Around the Tubes: September 18, 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 Only Murders in the Building, Dopesick, The Circus, Coldplay, Carol Ades, Olivia Rodrigo, Foxes, Lyn Lapid, U2, and Fruits of Labor.

- “Only Murders in the Building,” the hit Hulu Original comedy series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez has been picked up for a second season.  “Only Murders in the Building” debuted as the most-watched Hulu Original comedy on premiere day and also the most-watched comedy on premiere day across all SVOD titles ever on the platform. Additionally, the 20^th Television produced series has maintained a 100% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score since launch.  “‘Only Murders in the Building’ reflects the kind of creative excellence that is the hallmark of Hulu Originals. Steve, John and Dan have created a uniquely captivating and entertaining series. The audience’s response to the delightful blend of mystery, humor and emotion in the show has been overwhelming and we can’t wait to follow this unlikely trio on their next adventure,” said Craig Erwich, president, ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals.

- Hulu Original "Dopesick" premieres on Wednesday, October 13th with the first three episodes.  New episodes stream weekly. From Executive Producer Danny Strong and starring and executive produced by Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Big Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA. Defying all the odds, heroes will emerge in an intense and thrilling ride to take down the craven corporate forces behind this national crisis and their allies. The limited series is inspired by the New York Times bestselling book by Beth Macy.

- Recently nominated for two Emmy® awards, THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH resumes its sixth season amid the spiraling pandemic and bitter partisan divide over how to combat it.  Hosts John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri crisscross the country to examine the fallout from the Biden administration's most aggressive move against Covid to date -- requiring tens of millions of workers to be vaccinated or regularly tested. The program tracks the furious response from Republican state leaders, businesses welcoming the decision, and an American public struggling to endure the pandemic.   For a preview, go to: https://youtu.be/f9reHkhgI_U.

- Coldplay’s ‘Amsterdam Sessions’, a rarely seen and intimate 2000 performance in support of the band’s breakout critically acclaimed album Parachutes, is now available to stream for the first time ever exclusively on The Coda Collection. Taped in summer 2000 on the eve of the record’s release, the performance captures a pivotal moment in the band’s early career just prior to their meteoric ascent to global stardom. The session marked one of the first times the band had showcased their music outside of the U.K., delivering renditions of standout hits such as “Trouble,” “Don’t Panic,” and “Shiver” as well as “Yellow,” which was released as a single on the exact same day of the session’s recording.  Until now, the performance has never been seen before outside of the Netherlands. Watch the trailer now here and stream Coldplay’s “Amsterdam Sessions” on The Coda Collection now here.

- Globally successful singer-songwriter Carol Ades has released "Unlearn Me," the newest single from her much anticipated, soon-to-be-announced debut EP. "Unlearn Me" is available to stream now at all DSPs with an official lyric video on Ades' YouTube channel HERE.  "'Unlearn Me' is the result of the end of a really tumultuous breakup where I wasn’t really the good guy," says Ades. "At the very end I wished so badly that I could erase everything that went wrong and start over as a version of myself that would have done so many things different. That's obviously not how it works, but I was still grieving this relationship after so long. It felt like one of the last things I had to say to myself and the other person about it before I really started to move forward. It’s a really cathartic song for me and still breaks my heart a little every time I listen to it."

-  Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB), a leader in immersive entertainment experiences, teamed up with multi-platinum singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo to celebrate a new era for music in Dolby Atmos, which is transforming how music is created and enjoyed. Fans looking to connect with Olivia on a deeper, more emotional level can enjoy SOUR today in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music.  "I create music to tell my story and to share how I'm feeling. Songwriting is a cathartic process that’s often the clearest window into your soul,” said Olivia. “Experiencing music in Dolby Atmos is magical and allows you to hear music in a whole new way.”  The long-form commercial provides an intimate look at Olivia as she moves seamlessly between singer-songwriter, performer, and breakthrough artist on a journey of self-discovery through her craft. With Dolby Atmos, Olivia is able to look at music in a whole new way and convey her artistic expression to connect more deeply with her music.

- Foxes announces the details of her forthcoming third studio album The Kick due for release February 11, 2022, via [PIAS] Recordings. Alongside the announcement, Foxes shares the first single to be taken from the album, "Sister Ray," produced by Ghost Culture (Daniel Avery, Kelly Lee Owens) and the accompanying video directed by Florence Kosky.  New single "Sister Ray" is the first single taken from The Kick. While inspired by the Velvet Underground song of the same name, the single takes an anthemic and electronic approach akin to Robyn. Shimmering synths and an ear-wormy hook making for a quintessential feel-good track.

- After amassing over 4 million song views and 1 million likes on TikTok before officially releasing the song, singer and songwriter Lyn Lapid drops the video for her latest single, “In My Mind”—watch HERE!  On making the video, Lyn says, “I knew from the start that I wanted the video to center around the many things that run through my mind, and so what better way than to focus on the concept of daydreaming? The entire video focuses on me working at a mundane office job, trying not to doze off while I get paperwork done. Then suddenly you see me go on a rampage, chuck office supplies everywhere, and maybe swing a bat once or twice at my stingy mannequin boss. The catch is that whatever you see when I’m not typing my life away at my computer is all a daydream. It was exhilarating being able to destroy the office space in my little rampage moment, I think it was the first time someone ever told me to let loose and make a mess. I loved working with everyone on set, and one of the best parts was all of the snacks there. Eliot Lee is super talented, and he did a fantastic job bringing my initial vision for the video to life.”

- Island Records and UMe announce the 40^th-anniversary vinyl release of “Gloria,” a limited-edition 12” yellow vinyl EP to celebrate RSD Black Friday on Friday, November 26, 2021.  Originally released as a single in October 1981, “Gloria” is the second single to be taken from U2’s second studio album October and has been a staple in U2’s live set to this day. This very special anniversary release includes the studio version of “Gloria” plus three live versions from three different decades.  The 1990s are represented by the Point Depot show on the band’s home turf of northside Dublin.   Although ticketed as  December 31, 1989, the show started at midnight on January 1, 1990, with a live radio simulcast broadcast across Europe.  Side B contains two previously unreleased live recordings of “Gloria” – recorded at the Fleet Center in Boston during the 2005’s Vertigo Tour, and at London’s O2 Arena during the third night of their run of shows in the English capital as part of the iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour in 2015.

- 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 10:00-11:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, pbs.org and the PBS Video app.

Previewing Back to Live: Season Two

Of all the post Fleabag shows where a British female made a half hour show with limited amount of episodes starring themselves, Back to Life clicked with me the least.   The lead character was just too unlikeable and may have been better off in prison where she spent eighteen years, half her life for luring her best friend to her death, even though there was more to that story that was explored in the first season.

 

When season two starts, it has just been six weeks since Mari was released from prison.  Right after being released from prison, she gave herself some hideous bangs.  She upped that bad hair for the season season by pulling out her old crimping iron which disturbingly manages to stay for the entire season.  It has not been three weeks since she has talked to her mother despite still living with her parents.

 

Her father remains the best part of the season as he attempts a social media campaign to help the environment.  But he does have some competition this season in a cop who would like any chance she can find to put Miri back in prison for any reason.  While the show is a bit funnier in places, it does get much darker at times.  The second season does improve on the first, but still not something that fully clicks together.

 

Back to Life airs Mondays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 12, 2021

  

The Walking Dead:  So what exactly was this plan?  Take a small group and try to steal food around a bunch of savages that are good at stealth attacks?  Why are they doing this?

 

Reservation Dogs:  For the run of this show, I have found the tertiary characters than the main four.  The rapping twins, the doctor, the policeman, the crazy uncle, the succubus, but this episode just lacked any interesting tertiary and just ended up being the least interesting of the season so far.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  Well, Tina Fey just moved to the top of my murder board.  Really, what better way to find compelling true crime subjects for your podcast that committing the crime yourself?  Then it sounds like she is setting up the New Three Amigos as patsies by entitling her podcast “Only Murderers in the Building.”  That has to hurt; someone steals your podcast idea and rips off the name too.  But Tye-Dye Guy has to be the guy who was just released from prison. 

 

But really, all the Sting related jokes were just hilarious.  I loved how Martin Short was being coy about the celebrity in their building, but when Tina Fey could not get the puns, just finally blurted out, “Sting, I’m talking about Sting.”  I laughed so hard at that bit, I had to pause and rewind because I could not stop laughing.  Then I was laughing and deeply offended at the same time when Selena Gomez was trolling the old dudes about not knowing who Sting was.

 

Stargirl:  Well, the good episode streak ends at two.  I really did not care about the weird teacher or Stargirl’s crush who seemingly is a different person now.

 

Nine Perfect Strangers:  The show just completely went off the rails this week with everyone just tripping hard.  But I cannot decide what was the weirder hallucination, the Cabaret on the toilet or the nose falling off.   Just as wild was Nicole Kidman telling Regina Hall that she knows Hall knows she was forking her husband.  But is he the father of Kidman’s daughter?  It is hard to figure out the timeline on this show to decide if that is a possibly or not.

 

Wu-Tang: An American Saga:  Finally some of the Wu members are getting their Wu-monikers.  I spent too much time the first season consulting the internet on what their government names were.  But what was with the weird ODB scene where he turned into Jon Wick all the sudden?  Did he just tell that story and everyone just took it as fact?  I am kind of into them just presenting the stories he told as fact and filming them that way no matter how outrageous they are.

 

The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies: I cannot decide who is more annoying, Hughie or Emy.  It is really disturbing that Josh is somehow not the most annoying, or even the second most annoying person this season.  As much as I am ready for the vet alliance to implode, I would be perfectly okay if those two get sent in next week.

 

In the Dark:  I scoffed when I saw how managed cops they brought to arrest the blind chick, but it turns out they needed more because she still managed to escape custody.  Just how can an incompetent blind chick be able to get out of a police station and avoid a police manhunt in her neighborhood without being caught?

 

Titans:  Ha, evil crime boss just murdered her son.  Maybe that is why Nightwing does not work with crime bosses.  But that was a bit much for Starfire to just burn her from the inside.  But after they shut down Scarecrow’s plan, now what?  I have a feeling Blackfire will break bad again soon.  Or maybe we could finally find out what Raven is up two.  We are now officially more than half way through the season.

 

Around the Tubes: September 11, 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 Dexter: New Blood, Baker's Dozen, Eddie Vedder, Chelsea Cutler, Tasha, Bob Marley, Desert One, Jacinta, and The Ms. Pat Show.

- SHOWTIME has released the official trailer for its upcoming special event series DEXTER: NEW BLOOD, starring Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall as America’s favorite serial killer. DEXTER: NEW BLOOD will premiere Sunday, November 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. Joining Hall is returning original DEXTER star Jennifer Carpenter as Dexter’s sister Deb in a new iteration. Jack Alcott stars as Dexter’s teenage son Harrison, who mysteriously returns to Dexter’s life after 10 years apart. The cast also features Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Alano Miller (Sylvie’s Love), Johnny Sequoyah (Believe) and Clancy Brown (The Crown, BILLIONS^®). Reuniting Hall with original series showrunner Clyde Phillips, DEXTER: NEW BLOOD consists of 10 one-hour episodes.

- Get ready for fresh-baked pies and insta-worthy cake pops with Hulu's "Baker's Dozen" on October 7th! You can expect 13 new contestants (...a fresh baker's dozen) each episode. With a mix of both home-taught and professional bakers, this season's 104 contestants prove anyone can be a star in the kitchen! Please see attached for the list of contestants.  In addition to hosts Tamera Mowry-Housley and Bill Yosses, a new guest judge from the culinary world joins each episode. The eight guest judges are Joshua John Russell, Robert Lucas, Leanne Pietrasinski, Rachel Teufel, Lauren Ko, Gemma Stafford, Teri Cellutto and Loria Stern.

- Eddie Vedder releases a brand-new solo single entitled “Long Way” via Seattle Surf/Republic Records. The song is the first song off Vedder’s forthcoming solo album Earthling.  Listen to “Long Way” HERE and watch the official lyric video HERE.  In creating the song, Vedder worked with producer Andrew Watt in their first collaboration together. Vedder’s iconic vocals shine through as Watt’s production drives home the emotions of the track.

- Platinum Certified singer, songwriter, and producer Chelsea Cutler reveals her anxiously awaited sophomore album, When I Close My Eyes, will be released on October 15^th—pre-save it now HERE. To celebrate the announcement, Chelsea teams up with friend and fellow “Stay Next To Me” tour mate Quinn XCII on her new single, “Calling All Angels,” out today—listen HERE.  Chelsea Cutler wrote “Calling All Angels” with Quinn XCII, ayokay, and Hazey Eyes during a writing trip to Newport, RI, where much of the album was written and recorded. The song rides a dreamy bass line and steady cymbals towards a fingersnap-laden hook. Chelsea says, “My mom used to always say, ‘Calling All Angels’ to me as a kid. It always made me think of protection. The song is a well wish to other people.” Quinn XCII chimes in, saying, “Chelsea and I have been collaborating on each other’s projects for years, and I’m always so honored to be a part of her journey. Every time we make a song together, it feels particularly special because it is always effortless and something we feel our fans will always love. I can’t wait to play this together every night on tour the next few weeks.”

- Chicago-based artist and poet Tasha is pleased to announce her forthcoming album Tell Me What You Miss The Most, that will be released November 5th via Father/Daughter Records, with the physical edition out December 3rd. In addition, Tasha has also shared the stunning second cut “Perfect Wife” and its striking, lovely accompanying video, directed by coool.  Speaking on the track the directors say: “When Tasha approached us with the song, we knew there had to be flowers and there had to be dancing. It's this pure, magical love song that, for all of us, felt like those 'too good to be true' moments that occur when you're really falling for someone. It was important for us to not tell the story of the date itself, but rather the aftermath, when you've come home to your apartment. How can you not just want to throw yourself around the room and move your body when you feel that elated? It's that feeling that gave us the idea to inject visual language and choreography that felt reminiscent of mid-century films like Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Singin' in the Rain.”

= As the last year's celebrations commemorating the legendary Bob Marley's 75^th birthday continue, "Rebel Music," the eighth episode of the Webby-nominated 12-part documentary series Legacy, premieres today, September 9 at 7am PT/10am ET on Bob Marley's Official YouTube Channel. The episode features twenty-nine luminaries and family members sharing insights about the history and impact of Bob Marley's political and social activism.  "Rebel Music" presents a global conversation about the importance of Bob Marley's work as a political and social activist. Featuring Marley family members, grandson Skip, and children Damien, Ziggy, Julian, Cedella, and Stephen, this episode explores what Bob Marley fought for, who he influenced and why. Also offering insights are modern-day political activists and musicians such as influential Jamaican singer, member of the I-Three's and activist Judy Mowatt, iconic scholar and activist Dr. Cornel West, music greats Bobby Sessions, Beanie Man, Bujo Banton, Cee-Lo Green, Chuck D, Ne-Yo, Otis Williams, Smokey Robinson, Tropkillaz and more. Watch/share "Rebel Music," beginning September 9, HERE.

- The HISTORY® Channel will premiere the documentary feature film, “Desert One,” from two time Academy Award®-winning director Barbara Kopple (“Harlan County USA,” “American Dream”) this Sunday, September 12^th at 8pm ET/PT.  The film tells the story of the failed US rescue attempt of American hostages being held at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran in 1980, and features interviews with senior members of the Carter administration, including President Jimmy Carter and the late Vice President Walter Mondale, journalist Ted Koppel, former hostages, members of the Delta Force team involved in the rescue attempt, and Iranian hostage-takers and witnesses to the rescue attempt.

- Hulu has added JACINTA, a powerful and intimate documentary from ABC News and Impact Partners, to its Originals slate. The film follows a young woman who struggles to find stability amid years of addiction and reconnect with the daughter she left behind.  The documentary is being released on Hulu following an impressive festival run at DOC NYC, AFI Fest, IDFA, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, where it won Best Documentary, and MountainFilm, where the film won Best Feature. Premiering on Oct. 8, the film will be eligible for awards consideration this season.   Hulu Original Documentary JACINTA will premiere on Hulu and in select theaters on Oct. 8.

- OBIE Award-winning, 26-year-old trailblazing creative Jordan E. Cooper’s new BET+ sitcom “The Ms. Pat Show” has been renewed for a second season. Cooper serves as the showrunner, creator and executive producer for the comedy series.  The 10-episode first season of “The Ms. Pat Show” premiered August 12th on BET+ and set records for viewing and audience engagement on the platform.  The R-rated sitcom is filmed in front of a live audience and based on Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams’ stand-up comedy and memoir. Created & executive produced by Jordan E. Cooper and Ms. Pat, this grown folks comedy follows a former convicted felon turned suburban mom as she tries her best to navigate family, her comedy career, and a new all-white neighborhood.

Previewing American Rust

Last month I lamented the timing of Nine Perfect Strangers which premiered days after another rich annoying people at a resort show, The White Lotus ended.  But we have had  dueling project with similar premises going back to two we gotta destroy an asteroid heading towards earth movies in the late nineties.  But those were from two different movie studios and Nine Perfect Strangers is airing on Hulu while The White Lotus aired on HBO.  What makes American Rust different is that it comes less than a year after Your Honor, another show about a gatekeeper of the law who bend the rules for someone close to them who was caught up in a murder investigation where drug dealers are involved and like Your Honor, also airs on Showtime.

 

Like past shows and movies with similar themes, there are some subtle differences.  Brian Cranston played a judge in a big city of New Orleans while Jeff Daniels plays a small town sheriff in Pennsylvania that is “more West Virginia than Pittsburg.”  Then where Your Honor was an adaptation of an Israeli television show, American Rust is based on a book that predates all of the shows. 

 

The book is twelve years old now, and the show may take place during that time as there are really no date markers that I noticed other being mildly surprised that a bunch of twenty-somethings getting weirdly excited for a Kool and the Gang song got played at a wedding.  But this is the type of town that time forgot so it could be take in a year closer to now, though thankfully it avoids COVID all together.  One of the main characters still sports a mullet to go with his letterman jacket despite being old enough to purchase alcohol and works as the linebackers coach at his old high school.  Granted, with twelve percent unemployment, you get whatever work you can get.

 

We first meet Daniel’s character, he is splitting pills in a way to ween him off what we know is the very addictive opioid.  It is a small town (though not Easttown), and he is the sheriff, so naturally, it does not take him too long to find a dead body.   But he also sees something familiar at the crime scene and has to make a split decision that affects the case and the whole town.

 

The mulleted football coach somehow managed to land himself a very attractive girlfriend who moved to New York City sometime after graduation and now is engaged to some Spanish businessman.  If this were real life no way this guy has any shot rekindling their relationship when she comes back home after the brother that had been taking care of their wheelchair bound father skips down.  But hey, they gotta fill ten episodes with some sexual tension.  But where I think I would have enjoyed Nine Perfect Strangers more had I watched it before The White Lotus, I wonder if I would have enjoyed American Rust more had it aired before Your Honor and Mare of Easttown.  Watching it now just feels like I have seen it before, and in the case of Mare, I have seen it done much better.

 

American Rust airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: Septembers 5, 2021

 

The Walking Dead:  I was right; Maggie pulled a Glen and went under the train.  Although, last week it looked like she fell into a swarm of walkers, but this week, itt looked like just one was pulling her.  But I just do not understand the layout of the subway, just how did the people who left last week to go back then get ahead of everyone.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  This show shot to the top of my most anticipated list the moment it was announce Selena Gomez would be joining the cast in August of last year.  Instead of tempering my expectations I just spent the full year since building it up in my head more and more.  C’mon, Selena Gomez joining two if the three amigos.  What could possibly go wrong?  And yet, the show somehow managed to live up to my hype.  The show is goofy and fun while Selena pulls off these great dry wit one-lines all the while hiding a deep, dark secret.  And honestly, I really want to see Splash! The Musical.  But this is a murder mystery and I am going to make a bold prediction and say the cat did it.

 

Stargirl:  What is going on?  Two episodes in a row that were actually entertaining?  And this was ostly because of Sportsmaster and Tigress breaking out of prison just to see their kid’s tryout and then breaking back in.  They wisely announced the duo will be season regulars next season and it is clear why they are keeping them around after this episode.  Surprisingly their kid is not which may be telling for the rest of this season as Shiv recruits her new JSA.  But we did learn what I assumed lvst week, The Shade did not actually kill Dr. Mid-Nite… butt where exactly is he now?

 

Supergirl:  Um, why exactly did Supergirl take off the dampeners of the criminals?  They are criminals that escaped.  That just seemed stupid.

 

Nine Perfect Strangers:  like I have been saying all season, the show gets better the weirder it get and nothing is weirder than Michael Shannon singing Grease tunes to his family half-naked.  That will be tough to top.  Sure, Luke Evans giving birth to Bobby Cannivale’s kids is close.

 

The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies: Well, fork.  Michele was really the only person worth rooting for this year.  It is a shame they were not doing skulls this seasons.  I wonder how that would have shook up deliberations.  But if there is a bright side, the Big Brother alliance imploded.  Hopefully they just vote each other in until they lose.

 

In the Dark:  So the Blind Chick is all by herself again.  Joy, the first episode was so bad, why not do it again.  But does the nerd come back?  No matter how rude she was, that is just cruel, at levst towards Pretzel.

 

Titans:  Is there any woman on this show Nightwing has not forked yet?  Is it just Starfire’s sister at this point?  I guess the new assassin may not be keen on him after he killed her boyfriend.  And just how does a vicious assassin not be able to kill someone who is just in a wheelchair?  But I have to say, Starfire’s sister is highly entertaining and not what I was expecting at all.  She will get Connor to be her sex slave sometime this season I suspect.

 

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.