, except they already poached the Kardasians from E! so why do they need The D’Amato’s too? Plus has anyone actually successfully transitioned their social media fame to the small screen? This seems to have disaster written all over it. 

 Here is everything I plan on watching this fall and when they premiere:

Mondays

Reservation Dogs (already started, FX on Hulu)

Y: The Last Man (September 13, FX on Hulu)

8:00 – The Neighborhood (September 20, CBS)

 

 Tuesdays

Only Murders in the Building (Today, Hulu)

8:00 – DC’s Stargirl (already started, The CW)

9:00 – Supergirl (already started, The CW)

9:00 – La Brea (September 28, NBC)

 

 Wednesdays

Nine Perfect Strangers (already started, Hulu)

Wu-Tang: An American Saga (September 8, Hulu)

Dopesick (October 13, Hulu)

Hawkeye (November 24, Disney+)

8:00 – The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies (already started, MTV)

8:00 – Survivor (September 22, CBS)

8:00 – The Goldbergs (September 22, ABC)

8:30 – The Wonder Years (September 22, ABC)

 

 Thursdays

Titans (already started, HBO Max)

Doom Patrol (September 23, HBO Max)

8:00 – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (already started, NBC)

8:00 – The Blacklist (October 21, NBC)

8:00 – Annie Live! (December 2, NBC)

9:00 – Ghosts (October 7, CBS)

9:30 – B Positive (October 7, CBS)

10:00 – What We Do in the Shadows (September 2, FX)

10:00 – Big Sky (September 30, ABC)

 

Fridays

The Great (November 19, Hulu)

 

 Sundays

9:00 – The Walking Dead (already started, AMC)

9:00 – Billions (September 5, Showtime)

9:00 - Fear the Walking Dead (October 17, AMC)

9:00 – Dexter: New Blood (November 7, Showtime)

10:00 – American Rust (September 12, Showtime)

10:00 – The Walking Dead: World’s Beyond (October 3, AMC)

10:00 – Yellowjackets (November 14, Showtime)

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 29, 2021

The Walking Dead:  Who knew the dead could take a nap?  Or be awoken by a single drop of blood?  Yet, not the dumbest thing the show has ever done.  Then later in the episode, Negan had the opportunity to save Maggie but lets her drop into a horde of zombie.  Are they really going to do the same cheap trick with her that they did with Glen a bunch of seasons ago where he fell into a horde only to be able to slip under a trash bin?  I am just going to assume Maggie is under the subway car and will probably crawl and meet up with Daryl until proven otherwise.

 

Stargirl:  Okay, pen guy was pretty entertaining.  I wonder if they will ever meet up with the new owner or having a CGI genie is too expensive for The CW.  Maybe they should have moved it to HBO Max like the other DC Universe shows.  But is The Shade really a bad guy?  It seems like he was claiming there was more to Dr. Mid-Nite’s death than what we are led to believe.  We do see The Shade “swallow” Dr. Mid-Nite in darkness, but does that actually kill him.  And just what does he want with Eclipso?

 

Supergirl:  Well, that was just stupid.

 

Motherland: Fort Salem:  So the Vice President knowingly sacrificed his daughter?  That is so evil stuff right there.  Well, I guess we got someone to take down in the finale season.

 

Nine Perfect Strangers:  So no one objects to being drugged without their consent?  Cool.  But I find the more the “strangers” are being drugged, the more entertaining I find the show.

 

The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies: It looks like I counted right because even Tori said the show was evenly split to start the episode between veterans and rookies.  But not anymore.  Once again, even with a rookie winning the week, all four people sent into elimination were rookies.  Though the previews next week does make it look like the veterans alliance will be imploding.  This would be good news for Michele and Corey as the only rookie team left.  We will have to see if the preview is misleading or not, Josh can lose his cool pretty quickly.

 

In the Dark:  Well that was the worst episode in the history of the series.  It takes a whole hour to find a blind chick’s phone?  Then there is siblings squabbling over old newspapers.  We learned nothing important that we did not know before other than Trey left his phone at the kingpin’s house which took up five seconds of screen time. 

 

Titans:  Well that was a whole episode explaining what happened to Jason that I had already figured out by watching the first four episodes.  But it was weird that the dead Wonder Girl had gotten more screen time in the first five episodes than the still alive Raven.

 

Around the Tubes: August 28, 2021

      

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Yellowjackets, The Unusual Suspects, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Naughty By Nature, The Beach Boys, John Mellencamp, POV, and other Showtime TCA announcements.

- SHOWTIME will premiere its new survival drama YELLOWJACKETS on Sunday, November 14 at 10 pm ET/PT. Created and executive produced by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Narcos), the 10-episode, one-hour drama series starring Melanie Lynskey (Castle Rock), Oscar^® and Emmy^® nominee Juliette Lewis (Camping), Emmy nominee Christina Ricci (Z: The Beginning of Everything) and Tawny Cypress (Unforgettable) is currently in production in Vancouver. Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, YELLOWJACKETS is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.

- Now streaming on Hulu - U.S. Exclusive: The Unusual Suspects (APC).  In Sydney's glamorous suburbs, Sara Beasley, a rich business woman, lives along Evie, her nanny who holds her family together. What Sara ignores is that Evie has a daughter of her own, left behind in the Philippines. Roxanne Waters, a self-made Filipina socialite, is married to Jordan who bought her a precious necklace... just before being arrested for fraud. Together with Amy, Roxanne's nanny and friend, and Birdie, a retired lawyer, the five women will join forces to find a way to achieve their dreams - by planning a heist.

- Beloved Platinum-selling band, Toad the Wet Sprocket, has released their latest album, STARTING NOW, which is available everywhere you find great music now. This latest project, being released through the band's own independent label, Abe's Records, is a collection of material exploring how we manage to find hope after life's uncertainties that often force a change and challenge us to survive on a new path.  LISTEN:             STARTING NOW.  PURCHASE:      STARTING NOW 

- Grammy Award winning, legendary Hip-Hop group Naughty By Nature are set to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of their self-titled album released in 1991. Few bands in music can boast about an almost 30 year career that has been both consistent and history making. Naughty By Nature, initially called New Style, began performing at talent shows and were discovered by fellow New Jersey native and then emerging Hip-Hop artist, Queen Latifah. Eventually signing the group to her management company Flavor Unit Management, Latifah helped them land a deal with Tommy Boy Records. Following the release of their self-titled debut album in 1991, Naughty By Nature quickly assaulted the music charts with the instant classic #1 hit “O.P.P.” The group quickly became crossover stars, bridging the gap between their Hip-Hop roots and the mainstream music world. To date, their success and longevity as a Hip-Hop band has been unparalleled. The trio went on to produce their follow-up albums that have become part of America’s Hip- Hop legacy: 19 Naughty III (1993), Poverty’s Paradise (1995) and Nature’s Fury (1999).  Inevitably, a break-up in 1999 would lead to the group members each following different, yet equally successful, personal endeavors. As a producer, Kay Gee went onto produce award winning music with artists including: Luther Vandross, Notorious B.I.G, Jaheim, Next and Zhane. As an actor, Treach found success in film and television offering critically-acclaimed performances on HBO’s original series The Sopranos and OZ, along with Jason’s Lyric, Soul Food, the Hip-Hop cult-classic Juice and several other films. As the marketing genius behind the group, Vin Rock developed Naughty Gear, one of the first Hip-Hop inspired clothing lines. When he got a hold of the worldwide web, he mastered it with www.NaughtyByNature.com, further developing and expanding the reach of the Naughty brand. 

- The Beach Boys new box set, Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971, is out now via Capitol/UMe, in honor of 50 years of the band’s timeless and often underappreciated albums, Sunflower and Surf’s Up. The expansive 5CD box set chronicles and explores in depth this metamorphic and highly influential 1969-1971 period of the band’s legendary career. Assembled by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, the team behind 2013’s GRAMMY® Award-winning SMiLE Sessions, the comprehensive collection features newly remastered versions of Sunflower and Surf’s Up and boasts 135 tracks, including 108 previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions.  Housed in a book style package, the set is rounded out with a 48-page book loaded with unreleased and rare photos, lyric sheets, tape box images, recording artifacts, insightful new liner notes by noted radio veteran and Beach Boys aficionado Howie Edelson, and new and archival interviews from Al Jardine, Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, and others. Feel Flows is also available in abbreviated versions including 4LP on both black vinyl and limited edition Translucent Blue and Translucent Gold color vinyl, 2LP black vinyl and 2CD editions.  Stream/order Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971

- John Mellencamp and Republic Records release the live album to accompany the The Good Samaritan Tour 2000 documentary available now on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) YouTube channel.  Stream The Good Samaritan Tour 2000 live album HERE and watch The Good Samaritan Tour 2000 documentary HERE.  The album features live versions of some of John Mellencamp’s most popular songs including “Pink Houses,” “Small Town” as well as a cover of “Oklahoma Hills” written by Woody Guthrie. See full tracklist below. The Good Samaritan Tour 2000 documentary is available on Turner Classic Movie’s (TCM) YouTube channel starting today. Next month, John Mellencamp will also appear as a guest programmer on TCM. Look out for more information soon.

- THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH returns for an eight-episode run this fall, kicking off on Sunday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. The acclaimed weekly docu-series, now in its sixth season and nominated this year for two Emmy Awards, is hosted by John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Alex Wagner and Jennifer Palmieri. With Covid-19 resurgent, Afghanistan in chaos, Joe Biden's sweeping domestic agenda on the line in Congress and the Republican Party still in thrall to Donald Trump and his Big Lie about 2020 election fraud, THE CIRCUS once again will take viewers behind the scenes and beyond the headlines at a moment when American politics is more convulsive than ever — and the stakes for the country have never been higher.

- POV Shorts, the newest series from American Documentary, debuts its fourth season on Monday, September 6, 2021 on PBS and streaming online at POV.org. With 13 new short nonfiction films packed into seven unique episodes, POV Shorts continues to program innovative and diverse stories that capture longing for community and identity and difficult reconciliations with family history. In just its 3rd season, POV Shorts was named the ‘Best Short Form Series’ at the 36th annual IDA Documentary Awards.

- SHOWTIME has announced a pilot order for the drama series COERCION, written and directed by Oscar and Emmy^® nominee Susannah Grant (Unbelievable, Erin Brockovich) and starring Sydney Chandler (Don’t Worry Darling, Pistol). The series, produced by wiip, is inspired by the life of Rebecca Bender, a national leader on and survivor of sex trafficking.  Bender is now one of the nation’s foremost experts on the subject and a leading consultant for federal law enforcement on how to spot it, prosecute it and protect the victims in its web. The series picks up with her escape from this world after six years, her struggles to return to a “normal” life, and her emergence as a confident, funny and impassioned advocate for justice.

- SHOWTIME has announced a pilot order for the comedy series THE WOOD, based on the feature film written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa (THE CHI, Dope). Famuyiwa will direct the pilot and executive produce with Justin Hillian (THE CHI, Snowfall), who will write the script. The project is a production of Paramount Television Studios.  THE WOOD is an honest look at friendship and dating from the perspective of three young Black males born and raised in the gentrifying L.A. suburb of Inglewood, fondly referred to by locals as the City Of Champions. The trio’s struggles to balance fatherhood, ambition and loyalty force them to question if they are growing apart … or closer together. With a knowing nod back to the characters of the 1999 film on which it is based, this romantic comedy showcases the humor and heart of young Black men and women trying to navigate life, love and likes on the ’Gram. 

- SHOWTIME has picked up a second season of its half-hour comedy series FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS. Created by Kevin Iso (High Fidelity) and Dan Perlman (That’s My Bus!), who both star, FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS  is a raw comedy of city life following Dan and Kevin, who play characters struggling to thrive in their new surroundings in Flatbush, Brooklyn. The show explores two long-time friends seeking to climb out of their heads and connect with others. Season one cast also includes  Kristin Dodson (The Shivering Truth), Hassan Johnson (The Wire), Kareem Green and Kerry Coddett.

- SHOWTIME has announced that DESUS & MERO, the network’s first-ever late night talk show, will return for a fourth season in 2022. Currently in its third season, DESUS & MERO airs weekly on Sunday and Thursday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT from New York City through December 12. Each episode of DESUS & MERO, which won a WGA Award earlier this year for Comedy/Variety Talk Series, features co-hosts Desus Nice and The Kid Mero giving their take on the day’s hot topics and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more, with recent guests including President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Lil Nas X, Matt Damon, YoYo Ma, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Eddie Murphy, Idris Elba, H.E.R. and Glenn Close. 

- SHOWTIME announced that the Peabody Award-winner and two-time Emmy-nominated documentary series VICE will premiere RETURN OF THE TALIBAN: A VICE SPECIAL REPORT, a one-hour special on the current Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on Friday, September 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Acclaimed VICE correspondents Hind Hassan, Ben Soloman, Seb Walker and Isobel Yeung will report from the ground in Afghanistan and surrounding areas – including exclusive footage and interviews captured before and after the takeover – and provide a deeper look at the militant group that seized control of the country in 11 days, following the U.S. military withdrawal.

- After breaking network viewership records with its debut, SHOWTIME has picked up a second season of the hit series YOUR HONOR, starring Oscar^® nominee and Emmy, Screen Actors Guild^® and Tony Award-winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) in his performance as Michael Desiato, a respected New Orleans judge whose teenage son is involved in a hit-and-run that leads to a high-stakes game of lies, deceit and impossible choices. BAFTA^® winner Peter Moffat (The Night Of, Undercover) serves as showrunner, executive producer and writer of multiple episodes. Premiering as a limited series, the first season of YOUR HONOR was the most-watched debut season on SHOWTIME ever (6.6 million weekly viewers) and is currently the network’s most-watched series. Production on 10 episodes for the upcoming season is scheduled to resume next year for a 2022 return to the network. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, Presidents of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.  

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 22, 2021

 

 

The White Lotus:  If there was one thing I really did not need to see in my life was what Armand did to that suitcase.  No wonder he died, that must have really angered the island Gods.  But that death should have been obvious considering days before the announced the show had been renewed for a second season in a different resort.  Why not run it back with Armand unless he would not be around for a second season?

 

Reservation Dogs:  This episode was severly missing the rapping twins.

 

Nine Perfect Strangers:  Man, I think you may have to Ferris Bueller / Parker Lewis wars of the early nineties to witness a show so poorly timed that it really hurt a show quite like Nine perfect Strangers premiering mere days after The White Lotus, another show about annoying rich people going to exotic resort.  The first episode just seemed lifeless despite having quite of few very hilarious people (Bortles!!!!).  I did enjoy the show more after watching second episode and third episodes with a bombshell that ended the third one.  Maybe that is why the firt episode was so restrained but the characters got more and more bombastic.  Hopefully the further away we get from The White Lotus, the easier it is to enjoy the show on its own merits.

 

The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies: Yet another agent deactivated without explanation sending everyone to the internet to figure out what happened.  But unlike Nan, not clear reason why Lauren is no longer on the show except some long, vague message from Lauren and on unverified rumor.  This show used to love the drama and now is apparently just editing it out, well except for some drunken Smashley rant.

 

At what point do the rookies realize they are being picked off systematically?  Two eliminations, only rookies have gone in even though there has been a rookie in the agency each week.  If I counted correctly, after four rookies going home, they are now deadlocked at fifteen veterans and fifteen rookies.  If the rookies do not start playing soon, it is going to be too late real soon.

  

In the Dark:  I am not sure what was more shocking, that Gene is now captain or he turned out to be black.  But I think it is pretty clear now that the woman who gets her head smashed into the car is not actually Jess, but whoever’s identity she stole which is why they never show a good shot of her.

 

Titans:  Booooo, how disappointing that Dove is leaving.  But will she return after Wonder Girl’s inevitable return?  I would like to point out that Scarecrow was actually working with Red Hood.

 

Around the Tubes: August 21, 2021

     

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Lorde, Lyn Lapid, Just Stef, James Blake, Pen15, Snowpiercer, and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.  

- GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum artist LORDE releases her highly anticipated third studio album,Solar Power – listen HERE. The album is already garnering stellar reviews. Solar Power  includes 12 tracks and is produced by Jack Antonoff who she collaborated with on her chart-topping last album, Melodrama.  The artist will take to the stage today to headline the “GMA” Summer Concert Series, performing tracks from the album at their first in-person Central Park show in nearly two years.  Then starting August 23^rd, LORDE will join “The Late Late Show with James Corden” for a week-long residency during the show’s first week back from summer hiatus.

-  After amassing over 4 million song views and 1 million likes on TikTok before officially releasing the song, singer and songwriter Lyn Lapid delivers her new fan favorite single “In My Mind” today—listen HERE!  Dedicated to the “‘quiet kids’ such as [herself]”, Lyn first teased “In My Mind” on TikTok last week, and the video quickly garnered over 3 million views in just a few days with her fans lovingly dubbing the song the “quiet kids song.” “In My Mind” hinges on a jazz-y groove as Lyn adopts a fittingly smoky delivery. Her voice wraps around airy guitar and a steady beat, as it builds towards a swooning refrain and she reveals, “People say I’m quiet most of the time, If only you knew what goes on in my mind.” Once again, Lyn’s dynamic vocals and sharp songwriting instantly enchant listeners.

- After generating millions of streams on the original, first-generation Argentinian-American vocal dynamo Just Stef drops a showstopping Acoustic version of her debut single “Miss U Miss Me” today via The Heavy Group/Republic Records. Listen to “Miss U Miss Me (Acoustic)”—HERE. She also shared an accompanying performance video. Watch it—HERE.  Backed by stripped and shimmering piano and soft strings, her raw vocal talents shine through, echoing on the instantly unforgettable hook. In the visual, she plays the piano as she sings into an old school freestanding microphone. The tight closeups capture her palpable emotion and showcase her undeniable energy.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Blake released “Life Is Not The Same,” the second track from his forthcoming new album, Friends That Break Your Heart, due out September 10, 2021 – available for pre-order HERE, via Republic Records. The song is a collaboration with hit producer duo Take A Daytrip.

- Pack your bags and join your favorite middle-schoolers on vacation in the official trailer for the “Pen15” animated special which launches Friday, August 27^th only on Hulu.

- What will it take to survive? All aboard the most elite train in the world, as the epic journey continues with more secrets, plot twists, and reveals as Warner Bros Home Entertainment releases Snowpiercer: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9, 2021. Strap yourself in for a thrilling ride with all 10 episodes from the second season, plus enjoy the captivating 21 minutes of extra features. Snowpiercer: The Complete Second Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray, which includes a Digital. Snowpiercer: The Complete Second Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital

- Your favorite Super Heroes are back, and this time, they’re out of this world! The fate of the universe is in their hands as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Sixth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9, 2021. Buckle up for a wild ride with all 15 rollicking one-hour episodes from the sixth season, plus enjoy the epic extra content including several featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Sixth Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($29.98 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. Only). DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Sixth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 15, 2021

 

The White Lotus:  This show has not been the murder mystery that was set up in the first scene.  There may not even sure there was an actual murder. I think the couple in the first scene just said someone died.  Since the show does not even seem to be trying, I think the person who dies will be the old dude with the cough.  I actually thought he was going to keel over after having sex with Stiffler’s mom.  I might give a close second to Armand who has already been close to OD’ing.

 

Reservation Dogs:  This is another in a long line of shows where the main characters are the least interesting characters.  The rapping twins are number one and two followed by the cop and the spiritual guide being fourth.  Then the doctor would round out the top five.

 

Stargirl:  So evil chick is going to recruit a new Evil Doers of America team?  Cool.  But the team she laid out did not seem that impressive.  And what was with the kids at the start of the episode?  What happened to them?  Are they just in that gem too?

 

Motherland: Fort Salem:  That was a pretty good twist, I personally did not suspect anything until she noticeably did not stomp her feet.  But does she want to be captured?  She was not muzzled and yet she did not try anything.  That is pretty suspicious.

 

The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies: Poor Nam, gets stuck with a head case last season and gets sent home off screen this season without explanation sending everyone to the internet to figure out what happened. It turns out that a bunch of people came down with COVID symptoms and production got shut down after the first challenge and everyone had to quarantine for ten more days.  Then poor Nam was the only one still positive and got sent home.  Which begs the question why didn’t the show mandate vaccinations?  Seems like a pretty simple solution especially for a season where you are flying so many people to one spot from across the globe. 

 

Then poor Michele, gets a strong partner who gets sent home, gets thrown in eliminations thanks to a new twist and has to go against one of her few allies in the game, and it seems like they are doing away with skulls this seasons so it seems likely she will be thrown in a few more time because that is what sees like happens whenever there are skull-less seasons. Shame, because she is already the most entertaining new cast member since Nany.

 

In the Dark:  Really, a blind chick an escape from a police station that easily?  So now what?  Back to Canada?  Get caught again?  Try and leverage the tape?

 

Titans:  Well that was a stupid episode.  Really Hawk, how do you get ambushed like that?  And why not have Connor freeze the bomb?  And if you are trying to lower your heartrate, how about not having Lyla Garrity sit on your lap and start taking off her clothes?  That seems like the best way to get your heartrate up.  And why did they need to bomb disabler to be at 0%?   If I am down to my last 100 heartbeats, I am fine with something that has a five percent failure rate.  But I will just call it now, Red Hood is working with Scarecrow and he provided the cocktail that Nightwing found.  But is that some sort of invincibility potion?  Was Red Hood thrown in the Lazarus Pit?  Will it be the same thing that brings back Wonder Girl who seems about as dead as Red Hood going by the previews?